-35-

“D*mn it.”

The previous thunderous noise had disappeared, and the forest was now quiet as if it was the calm after a storm. In contrast, my mind was in turmoil.

It should have been time for the hunt to end. Most of those who had gone out hunting had already returned, except for Roan and the Second Prince. Even those who returned did not know what caused the noise.

“What on earth is going on?”

It seemed I wasn’t the only one frustrated as the Empress was urging her attendants. Understandably, her son, the Second Prince, had not returned either. Perhaps they were together?

“Why are they not coming back? How can such a thing happen at a hunting event where safety is of utmost importance?”

“Your Majesty… We’re investigating as we speak….”

“Are they slugs? How long has it been since they said they’d find out, why are they so late!”

The Empress’s voice grew sharper with every passing moment, ignoring the attempts to calm her.

“Empress, please calm down.”

The Emperor, who was still trying to maintain his composure, intervened.

“Your Majesty, can you remain calm? Jafflin hasn’t returned yet!”

It seemed the Empress could no longer see or hear anything else, almost yelling at the Emperor, her husband.

“The Duke of Bannister is also missing. Look at how composed the Duke’s wife is compared to you.”

“They…”

The Empress bit back her words, unable to speak further. From the look on her face, it seemed she was about to imply that our marriage was loveless, hence my composure. However, she still had enough sense not to say it aloud.

Contrary to the Emperor’s words, I felt far from composed. I wanted to say that I would go find my husband myself, but I was worried I might get lost in the forest and go missing too.

Why did I have to be so bad with directions? I sighed in self-reproach.

“Sigh… Huh?”

The sound of horse hooves echoed through the ground. Was it Roan?

No, the person riding the horse hurriedly was the Emperor’s attendant.

As he approached, his expression was one of unmistakable shock. Seeing his face made my heart clench in anxiety.

“What happened?”

The Empress was the first to press him for answers.

“It appears… monsters have appeared.”

What? The people around us began to stir at the attendant’s words.

“Monsters? Aren’t they supposed to be separated from this area?”

“A large number of monsters had entered the hunting grounds. It seems there’s a problem with the barrier.”

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

The Emperor asked, his face a bit pale.

“No, it seems the Duke of Bannister and the Second Prince have dealt with them.”

The attendant continued, causing a collective gasp.

“Did they encounter monsters?”

“Yes. Fortunately, both are unharmed. They are on their way back now.”

“That’s a relief.”

The Emperor sighed in relief, as did everyone else present. Monsters were indeed terrifying creatures, and most people here had never encountered them, including myself.

But why did the barrier malfunction? The unsettling feeling I had earlier hadn’t disappeared.

This was a significant event that should have been mentioned at least once in the original story. Even though I might have skimmed through the novel, I didn’t recall anything like this.

This situation differed from the original storyline. What changes led to the appearance of the monsters?

As I was frantically trying to piece together the clues, I heard the announcement I most wanted to hear.

“The Duke and the Prince have returned!”

“Roan!”

“Prince!”

My voice, likely overlapping with that of the Empress, echoed through the forest.

However, the sight of the two approaching was somewhat strange.

Their bodies and faces were covered in a substance that looked like slime, dripping off them. As they got closer, it became increasingly red, resembling blood.

“…Blood?”

Blood?

“Blood?!”

I shouted. They dismounted their horses, and I ran towards him. As I got closer, the scent associated with blood overwhelmed my senses. It really was blood.

“What is this… Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

I asked hurriedly. Roan, who had remained silent, finally turned his head towards me.

It was then that I noticed his eyes, hidden by disheveled hair.

A shiver ran through me; his eyes were devoid of any emotion, completely lifeless.

Only then did I realize something was off about his demeanor. A deadly aura emanated from him, a barely concealed killing intent.

Instinctively, I knew the blood wasn’t his. Realizing this, I stepped back, repelled by the foul stench of blood.

“…….”

Roan’s eyes held an inscrutable light as he saw me recoil. He then turned his head away from me.

“…Do not come any closer. You will be frightened.”

His voice was as cold and emotionless as his expression.

For some reason, his words sounded incredibly sad to me.

I wasn’t scared of him. Words stuck in my throat, unable to come out.

“Your Majesty.”

It was Jafflin. The usual trace of a smile was entirely gone from his face. Though I hadn’t seen him often, I had never seen such an expression before.

Jafflin was also covered in grime, though not as much as Roan. The Emperor, too, was momentarily speechless at their appearance.

“Yes. I heard the gist of your story. Are you wounded?”

“It is not our blood. It was inevitable during the fight with the monsters.”

“That is a relief amidst the misfortune.”

Jafflin’s voice was stiff as he spoke.

“It seemed as though someone intentionally tore the barrier.”

What? The Emperor’s voice rose in surprise.

“What do you mean…”

The Empress, her face white as a sheet, whispered. Nobles around us were murmuring in shock, questioning how such a thing could happen.

“There’s no doubt. Someone deliberately sabotaged it.”

“I managed to seal it with magic temporarily, but it won’t hold. We’ll need to reinforce it properly. Additionally, we must find out who did this and why.”

“If it hadn’t been the Duke of Bannister and me there… it would have been difficult to avoid death.”

Jafflin’s voice echoed through the now silent forest, spreading a wave of shock.

The Emperor declared that this matter would not be taken lightly and promised severe punishment for the perpetrator. The nobles were still visibly shaken, unable to fully grasp the situation. I felt the same.

My thoughts were a jumbled mess. Jafflin’s words sent cold sweat trickling down my spine. If things had gone differently…. I shook my head, trying to dismiss the worst-case scenarios.

This wasn’t the only thing worrying me.

Although Roan had wiped off most of the blood, he decided to ride his horse back, saying the carriage would reek of blood.

I watched him with concern through the carriage window.

In the original story, Roan had also looked like this after slaughtering.

「Roan sneered. The killing intent from the dying enemies enveloped him, making him appear even more menacing.

‘You are a monster.’

He couldn’t deny his father’s words. He didn’t need to live his life to know how it would end. Killing and killing until he grew weary and eventually chose to end it himself.」

I didn’t want him to have those thoughts.

Roan’s murderous aura lingered, making the atmosphere on the way back heavy. No one dared to speak to him, not even David, who usually enjoyed provoking him.

By the time I figured out how to approach him, the carriage had already reached our mansion. Even after returning home, Roan simply said he would bathe and disappeared immediately.

Sighing with a different kind of worry, I felt a heavy sigh escape me.

***

Today must be a special day. It felt like all sorts of sayings about bad luck were coming to mind.

Because today was the day for our mandatory monthly night together. Of all days, why today? Given Roan’s current state, I wondered if he would avoid sharing the bed with me altogether.

But maybe it was a good thing. I needed an excuse to see him today, and this was the perfect opportunity.

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories