The interior of the tent, which looked stifling and hot from the outside, was unexpectedly clean and cool. This was because the windows had been opened to allow the forest breeze to flow through.

Thick carpets covered the floor, and one side of the tent was furnished with a cot, a table, and chairs.

“Please, have a seat.”

A servant quickly brought over chairs, ensuring both Edward and Yelodia could sit comfortably.

Edward placed the fox cub on the floor. The cub sniffed at Edward’s boots, wrinkling its nose as though displeased by the leather scent.

The fox cub began exploring its surroundings, sniffing the carpet before stretching out its hind legs in a leisurely stretch. It then rubbed its snout against the leg of a chair before glancing up at Yelodia.

Yelodia, her eyes sparkling with fascination, asked, “It seems so young. Do you think it can eat meat?”

“It should be able to, judging by its teeth,” Edward replied.

At his response, Yelodia instructed a servant to bring some food suitable for the cub.

Soon, the servant returned with chicken prepared for dinner.

The fox cub, which had been dozing off with drooping eyelids, perked up immediately at the scent of the meat. Its tail wagged slightly.

“It looks hungry. May I feed it?”

“Be cautious; it might bite. Place the food on the ground,” Edward advised.

Following his suggestion, Yelodia carefully placed a small piece of meat in front of the cub’s snout.

The cub sniffed it briefly before snatching it up in an instant, chewing and swallowing so quickly that it was over in the blink of an eye.

“Oh my…”

Yelodia’s cheeks flushed with excitement.

“It ate it.”

She picked up another piece and offered it to the cub, which licked its lips and ate it without hesitation.

“It’s so young that it doesn’t even seem wary of humans,” Yelodia remarked.

“More likely, it instinctively knows you won’t harm it. White-footed foxes are highly intelligent,” Edward explained.

“Oh, I see… Is that what it’s called—a white-footed fox?”

“Yes, the name comes from the distinct white fur on their paws. They’re said to be gentle and well-mannered enough to live alongside humans if raised from a young age. Their behavior is closer to that of cats than dogs.”

Intrigued by Edward’s explanation, Yelodia crouched down to get a closer look at the cub. The reddish fur and white paws made it appear as though it was wearing tiny white boots.

The fox cub, as if trying to charm her, nuzzled its snout against Yelodia’s hand.

“Oh my!”

Delighted, Yelodia offered it a larger piece of meat, which it devoured eagerly.

After some time, Yelodia, who had been utterly absorbed in the cub, looked up at Edward. Her eyes sparkled like starlight.

“May I take care of it?”

“It was separated from its mother too early. If no one cares for it, it will likely starve,” Edward replied.

“Then…”

Edward watched her hold her breath in anticipation and said, “I’m too busy to take care of it myself. Would you look after it at your estate?”

“Yes! I’d love to!” Yelodia exclaimed, her voice bright with excitement. Edward barely suppressed a smile as he nodded.

The servants, sensing the situation, quickly prepared a basket lined with soft, cozy fabric and handed it to Yelodia.

“Would you like to rest here?” Yelodia tapped the basket, and the fox cub leaped into it without hesitation.

“It really does seem smart,” Yelodia remarked.

“It is. It may even think of you as its mother.”

“Really?”

Yelodia let out a soft gasp of amazement, her eyes shining. Edward chuckled faintly.

“It will appreciate having a name,” he suggested.

“Oh, yes. I’ll think of one soon.”

The cub, seemingly exhausted, nodded off almost immediately. Watching its tiny, adorable form, Yelodia belatedly turned to Edward.

“Don’t you need to return to the hunting grounds?”

“Yes, I suppose I should.”

Despite his response, Edward didn’t leave immediately. Watching Yelodia, who was entirely captivated by the fox cub, was a pleasant sight.

“Be careful,” she said.

“I will.”

Perhaps finding Edward’s reply a bit nonchalant, Yelodia continued in detail, “You must be cautious. While there haven’t been any incidents lately, in the past, people often used hunting as a pretext to eliminate rivals. That’s why only three knights from each household are allowed to accompany their lord as guards.”

“Oh, so that’s the reason…”

It was only then that Edward understood why Hester had been so stern and sharp to the point of severity.

If that was the case, then Theodore Kesley’s actions might have been so absurdly reckless that even a formal noble trial would leave no room for excuses.

Edward stood and glanced down at his left hand. A colorful bracelet made of woven threads slid gently down his wrist.

Edward chuckled softly and said, “Don’t worry. With only four days left until the engagement ceremony, I can’t afford to get hurt.”

“Yes…”

Unconsciously, Yelodia’s cheeks turned a deep red. Edward had a way of casually saying things that left others flustered.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave. Please rest well.”

After Edward disappeared outside the tent, Yelodia looked down at the fox cub and bit her lips without reason.

Outside, Edward glanced at the bracelet on his wrist and gave his left hand a small shake. The fact that it made him feel so unexpectedly cheerful suggested that Yelodia’s gift had struck a chord with him.

Until his subordinates arrived with the horses, Edward simply stood, gazing at the bracelet. Unable to bear his leisurely attitude, Beyhern urged him.

“Please mount, Sir. We’re the last ones here. If we don’t hurry, we’ll come in last.”

“Isn’t Hester here too?”

“That gentleman can barely ride a horse, let alone compete properly. If we come in last, we won’t even be able to step foot into the Navy Headquarters’ main gate.”

Beyhern thumped his chest in frustration.

He had secretly scoffed at the idea of nobles participating in a hunting competition, but upon arriving at the hunting ground, he realized that everyone’s eyes gleamed with a ferocity that suggested they had been waiting for this day.

The only noble he thought could be dismissed was the one who couldn’t even hold his reins properly.

Edward, unconcerned, replied, “Don’t worry. We’ll catch at least one deer before sunset.”

“One deer won’t be nearly enough. And don’t underestimate deer, sir.”

“I won’t.”

Edward nudged his horse forward, and Beyhern hastily followed.

As Beyhern reflected, he realized Edward had spent most of his life at sea and was practically a “man of the sea.” Naturally, he wouldn’t be skilled in the ways of land-based hunting.

Thinking about the possibility of the legendary hero, who had led them to victory in the war against Iota, being humiliated here, Beyhern clenched his fists.

“I can’t let that happen.”

However, that day, all Edward managed to catch was a single white rabbit.

***

By evening, the nobles who had ridden out to the hunting grounds began returning to the open clearing where the tents were set up.

Officials accompanying the emperor meticulously recorded the type, size, and weight of each noble’s catch, stamping footprints and even sketching illustrations.

The most striking catch of the day was a massive male antlered deer brought in by Duke Quito.

The sheer size of the antlers, larger than most trees, left the nobles gasping in astonishment. Even Yelodia, who had only heard of such creatures, was taken aback by the sight.

However, during the banquet that followed, where nobles participating in the hunting competition were invited, the emperor sternly scolded Duke Quito.

“How can a man who owns the entire North be so greedy? Must you take every hunting trophy to satisfy yourself?”

“Your Majesty, did you truly think I would lose in this competition?”

“I expected you to yield a little for the younger participants—like I did.”

“Yield, Your Majesty? Are you saying you went easy on us?”

Duke Quito’s incredulous tone was met with a wry smile from the emperor.

The emperor had hunted a giant boar, two pheasants, and a duck earlier that day. By count and variety, it was more than Duke Quito’s catch.

“Your Majesty may need to reconsider the meaning of moderation,” Quito remarked slyly.

“I didn’t expect to hear that from the man who hunted a male antlered deer,” the emperor retorted irritably. Quito merely shrugged smugly.

According to the meticulously maintained bestiary records, a boar ranked slightly below a deer, but in terms of points, the difference was significant. Even adding the scores of the pheasants and the duck, the emperor’s total fell short of Quito’s.

With a sly grin, Quito added, “Do your best, Your Majesty. The competition isn’t over until tomorrow.”

“I fully intend to,” the emperor shot back with a snort of determination.

Young nobles privileged to dine in the emperor’s tent exchanged wry smiles at their banter.

Despite setting out with great enthusiasm, their own catches had been dismal.

This was understandable. The Nafram Forest, protected from logging, was dense and sprawling—so vast it covered nearly half the capital’s size. Simply avoiding getting lost in its depths was a challenge.

Moreover, the wildlife inhabiting the forest weren’t tame livestock waiting to be caught. They were the true rulers of their domain, masters of Nafram Forest.

No creature here was foolish enough to be easily hunted by humans driven by greed for a prize.

Breaking his focus on the meal, the emperor turned to Edward and asked, “What did you catch today?”

“I hunted a rabbit, Your Majesty.”

Edward’s straightforward answer left the emperor momentarily at a loss for words.