NOVEL NEXT Ch. 4
“Are you here to mock someone right now?!”
I smirked and lifted one corner of my mouth at his outburst.
“Surely, you don’t think I visit this shooting range less often than you?”
From the beginning, shooting was one of my few hobbies. Meldor, who hated physical activities, didn’t come here unless it was a special occasion.
At my words, Meldor bit his lip as if he had nothing to say. He tousled his hair roughly with his hand.
“Get out! I need to practice more!”
“Are you planning to enter the hunting competition again?”
“Again? Ha, Belladi Alton.”
Meldor glared at me, leaning on one leg.
“It’s not
“A successor who can’t even achieve results is just a laughingstock.”
I said, smirking.
At my words, Meldor’s carefully maintained poker face crumbled.
“Hey-!”
Meldor shouted, breathing heavily.
Already sensitive with the hunting competition approaching, he was clearly very upset by my mockery.
“Even though your swordsmanship lessons were significantly delayed because of your mother’s funeral… you still have time to practice hunting leisurely?”
I said, aiming at another target next to the one I just hit.
Bang-!
As expected, the bullet pierced the center sharply, just like before.
“Instead of obsessing over what you neglected to practice regularly, why don’t you work hard on what you’ve been doing? There’s no rule that the successor must participate in the hunting competition.”
“None of your business!”
“It doesn’t matter to me…”
Without even looking at Meldor, I spoke words that poked at his insecurities.
“But I’m concerned about Father’s honor. Your shallow skills have been fully exposed at every hunting competition, haven’t they? Looking at your skills now, it seems like it will happen again this time.”
I aimed at another hidden target in the corner of the tree.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Unlike the large practice targets Meldor used, these were small hunting targets.
The squirrel-shaped target plates, hit precisely by my bullets, fell one by one from the tree.
I lowered my gun quietly and watched Meldor’s expression. His face turned pale at the mention of Father.
‘Easy.’
Meldor glared alternately at the target plates and my face, gritting his teeth.
“Fine, this useless shooting! You can do it all you want!”
Then he angrily threw off the beginner’s shooting gloves he was wearing and stormed out.
I watched Meldor’s retreating figure for a moment, then readied myself again. I aimed at the remaining targets.
With a series of sharp gunshots, the targets fell one by one, each hitting the dead center.
‘Is Meldor’s lack of athletic talent a stroke of luck for me?’
Meldor had been following Father to the Emperor’s hunting competition for three years.
But it was natural for the youngest and not-so-skilled Meldor to always come in last among the young nobles. That must have been quite stressful for the prideful Meldor.
As evidence, Meldor’s hysteria would reach its peak after each hunting competition.
‘Instead of suffering so much, just stay home quietly, Meldor.’
I fired one last shot.
Bang-!
The bullet pierced the center perfectly again as I thought of Meldor’s face.
I smirked as I watched it.
“This sister will take your place in the competition.”
And that evening, my maid brought me the news that Meldor would not be participating in the hunting competition.
***
I adjusted my hat slightly and rode my horse.
Seeing me, a man with purple hair and golden eyes approached from the left.
“Belladi, should I fix your hat?”
I shook my head at his words.
“It’s fine. As long as it doesn’t fall off.”
Then a blond man on my right approached and rode alongside me.
“But why did you decide to participate this time?”
I smirked at his words.
These two men, riding close to me on either side, were my closest childhood friends.
Zion Agla, the second son of Duke Agla.
Mostin Fredo, the eldest son of Duke Fredo.
Mostin, the blond, tilted his head.
“Did your brother just let it go? He seemed quite temperamental last time I saw him.”
“He said he wouldn’t go first, so he couldn’t complain even if he wanted to.”
Mostin chuckled at my words.
“Really? That’s good! Do you know how annoying Meldor gets when he loses prey? Because of his fuss, I’ve missed several hunting targets.”
“Hmm, but didn’t he always insist on participating? … don’t tell me you said something, Belladi?”
Zion, with his purple hair, adjusted his glasses and looked at me. I lifted the corners of my mouth evenly.
“I told him that his hunting skills reflect Father’s honor. It was Meldor’s choice.”
Mostin widened his eyes and shook his head.
“Whoa, Belladi Alton. That’s harsh, really harsh.”
“So, do you hate that I’m here?”
“What are you talking about? I prefer being with you~”
Mostin grinned mischievously, while Zion tilted his head this time.
“Didn’t your parents originally oppose you participating in the hunting competition? Is it okay now?”
I slowly closed and opened my eyes to his words.
“Because my mother is no longer here…”
My mother strongly opposed me, a girl, participating in such rough activities as hunting. I was only allowed to practice shooting within the family shooting range.
‘But now, the mother who held me back is gone.’
I turned my gaze to the group ahead.
The western forest of the imperial palace was lush with greenery. In the center, the emperor rode, with Duke Fredo and Duke Agla amicably riding on his right.
And to the emperor’s left rode my father on a black horse.
I quietly observed them from behind and continued speaking.
“Father never really paid much attention to me.”
Sion and Mostin, who knew my situation, fell silent with bitter expressions.
I recalled the events of two nights ago.
After Meldor declared he wouldn’t participate in the hunting tournament, I went to see my father.
“I want to participate in the hunting tournament in Meldor’s place.”
As Meldor said, the emperor’s hunting tournament was a place for socializing.
Therefore, even if not the heir, it was good for at least one member of the family to participate.
And if Meldor wasn’t going?
It gave me a legitimate reason to go in his stead.
‘I deliberately provoked the sensitive Meldor with that in mind.’
At my words, my father raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“… I didn’t know you were interested in the hunting tournament.”
Even Meldor knew that my hobby was shooting. And most people who enjoyed shooting were often interested in hunting as well.
‘I had hinted several times that I wanted to go to the tournament too.’
But my father still looked surprised.
Seeing that, it was clear he didn’t remember my hobbies or my subtle hints at all.
‘If it were before I became aware of my past life, I would have been hurt at that moment.’
Of course, I didn’t feel anything now. It just made me realize my place with him all the more.
I smiled calmly.
“I couldn’t participate before because of mother’s objections, but I’ve always been curious. Now that Meldor is staying home to focus on sword training, I’d like to go.”
Even after I said this, my father showed no reaction. He seemed to be trying to figure out my intentions.
I didn’t lose my smile and spoke again.
“I’d also like to see my friends after a long time.”
“… ah, the other dukes’ children are your friends, right.”
“Yes, father. They’re participating in this tournament as well.”
Fortunately, my father remembered Zion and Mostin.
Well, to him, the sons of the dukes were more important information than his daughter’s hobbies.
At my words, he finally nodded.
“Just don’t disgrace the family.”
“Yes, father.”
Only after getting my father’s permission could I participate in this hunting tournament.
“Whether I bring disgrace or honor to the family, you’ll see soon enough.”
“Hm?”
Zion, who was beside me, looked at me. I simply smiled without saying anything in response to his innocent expression.
At that moment, the emperor’s horse stopped ahead.
“We’ve come far enough. Let’s start hunting from here.”
At his words, the attendants who had followed us swiftly set up tents and a rest area.
The three of us rode closer to the emperor. He glanced at us briefly and then spoke to the dukes.
“I look forward to seeing who will bring me joy this year.”
Duke Fredo smiled amiably at this.
“Anyone will gladly dedicate themselves to bringing you pleasure, Your Majesty.”
True to the reputation of his family, the most politically astute among the three ducal houses, his words were smooth and fluent.
‘I wondered who Mostin inherited his glib tongue from.’
I glanced at Mostin to my left. Sensing my gaze, he puffed out his chest proudly. Seeing this, Zion and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
After conversing with the dukes, the emperor signaled to an attendant.
“Now, I’ll be nearby, so you may start the tournament. Return to this tent within the allotted time.”
Simultaneously, the attendant raised a red flag.
“Begin!”
At the signal, the dukes, including my father, entered the forest with their knights. Mostin and Sion also greeted their knights.
Several knights from my family approached me as well. They were the ones who usually assisted Meldor in his hunts.
I looked at one of them and smiled in satisfaction.
‘He came too, as expected.’
At that moment, Mostin shouted.
“I’m heading out first!”
Energetic as always, Mostin excitedly rode in the opposite direction of the dukes. Zion hesitated and approached me.
“Belladi, this is your first time, right? Do you want to come with me?”
“No.”
With that, I loaded my gun.
Then, I quickly took aim and fired.
Bang!
Soon, something fell from the sky.
Seeing it, Zion mumbled in a dazed voice.
“A bird…?”
Looking at the fallen bird, I spoke nonchalantly.
“Add it to my tally.”
At that moment, applause came from behind.