A Slave Of Rubelfast – R15 - Chapter 23

The hunting competition was approaching.

 

In the meantime, between physical training and swordsmanship practice, Ellier collected herbs and diligently made sedatives for animals and stimulants for horses.

 

Unlike human stimulants, stimulants for horses could be made simply by mixing a small amount of sedative powder with weed powder.

 

It had the disadvantage that it only worked for animals with hooves, but anyway, during the hunting competition, only Slarhan and his horse needed to be sane.

 

The problem was the quantity of the sedative. In her past life, Clyde had collected enough herbs to make a considerable amount of sedative, all collected by his servants. However, Ellier, making it alone, could only produce much less.

 

‘Even though I started making it early, this is all I can get?’

 

She had plucked every precious bit of powder, yet she could only make ten pouches of sedative powder for arrowheads.

 

‘But still, it should be enough for Slarhan. With this much…’

 

Unfortunately, he did not catch a single animal in her previous life. Of course, there were reasons for that.

 

However, Slarhan was also excellent at archery, and given the right opportunity, he could easily win first place in a hunting competition.

 

“The bracelet is complete! Slarhan will just chew up the hunting competition. I wonder how much I should ask for this.”

 

Ellier asked Nox, but Nox seemed not to be very interested, so it only focused on its body.

 

“Since you played a significant role in finding the awakening potion seeds, Nox, if Slarhan rewards me generously, I’ll give you all the meat from the soup that day.”

 

Nox, whether it understood it or not, just yawned loudly, but Ellier waited for the day of the hunting competition to dawn, imagining gold coins falling jingling over her head.

 

***

 

And the next day, the hunting competition that all the nobility had been waiting for was held.

 

As predicted by the royal mage, the weather was also clear.

 

In the Tigris forest owned by the imperial family, where the hunting competition was held, several animals had already been released for today, and awnings and tents had been set up by servants since dawn on the wide lawn at the forest entrance.

 

Even the nobles who usually enjoyed sleeping in couldn’t resist the excitement and had started preparing early in the morning to come to the event grounds of the Tigris Forest.

 

The tent of Duke Ventiark was different from those of other families. There were no lace tablecloths, vases, or ribbons in sight.

 

In the centre was a simple table surrounded by just a few chairs.

 

No maids or servants were trailing behind. Slarhan, followed by his escort, Tariq, and four knights who followed as escorts, Vedell and Ellier. That was the whole party.

 

In fact, even Ellier did not expect that she would follow Slarhan.

 

She had only planned to hand over the pouches of sedatives and stimulants in the morning and subtly drop a hint.

 

However, the moment Ellier mentioned, “Finally, it’s the hunting competition,” Slarhan had said, “You can come along,” and brought her here.

 

Ellier declined several times, but Slarhan didn’t seem to hear her.

 

‘Man. You are very stubborn.’

 

Ellier pouted on Slarhan’s back.

 

It wasn’t that the royal hunting grounds couldn’t have sl*ves brought in.

 

Nobles were already accustomed to having sl*ves; some nobles took handsome or pretty sl*ves as ornaments.

 

Ellier’s reluctance was because if she went to hunting competitions, she would be forced to run into her former enemies.

 

‘Can I really be okay with them in front of me?’

 

Though she had burned away her emotions over ten years, now reduced to ashes, she honestly wasn’t confident in facing those people again and as a sl*ve girl.

 

Ellier let out a long sigh. Anyway, now Slarhan’s victory was more important than her feelings.

 

While the other nobles enjoyed refreshments enjoying the sunny spring weather, Slarhan checked his equipment and tightened his leather armour.

 

Ellier pretended to tidy up the surroundings and quietly watched.

 

Then Vedell left, and when Tariq and the other knights went out to check the surroundings, she approached Slarhan.

 

“Master, please take this.”

 

When Ellier handed over the things she had diligently prepared to Slarhan, he looked at her, puzzled.

 

Ellier lowered her voice as if sharing a secret and explained.

 

“Inside this round pouch is animal sedative powder. Attach this to an arrowhead and shoot upwards in the trees where many animals are around. Then the pouch will burst, and the sedative powder will fly around, slowing the animals around you a bit. Don’t miss the chance to hunt. This is a stimulant to pre-feed the horse. Make sure even your horse consumes it before it slows down.”

 

Slarhan stared at the pouch Ellier placed in his palm and listened to her quick explanation before slowly raising his head to look at her.

 

“Where did you get this?”

 

“I made it.”

 

“You…?”

 

“Yes. Even if you haven’t recognised my efforts yet, I really worked hard on it for a month while cutting down on my sleeping time. Reward me generously this time.”

 

Slarhan chuckled, seeming bemused.

 

Seeing his narrowed eyes, it seemed he was suspicious.

 

However, Ellier pretended not to know his suspicions and looked toward the hunting grounds while leaning closer to Slarhan’s ear, whispering.

 

“And no matter what you hear, never believe it. There might be intentions hidden even in words that reach your ears, Master.”

 

Slarhan’s gaze at Ellier became sharper. Ellier smiled and added, thinking that he seemed too arrogant.

 

“Of course, I’m sure Master can handle anything that comes his way.”

 

“Can you tell me what kind of story it is?”

 

“Uh? Well, should I read your fortune once? Let’s see, let’s see… Is there any extraordinary present or future plan that will come to my Master…?”

 

While feeling like she was gradually becoming more of a swindler than she intended, Ellier continued to fiddle around Slarhan’s face with both hands without stopping.

 

‘As long as I can get rid of the demonic power that would reach out to him like this, it doesn’t matter if I look ridiculous.’

 

“Hmm… Master. I’m terribly sorry to tell you, but it’s probably… a story related to family…”

 

“Family?”

 

As soon as Slarhan heard the word ‘family,’ his expression stiffened.

 

While it couldn’t be known whether Ellier’s story would prove true this time, he felt that if someone were to use his parents as bait, he could never forgive them.

 

“Understood. I’ll remember.”

 

Slarhan nodded heavily.

 

At that moment, the surroundings grew bustling, as if it was time for the Emperor to come.

 

Just as Slarhan was about to rise and leave the tent, Ellier suddenly pulled something out of her pouch and placed it in his hand as if it had just come to her mind.

 

“What is this again?”

 

“It is a bracelet made of silk thread. See these red seeds here? When you feel tired or distracted, take one out and chew it. It will clear your mind.”

 

Slarhan examined the crude bracelet made of simple silk threads in his hand.

 

It appeared made from undyed silk thread, without any coloured threads or bleaching.

 

The craftsmanship was sloppy, and there were smudges here and there, so it couldn’t be called beautiful.

 

Ellier scratched her cheek, looking embarrassed.

 

“I did my best to make it, but I’m not very skilled in this kind of thing…”

 

Slarhan looked down at the bracelet and handed it to Ellier.

 

Ellier was almost disappointed to think he was refusing, but Slarhan abruptly held out his left wrist.

 

“I think it will be difficult to tie the knot myself.”

 

“Ah! That’s right! Wait a minute!”

 

Ellier put the thread bracelet around his left wrist and securely tied the ends.

 

Seeing the final result, she felt a bit embarrassed as Slarhan’s thick, sturdy wrist didn’t quite match the fine material of the luxurious fabric he was wearing.

 

“Oh, you can just wear it for today and then discard it. Just think of it as an emergency remedy… Oh, by the way, I think there might be a lot of prey on the right side of the forest. I can sense the energy of the animals.”

 

“…”

 

As Ellier began to feel awkward under Slarhan’s gaze fixed upon her, trumpets suddenly blared, signalling the Emperor’s arrival.

 

Slarhan’s earnest gaze was also scattered with a loud trumpet noise.

 

“Rest up.”

 

Leaving a brief greeting, Slarhan took his sword and bow, then stepped out of the tent.

 

As the participating knights assembled, the Emperor, who had finally arrived, dazzled in the radiant spring sunlight.

 

He bowed deeply, nodding approvingly to the nobles who returned the gesture, and then he climbed onto the podium and recited a simple congratulatory speech.

 

It was exactly as Ellier remembered.

 

‘His Majesty looked like that… I had forgotten.’

 

After seeing her father after a long time, there was no longing or affection. They had never been on good terms.

 

In fact, the Emperor was partly responsible for the Empress and the concubines committing adultery.

 

The Emperor, who loved and pitied only himself, enjoyed indulgence in food, entertainment, and wielding power, but he wasn’t particularly interested in women.

 

He rarely even went to see his own Empress and concubines.

 

So, they couldn’t have feelings for their husband.

 

Moreover, with few nights spent in the Imperial chambers with the Emperor, and no Imperial offspring coming forth, the situation was quite unsettling.

 

So, they secretly took on lovers.

 

Initially, they might have tried to find men who resembled the Emperor, but that was far from the truth later on.

 

Then, one by one, the royal descendants of unknown fathers began to be born.

 

Even the imperial sons who learned of this fact were shocked.

 

Especially the First Prince Renscher, who had considered himself the rightful heir, was deeply affected.

 

While Ellier briefly reminisced, the young ladies began to rush towards the knights lining up by their horses to set off.

 

They were there to hand over handkerchiefs believed to bring good luck to the hunting competition.

 

Perhaps these young ladies had meticulously embroidered countless handkerchiefs in anticipation of this day.

 

‘I wonder how many handkerchiefs Slarhan will accept.’

 

Ellier chuckled to herself, imagining what kind of expression the blunt Slarhan would make while receiving the young ladies handkerchiefs.

 

However, contrary to Ellier’s expectations, Slarhan refused all the handkerchiefs offered to him.

 

“I’ll only take your well wishes. I apologise.”

 

Almost dismissively, he simply nodded indifferently to the young ladies who wished for him to accept their handkerchiefs.

 

He didn’t believe in superstitions, didn’t want to carry something that might fall off while riding, and didn’t want to instil false hopes in young ladies.