A Slave Of Rubelfast – R15 - Chapter 28

“Did your shirt button fall off?”

 

Yes? Oh, no. It’s a new outfit I received from the seamstress the other day…”

 

“Then button it all the way to your neck. It’s evening soon, so it gets chilly quickly.”

 

“Are the noble ladies over there with their shoulders exposed? Oh, are they going to get pneumonia?”

 

“Maybe.”

 

Ellier wanted to ask Slarhan if he was serious.

 

She admitted that her appearance on the first day they met was terrible, but there was no need to see her as a weakling.

 

But Slarhan went a step further.

 

“When the banquet begins soon, good food will also be served to the sl*ves. There should be enough meat. So don’t hold back and eat well. It might be good to gain a bit more weight.”

 

“It’s like Master is trying to fatten me up for a sacrifice. You keep telling me to gain weight all the time.”

 

“Is that why you don’t eat enough on purpose?”

 

“No way.”

 

Looking at Slarhan’s expression, which didn’t even sound like a joke, Ellier shook her head.

 

If this man became someone’s lover or husband, that person would have quite a difficult time dealing with him.

 

He cared so much even for a mere sl*ve. How much more would he care for his beloved?

 

Ellier wished good luck to that someone in the future.

 

***

 

After the outdoor hunting competition was over, a celebratory banquet was held in the Imperial Palace.

 

Since many more people were waiting at the forest’s entrance than those participating directly in the hunting, this banquet was the true highlight of the hunting competition.

 

However, the most anticipated part of the banquet was the announcement of the hunting competition results.

 

“I will announce the 10th place. The 10th place caught a total of 12…”

 

A total of 45 people participated, so even 10th place was pretty good.

 

Since all the animals released in the forest were agile, some participants might not have caught even one.

 

However, in this hunting competition, everyone only focused on the results of the candidates for the throne.

 

It was because the emperor had professed to see the results of this hunting contest as their ‘skills’.

 

“The second place goes to Ellor del Solen! Her Highness’ brave knight, Sir Esprit, has caught 31 in total!”

 

“Wow.”

 

The third place had a difference of eight animals from the second place result.

 

Ellor looked quite surprised.

 

People thought they were surprised by the unexpectedly good results, but Ellor was surprised to learn she wasn’t number one.

 

“We will announce the long-awaited first place! The first place in this year’s hunting competition is the Duke Slarhan Ventiark!”

 

“Wow!”

 

“Duke Ventiark caught a total of 43, making this the highest number in the history of the hunting competition!”

 

Surprised by Slarhan’s first-place win, the crowd became excited when they heard the number of animals he had caught.

 

43 animals was an impressive count as if he had cleared out the entire hunting ground.

 

In addition, there was a significant difference of twelve animals between the first and second places.

 

However, Slarhan only responded to the cheers with a light nod. He was neither surprised nor delighted. It seemed like a natural result.

 

Watching this, Ellor clenched her teeth and whispered to Clyde, who was walking towards her.

 

“What the hell happened, Clyde?”

 

“I beg your pardon?”

 

“Why should it be to Duke Ventiark…!”

 

Ellor barely swallowed her turbulent breath.

 

In her previous life, Slarhan had never caught a single animal, let alone won first place in a hunting competition. Because he had to fight the assassins sent by her mother.

 

“No, why was he hunting in the first place? Could it be that he didn’t even pay attention to the fact that there were his father’s belongings?”

 

“The message that the belongings were hidden was conveyed correctly. At that time, it seemed like he could have rushed over at any moment.”

 

“And? But why didn’t he go?!”

 

“That’s something I don’t know. Maybe someone helped him midway, or he changed his mind…”

 

“If it’s Slarhan Ventiark, he could never take such news about his father’s belongings lightly. And considering that Irdel Ventiark’s belongings have disappeared, it’s a fact. He should have at least gone to check it…!”

 

Ellor felt like biting her fingernails.

 

‘Why is this life so different from my previous one? Could Lilliette’s absence be the variable causing these different results?’

 

Ellor also played with the utmost care not to change the future too much. She didn’t even touch Slarhan’s side of things.

 

But why on earth were these results turned out like this? It didn’t make any sense.

 

“I’ve heard rumours that Duke Ventiark’s luck has improved lately. Perhaps there’s truth to it.”

 

“Who said that?”

 

“I heard that such a rumour has been circulating in the social world lately. The Duke of Ventiark is not the same as before.”

 

It couldn’t have been.

 

Even in his previous life, Slarhan had endured desperately and clung to the battle for the throne until the end, but after defeating Iris, he suddenly lost his strength and soon collapsed.

 

In the race for the throne, he had never been lucky.

 

In other words, it meant that he was a person who could get to the throne on his own, even if he had no luck.

 

For such a person to also have luck on his side meant that he became unbeatable.

 

Ellor was fretful when a soft voice tickled her ear.

 

“Your Highness Princess Elor. Are you very anxious?”

 

“Clyde…”

 

“We’re just getting started. Second place isn’t a bad result, either. There will be plenty of opportunities to change the game in the future, so please trust a little more.”

 

At Clyde’s kind consolation, Ellor finally relaxed her hard expression.

 

‘That’s right. This is just the beginning. And Clyde is by my side. No one can beat Clyde.’

 

After all, the person who eventually took the Emperor’s throne in her previous life was none other than Clyde Kassir.

 

Ellor firmly believed that the outcome would not change this time as well.

 

Tariq crept by Slarhan’s side as Ellor barely regained her usual smile and clinked her champagne glass.

 

“Back already?”

 

“Yes. When I arrived, the guests were waiting.”

 

“Guests, huh…”

 

“Considering they were wearing black masks, it didn’t seem they were there to welcome me.”

 

“So, they didn’t clash with you?”

 

“The moment they saw that there were four of us, they hurried away. There was a cave, as you mentioned, but there was no rock.”

 

For a moment, Slarhan wondered if Ellier knew assassins were waiting there.

 

Of course, his dubious sl*ve would never know, but still.

 

“I see. Good job.”

 

Tariq sighed at Slarhan’s attitude to ask more about the assassins.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“What?”

 

“If you ask me like that, I don’t really have anything to say…”

 

Slarhan smiled lightly at Tariq’s gloomy voice.

 

“Let’s look at the positive side. Anyway, we didn’t fall into the trap and won first place in the hunting competition.”

 

“That’s right, but…”

 

“I don’t know if we’ve been living only looking at the bad side all this time.”

 

“Maybe we should have experienced some good things for a change.”

 

Tariq’s answer was followed by a sigh, and Slarhan couldn’t hide a bitter smile either.

 

It was as Tariq said. Before, there hadn’t been many joyful occasions.

 

Always worried about what kind of trick the Emperor would pull, Slarhan was busy trying to save himself, so even if something good happened, he had to prepare for the bad things it could bring.

 

It wasn’t even a long time ago, but since when did he start living expecting good things?

 

‘Coming to think of it, it seems that good things started to happen after Ellier came…’

 

When Ellier was brought from Rubelfast, he was given his father’s body from the Imperial Court, and while Ellier took her time to recover, the Emperor did nothing to the Ventiark family.

 

And around the time Ellier started smiling more, the Emperor announced the succession race.

 

In the meantime, Ellier’s every word seemed to bring good luck.

 

“Ellier, you know.”

 

When Slarhan suddenly mentioned Ellier’s name, Tariq raised his eyebrows and looked at him.

 

“What? Are you talking about the sl*ve child?”

 

“Maybe she’s like a fairy of luck or something.”

 

“What?”

 

“A fairy that brings good luck. Haven’t you heard of it?”

 

“What?”

 

“..Nevermind.”

 

Tariq still looked shocked, but Slarhan didn’t care any more.

 

And then Margaret came over and offered her congratulations.

 

“Congratulations, Lehan! After all, you look like your father. You’re remarkable.”

 

“Thank you. It’s thanks to your concern, Aunt.”

 

“Oh ho ho! Thank you for caring about my worries and support. We always wish for your success. You know that, right?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“I’m sorry for being busy for so long… Why don’t you come over for a cup of tea next time? It just happened that the flowers were blooming so beautifully in our garden.”

 

“I look forward to it. If you send me an invitation, I will be happy to visit you.”

 

Slarhan’s still friendly attitude gave Margaret a delightful expression.

 

It was unusual to be able to greet Slarhan, a Duke and bloodline of the Imperial family, first, but it was more shocking that the gruff Slarhan was warmly accepting wishes.

 

The nobles looked closely to see if Count Roland would line up on the Slarhan’s side.

 

Among them was Ensia Cullinan, who had given Slarhan a gift of a red tassel sword decoration.

 

‘I thought it wouldn’t go smoothly, but…’

 

Ensia sipped her champagne as she looked at Slarhan, who didn’t look at her at all.

 

His reaction was even less than she had anticipated.

 

It would have been easier to handle if he had shown even a hint of contempt or disdain, allowing her to reverse the situation. However, he just didn’t seem to care about her at all.

 

‘Are you good at tug-of-war, or have you not grasped the situation yet?’

 

She didn’t think it was her own problem at all. Because she believed that in Paldinas, no man would reject her.

 

The Marquis of Cullinan was the neutral figure in nobility.

 

Neither leaning toward the Emperor nor toward the new radicals and being not related by blood to the Imperial family, he escaped the Emperor’s obsessive suspicions.

 

This allowed him to claim greater power and wealth than the Duke of Ventiark.

 

Since she was the eldest daughter of the famous Marquis Cullinan, even if they said she was ugly, there would be a line of people who wanted to marry her, but she was even dazzlingly beautiful.

 

Red hair that was hard to find in the empire, her milky white smooth skin, and her voluptuous yet slim body were noticeable everywhere.

 

The coquettish attitude of her body was breathtaking, but not vulgar, and her mind was filled with knowledge and manners as rich as her beauty.

 

Her sultry beauty and confident, intelligent speech would take men aback.

 

There had never been a man who refused her request or temptation.

 

Slarhan had maintained an unchanged expression. She thought she had half succeeded. That was, until she saw a massive sword hanging from his waist, as he rode a horse, which didn’t suit him at all.

 

Though it was the first time she received such an explicit rejection, Ensia wasn’t easily discouraged.

 

‘You will need me anyway, Duke Ventiark. I’ll see if you can be this indifferent even then.’

 

Ensia folded the fan she was holding in her hand and tapped it on her lips, smiling slightly.