Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Imperial Hunt

The next morning was surprisingly clear.

I woke up just before dawn, even before the first rays of the sun had completely dispelled the darkness of night.

Outside the windows, the morning mist still lingered, and the faint light slowly painted the sky a pale golden color. It seemed as if everything around me was waiting in anticipation of something important.

I quickly got ready — the familiar movements of my hands buttoning buttons, smoothing fabric, and pulling on boots. Today was the first day of the Imperial Hunt, and no matter how hard I tried to stay calm, a slight excitement still lingered somewhere inside me.

When I left the room, Rubiella was already waiting for me in the hallway. The girl was standing by the window, and the light of dawn fell softly on her pale, sparkling skin.

She was wearing a new hunting outfit — a perfectly fitted dark green camisole, a thin belt, and neat knee-high boots. She looked truly magnificent: this outfit really suited her, and for a moment I even admired the sight.

"Did you sleep well?" I asked with a slight smile, adjusting my glove.

Rubiella turned to me, and a lively, slightly mischievous expression flashed in her eyes.

"Of course!" she replied enthusiastically. "I couldn’t wait for morning."

I shook my head slightly.

"The main thing is to stay alert. This isn’t just a walk, after all."

"Of course, Auntie," she replied seriously, nodding. "I’ll be careful."

We walked down the corridor together, the sound of our footsteps echoing off the high walls of the palace. Voices could already be heard in the distance — the other participants in the hunt were gathering in the courtyard.

When we stepped outside, the cool air hit our faces, bringing with it the smell of dew and wet grass.

The participants in the hunt were already gathering in the courtyard. Servants bustled about, preparing horses, checking harnesses, and attaching hunting flags to saddles.

The sun was just beginning to rise when a troop of horsemen accompanied by guards rode into the courtyard. Their appearance immediately attracted attention. Conversations died down, and many participants turned around.

I paused for a moment, watching what was happening.

I noticed familiar coats of arms — representatives of duchies and noble houses invited by the emperor. Among them, in the center, rode a young man in a white and gold uniform. His posture was impeccable, his movements restrained but confident.

I paused for a moment, feeling a vague, strange premonition stirring inside me.Since this man undoubtedly held an important position and even wore the imperial family’s coat of arms on his uniform, I decided to ask those around me who he was.

His behavior, posture, and manner of speaking to others commanded respect — even those who stood closer to him treated him with noticeable deference, trying not to cross the invisible line of what was permissible.

"Who is he?" I asked quietly, turning to the nearest servant, who was checking the straps on my horse.

The servant froze, straightened up, and, bowing his head slightly, replied in a whisper, as if the very utterance of the name required special respect:

"It is His Highness, Prince Richard de Stone, milady. Today he will lead the Imperial Hunt. The emperor is unwell and unable to attend in person."

"What?"

I couldn’t believe my ears. "So it’s... His Highness the Prince?"

"Yes, madam," confirmed the servant, still looking down respectfully.

I froze for a moment, feeling my breath catch involuntarily. Something fluttered in my chest, as if my heart had skipped a beat.

Prince Richard de Stone.

I looked back at the rider, but now with a completely different feeling.

I was struck not so much by the news that the emperor was not personally present at the hunt — after all, His Majesty was no longer young, and such decisions seemed quite reasonable. I would even say that I expected something like this.

But to meet this particular person here... I really did not expect that.

My gaze lingered on him involuntarily, as if by itself, obeying not will but instinct.

Prince Richard looked exactly as I remembered him from the game, where he was one of the key characters and one of the heroine’s love interests.

A handsome yet masculine face, noble features, movements perfectly calibrated by habit — not a single superfluous detail, everything about him seemed designed to inspire admiration.

His figure was slim and toned. Even a simple movement — like when he gently held the reins and leaned over to say something to his companion — looked graceful and natural.

And his hair... that very shade of gold that immediately caught the eye. In the sun, it literally shone, as if woven from light itself. Deep, calm brown eyes, in which there was not a trace of arrogance, only the dignity befitting a member of the imperial family.

Yes, he really looked like a real prince from a fairy tale. Even the snow-white horse beneath him seemed part of a carefully thought-out, perfect image.

Perfect in every way — the flawless heir to the imperial family. And on top of that, he had a soft heart and a noble nature, which only added to his splendor.

He was the first love interest the heroine encountered after her escape from the mercenaries — the very unexpected savior whose kindness and determination marked the beginning of a new Chapter in her life. It was Richard who brought Angela to the palace and opened the door to a new life she had never even dreamed of.

I couldn’t help but recall the scene where the heroine first met him.When the golden light of the sun fell on his hair, Richard reached out his hand to the heroine and uttered a phrase that I still remember clearly: "You have nothing to fear. Nothing threatens you here anymore."

And now, for the first time, I was meeting this person, this character from the game, in real life... It was a slightly strange and exciting feeling.

By some strange coincidence, it was indeed the first time I had met Richard face to face. Although I had been to the palace on many occasions for various reasons — diplomatic visits, receptions, or formal ceremonies — I had never seen him.

Even at receptions where members of the imperial family were required to be present, his seat was often empty.

Rumor had it that the prince rarely appeared in public, preferring military affairs, training, and trips outside the capital.

Therefore, meeting him here, just before the start of the Imperial Hunt, was truly unexpected.

Although, when you think about it, there was nothing really strange about it. The emperor, as already mentioned, was unwell, and it seemed quite logical to entrust the leadership of such an important event to one of his close relatives.

And who better than His Highness Richard de Stone — a man of impeccable reputation, impeccable upbringing, and noble blood — could best embody the power and grandeur of the imperial family in the eyes of the nobility and the common people?

Yes, if you think about it sensibly, everything was going exactly as it should.

But still, looking at him from afar, I couldn’t shake a strange feeling.

When Richard arrived at the courtyard, accompanied by a detachment of horsemen and imperial guards, everything around him seemed to fall silent for a moment.

He jumped off his horse with ease.

A servant immediately handed him his gloves, but Richard, without rushing to put them on, slowly turned around and glanced at the assembled crowd.

At that moment, his face remained impenetrable, but something barely perceptible flashed in his eyes — a restrained calm mixed with attention. It seemed that he was not just looking at the crowd, but memorizing every face.

"Hunters," he said, raising his voice slightly, "today we are heading to the imperial reserve. Please be careful and do not go too far into the forest. This is especially true for those who are participating for the first time."

The emperor’s nephew was calm and collected, with the kind of composure that commands respect without the need for loud words.

Several people in the crowd nodded respectfully. Others just exchanged glances. But no one dared to break the silence.

I also watched him, trying not to show my interest, but, to be honest, it was not easy to keep my gaze free of curiosity.

And suddenly...

His gaze stopped on me for a moment.

I didn’t even realize it at first — I just felt a slight shiver run through my skin when our eyes met for a moment. There was nothing provocative about that look, but it still made my heart beat a little faster.

Richard looked at me intently, as if examining me.

His gaze lasted only a second, no more, but it seemed to me as if time had stopped for a moment.

I involuntarily looked away, tilting my head slightly, as if showing respect, and said calmly:

"I understand, Your Highness."

The prince nodded briefly in response, and then his attention quickly shifted to others.

I exhaled quietly and adjusted my glove, trying to regain my previous focus.

When the preparations were complete, we were divided into small groups. Ruby, of course, wanted to go with me.

"Auntie, can I go with you?" she asked.

"No, you shouldn’t," I said gently but firmly. "You’d be better off joining the other distinguished guests. It will be a good opportunity to get to know those who are influential at court."

She frowned a little, but then, seeing my gaze, nodded reluctantly.

"All right... but then you must be careful, okay?"

I smiled involuntarily.

"Of course," I replied calmly. "Go."

She paused for a moment, as if she wanted to add something, but then she just tightened her reins and directed her horse toward a group of young aristocrats who were already chatting animatedly nearby.

I watched Ruby until her silhouette disappeared among the other riders. For a moment, my heart felt a little warmer.

A few minutes later, all the participants took their places. The servants brought the horses. When I took the reins, my heart strangely quickened. There was something special in the air — a mixture of excitement, tension, and solemnity.

Prince Richard rode forward and raised his hand, giving the signal.

Sunlight had completely enveloped the courtyard, and at that moment, the entire procession set off.

We headed for the gates of the reserve. Beyond them lay wide fields and dense forest, where the sounds of awakening nature lurked in the shade of the foliage.

When the gates swung open, a short signal sounded, and the hunt began.

The horses moved forward, their hooves pounding on the stone road that turned into soft earth. The air was filled with the scent of pine needles and damp grass.

Rubiella turned around and waved to me from the other end of the group, and I responded with a slight smile.

Ahead, the cries of hunters and the barking of hounds could already be heard, echoing through the morning forest.

Thus, the Imperial Hunt began.