Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Invitation (2)

For a moment, silence hung in the room.

I looked up in surprise, staring at the envelope in front of me.

"The Imperial Hunt?" I asked, as if checking that I had heard correctly.

The butler nodded slightly.

"Yes, that’s right, ma’am."

For a while, I just sat there, unable to take my eyes off the snow-white envelope with the red wax seal.

Frowning, I remained confused for a while before opening the letter and reading it. Finally, having made up my mind, I carefully broke the seal.

"To Her Highness, Lady Weinstein,

By order of His Imperial Majesty, you are invited to participate in the autumn imperial hunt, which will take place in the royal reserve for three days, beginning on the twenty-fourth of this month.

The presence of a representative of the Weinstein family would be an honor for the Empire."

After rereading the contents of the letter several more times, I frowned again.

The imperial hunt... It was one of the most significant events in the empire, attended by the best representatives of the nobility, renowned military figures, and the most influential aristocrats from all corners of the country.

I did not expect to receive an invitation to such an event. Moreover, I did not even think that I could have the slightest connection to it. So now I was, to put it mildly, somewhat confused.

The imperial hunt was not just entertainment. It was something much more — a tradition rooted in ancient times, carefully preserved over the centuries. Its history began at the founding of the Empire, when the first emperor gathered his subjects to demonstrate the power and unity of his family.

Held once every six years, it was considered one of the most significant events at court. It was not only a luxurious spectacle, but also an important opportunity to establish diplomatic ties, as well as a rare chance to meet the Emperor himself in a more informal setting.

Deals were made, people’s fates were decided, and some families gained the favor of the imperial dynasty for generations to come.

In other words, it was not just an event.

Only the select few were allowed to attend such an event. Even the richest and most noble could only dream of being among the invited guests if they did not have the personal favor of the Emperor or had not rendered special services to the Empire.

And now... my name was also on that list.

I just sat there for a while, staring at the letter as if I couldn’t believe my own eyes.

"Well... who would have thought that I would actually be among these people?"

I smiled quietly, although inside I still felt a little confused.

After all, I knew about the Imperial Hunt firsthand.

This was because this event also existed in the original game. To be more precise, it was one of the most important initial arcs, from which, in fact, the development of the main plot began.

Despite the fact that the Imperial Hunt had only taken place last year, this time the Emperor decided to make an exception. The reason was the long-awaited return of his daughter, the crown princess. In her honor, it was decided to organize a new, more grandiose hunt.

For players, this event was primarily an opportunity to make good progress in their relationship with their chosen love interest. After all, it was the person the player chose as their companion on the hunt who spent the most time with the main character, and this brought them closer together.

In addition, it was during the hunt that the main character, Angela, was attacked. The conspiracy, secretly planned by the main villain, was supposed to be the first impetus for a series of subsequent events.

According to the plot, it was then that one of the love interests saved Angela, thereby strengthening the bond and trust between them.

Well... that’s why I knew about this event so well.

It was an important plot arc in the game. And yet...

It’s not that I was really eager to participate in it.

Rather, I simply had no choice.

The Imperial Hunt was considered one of those events that could not be ignored — even if you really wanted to.

Along with the celebration of the anniversary of the founding of the Empire or His Majesty’s birthday, participation in the hunt was almost mandatory for all members of the upper nobility.

It was one of those occasions when your presence was required, not your desire.

I sighed quietly and closed my eyes, feeling a little tired.

I slowly folded the letter back up and placed it on the table. Meanwhile, as I was gathering my thoughts, my niece was quietly watching me.

"Are you okay?" Ruby asked softly, noticing that I had held my breath.

I looked at her and, seeing the concern in her eyes, smiled involuntarily.

"Yes, everything’s fine," I replied, trying to keep my voice calm. "It’s just... I didn’t expect to actually receive an invitation."

"Auntie, does that mean you’re going to attend?"

"It looks like it," I sighed and smiled slightly. "In any case, if I refuse, it will be taken as a sign of disrespect for the traditions of the Empire... and, of course, for the Emperor himself."

I paused.

"So, no matter how you look at it," I added with a hint of irony, "I still have no choice."

Ruby didn’t answer right away.

She remained silent, her gaze slightly lowered, as if pondering my words.

Her face reflected something like thoughtfulness — a subtle, barely perceptible shadow.

And then she suddenly looked up and asked unexpectedly:

"Auntie, can I go with you?"

"What?" I didn’t even realize right away whether I had heard her correctly.

"I want to take part in the Imperial Hunt with you," she repeated a little louder, with a slight but noticeable determination in her voice.

Her words took me by surprise.

I blinked, not knowing how to respond right away. A moment ago, I was thinking about how to get through this event with minimal losses, and now Ruby suddenly wanted to go too.

"No, Ruby," I finally exhaled, "you don’t need to do that."

She frowned in surprise, tilting her head slightly.

"Why?"

"Well..." I paused for a moment, searching for the right words. "It’s still going to be a hunt. I don’t think you’ll really enjoy it there. It’s exhausting, and to be honest, it’s not as fun as it might seem."

Ruby, however, didn’t seem convinced by my words.

"But I want to go," she objected. "I belong to the Weinstein House too. Shouldn’t I be there with you?"

I smiled involuntarily.

"That’s true, but I assure you, there’s really nothing special about it. How about we go to the banquet together next time?" I suggested, trying to steer the conversation in a safer direction.

I knew very well that my Ruby was too impressionable and kind-hearted. She often reacted with trepidation to even the most insignificant things, let alone a real hunt where animals become prey.

I imagined how she might feel if she saw animals being mistreated or killed during a hunt. It wasn’t a very pleasant sight, and of course, I didn’t want to expose her to it.

But to my surprise, she insisted unexpectedly:

"Auntie, but I still want to. Let me go with you!"

I raised an eyebrow, slightly taken aback.

"What? But why?" I asked, trying to hide my slight confusion.

Ruby looked at me and said firmly:

"Don’t the most important and respected representatives of the Empire gather during the Imperial Hunt? Since I will become a duchess in the future, it would be good for me to get to know them in advance, wouldn’t it?"

Ah, so that was her real motive.

I paused for a moment, thinking about what I had heard.

Yes, on the one hand, it did sound reasonable.

Ruby was smart and quick-witted, and there was no denying that knowing important people in advance was an undeniable advantage. In the future, she would have a certain role to play in high society, and such acquaintances could indeed be useful.

And yet...

I felt two opposing thoughts battling inside me. On the one hand, my mind told me that participating in the hunt could be useful and practical for Ruby. On the other hand, my parental instinct of care and concern made me wonder: would it be safe for her to be there?

While I was still hesitating and thinking about it, my niece called me again softly:

"Auntie... please let me follow you."

Her voice was so soft and insistent at the same time that I could sense her sincere determination.

I looked at her innocent, open face, at the sparkle in her amethyst eyes, which radiated confidence.

For a moment, I was confused, even though it seemed that everything had already been decided.

In the end, looking at the innocent expression on my niece’s face, I couldn’t help but think: it looks like I’m going to lose this battle again.