It is still winter and the days are passing by rather slowly. I remembered Christmas. But since people here don't know anything about it, I only celebrated silently in my heart. Instead, people are now preparing for the hunting festival.
The hunting festival would last a week, and it is the week before the new year. The purpose of it is to celebrate the ending of a good reign, and the welcoming of another bountiful one. Since it is an important event, all people in the kingdom, nobles, and commoners, including the temple, gather together to celebrate it with glee. Furthermore, this year's hunting festival brought more excitement to the people of the kingdom, as it was said to be around this time that the prophecy of the new saint would come to life.
On the first day of opening the festival, a ceremony is hosted in the temple. A ceremony led by the priests, and supervised by the king. After that, the participants would be blessed, protecting them from harm. And every year, a member of the royal family will lead the hunt, that is the crown prince.
All men of different statuses are welcomed to join the hunt so long as they undergo proper training and are properly equipped. Once the ceremony is done, from the temple, the hunters will be transported to a nearby portal as the hunt will be outside the borders to the south-- inside the massive forest called Verr. Although the kingdom is at peace and there are no present threats, the hunt is also another way of making sure that no danger will shake the kingdom. So let us say, it is a customary checking of the border.
In ancient times, Verr houses different kinds of monsters. It used to be called the Dark Forest. But as the previous rulers continued the rally of the expedition, they had long been gone and were replaced by wild animals, so there's nothing to worry about. This hunting festival will also be joined by some of the apprentice priests-- on stand-by for medical support when worse injuries happen, physicians to oversee minor ones, and magicians from the tower. The palace's third order of knights will be on patrol, too, the Order of Seraph.
And finally, the day comes.
I am seated in the upper box on the third floor of the temple. Even here status does still matter. Upon checking, the second-floor and third-floor boxes were for prominent noble families. And I am sitting here alone since father needs to be on the ground near the altar, together with the king. The king sits on a throne on the right side of the altar, and another seat beside, a couple of feet lower, is the crown prince. My father is just a meter below them. Parallel to them on the left side of the altar is the high priest, the cardinal, and the archbishop. Their position signifies equilibrium.
I looked to both sides of my box since I can feel the looks sent to me. I don't know who they were, but they were a group of families. I just smiled at them and then focused on looking down below. The ceremony has now started.
After the high priest's prayer which lasted for about an hour, the crown prince walked and stood in the middle of the hunters who were seated in the front rows, then the priest cast his blessings on them.
"I pray that the holy power of Vitas protects all of you, and may your path shines as the light of our Holy God guide you! On forth, children of Vitas!" the priest said as he raised his hands for his prayer.
So it was like this, God's people have divine powers that grant blessings and prosperity to the kingdom. Since their power is holy, they don't need any spells to cast or bestow it upon. Whereas magicians are dependent on spells and mana.
"Glory to the God that oversees us all!" The hunters cry in chorus to answer the priest, echoing in the whole temple. It sent me goosebumps.
The ceremony ended. With that, the people slowly moved to go to the portal. I don't like the idea of going along with the crowd as it feels suffocating. I waited until there were only a few left so I could walk with ease, without worrying about being pushed to the side or dragged on. Once I felt it was good to go, I stepped out of the box.
It was not a long walk to the area where the portal is. Once I stepped into the entrance, I was in awe. There were only two massive pillars erected in the middle. Several meters away were then the bench rows situated on both sides of the area.
The mages were almost finished casting their spell to teleport every hunter to the location. And since most of the people were already situated on the benches, I just stayed there standing and looking at them-- looking at the other ladies who are together with their men as they send them off, tying different shades of green handkerchiefs on their arms. Green handkerchiefs as a sign of good luck and safe return.
So this is how it looks. I nodded my head.
In the past, when I was only reading about this scene about hunting, I thought the sending-off was cheesy and extra. Witnessing it now, it doesn't look that bad. I can see sincerity, love, worry, happiness, and excitement in these people all at once.
"All hunters, line up!" a young mage commanded. By the looks of it, he may be the leader. He's the only one wearing a different type of mage uniform.
"Interesting," I murmured. A young leader of the magic division, huh! I cannot see his face since I am too far from the portal, but based on how the other ladies looked, he's also another candy worth fancying.
I scanned the area looking for my father, but he was nowhere to be seen. Instead, my eyes landed on another pair of crystal blue eyes, it was the prince. I was caught off guard to find out that he was also looking at me. He looks different this time with his serious face.
I just bowed my head to greet him. I didn't even smile. He continued to look at me from afar, then I saw him withdraw a little later when the leader of the mage division go near him. They exchange some words for a while and after that they then headed to the front, facing the portal.
Once the portal is set, the prince and the mage's leader headed in first, and one by one the hunters followed.
Not long after, servants and knights of the other noble families started to erect tents to wait for their hunters. These families had some of their knights participate in the hunt, too, while the others remain to guard them.
And this is where the cliche starts again. Ladies would wait while the men hunt, expecting to receive as many hunted animals as possible. For it is known that the lady who receives the most will be named as the Iris of the Kingdom for a year-- in layman's term, the prettiest girl of us all. That's one of the reasons why lots of families would send their knights off, for their lady to be revered as the Iris. They might have found it the most effective way to get to the prince. Since the "Iris" would be staying in the Iris Palace for a year.
A flashback came to me. It was from days ago, before this event.
***
"No! Dad, you don't need to send them." I protested. We are currently at the training ground of the family's knights.
I hurriedly came here when I heard it from the maids.
"But you said it before, you wanted to be the Iris."
"B-but, that was before." I looked at him pleading, then to the knights who were lined up in front of us.
"My lady... there's nothing to worry about. We will make sure to bring honor to your name on the hunting festival," Ansel said. He's the commander of the knights.
"Yes, my lady! We will make you the Iris of the Kingdom," said Enas, the second in command.
They said it all in an assuring and determined way, I cannot help but keep silent. I don't want to break their hearts as I can see how sincere they looked, including the whole knights.
I just sighed. "Urgh! Whatever! I'll head first," annoyance is displayed all over my face.
***
I was brought back to reality when I heard a familiar voice call me.
"There you are, my lady!"
I turned to see a panting Maya. "Did you run?" I said giggling.
She catches her breath first before she answered. "We have been looking for you. The duke already went to the palace with the king. And the duchy's tent has been set up already." She then points her hand over to the middle of this wide place.
Indeed, it was set. The flag on top of the tent with Melenheim's wolf insignia is raising proudly up there. Swaying as the wind blew it.
As we started to walk, gazes of curious people brushed through me. Whenever they met my gaze, they'd automatically bow their head to avoid it. So I changed my expression. As I continued to walk to our tent, I plastered a sweet smile. Maybe this would lessen the pressure.
Apart from the tents set up by families, the place looked like a mini bazaar as the commoners displayed their stalls, selling different items, foods, and beverages. It made the place livelier.
But the most catchy spectacle in this event was the group of ladies seated for tea. I am well aware that in this world, noble women are snakes in different skins, dominating society with their cliques, increasing their influences amongst noble women in the society, making it look like some kind of underhanded politics.
Madame Blouse and Madam Floyd. Two names, both from a marquess peerage. The first one highly supports nobility, and the latter one favors the aristocratic faction.
"My lady, will be you joining the tea party?" Maya asked.
"I don't know," I said flatly. I am calculating what would be the best thing to do since I have received two invitations from both sides. A tea party that is both held at the same time and in the same place, on the same day.
[Urgh! This is making my head hurt.] I slumped on the make-shift bed inside the tent prepared by our family knights, with the letters still in my hand.
If I would choose to attend any of the cliques, I would surely lose the favor of either one of them. Normally as a daughter of the duke who is the highest of the peerage I should be attending the ones of Madame Blouse. There shouldn't be questions about it, to begin with. However, in this society that is slowly changing, in addition to the fact that a new saint would be coming, I am at my wit's end.
"Okay!" I sprung up and headed to the table nearby. I will be writing a letter to decline them both. However, along with it, I will be inviting them to my own tea party. And that should be, the day after tomorrow, which is, the third day of the hunting festival.
A daughter of a duke planning to pose on the neutral side? This would be a new one and a bold action, at that. Let's see!