After I sent the letters yesterday, I went home. And because of my impatience, I was unable to get the crystal ball that the magic division was distributing. It was a magical crystal ball that would broadcast the happenings from the other side. Anyone apart from a family member is not allowed to hold it, so my people weren't able to get it for me. In the end, I am walking near the portal, getting myself one of those balls from the magic division.
It's a good thing that there's magic, this area looked like it was summer because it is enclosed in a dome. If there's snow everywhere, I wouldn't dare to walk a single step. That would make my dress heavier, making it hard to walk.
"Can I get a crystal ball?" the guy who was seated in front of the long table across from me looked up. His eyes narrowed, blinking, trying to determine who I was. It must be the light from the sky, he can't see me well.
"Which family?" he asked instead.
"Melemheim."
He rummages the stack of books in front of him. Should be the records.
"Hmmm... Melenheim..." he murmured.
He must be looking for my family name in the papers. I just stood still, waiting for him. Then suddenly he sprung up, his action surprised me so I stepped back.
"Melenheim?! The duke Melenheim?!" his eyes can't believe it, scanning me. Then he bowed multiple times saying, "I apologize for my insolence, my lady!"
"You're fine." I quickly responded, letting him know that it was nothing. I didn't intend to be treated differently. I just came here for the crystal ball.
"No, it was very rude of me not to recognize the lady of Melenheim!" Gosh! He looks like he's about to wet his pants.
I smiled. "Seriously, it's nothing."
Then he looked up with a surprised look. "The rumors must have been true." his expression then change to that of someone relieved.
"Ha-ha!" what he said made me laugh. "We're you expecting I'd drag you and have you punished by my knights?" I teased him.
He delightfully smiled. "It was so kind of yo--"
"What made you think I wouldn't do that?" I said in a firm tone. Cutting him off. My gaze is piercing him.
His expression automatically changed to a troubled one. I can see his body tensing again.
[Hmmm. So, this must be what I looked like when I suddenly change emotions.] My maids were right. It's fun to look at.
"Nah! I was just kidding." I waived my hand. "The ball?"
It took a moment before he could move. Still flustered I believe.
"A-Ah! Yes... the ball. A moment, my lady." he raised his hand with his index finger raised, forming a number one sign. He left me and went inside. When he's back, he's already holding it.
"Here you are, lady Melenheim." then he handed it to me.
"Thank you." I then picked it up. "W-Woah--" I almost dropped it. It's a good thing he was fast in assisting me. Why is this thing so heavy?
"Eh? Don't you have an affinity for magic, my lady?"
"Huh?" I'm confused.
"I was informed that the Lady of Melenheim has an affinity for magic. Why were you unable to lift it?" He was also confused.
"Whatever do you mean?" I don't know, too.
"People who have magic within them, even though it's only the faintest magic, were the only people who can hold magical items. That's the reason why servants cannot hold it for their masters. Because people of lower ranks don't have any magic in them. But there are some... special... cases... vice versa?" his brows lifted and his eyes widened with his last sentence as if questioning.
I somewhat get him. So that must be why the commoners could only watch the broadcast on stations set up by the magic division. Well, I do not know everything about magic in this world. But the fact about Aerin having an affinity for magic is a piece of new information for me.
"What do I do?"
He thought for a bit, then he went inside the tent again. When he was back he gave me something saying, "Well... let's go with this," he handed me a blue stone.
"Is this... a mana stone?" I was just guessing. It appears I was right.
"Yes, my lady. Now, try lifting the ball."
I followed his instructions. And to my surprise, the ball came up to be light I was able to lift it easily. Light as a feather, as you'd say.
"Huh!" I can't believe it. This is only basic but I'm pretty impressed.
"Perfect!" he clapped. "Since you have a mana stone with you, all you just need to do is come here every end of the day, or when you plan to head home to return the ball, together with the mana stone."
I looked at him asking. I don't need to open my mouth because he continued.
"Under normal circumstances, we let the family have it until the hunting festival is finished. However, in your case, my lady, you are only depending on a mana stone. And mana stones' effect doesn't last long, so we need to recharge it."
"Ah..." I understand. Yeah, it would be bothersome if right in the middle of carrying the ball, the mana stone expired. "Okay, I'll do that," I said without any protest.
"When the broadcast starts, you will see the ball lit up. Each hunters' group has their designated mage watching over them, so if you want to only focus on looking at your family knights' broadcast, just run the mana stone over the ball and say your family name."
He blabbered for about a minute or two. And after he wrote something on the record book, I then left.
It was not a long walk. When I reached the tent, Maya greeted me with a big smile.
"My lady, we already received their responses."
"Oh, great!" I then head in, put the ball on the desk, and sat down on a chair behind it.
"Here, my lady." Maya handed me two envelopes.
I then opened the first one on top. It was from Madame Floyd. It was only a short message saying she'd be delighted to come. Then the other one is from Madame Blouse with the same content, only it was longer because of some flowery words for compliments. Their responses made me grin.
I purposely included in the letter that there wouldn't be anyone aside from the three of us in that tea party, as I just wanted to get to know them. I thought they would decline, but seems they're calculating, too. I'm curious to know what could be the outcome of this by tomorrow.
While I was busy thinking, the ball suddenly emitted a blue light. The broadcast had finally started and the first thing I saw was the Crown Prince's face. In all fairness, he is handsome with his black cloak, striding his horse at full speed, holding up a bow and arrow ready to fire. I see he already has his prey, it was a huge white fox.
White foxes are hard to hunt since they were ferocious and fast. Getting near it is like courting death. One of its characteristics is to spit poison just like a venomous snake. That is why a long-range weapon is the best equipment to use when hunting for it, you don't wanna get near it no matter what. Also, getting one of these wild animals is already enough to proclaim a lady the Iris of the kingdom.
What's more, the ratio in hunting them should be six skilled knights for one medium-sized fox. But this is a huge one right here. Could they successfully kill it?
"Shoot it... shoot it..." I am so immersed in watching the prince. I didn't even realize I'm already cheering for him. Some men follow him from behind, ready to snatch the prey.
That's the exciting part of this hunt. It doesn't matter who saw the prey first, or if you're a higher rank noble, moreover, a prince-- that doesn't matter at all. The one whose weapon pierces it to death would be the one who's going to have it.
It's only the second day but the hunt's air is already this competitive. It's making me jump in excitement.
"I'll bet five silvers, the prince would have the white fox." then I looked at my back. My maids and knights were now watching the broadcast with me. I raised my left brow up and down, challenging them.
"Seven... seven silvers for sir Enas!" a knight replied to my bet, it was Leon. I haven't even noticed that sir Enas was one of those men behind the prince.
"Oh-hoh!" my eyes sparkled. I cannot contain my excitement.
"It would be sir Enas!" another knight shouted. "I'll add two silvers for sir Leon's bet."
"That would be nine silvers for sir Enas, my lady," Serena said. She's one of my maids.
"Ten silvers for the crown prince Rolland!" I slapped the table with the exact amount of silvers. I loud bang was heard.
"Why would you bet for the prince, My lady?!"
"It should be sir Enas, he's our knight!"
They complained.
"Where is sir Ansel?"
"Oh, oh! There is sir Ansel!" Serena exclaimed.
I see they're happy to see another one of our family's talented knights, not to mention it was the commander and the assistant we are talking about. To tell you honestly, I only sent the two of them. I don't want to be the 'Iris', so why would I dare send this battalion just for that?
"Twelve silvers for sir Ansel, my lady!" a new bet rose.
"Nine silvers for sir Enas. Twelve silvers for sir Ansel. And ten silvers for the crown prince." Maya tallied it on a board in the corner.
I looked at the ball once again, they were already far away, following the target that was running fast. Sir Ansel and the crown prince were now side by side at each other, sir Enas following them with the others. None of them wanted to let go of the precious prey that appeared.
"Okay!" I stood up. "Twenty silver... for the prince!" I dropped an additional amount for my bet.
The nights followed to add their money, too. The number of our bets is now rising. I see they don't want to lose. But there's no way I'd let them win. I know how capable the prince is, it was said that he's a sword master.
"Ninety silvers for sir Enas! One hundred silvers for sir Ansel, that is equivalent to one gold! And Ninety-five silvers for the crown prince!" Maya updated.
"Huh! Two golds for the prince!"
"Two golds and fifty silvers for sir Ansel!" some of the money is now rolling down the table.
My eyes narrowed. "Twenty golds for prince Rolland!" I shouted out of frustration.
Then the surrounding went silent. I felt proud, they might have been shocked I would be giving an amount that big just for a bet. Not to mention it was quite a leap from the last bet given. It was later that I realized, it was the broadcast that made them silent.
"W-what!" my eyes widened.
"Sshh!" they all said in chorus, doesn't want to be disturbed.
I was surprised my eyes widened. All of them dared to silence me. I had no choice but to slump in my seat. But not long after, I was emersed in watching the broadcast, forgetting what they just did. It was now a head-to-head fight between the prey and four men. I don't know what happened to the others who were with them, they might have fallen. Right now, I can only see the crown prince, sir Ansel, sir Enas, and another knight whose family I do not recognize. The prey being in the middle, circled by them, leaving an ample amount of space so they could not be reached by its spit.
All of us are not saying anything, just watching intently. The air is so intense. Then, the stranger knight shoots his bow, which made the white fox mad. In a second he was pounced by the ferocious animal, and a loud scream came out from him. Everything happened so fast, the next thing I saw was sir Enas saving him with a sword in his hand. The prince shoots his arrow, and it pierced the animal's hind leg. Then, sir Ansel jumps off of his horse, dragging sir Enas away. It was a relief he dragged him quickly, if not the spit would have reached sir Enas.
This part of the hunt made me nervous.
The prince had now jumped off his horse, too. Slowly walking to the middle, doing his best not to make too much noise. When the fox ran in the direction of sir Enas and sir Ansel, a spit of poison flew in the air.
"Move away!" I shouted. My heart is beating violently. My companions here were uneasy, too. Some were murmuring their curses, and others cheering whilst trembling.
I sighed as I saw their fast reflex. Both of them were able to avoid it. The people at my back also released their breath and laughed. Then, we continued to watch. All of them doing their best to land a great hit on the huge animal's body. The prince changed his weapon, too, now holding his sword. Somewhat it was hard to lay an arrow because of how fast the fox moves.
For some time they continued to fight it like that. Simultaneously drawing its attention. When the animal looks away, the other would slash it. Then, without hesitation, sir Ansel shoots his arrow. It pierced the animal's side which made it drop down on the snowy field.
"Noooo!" my heart sank. Did it die?
The knights at my back cheered as they saw how the animal was defeated.
"Yes!"
"I told you it would be sir Ansel!"
"It can't be..." I was blank. I can't be an Iris.
We thought it already ended, but when the four of them went near to check if it was really dead, it stood up again and spit another poison. It was not finished yet. The animal madly ran to sir Ansel who was caught off guard it was a good thing he escaped from contacting the poison. Sir Enas on the other hand ran from the side and slashed the animal, however, he was sent flying and dropped hard on the field. The stranger knight as well who was trying to attack from the back was sent to a nearby tree when the animal turned, its head landed on his chest. I can see his right arm smoking.
"He was poisoned!" Maya gasped.
Then the animal turned to sir Ansel once again, it was mad because of the arrow that pierced it at the side, it doesn't want to let go of him. I saw the prince trying to get its attention, but it was already mad because of the pain. It already locked its sight on the one who caused it a real blow.
In a second, sir Ansel is now laying on the ground, the fox on top of him with an open mouth, his sword stuck horizontally on the animal's mouth who's trying to bite him. But in a swift move, the scene changed as the prince flew on top of it. That's the only time the animal's attention was drawn from sir Ansel to the prince. It tried to move up and down, doing its best to outbalance the prince, which it was successful in doing. The prince landed a couple of feet away. Without giving him a moment to recover from the impact, the animal ran fast towards him.
"Hey, get up!" this time I shouted as I also stood up. If he won't move he would be eaten alive.
However, it was too fast. I saw the prince just idly lying there, while the fox was on top of him. And in an instant, the white ground turned red.
I stood there shocked. Other people then arrived at the scene, I cannot see the prince's body anymore. Suddenly my heart is in pain, it was like someone crumpled it, then a tear fell from my left eye.
"Is he dead?" I cannot believe it.
A moment later, the fox moved. The people who I recognized as priests and magicians stepped back. A tip of a sword suddenly appeared on top of the fox's head. It seems that someone had pushed his sword forcefully until it reaches the other side of the prey's body, ripping it.
"Ha-haha! Haha!" I laughed hard. The bastard is alive.