Third Person's POV
As the last day of hunting competition continues from dusk till dawn, the frustration of Queen Atlanta keeps getting worse. The miracle-season hunt that took place for five days will soon come to an end. Crumpling the paper in his hand, he silently glared at the knights in front of him. It has also been five days of searching for the mysterious 15-year-old female hunter who killed the ancient demonic stag.
Queen Atlanta didn't expect the young female hunter to take so long to accept the invitation. If it had been another child, they would have immediately devoted themselves to joining his blessed knights. The blessed knights he established under the name of Chardonnay Guild were made up of children and young adults he discovered that possesses great skill with swords and other weapons, men or women.
Rumors about the blessed knights have already spread, but no one knows who they are or when they were formed. It was none other than the Prophet, Queen Atlanta, who was the one who established the blessed knights when he turned 18, and the little Duke Carlisle was the first member of the blessed knights. Although the king has conducted an investigation about the blessed knights, they haven't found any ounce of information other than knowing they exist, and they interfere in various crises in the kingdom.
"Carlisle, have you searched the entire forest of Creek as well?" The Emperor asked in frustration. Duke Carlisle only gave a stiff nod and didn't dare to speak any further. He felt mystified by the Queen's anger towards the young female hunter.
The Queen had been waiting for that mysterious hunter to appear, and it made him even more eager to meet the girl after finding out that she had given the guild the demonic stag. Queen Atlanta was grateful that the guild had secured victory in the hunting competition from her, but as the days went by not even her shadow could be found. They were too complacent that she would accept the invitation. He had already used all the knights and even the guild members to find the hunter until the end of the hunting competition.
The Queen was confident, calm. It was natural but unsettling. The Duke's brow furrowed in apparent confusion. Even he, is starting to take an interest in the young hunter. He wondered what the Queen saw in the young lady for him to be so impatient and restless. Indeed, a fifteen-year-old female hunter was able to kill an ancient demonic beast without a single scratch, but it isn't something to be surprised about, even the crown princess can do that easily.
"Good grief, I should have kidnapped her right on the spot. She's not easy to tame, and we can't tame her if we can't even find her!" He ranted, slamming the table. Avoiding those beautiful, glaring eyes, they all lowered their heads. Just like what everyone said, if looks could kill, they'd be dead right now. The Queen was enraged. They were taken for granted by a mere young hunter.
"A girl wearing a black-worn out cloak, a white mask, and carrying two swords. Keep that in mind and find her no matter what. Understood!?"
"Yes, your majesty!" All the knights yelled and hurriedly went out of the quarter. Queen Atlanta sat behind the table and gazed out at the scattered papers on his table. He let out a deep sigh, telling himself to keep calm and clear his mind for the tasks at hand. But still, the mysterious young female hunter he saw had been haunting his entire system.
"Carlisle, let's end the seasonal hunt. I'm tired already." The Queen commanded.
"Yes, your majesty. May the grace of the Gods be with you." Duke Carlisle said, bowing his head slightly
"You've arrived, your majesty the Queen. " The Crown Princess arrived at the bottom of the grand stairs, appearing no more like a princess than an empress. She bobbed a curtsy to the Queen, her father.
"I greet the blessed child of the Deborah Kingdom, Crown Princess Cyra." The Queen greeted her.
"Get us some tea and bring it to the balcony, please. Thank you." The Crown Princess glanced at the maids and ordered. The maids left right after they bowed down to the two of them.
"Father, where have you been the entire event? I tried to look for you, but you were nowhere to be found." She said in her worried voice, while holding her father's hand as they walked upstairs together. Caressing the back of her hand, the Queen gave her a calm look of apology.
"I apologize, my princess. I was so engrossed in hunting a mischievous prey that I didn't realize that I was already wasting my time." The Queen stated. Recalling the young hunter he met, he had never felt extremely overwhelmed by some unknown phenomenon. He was already surprised to witness someone slay a demonic stag, but when he saw her string of fate, it was being surrounded by some black and golden white entity. It was beautiful yet ominous.
It didn't take them too long to get to the balcony. The maids were already done setting the tea and some light snacks on the table. The Crown Princess helped her father sit comfortably. Once they were settled, the maids were immediately dismissed.
"The sun is setting, and I can see the beautiful golden hour here." Sipping at the hot cup of tea, Queen Atlanta was mesmerized by the shining golden eyes of her daughter. It was as if two balls of golden sun were looking straight into his soul.
An eighteen-year-old crown princess of the Deborah Kingdom is his one and only daughter, Crown Princess Cyra Kamari Arch Angelus. He awoke as the prophet on the same day he gave birth to her. Looking at his daughter reminds him of the King back when she was young. The crown princess looked exactly like her mother.
I raised her too well. He thought.
"Did you capture it?" Crown Princess Cyra asked as she put down the tea cup.
"Pardon?"
"The mischievous prey you mentioned, did it at least take the bait?"
The Queen smirked as he put the tea cup on the table. He felt his teeth clench in rage. If she doesn't find the girl, he has failed as a prophet. He was too stunned to speak after what she had just seen in that young lady. Queen Atlanta was also too careful not to scare the prey.
"I unfortunately failed to do so, your highness." He answered and wiped his mouth with a clean cloth.
"Should I lend you my knights?" The Crown Princess asked, ready to lend her manpower to her beloved father.
"My sincere gratitude, your highness. However, my knights can look for that prey, and if they can't, then I shall be the one to look for it."
She opened her mouth to speak to continue, but a butler suddenly appeared.
"I greet his majesty and the Crown Princess. May power and grace be with you all. I apologize for interrupting your tea time. However, I am here to deliver the order of the King. She has directed that the Crown Princess must attend the grand dinner together with the guests from the other kingdoms." The butler said as he bowed his head.
"Only me? How about my father? Did he not mention my father? He organized this hunt, and the King should give him credit for the event." The crown princess' brow furrowed in confusion.
"I apologize, your highness. But the King only asked for your presence and did not mention the Queen."
Queen Atlanta calmly lifted the tea cup. Smelling the sweet aroma of the tea, he drinks the rest of it with elegance. His anger stalled momentarily. If it weren't for the vision he had of the King, he would have reacted violently to her rudeness. He knew in his heart that he no longer felt any kind of love for the King. As long as he is the Queen and his daughter is the Crown Princess, all is well in his heart.
"It's fine. There is no need for such a reward, your highness. I also don't feel like eating, so I'll probably go to sleep early." Queen Atlanta stated as he rose from his seat. He saw the Crown Princess' carriage waiting for his daughter at the entrance of his castle. It used to be the King's carriage that waited for both of them to go and have tea with the King. He walked towards the princess and leaned to kiss her hair.
"May the power and the grace of the Gods be with you always, your highness, the Crown Princess."