The moment finally came. I was all geared up, sitting atop the horse I somehow managed to own. Now, I was all ready for the hunt. The big guy was calm now, his earlier snorting attitude completely gone. I patted his neck gently, grinning to myself.
"Good boy," I whispered.
He stayed calm, and honestly, I felt like I had just unlocked a new skill in life. The festival was about to kick off. Everyone looked unnecessarily glamorous, with their fancy outfits and swords glinting in the sun. I stayed on my horse, quietly.
Then he arrived.
Lord Victor—the Grand Duke's son. Cecilia's original crush.
He rode in on a sleek black horse, looking very princely. His hair was perfect, his jawline sharp, and his whole vibe screamed nobleman. Sure, he was handsome. I'll give him that. But compared to the idols back in Korea? Nah. Not even close.
Compared to them, Victor looked… ordinary.
Victor gracefully got off his horse and greeted the Grand Duke and Duchess with a formal bow. Then he nodded at Tristian and Theodore with respect. Even Lora got a small greeting, and she smiled gently.
And then… nothing.
Not even a glance my way. Not that I cared. Nope, not at all. But still, wasn't Cecilia—aka, I—the Grand Duke's daughter? Shouldn't he at least acknowledge me? Isn't that basic manners or something?
Whatever. Forget it.
But then I caught him sneaking glances at me. His expression? Like he was already exhausted from my existence. Like seeing me sitting on a horse drained his entire energy.
I raised an eyebrow at him. What's your deal, dude?
He quickly looked away, muttering something under his breath. I couldn't hear him, but I'm 90% sure it wasn't complimentary.
I leaned down, whispering to my horse. "See that guy over there? You're way more handsome than him."
The horse snorted, and I swear it sounded like laughter.
"Yeah, you get me," I murmured, patting his neck. "But I think you need a name." I thought for a moment. "How about David? David the horse. Sounds cool, right?"
The horse snorted again, louder this time. It felt like a no.
"Alright, no David. What about... Hercules?" I tried.
The horse tilted his head slightly, almost like he was judging me.
"Wow, you're so picky, huh?" I sighed, giving his neck a light pat. "What, you want a fancy name? Should I call you Prince Sparklehoof or something?"
He huffed, his breath warm and almost dismissive, like he was saying, Try again.
"Okay, okay, let me think." I tapped my fingers on the saddle like I was deep in thought. I thought... thought... thought some more. And then, like a light bulb went off in my head, I said, "What about… Zoran?"
The horse froze for a second, then snorted happily, his tail swishing like he'd just heard the name of his dreams.
"Oh, so that's what you like?" I smiled, patting his neck again. "Zoran, it is."
I paused for a moment, letting the name settle in. It was a little unusual, but it felt right. Zoran. It meant "new beginning," and honestly, this horse was my new beginning in this whole wild, confusing world.
I leaned closer, whispering to him. "Alright, Zoran. Let's have some fun while hunting, yeah?"
Zoran snorted again, his ears perking up as if he was saying, You got it, boss.
And just like that... the deep, thunderous BOOM of the drums echoed through the forest, signaling the hunt had officially begun. My heart skipped a beat—not from excitement but sheer panic. Because let's be real here, I'm not hunting humans or some neighborhood cats. No, this is wild beasts. The kind that eats you if you blink wrong.
So yeah, my nerves? Very much justified.
I glanced down at Zoran, who stood there like the king of all horses—head high, chest puffed out, all majestic and proud. Meanwhile, I was sitting on his back, feeling like a wobbly sack of rice.
I leaned forward, gripping the reins tighter. "Alright, Zoran, it's showtime. Let's go."
Zoran neighed, his chest heaving with confidence, and took a bold step forward. And by step forward, I mean he launched into a power trot like he owned the jungle.
"Whoa—whoa, man, slow down!" I yelped, gripping the reins.
Zoran actually slowed down, huffing softly. I chuckled. What a good horse. As we moved deeper into the jungle, I couldn't help but feel a little amazed. The trees were so thick, you could barely see the sky. It was like stepping into some kind of wild, mysterious world. Back in Korea, I barely had time to explore Seoul, let alone an actual jungle. But this was it—my first real adventure.
So here I am, trying to take it all in, feeling a tiny bit amazed, when—
"You still have time to go back, Cecilia," a voice said from behind me.
I glanced back, and there he was, Lord Victor.
And just like that, my mood? Gone.
Poof.
Vanished.
For a split second, I was happy, you know? Riding my horse, vibing with nature. And then he showed up to ruin everything.
And he began...
"Don't think joining a hunt festival will make me interested in you," he said, his voice dripping with that annoying superiority. "Because no matter what you do, you'll never win my heart."
I blinked.
Hold up.
What?
Getting his interest? Bro, I have taste. High taste. Like, idol-level taste. Before I was about to reply to him, but he just trotted ahead, saying, "Go back before it's too late."
He didn't even wait for a reply, just sped off. I was left there, speechless, staring at his back. I leaned down, whispering to Zoran, " He's got some serious main-character syndrome."
Zoran snorted, agreeing with me.
And then...I was deep in the jungle now—darker, quieter. it's like every step I take, the air just gets heavier. And then, BAM! A loud rustle from behind a bush. I gasped, wide-eyed. Because a massive beast, looking and growling at me.
Now, I'm no knight with a sword, no fancy archer with arrows. I'm just a girl who survived the chaos back in the streets of Seoul with a knife and a gun, so I'll take what I got.
I wasn't scared. Okay, maybe a little bit scared, but who has time for that? I took a deep breath. "Alright, let's do this."
I got off from Zoren, my horse, and said, "Alright, Zoren, watch you're boss moves."
Zoren snorted, and I am ready to fight!
The beast snarls and charges straight at me. I sidestep, using the same footwork I used to beat up those guys back in Korea—smooth, quick, like I'm gliding on ice. Its massive claw swings at me, but I duck under it and roll in, closing the gap. The beast stumbles. Perfect.
I pull out my dagger. "Time to finish this."
It lunges, but I twist, driving the dagger deep into its side. It stumbles back, but I don't waste a second. Another swift slash across its throat, and boom, it drops like a sack of potatoes. I'm standing there, breathing heavily like I just ran a marathon. I look down at my dagger, still shiny with the beast's blood.
"Man, that was awesome." I smiled proudly.
I walk over to Zoran, pat him on the neck, and say, "Did you see that? I'm a freakin' badass, right?" Zoran snorts, like he's proud of me.
But man, I am dead tired. Just a quick fight and I'm already out of breath like a grandma running to catch the bus. How embarrassing. I wipe my face with the back of my hand and mutter, "Damn, this body is so weak."
I climb back onto Zoran, ready to keep moving. "Let's move, buddy."
Zoran snorts in agreement, his hooves clopping softly on the jungle as we trot forward. But then, that feeling again. I can feel eyes on me again. Something's off.
I glance around, but I don't see any more beasts. The air feels too quiet, like something's lurking in the shadows, waiting. I keep my eyes sharp, but my mind's not focused. I'm just trying to catch my breath, still feeling like a wreck after that quick fight.
"Maybe I mistook it," I muttered under my breath, and we walked forward.