By Zephyria 
Not long after the hunting began in earnest, a loud trumpet sound echoed.
One of the attendants, who had been observing the situation through a telescope, shouted loudly.
“Rowen is waving the flag! It’s white!”
Oh no! Laughter erupted inside the tent. Everyone knew how thoroughly Rowen had prepared for today, so they laughed at him while feeling regretful about his sudden withdrawal.
Cecile quietly observed the Empress’s expression.
Elizabeth, fanning herself with maids on either side, maintained her usual dignified demeanor. Even though her scheme had fallen apart, her expression remained unchanged, which was indeed very much like the Empress.
“It seems Rowen has encountered unavoidable circumstances.”
“I was looking forward to his archery skills, so this is quite disappointing.”
Cecile and the Empress exchanged casual conversation. Despite the sweltering weather, an inexplicable chill flowed between the mother and son.
Cecile took a sip of the chilled Sangria. While others might not have noticed, he could clearly see that the Empress was quite irritated. A smile involuntarily crept onto his face as he felt somewhat relieved.
“Every situation has its variables.”
“Indeed. That’s why we must always have contingency plans ready.”
At the Empress’s response, Cecile’s hand paused. He then silently widened his eyes and looked at her.
The Empress’s gaze had turned toward Cecile. Her delicate and beautiful face sparkled with the same emerald eyes as his. They were eyes that could be compared to jewels, but within them swirled greed and selfishness.
“…As expected, Your Majesty is thorough.”
“Of course.”
The Empress leisurely drank her wine, her red lips forming an alluring curve.
For some time now, she had not shared her schemes with Cecile. After experiencing disappointment a few times, she had become even more secretive.
Now that she had returned to her original self, she was painfully aware that Cecile was not the same as before.
“Cecile. Don’t entertain foolish thoughts today; just behave yourself. I will take care of everything for you. It’s all for your sake.”
“Foolish thoughts? How could I go against my mother’s wishes?”
The exchanged glances were sharp. Cecile and the Empress hid their true intentions behind smooth faces. To an outsider, they appeared to be a harmonious mother and son.
“Good. Just keep it like this.”
Fortunately, the Empress seemed unaware that it was Cecile who had disrupted her plans. A few noblewomen approached her, seeking an audience.
While she engaged in conversation with the noblewomen, Cecile pretended to step aside and went out of the tent.
His heart raced wildly. He thought that if he could stop Rowen, he could prevent the accidents that would occur in the future. However, faced with a reality that moved contrary to his predictions, Cecile found himself deep in thought, repeatedly wracking his brain.
Could this change the future?
Suddenly struck by the thought, he stopped in his tracks. Cecile looked at the hunting grounds laid out before him, his face pale.
The actions he had taken to help Alexis were gradually altering the future. He had already strayed from the predetermined path, and there was no guarantee that the outcome would be favorable.
For instance, Alexis could be more seriously injured, or even die…
As that thought crossed his mind, Cecile immediately turned back. He hurriedly made his way toward the organizing committee overseeing the hunting tournament.
The committee had been taking a breather since the tournament began. Like the other nobles enjoying their leisure, they were having a moment of rest while eating their share of Lemon Sherbet.
“Ah? Lord Cecile.”
But their moment of leisure was short-lived; upon seeing the unexpected arrival, they hurriedly set down their glass bowls and stood up.
“Is this a map?”
Cecile approached and picked up the paper spread out on the wide table.
The hunting grounds were vast. Inside, the areas were divided by participant, and the participants could only hunt within their designated zones.
Cecile quickly scanned the map. Ignoring everything else, he searched for the area marked with the Crown Prince’s flag. Before long, he tossed the map aside and turned to leave.
“What… what’s going on? Why is he acting like this all of a sudden?”
The committee members could only stare blankly at his retreating figure, unable to comprehend the situation. An indescribable unease settled over them.
But they thought, what could possibly happen? None of them suspected that Cecile had memorized the entire terrain in that brief moment.
Cecile headed to his next destination. It was the place where the Imperial Guard and the soldiers brought by the nobles were gathered. One of the guards recognized Cecile and immediately corrected his disheveled posture.
“I am honored to meet the Empire’s little star!”
With the formal greeting, the soldiers around them also straightened up and offered their respects. However, Cecile ignored their greetings and walked straight ahead.
He grabbed a bow, quiver, and dagger from the neatly arranged temporary armory. It was only natural that the guards were taken aback by his sudden action of gathering weapons.
“L-Lord Cecile! What are you doing?”
“Get out of the way.”
“That’s absolutely not allowed! What are you planning to do? Even if you are Lord Cecile, you cannot recklessly take weapons outside!!”
Unable to stop him, they could only wave their arms in vain as Cecile lightly pushed past the guard blocking his way.
He then walked toward the area where the horses were resting. Choosing a spare horse that was ready to ride, he placed his foot in the stirrup and gracefully mounted the saddle.
His posture was impeccable. Though he had no talent for swordsmanship, he was skilled enough in horseback riding to do it with his eyes closed.
Cecile firmly grasped the reins and pressed his calves against the sturdy horse’s body.
The strong stallion neighed and raised its front legs, but his stable posture remained unshaken.
“Go to the organizing committee and tell them I will also participate in the hunt.”
“Lord Cecile!”
“Don’t follow me. Anyone who disobeys my orders will face punishment.”
Cecile issued a stern warning and pulled on the reins. With a swift kick to the horse’s side, it immediately picked up speed and galloped away.
With the loud sound of hooves and a cloud of sand rising, Cecile entered the hunting grounds in an instant, leaving the guards in a state of panic.
“Captain! What should we do?”
“…We can’t let this go. Let’s follow him.”
Caught between indecision, they hurriedly gathered their weapons and mounted their horses, leaving only a minimal number of personnel behind.
With a powerful command, the Imperial Guard chased after Cecile. Whether they watched his sudden action or followed him, they would face trouble either way.
The once peaceful hunting tournament was showing signs of chaos.
The terrain of the hunting grounds was unpredictable. A flat forest path would suddenly give way to a steep downhill, and there were often sections blocked by streams and stone mounds.
The dense trees also obstructed visibility. While it was optimal for hunting, for Cecile, who needed to reach his destination quickly, everything felt like an obstacle.
But he tightened his grip on the reins and increased his speed. He quickly navigated the terrain, overlaying the map he had memorized with the actual hunting grounds. The well-trained horses of the Imperial Guard galloped as Cecile commanded.
Occasionally, he encountered participants in the hunting tournament, who were startled to see Cecile suddenly emerge from the forest path.
The guides and scouts at the front mistook Cecile for a beast inhabiting the hunting grounds. A few arrows flew his way, but fortunately, none hit their mark.
After running at full speed for about twenty minutes, he was drenched in sweat. The cumbersome silk fabric clung to his skin, and his neatly arranged cravat had long since become disheveled.
Before long, the horse also grew tired, puffing hot breaths. Cecile pulled the reins and stopped by a nearby stream. He had finally reached the base where Alexis was located.
After allowing the tired horse to drink some refreshing water, he headed toward the area marked by a white tent.
Flags bearing the royal family’s emblem surrounded the tent. He could see the waiting horses and the royal attendants busily moving about.
Cecile moved his weary feet. An attendant who had been preparing the freshly caught game was taken aback when he spotted Cecile.
It was surprising enough that Cecile had appeared in the hunting grounds, but more than that, his appearance was shockingly disheveled.
“Lord Cecile! How did you…?”
“Haah, where is Alexis?”
Cecile struggled to catch his breath. The Crown Prince’s attendant awkwardly stood up and pointed to a spot in the forest. Turning his head, he saw three men and women engrossed in the hunt among the dense trees.
Seeing the familiar figures brought him a sense of relief. Without delay, Cecile quickened his pace. The sound of his heavy footsteps made the alert Claude turn around first.
“Uh?”
With a voice full of confusion, Alexis and Yuria also turned to look. Perhaps they were about to catch a bird in front of them, as Yuria had her bowstring pulled taut.
Startled to see Cecile, she accidentally let go of the string. The arrow flew through the air and landed right in front of Cecile’s feet.