IARV 35

Chapter 35

“Is everyone ready?”

“Yes, Captain. All troops are waiting at the training grounds.”

At Vice-Captain Hans’s report, Rai, who had been seated at his desk in the captain’s office, rose to his feet.

Today, instead of his usual training attire, he was dressed in a thick hunting outfit.

Several layers of thin red cloth had been sewn onto the chest and torso, making that part heavy and padded, while the arms and legs were lighter for mobility.

Hans was dressed in the same fashion.

After strapping on guards for his elbows and shins, Rai headed to the training ground.

About 120 knights of the 4th division stood ready, all wearing similar armor to Rai’s, though theirs was a deep teal rather than red.

“You all know what day it is today, don’t you?”

“Yes, sir!”

When Rai shouted loudly from the podium, the knights standing at attention replied in unison.

“Today is one of the twice-monthly real combat hunting drills with the princes. This time, it will be with His Highness Claude.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Some of you new recruits will be joining your first hunt today. Don’t be afraid—face it like true knights.”

“Understood!”

Because Prince Claude disliked needless killing, knights served as the “prey” for these hunts.

Instead of sharp arrowheads, the arrows were tipped with paint.

The rules were simple:

A knight struck by a paint-tipped arrow while fleeing through the forest would pull out a white handkerchief, tie it somewhere visible on their body, and return to the training ground.

“Anyone who manages to find a red flag during this drill will receive whatever reward they most desire.”

Alongside supporting the princes, there was also a way for knights to “win”: hidden throughout the forest were red flags. These could not be stolen once found, and each finder would be rewarded individually.

If all 20 red flags were discovered, the entire corps received a prize.

Though it was a harsh exercise, the promise of generous rewards meant everyone participated enthusiastically.

“What is the reward we most desire, sir?”

One knight raised his hand and asked. Everyone swallowed nervously, waiting for Rai’s answer.

“You’ll get a one-night leave.”

“Wooaaaah!”

At the word “leave,” the knights’ fighting spirit blazed up.

“But keep in mind—I’ll also be giving it my all.”

When Rai made it clear he had no intention of going easy, the knights’ shoulders slumped and the excitement quickly cooled.

“You have 20 minutes to hide. Move!”

“Yaaaaah!!”

At Rai’s bark, the knights dashed off into the forest beyond the palace walls.

To find the red flags, survival time mattered—so they rushed to secure good hiding spots.

Rai waited until the sound of their running faded, then began walking toward the western palace.

Whenever he went to Claude, his steps usually felt light. The brief conversations they shared had always been a small joy in the restrained life of the palace.

But today, his heart was heavy. He didn’t want to face Claude.

Ever since Claude had asked about his relationship with Eva, something had changed—in mood, in attitude—and Rai’s condition had been unsettled since.

“Captain, you’ve arrived.”

Chase, standing guard in front of Claude’s office, greeted him.

“Sir, the preparations for the hunt are complete.”

“His Highness should be ready as well. Please go in.”

“…Yes.”

Even knocking felt strangely difficult now. Rai stood there, hesitating, until Chase gave him a puzzled look. Only then did he finally raise his hand to knock.

Knock, knock.

“Your Highness, it’s Rai.”

“Come in.”

Inside, Claude was pulling on gloves over his blue hunting clothes.

“I greet Your Highness.”

“Welcome, Rai.”

“The knights are ready. We can head to the forest immediately.”

“Good. And what reward did you set to boost their morale today?”

“I promised them a one-night leave.”

“Hah. Then I’m certain to lose this time.”

Claude laughed—but Rai now found himself questioning whether his laughter was genuine.

“Did you choose that reward just to make me lose?”

“No, Your Highness. How could I, when I’m fighting at your side?”

Claude finished adjusting his gloves, then turned to Rai.

“Then shall we make a wager of our own, Rai?”

“…Pardon?”

They had always hunted as allies. The sudden suggestion caught Rai off guard, making him look at Claude properly for the first time.

Though Claude’s lips were smiling, his eyes were not.

“Let’s bet on who takes down more targets.”

“Does Your Highness desire leave as well?”

“No. I want marriage.”

Rai’s eyes turned cold.

“…I don’t understand what you mean.”

“You know exactly what I mean. I intend to take Lady Eva Blanche as my crown princess.”

“Does Lady Eva know of this?”

“She will soon enough.”

Claude smiled faintly. Rai’s hand clenched tight.

It sounded like Claude meant to wield his power over Eva as well, not just over him.

“If I win, you will go ask Lady Eva to become crown princess. If you win, I will go and propose to her myself. How about it, Captain?”

He intentionally used the word Captain instead of Rai’s name to provoke him.

“And if I refuse?”

“No, you can’t refuse.”

Even though Rai stood eye to eye with him, it felt as if Claude’s royal authority loomed over him from above.

“You could never just sit back and do nothing.”

They knew each other too well—each knew exactly where the other’s weaknesses lay.

After a moment of silence, Rai locked eyes with Claude and answered.

In Rai’s brown eyes, Claude could see something burning fiercely.

“Yes. I’ll take that wager.”

At the forest entrance

“Chase, did you prepare different paints for us?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Red paint for the Captain, blue paint for you.”

The two men, who had always prepared together, stood apart this time. Never before had they used different paint colors either.

Their tense auras were so heavy that Chase simply did as he was told without question.

“The time limit is 45 minutes. The trumpet will signal the end. Please, both of you, don’t get injured.”

“Hah. Chase, I don’t think I can afford to hold back today.”

“…Sir?”

“Have the medics on standby.”

“…Captain too? What on earth is going on with you two today…?”

“Chase. Begin.”

Claude’s firm order left Chase flustered. Still, he gestured upward.

From atop the tower, Vice-Captain Hans blew the trumpet with all his strength.

Bwooo—!

Without a word, the two men gathered their arrows and disappeared into the forest.

“Ugh! Just a little farther…!”

A knight, belly to the ground, crawled quickly toward a red flag wedged between tree roots.

He stretched his hand—just a bit more and he would have it.

Whish—!

“Argh!”

An arrow struck his side with a thunk, startling him.

“What—how did you see me?”

So close to winning, the knight stood with a frustrated expression.

Tying the white cloth to his arm to mark himself as “caught,” he checked where he’d been hit.

“Good grief, thought it was blood.”

It was red paint. Startled by the unfamiliar color—until now, they’d only seen blue—he suddenly felt an overwhelming presence rushing toward him.

“C-Captain?”

“Leave.”

Rai, expression deadly serious as if in an actual hunt, reloaded his bow.

“Captain, aren’t you taking this a bit too seriously?”

“You’re messing up my count. Get out.”

“…Yes, sir.”

Feeling like prey before a predator, the knight wisely shut his mouth and withdrew.

Rai refocused, scanning for the next presence.

The tension was like being on the battlefield again. At first, thoughts of Claude’s talk of marriage distracted him—his arrows carried too much emotion, flying wide and missing several targets.

Each time that happened, blue-painted arrows seemed to arrive right on cue, striking the knights instead.

Every knight stolen by Claude felt like Eva being stolen from him. Anxiety gnawed at him.

“Damn it.”

At this rate, he would lose miserably. To steady himself, Rai slammed his fist against a thick tree until the excess force drained away.

Once calm, his real hunt began.

Recalling instincts honed in war, he detected movements, even climbing trees for vantage points.

It was the fiercest he had ever fought in these drills.

For the remaining time, he dashed through the forest like a madman, firing arrow after arrow.

Whish—!

“Captain, you saw me? I was completely hidden!”

Whish, whish—!

“Captain… I thought those were real arrows.”

“Leave.”

He swiftly raised his tally, making up for his slow start.

Snap—!

The sound of a branch breaking behind him made him whirl around, bowstring drawn tight.

“Apologies. I’m not a knight.”

Claude stood there, smiling. Seeing the source of the noise, Rai lowered his bow as well.

Since the hunt began, this was the first time they’d come face to face.

Claude, too, bore dirt all over his hunting clothes—proof he had fought hard.

“How much time is left?”

“About three minutes.”

“Already? Time flew by.”

Rai thought the same—so focused, he hadn’t noticed the time passing.

“Rai, how many did you take down?”

Instead of answering, Rai sensed the remaining knights. He didn’t want Claude to know if his number was smaller.

“Not even willing to speak to me now?”

Claude’s exhaustion made his tone sharp.

“…Twenty-seven.”

He showed the tags the defeated knights had handed over.

“Ha. That makes things tricky.”

Claude raised his own string of tags.

“I also have twenty-seven.”

If not for his poor start, Rai could have beaten him easily.

Regret burned in his chest—his own lack of control had cost him. He clenched his fist, and Claude’s cold gaze flicked to the motion.

“A tie, then. Should we both go to Lady Eva? Asking her together to be crown princess—that would be amusing.”

Though his words sounded like a joke, his face was utterly serious.

Rai stared silently at him, then moved.

“…Rai, what are you doing?”

Rai raised his bow and aimed it directly at Claude.