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IBP 85
“It’s been a while.”
Chloe’s face showed no particular thought.
She was simply detached.
And that noble composure of hers stimulated a sense of inferiority.
“I’ve been looking for you for quite some time. Shall we have a brief conversation on the balcony?”
“Ah, let’s do that. Grand Prince Caligo Rivera and my younger sister are over there near the hall.”
“Then we should take the children along as well. It seems not many other children with supernatural abilities are participating in the ball.”
Chloe lightly ignored Dahlia as she took the hand extended by Grand Duke Rivera.
With a gentlemanly smile, Grand Duke Rivera gave a slight nod toward Dahlia.
It was certainly not a very sincere escort.
...However.
What angered her more than the lack of passion in their eyes was the fact that someone like Chloe had been chosen by Grand Duke Rivera.
And that Chloe acted as if being escorted by the Grand Duke was of no particular consequence.
Dahlia glared at Chloe as she walked away, conversing with the Grand Duke.
Looking back, Chloe had always been noble.
Even back when they were, in their own way, friends.
“Lady Melomande. Ah, so Chloe didn't attend today?”
“Did you hear? I heard Lady Chloe, this time at the academy...”
“I mean the dark magic. To be honest, it's a bit scary, but looking at Lady Chloe's attitude, how should I put it... I find myself admiring her?”
People didn't openly compare Chloe and herself.
But Dahlia felt as if she were being endlessly compared to an opponent she could never defeat.
'Maybe Chloe felt it too.'
The fact that Dahlia herself was feeling inferior.
But Chloe didn't do anything to alleviate that inferiority.
She simply looked at the world with those annoying purple eyes, as if she were bored.
While living as Chloe's close friend, there were many times when Dahlia chewed on a base sense of defeat.
She thought she would no longer feel such defeat once Gillen became her lover.
'She took something better again.'
Every time.
It was always like this.
She could hear the voices of people around her whispering, “What is the relationship between Lady Chloe and His Highness the Grand Duke?”, “Could it be that the two of them are newly engaged?”
'She's becoming an object of admiration again.'
If the Grand Duke appeared like a hidden card, as if he were her fiancé...
'This isn't how it's supposed to be.'
She glared at Chloe with bloodshot eyes.
Though no one was saying it explicitly, she felt as if everyone was whispering that Dahlia had been defeated.
Dahlia tried her best to remain calm as she stared at the balcony where Chloe and Grand Duke Rivera had disappeared.
'...Yes. Still, I have him.'
The most sparkling existence among the things she possessed.
* * *
After leaving Coco and Caligo in the balcony room.
After meticulously checking that the knights were standing guard, Chloe and Grand Duke Rivera had a brief meeting on the balcony.
“What is the matter?”
“...Dahlia and Gillen, who are suspected of being spirit creature hunters. There are more than a few people meeting with those two.”
“I am aware of that.”
“Gillen is more dangerous. I suspect he came today with something in mind. Compared to when I saw him before... he feels quite a bit stronger. I heard that Gillen wants to meet the Princess. Be careful.”
Chloe answered coolly.
“Even so, there is no particular need to be careful. It's actually better if I become the target.”
“...Why?”
“If I become the target, it will be easier to gather evidence, won't it?”
Chloe was certainly calm, but Grand Duke Rivera felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Seeing her volunteer to be bait made his stomach twist.
'She's unlike the person who first proposed that I join in catching the spirit creature hunters.'
He spoke with a slight frown.
“Why don't you take a bit more care of yourself?”
“I appreciate the concern, but how many people would seek to preserve their own well-being while seeking revenge after the being they loved most has died?”
Chloe gave a light nod and stood up.
“Well, since the rehabilitation for dark magic seems to be completely finished... I shall show you some proper activity from now on.”
A chilly gaze.
Even those sharp eyes.
There seemed to be no way to dissuade Chloe.
The only answer he could give to such a woman was one.
“...If necessary, I will come to your aid at any time.”
* * *
Everything was definitely fine until the eve of the festival, the first day of the hunting competition!
The next morning.
“So today there's a day hunt and an afternoon hunt, and the competition lasts all day, and then there's a closing ceremony with an award for the winner at night?”
“Yes, that's what they say.”
“But why...”
I looked around.
While the adults had gone to enjoy the hunting competition, I was trapped in a room with other children, watching a dreadfully boring image sphere floating in the air.
“Hmph, why can't I do anything!”
“That's because you're not a participant in the hunting competition, Coco.”
“Then what about Caligo?”
“...The children's hunt is completely weird. I've lost all motivation to participate.”
A child beside me chimed in.
“It was something like folding paper boats, flying them, and then shooting the paper boats with a bow.”
Caligo pouted and grumbled.
“How are you supposed to do that... I thought there would be some epic battle.”
That was it.
At least for the children, there was absolutely no nail-biting action flick.
“It's because all the nobles are gathered here. His Majesty the Emperor said it could be dangerous.”
The maid sister beside us answered kindly.
“In truth, the hunting competition has long since devolved into a social networking event. Still, you must never wander off alone. Understood?”
...Was there no need to be so tense to protect the sister?
I was about to feel a bit relieved when...
“Eh?”
Beyond the image sphere, a truly intense action sequence that we hadn't expected was being shown.
“Oh, that person is my sister!”
* * *
The rules of the hunting competition were simple.
It was a game where the person who caught the most magical beasts in the 'Dark Forest' over the course of a day won.
Every participant wore a magic bracelet on their wrist that automatically counted how many magical beasts they had slain.
Among them, some swung swords while riding horses, and some fought magical beasts on foot.
One person raised a sword and sliced through the arm of a magical beast.
Clang!
Screeeech!
A person whose supernatural ability was <Sword Aura> barely caught their breath after taking down a giant-type magical beast about 2 meters tall.
At that moment.
Ding.
The sound of the number increasing on the magic bracelet was heard.
“Finally, one.”
Even if they were improved, safe magical beasts, catching them was not easy. While the knights were putting in such great effort.
There was someone looking around with an expressionless, almost indifferent face.
It was Chloe Ardos.
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