Chapter 71 : Wyvern Hunt

“Oh my, Prince—this is so much fun, hoho.”

“Indeed, and just look at how handsome he is, like a sculpture…”

Laughter continuously bubbled up from the surrounding ladies-in-waiting.

“…Thank you for your kind words.”

Meanwhile, Glenn was not feeling very good right now.

It was because he had just lost sight of Isabelle, who had been secretly observing him until a moment ago.

The cause was the persistent attention from the ladies right in front of him, who clung to him so tenaciously that he couldn’t simply ignore them like usual.

If he did, rumors would surely spread that the Glenn Lepent Prince was rude to ladies or even savage.

Wasn’t it obvious what kind of gossip would arise?

“…How bothersome.”

That was why he never liked social gatherings in his previous life either.

He was simply not the type to enjoy such gatherings where one had to play a role.

“Prince, what do you usually enjoy? Perhaps you like horseback riding as well?”

“Ah, of course…”

Glenn was about to answer but suddenly turned his head. He had detected the Blood Magic signal he had mentioned earlier.

Shifting his gaze, he saw Isabelle blinking in the enemy’s camp.

“Oh my, Prince Glenn?”

Her tone sounded friendly, but her expression was as cold as ice.

It was as if she was barely suppressing some overwhelming emotion.

“Have you arrived?”

“Are you enjoying yourself? Hm—judging by how engaged you are, it seems you’re having quite a good time.”

There was a hint of sarcasm in her words.

Moreover, she kept repeatedly sending the Blood Magic signal they had set up beforehand. Even if one didn’t know the reason, it clearly meant she was deeply angry.

“…Is something the matter?”

“…Matter? Do you really not know? Ah, but first, my apologies, ladies.”

Her sharp gaze swept the surrounding ladies-in-waiting, silencing them instantly. Some naturally shrank back for a moment.

“Ah—no, Princess.”

“Y-Yes, it’s nothing.”

Of course, not everyone was so compliant.

“What could be the matter, Princess? Glenn is currently having a pleasant conversation with us.”

Isabelle’s eyes flickered.

Such an insolent woman.

She muttered under her breath and smiled.

“Ah, Lady Lipfdenal is here too. Nice to see you. Is your father well?”

A woman with long blonde hair neatly tied back, the youngest daughter of the Lipfdenal Count family, Carlis Lipfdenal.

She was also the lady who had been the most proactive in approaching Glenn so far.

The Lipfdenal family was currently gaining strength thanks to a recently successful business expansion. As a result, the brashness of that household’s noble children was skyrocketing.

Isabelle raised the corner of her mouth, as if looking down on a kitten who didn’t know its place.

Carlis sensed a brief chill but did not reveal it, instead smiling along.

“I’m glad to see you too, Princess. My father has been quite active lately, hoho.”

“Oh my, that’s wonderful news. It seems the Lipfdenal family’s recent business ventures are doing well? I heard you’ve been dealing in jewelry?”

The Lipfdenal family’s recent rapid expansion was thanks to their large-scale distribution of finely crafted gold and silver jewelry throughout the Empire.

“That’s an honor, to have a family like ours garner such interest.”

In truth, Isabelle knew this better than anyone.

Why?

Because the gold and silver supplied there, as well as the artisans who crafted the jewelry, all came from the Stauffen family.

“Of course I know. It’s a place that gains greatly from the goods and people our family supplies. How could it be otherwise?”

Carlis frowned, suddenly sensing something odd.

Why bring up that fact now of all times?

“…That—”

“But just hypothetically, if suddenly the mining of gold and silver were to drop, or the artisans went bankrupt… would it not also affect the noble family’s business?”

The question was rhetorical.

No, it was not really a question but a threat.

Isabelle was someone with enough influence to actually carry out such a thing.

“W-What are you talking about?”

Carlis vaguely understood that the family’s business was closely connected to the Stauffen family. In fact, it was probably harder to find a business completely unrelated to Stauffen in this country.

But she did not expect Isabelle to be so openly malicious. Of course, among nobles, such things—threats—were so common they barely warranted the name.

The problem was that Carlis was still too young to fully grasp all this.

“Why do you look so shocked, Lady Lipfdenal? I’m merely speaking of possibilities… right, everyone?”

Isabelle deliberately sought agreement from the surrounding ladies-in-waiting. They were likely close to Carlis.

Those who seemed ready to support quietly trembled and avoided Isabelle’s gaze.

Carlis bit her lip slightly.

“T-This is intimidation! Why bring that up here now—”

Though she understood perfectly, she refused to admit it.

Judging by her expression, she seemed aware her cause was lost… Well, people like her simply refused to listen nicely.

Isabelle changed her expression and asked coldly,

“Do you still not understand your place?”

“…Th-That—”

Under the near-lethal gaze, Carlis was left flustered.

“Why? Do you have something else to say?”

Shifting her gaze naturally, Carlis looked around at the other ladies as if asking for help.

They all avoided eye contact—no one dared defy Isabelle.

“If not, then… surely you have something you ‘must say,’ Lady?”

Wanting to say and having to say—

Similar, but distinctly different.

As the enemy’s gaze pinned Carlis down, she felt as if her breath was being choked.

“…I-I apologize, Princess.”

By now, tears shimmered in her eyes. Her voice trembled slightly, and it was clear she was no ordinary woman.

Of course, Isabelle did not care.

“From now on, watch where you lie down and keep your legs crossed. It’s pathetic otherwise.”

After delivering her cold warning, Carlis’s face turned a deep shade of blue. Whether she listened or not, Isabelle glanced at Glenn, who was visibly trembling.

“Prince, would you like to talk with me for a moment?”

As if not expecting a reply, she immediately took a step forward.

“…Then, until next time, ladies.”

Glenn also bowed slightly to the ladies around him and moved.

…But why did he feel like he was heading somewhere to be punished?

Without realizing it, he smiled wryly to himself.

***

“Hold me.”

“Huh?”

Isabelle, who had been walking ahead, suddenly said this to Glenn.

Glenn naturally did not understand.

“Grab my arm and pull me quickly.”

“What on earth—”

“No more words, just do as I say.”

Sensing an unspoken command, Glenn complied obediently.

He gently pulled one of Isabelle’s arms as she walked ahead—

“Oh my, Prince!”

“…?”

As if she had been waiting, she immediately leaned against him slightly. To an outsider, it would look like Glenn forcibly embraced her.

“What is this—”

“Shh. Just like this… N-No, you can’t—wait.”

Isabelle spoke as if acting, sending a sharp glance over Glenn’s shoulder.

Once at the back, she fixed her eyes on Raoul.

“…Guh.”

As soon as Glenn caught her gaze, the Count’s expression instantly darkened. He was probably angry, thinking that Glenn had forcibly held the Princess.

Humans really are easy to read.

And another gaze—fierce and haughty.

She met eyes with Carlis and the other ladies-in-waiting.

“…Hmph.”

That was more of a warning. Most couldn’t meet Isabelle’s eyes, and a few even showed rebellious attitudes without knowing their place.

She memorized the faces of those rebellious ladies one by one before whispering back to Glenn.

“That’s enough. Now take me out to the terrace.”

“…Understood.”

Glenn roughly understood what she was up to.

So this was possible, huh? He thought quietly, impressed as they moved.

***

The terrace basked in the warm afternoon sunlight, presenting a rather elegant scene. Beyond the white marble railing, the blue sky and lush greenery immediately captured the eye.

A sofa placed a few steps ahead looked luxurious with its soft silk cushions. On a small table lay silver-crafted wine glasses, a crystal decanter, and fine wines.

It was excessively lavish for a typical terrace, but for the Stauffen family, that was perfectly normal.

“Your outfit is a bit disheveled. Let me help.”

Isabelle spoke as soon as they arrived, still sounding somewhat angry.

Glenn tried to cooperate—

“…Ah—ugh.”

“Relax.”

Isabelle tugged at his necktie unexpectedly. Taken by surprise, Glenn’s head was pulled forward.

The displeased enemy beside him demanded sternly,

“You ignored my signals.”

“…I didn’t notice. Make the signals stronger next time—”

“Were you distracted by the ladies?”

Was that the reason for her anger?

But it was unfair from Glenn’s side too.

“I got caught up by chance.”

“Then you should’ve refused.”

“…Do you remember what you told me before?”

“Don’t make enemies if you can help it. If you do, be prepared to destroy them.”

“…Sounds like a lame excuse.”

“Besides, like I said before, I can’t react to Blood Magic as sensitively as the Princess yet.”

To put it metaphorically: Isabelle was so attuned that she could react sharply even to a mere brush of clothing in such a noisy space.

But Glenn was still far from that level.

“…Hmm, if that’s the case, I thought you might have asked for a dance.”

The cold enemy’s gaze softened a little. She realized Glenn wasn’t just making excuses.

“Is that a problem?”

“I clearly said to dance with at least two more people.”

“You said at least two.”

“…Since when did you listen to me so well? Anyway, don’t dance any more. It’s a waste of time.”

Something about her words was inconsistent.

Glenn shrugged his shoulders at the somewhat complaining tone.

“You told me to match you with various partners.”

“That’s why I said it. I’m not asking you to follow the ladies all day.”

“Hm, that’s a shame. I was thinking of requesting one more song from the Princess later.”

With a sly smile, Isabelle saw through his teasing and found it difficult to react.

“…Let’s get to the main topic.”

That annoying man.

Isabelle was the first to break eye contact.

***

Isabelle sat with her legs crossed on the sofa, lightly tapping her fan.

“The outcome of the first Wyvern will have to wait a bit longer. We’ll have to decide after tonight’s dinner.”

“Wyvern Hunt.”

This was the plan unfolding at this martial gathering between Isabelle and Glenn.

Two targets.

The first Wyvern—the heir of the Senate’s leading family, Marquis Edmund Crempski.

And the second Wyvern—

“How about Count Raoul?”

The leader of the moderate nobles, Count Raoul Nerbourg.

“He’s almost ours. His expression just before coming here was certain.”

It looked like someone on the verge of doing something reckless.

Raoul was probably thinking,

“The Princess desperately needs my help. I must act immediately.”

“I’m the villain, huh?”

“From his perspective, yes. According to the plan.”

Their roles in this hunt were clear.

Isabelle was the ‘driven’ who lured the Wyverns,

Glenn was the ‘bait’ who attracted them.

And finally, the ‘hunter’—

“My father will appear at the decisive moment.”

That hunter was Contrat.

He was the one who had originally requested this hunt.

The plan was to drive out both the Senate’s leader and the moderate faction leader.

The “Final Housecleaning” that Contrat had mentioned before meant exactly this.

To create a pretext to expel the moderates and the Senate.

That was the purpose of this “Wyvern Hunt.”

“The problem is… Marquis Edmund.”

“He’s a very suspicious and cautious man.”

Isabelle thought she could leave it to him, but Glenn did not want that. He was participating in the plan himself.

“…Could we possibly pit Count Raoul against Marquis Edmund at the wedding?”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

Isabelle showed interest in this unexpected proposal.

“You said Raoul and Edmund don’t get along well. I want to make better use of that.”

It was only natural the two nobles didn’t get along.

They were politically on opposing sides.

From Edmund’s perspective, Raoul and the moderates were just traitors. Conversely, from Raoul’s perspective, the Senate was a group of stubborn old men.

Isabelle was aware of this but hadn’t yet thought of a way to utilize it. If done wrong, she could lose trust from both sides.

She mulled over Glenn’s words carefully, then spoke again.

“Tell me more.”

Her expression grew serious as she listened.