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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Assault
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For a moment, Aracilla thought the arrows were aimed at the Golden Panther.
But even after the panther disappeared, the arrows didn't stop, and Demian's words, as he parried them with his sword, snapped her back to reality.
"It's an assault! Madam, come this way!"
Aracilla, bewildered, followed Demian and hid behind the rock where the panther had been sitting.
An open assault at a Hunting Festival hosted by the Imperial Family, even in a secluded forest, was unthinkable.
What's more, it was the first time in her life she had ever been attacked.
Though she had lived a life with many rivals and enemies, she hadn't made any foes who would go so far as to send assassins after her.
"What kind of sudden assault is this?"
Demian, on the other hand, who had plenty of enemies, reacted indifferently.
"They're probably after me. I've been attacked like this many times since I was young."
"What? Are you insane?"
Aracilla's jaw dropped. How could he speak so calmly about frequently facing assassination attempts?
Indeed, more arrows were flying towards Demian than towards her.
Demian glanced at Aracilla. Crouching behind the large rock, she looked even smaller and more fragile than usual.
'If they get close and attack, she'll clearly be overwhelmed immediately.'
In that case, it seemed better to keep her hidden so she wouldn't get caught in the fight.
He had always overcome such crises alone, and confident that he could deal with any number of opponents, he didn't need Aracilla's help anyway.
"Stay here, Madam."
"Where are you going?"
"I'll go handle it and return. Stay hidden somewhere safe until it's over."
Before he could finish speaking, the rock they were hiding behind split in half with a resounding crack. It had been cleaved by magic shot from within the bushes.
This meant there was a Mage among the assassins.
"Wait a minute."
Aracilla, keenly sensing an ominous aura from the black mark left on the rock, grabbed Demian and shook her head.
"There's a Mage among them. Something feels off; we should fight together."
"It's fine. It's not as if I haven't dealt with Mages among assassins before."
Demian, after observing the enemy's movements, moved Aracilla behind a large tree nearby and said,
"You're vulnerable to close-range attacks, aren't you? It's obvious just by looking."
"Don't worry about that. I'm just as proficient in defensive magic as I am in offensive magic."
When lightning-attributed magic flew from the opposite direction and struck the tree, Aracilla quickly formed a shield to block it, then smiled proudly.
But Demian still didn't seem convinced.
"Then stay hidden behind me and protect yourself."
Demian said this and started to move forward alone. Aracilla promptly grabbed his clothes with her other hand.
"Just let me help! It's not like they couldn't be after me, so why do you keep telling me to stay put?!"
At Aracilla's protest, Demian paused.
There was a high probability that this assault was orchestrated by the Vandermir Ducal Family. Most of the assassins he had encountered since childhood had been from them.
In truth, he had secretly suspected they might be planning something at this Hunting Festival, but he had assumed they wouldn't dare plot anything at an event hosted by the Imperial Family.
However, at this moment, with his prediction completely shattered, he couldn't rule out the possibility that Aracilla was also a target.
The Vandermir Ducal Family had already attempted to harm her once before.
However,
'If that's the case, then all the more reason I must handle it.'
One way or another, Aracilla had gotten involved in the Ducal Family's internal struggles because of him.
He didn't want her exposed to danger again.
Even if they were targeting Aracilla, he seemed to be the primary target, so she would likely be fine if she just quietly hid herself.
"That possibility is low. So, Madam, don't intervene..."
"Oh, come on! Whether I'm the target or you are, why can't we fight together? Why are you refusing help in a life-threatening situation?"
Putting everything else aside, Aracilla was a person with a sense of justice and humanity. Assassins had come to kill someone; she couldn't easily ignore it.
Moreover, she felt this even more strongly because the enemies seemed quite skilled, not just some insignificant thugs.
"Honestly, I'd help even a stranger in this situation, and we're married, aren't we? We're in this together."
"..."
"It's only natural for me to help you. I absolutely won't hold this over your head, so let's just do this together!"
Her eyes, like a transparent lake whose depths couldn't be fathomed, gazed steadily at him. It was difficult to judge whether it would be dangerous or not to step into them.
After a long hesitation, Demian finally nodded. Arrows rained down ceaselessly, and magic attacks struck one after another, the tree they were hiding behind was on the verge of toppling.
"Fight as carefully as possible. If it looks dangerous, retreat immediately."
"You, too. If it looks dangerous while you're fighting, hide behind me."
At Aracilla's confident reply, Demian let out a laugh that was either a genuine chuckle or a wry one. To hear such words from such a delicate woman.
Yet, somehow, it felt reassuring, and he quickly composed his expression, speaking in a low voice.
"Then, let's go."
"Alright."
***
The Imperial Family's tents were red, the tents of each noble family were white, and the common tents were yellow.
The noble Ladies who weren't participating in the Hunting Festival gathered in the yellow tents to converse. Since the family tents were often used by the elder women of the household, the younger ones gathered outside.
Among them were a few male nobles who hadn't gone hunting. Most of them had injuries or chronic illnesses that prevented them from participating.
In other words, all able-bodied men had gone into the forest to hunt.
In such a situation, Oscar, who was wandering around the yellow tents, neglecting the hunt without any particular reason, looked utterly like a good-for-nothing.
Still, his appearance was quite handsome, and his family was none other than the Vandermir Ducal Family, so many Ladies were interested in him.
It was when Oscar had joined the table of the Lady he found most appealing and was idly chatting.
"But Young Master, why aren't you going hunting?"
"...Hmm?"
A rather displeasing question flowed from the lips of the Lady he had been so carefully trying to charm. The Lady, who failed to notice his subtly stiffening expression, continued.
"Others are diligently hunting to make the woman they fancy the queen of the festival. I was just wondering if there's a reason you're here next to me."
The Lady's intention was to find out if Oscar was already involved with someone.
He mostly stayed in the ducal territory, so not much was known about his relationships.
Since his younger brother, Demian Vandermir, had suddenly married after a secret romance, she wanted to confirm if his older brother might do the same.
'What... Is she trying to test me, given her status?'
But Oscar, being narrow-minded and selfish, was instantly annoyed by this perceived probing. He hadn't even done anything yet, and it already felt like she was being possessive and restrictive, which he disliked.
He quickly lost interest in the Lady and looked around for another woman.
He wasn't hunting as he should, instead, he was mentally ranking the Ladies gathered in the tents when a relatively quiet table caught his eye.
Among those quietly sipping tea and chatting, Oscar spotted a rather pretty Lady and stood up.
"Y-Young Master? Where are you going...!"
The Lady, flustered, tried to stop him as he abruptly rose and left without a word.
But Oscar was not the kind of man to be kind even to someone he only intended to amuse himself with for a day.
He coldly brushed off the Lady's hand and stormed towards the table where the quiet conversation was taking place, as if launching an assault.
"May I join you for a moment?"
"Y-yes?"
The Ladies, who generally had gentle dispositions, were flustered by his sudden appearance.
Oscar, without waiting for permission, sat down in an empty chair and smiled suavely. The Lady he had set his sights on was sitting next to him.
"What is your name?"
"Ah... I'm Amelia Bennet."
"Ah, so the flower I was captivated by and followed is named Amelia Bennet. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Oscar took Amelia's hand without permission and kissed the back of it. Amelia's shoulders flinched at the unconsented touch.
Naive and passive reaction. An obscure family whose name he'd never heard.
These were ideal conditions for Oscar's habits as a philanderer in the ducal territory to start resurfacing.
"Lady Bennet, isn't it boring just staying here with your friends?"
"What? No, I'm fine..."
"How about we move somewhere else for a more intimate conversation, just the two of us?"
As if he didn't see Amelia's discomfort, Oscar stubbornly grabbed her wrist and pulled her.
"You won't regret coming with me. I'm incredibly popular with ladies, you see."
"Ah, no..."
The other Ladies couldn't actively intervene because their opponent was a Vandermir Young Master.
"Stop, Young Master."
A slender, clear voice stopped Oscar. Amelia's expression brightened as she saw who had appeared behind him.
"Lady Hugo!"
"Lady Bennet seems uncomfortable."
Iris, with a gentle smile, naturally and smoothly took Amelia's hand from Oscar's grip.
Oscar turned to look at her, somewhat displeased by her sudden interference. He already had various negative feelings towards the Hugo Marquisate.
'Who does she think she is, telling me to stop...'
Oscar's expression, which had been contorted in annoyance, subtly shifted.
He had just seen the beautiful Iris, her brown hair neatly braided, adorned with a delicate flower in her innocent ivory dress.
What?
'Quite to my taste, isn't she?'
Enchanted by Aracilla's dazzling beauty, Oscar had not paid much attention to Iris until now. He had only seen her in passing at the wedding, never properly.
But now, looking directly at Iris in this setting, he realized she possessed considerable beauty.
Her delicate features, slender physique, and the aura of a submissive and modest woman captivated Oscar's heart.
'She doesn't have that fierce vibe like my brother's wife. If I were to marry, this one would be much better, wouldn't she?'
In truth, Aracilla was a great beauty, but she didn't exactly fit Oscar's taste. He didn't particularly like women who were so stunning they could intimidate him.
Oscar had always preferred women with a pure appearance and an obedient personality.
In that regard, Iris, who seemed more fragile and refined than his brother's wife, was the epitome of his ideal woman.
'Why didn't I consider the other Lady Hugo before?'
Oscar, whose mind worked faster than anyone when it came to women, grinned.
'I can charm this Lady Hugo, can't I?'
His plan to seduce Aracilla had long failed, so it was time to move on to the next target.
Iris, right before him, seemed much easier to handle than his brother's wife.
