* * *
Though swordsmanship was mandatory education from childhood, it wasn’t enough to surpass Elyrion.
She could’ve competed using archery, but after a contestant died from a stray arrow in a previous tournament, bows were banned.
Naturally, magic use was strictly prohibited.
This entire competition was stacked in Elyrion’s favor.
Melody’s face darkened with frustration.
Of all times…
“Whoever gifts me the Hunting Tournament’s grand prize… I’ll teach them the secret.”
She didn’t know why she made that reckless bet, but this time, she had to win—no matter what.
As Melody pondered strategies, a voice suddenly echoed through the corridor.
“Your Highness!”
It was Helid, who had been in the Knight Commander’s office just moments ago.
Though him barging into her chambers unannounced was routine, she was still furious at him for what he did to Eren.
“I told you not to leave the Knight Order building, didn’t I?”
Helid looked awful, probably thanks to Ashard.
When Melody first saw him today, his face was a mess—an ugly bruise darkened his cheek, and blood crusted around the split in his lips
She couldn’t see beneath his clothes, but his body likely wasn’t in much better shape.
That’s why she stationed knights to keep him confined indoors.
Letting him wander around with that battered appearance would only spark strange rumors among the nobility.
“Looks like the punishment wasn’t harsh enough.”
“Punishment? What, you working with that bastard Ashard now too?”
“Go back, Viscount. You’re off-duty from Knight Order business for now.”
“So that’s why those Black Knight Order thugs were lurking this morning. And what, I’m supposed to sit quietly, locked up like a pet?”
Helid slammed his hand on the desk with a loud bang.
Documents scattered across the floor in a chaotic mess.
Melody’s brow furrowed as her neatly organized papers fell into disarray.
In that instant, Melody’s mana surged violently.
The artifact around Helid’s neck tightened fiercely.
Caught off guard, Helid clawed at the artifact, gasping for breath.
“It’s useless. You can’t break that thing with brute force.”
“F-F*ck, kuh…!”
Helid’s face flushed red from lack of oxygen, quickly turning pale.
Melody watched him coldly, eyes unmoving, then slowly withdrew her mana.
“Cough! Cough—! Hah…”
Barely able to breathe again, Helid coughed violently, gasping for air.
His bloodshot eyes glared fiercely at Melody.
“If you stay still, things like that won’t happen again.”
“Haa… What… do I need to do for you to let me go?”
His voice cracked, unable to speak properly.
Melody calmly looked down at Helid, who had somehow ended up kneeling before him.
‘Let him go?’
There was no way he’d release him, not after what had already happened.
“F*ck! You only need to restrain the ones you want! Why the hell do I have to go through this too?!”
His voice was hoarse, but he still screamed in frustration.
He had brought this on himself, yet he clearly felt wronged for being forced to wear the artifact because of Carlyle.
“You seem to hate Carlyle Firentium quite a bit.”
“Tch… Would you like him if you were me?”
Cursing under his breath, Helid stood up.
As he moved, the sword at his waist came into Melody’s view.
He had sealed the blade with a spell so it couldn’t be used, yet he still carried it around—it was almost comical.
‘…A sword?’
A good idea crossed Melody’s mind.
He took off the necklace hanging around his neck and infused it with his magic, then held it out in front of Helid.
“What’s this?”
“A necklace infused with my magic.”
“And?”
“With this, you can freely control the artifact you’re wearing. Of course, you can’t remove it. The same applies to the Duke Firentium and the Marquis Renan’s artifacts.”
He worded it ambiguously, but it seemed Helid didn’t fully grasp what that meant.
“Simply put, with this, you can do to the Duke and the Marquis what I just did to you.”
A man of humble origin, yet Helid Yulta rose to the position of Epentel’s General with only his swordsmanship.
It was safe to assume his hunting skills were exceptional as well.
All Eren asked was for the prize to be handed over.
There was no rule that he personally had to compete in the hunting tournament.
In the end, as long as the prize ended up in Eren’s hands, nothing else mattered.
Traditionally, the winner presented the prize to their lover, but there were occasions when it was offered in loyalty to a superior or mentor.
Coincidentally, Helid Yulta—renowned for his swordsmanship—was now the commander of Eren’s personal knights.
There was no reason he couldn’t pull this off.
If he presented the prize to him, Eren could pass it on to…
“You’re not giving this to me for free. What do you want, Your Highness?”
Helid’s voice was low, sensing Melody’s hidden agenda.
The Princess was as irritating as ever, but he’d learned through experience not to carelessly provoke her.
And frankly, right now, Carlyle Firentium pissed him off even more.
“The hunting tournament is coming up. You’ve received your noble title, so participation is mandatory.”
“…Hunting tournament?”
“Win it, and hand over the prize to me.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes. Just hand me the prize, and this is yours. Your swordsmanship is exceptional, so I’m offering favorable terms.”
Of course, it was.
The noble’s leisurely hunts were nothing compared to the survival-driven hunts he’d endured.
Whether the prey was beast or man, neither Carlyle nor Julius could compete with him there.
“You’re not going to go back on your word later, right?”
“Of course not. Give me the prize, and you can use that necklace however you want. I’ll handle the aftermath.”
“Fine. It’s a deal, Princess.”
Melody smiled faintly.
Beasts can’t suppress their instincts.
To tame a bastard dog, you use those instincts against them.
It was the moment when the noble Princess mastered the art of handling beasts.
Time passed, and the day of the hunting tournament arrived.
Perhaps thanks to limiting his movements, or Ashard constantly carrying him whenever he tried to walk, Eren’s injured ankle had healed considerably.
The voluntary use of the artifacts—more like shackles in reality—by all three men led to immediate rewards: Helid and Julius were granted estates.
Using mansion repairs as an excuse, Julius, who had been staying at the Fridit estate, relocated.
Eren knew they wouldn’t be around forever, but their earlier-than-expected departure had him smiling for days.
Contrary to his worries, no major incidents occurred, but just the fact that he wouldn’t bump into them anymore was relief enough.
Aside from their roles as the original leads, all three men shared one dangerous instinct—to possess Eren.
Even with the story altered, even with the plot diverging, the threat of kidnapping or confinement remained.
Avoiding them as much as possible was the wisest course.
But that didn’t solve the root problem.
He had fled to Trovien, an enemy nation, only to have those lunatics chase him down, betraying their own homeland in the process.
They weren’t people who could be dealt with using common sense.
Clack—
As Eren sat on the bed, waiting for Ashard, he suddenly felt someone gently wrap their arms around his shoulders.
A familiar scent drifted in with the breeze.
He didn’t even need to look to know who it was.
“All ready, Ashard?”
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
When he turned his head slightly, Ashard’s refined, formal appearance immediately caught his eye.
Every feature was so exquisitely handsome it felt like gazing at a masterpiece.
The sunlight streaming through the window cast a halo around him, making him seem even more flawless.
He looked as if he had stepped straight out of a novel.
Eren had always known Ashard was attractive, but seeing him dressed up like this—he was breathtakingly, almost painfully beautiful.
Lost in admiration, Eren let out a faint sigh without realizing it.
Ashard’s lips curled into a sly smile.
“I dressed to your tastes. Seems like you approve.”
The affectionate gaze in Ashard’s eyes made Eren’s cheeks flush like a watercolor painting.
If only time could freeze in this moment…
Just staring at this face forever would be happiness enough.
“It’s time to leave now.”
“…Ah.”
Eren’s blue eyes wavered with regret.
His transparent expression made it impossible to hide his longing, and Ashard leaned in to whisper softly in his ear.
“No need for such a sad look. Tonight, I’ll let you look as much as you want.”
“…What?”
“It’s been a week already.”
Eren’s eyes widened as he looked up at Ashard.
Realization dawned immediately, his round eyes shimmering with anticipation rather than fear.
* * *