Joel narrowed his eyes as he noticed Viana’s captivated expression toward Eryndor. Reyes, standing beside him, also looked displeased. He glanced at Viana, who remained silent, then cleared his throat loudly, trying to break her focus.
"Are you alright, Your Highness?" he asked, his tone sharper than usual.
Viana blinked, snapping out of her trance, then quickly responded, trying to mask her nervousness, "Eh? Yes, I’m fine."
Joel clicked his tongue quietly. "You look a little too srized for soone who was just nearly mauled by a magical wolf," he muttered.
Viana shot him a sharp glare, but before she could reply, the sound of approaching hooves echoed through the forest.
From behind the trees, Prince Rayne and Arden appeared with a group of soldiers. They quickly pulled their reins when they spotted Viana, Reyes, and Joel, then dismounted their horses.
They rushed forward, but their attention soon shifted to the magical wolf lying unconscious on the ground.
Prince Rayne raised an eyebrow. "What happened here?" he asked, his gaze shifting from Viana to Eryndor, who stood calmly beside the wolf.
Arden stepped forward, his eyes widening as he examined the creature. "This isn’t their territory. Why is a magical wolf here?" he said, his expression tinged with unease.
The soldiers also looked unsettled, so gripping their weapons in case the wolf suddenly woke up.
Viana glanced at Eryndor, who remained silent, unfazed by the newcors. He was only watching Prince Rayne, who stared back at him.
"We... found this magical wolf while hunting. It attacked us, and we had to fight for our lives. If not for the presence of... this elf, things could have been much worse," Viana explained.
The Prince turned his keen gaze toward Eryndor, his interest evident. "It’s rare for an elf to show himself among humans. Who are you?" he asked in a calm yet curious tone.
Eryndor lifted his chin, his expression unruffled. "I’m rely soone who happened to be in the right place at the right ti," he replied with a slight smile.
His smile was so captivating that Viana found herself staring again, making the other n grow visibly uneasy.
Arden glanced at Viana, who seed entranced by the elf, then carefully spoke to her. "Your Highness. Do you think the appearance of this magical wolf has anything to do with the changes at the border?" he asked quietly.
Viana looked at Arden for a mont before nodding slightly. "Speak to about the border later," she whispered to him.
Arden nodded, his face slightly flushed, realizing he had misspoken and that this wasn’t the right ti to discuss it.
Then, Viana shifted her attention to Eryndor.
"I would like to invite you to our tent, at least to offer you a al as our gratitude," she said. She knew that elves tended to avoid humans.
Eryndor gave a faint smile but shook his head. "I cannot join you. My presence among humans has already drawn enough attention," he replied. "However, I promise I will visit Your Highness soday."
Viana was about to insist, but he raised his hand, then turned and vanished into the trees with movents so swift yet graceful that they seed otherworldly. She remained frozen, srized by the way the elf moved.
Her focus was pulled away by the commotion of soldiers lifting the unconscious magical wolf. They handled it cautiously, afraid it might suddenly wake and attack.
When they arrived back at the camp, chaos erupted. The nobles and everyone present were stunned at the sight of the massive magical creature.
Whispers spread rapidly, with people questioning how a magical wolf could appear in a place that was supposed to be safe.
"What is this?!" one noble exclaid.
"A magical wolf in the forest? That’s impossible!" another comnted with fear.
Viana stepped forward and spoke loudly. "Calm down. We are investigating why this creature has appeared here," she said, trying to reassure them.
The atmosphere gradually cald, though whispers and quiet conversations still rippled through the nobles and hunting participants. They were still trying to understand how a magical wolf had appeared in this area.
So looked worried, while others were more intrigued by the rare creature now present in the camp.
As night approached, the announcent for the Royal Hunting winners echoed through the gathering. A royal ssenger stepped onto the stage, holding a scroll containing the official results.
"With the conclusion of the Royal Hunting Event, it is now ti to announce the winners and to whom their hunts will be awarded," he declared loudly.
The participants started gathering, while noble guests sat calmly, waiting for the results.
"In third place—Count Lazarus," the ssenger continued. "With his successful hunt of five deer and one rare bird, his prize will be awarded to... Princess Viana of Elysia."
Viana stiffened upon hearing her na. Count Lazarus rely gave a faint smile, glancing at her briefly before returning his attention to the announcent.
She eyed Count Lazarus tensely, silently cursing in her mind at his behavior toward her.
"In second place—Prince Rayne," the ssenger announced. "With his success in hunting a large bear, his prize will also be awarded to... Princess Viana of Elysia."
A few murmurs of approval ca from those pleased with the decision, while Viana could only hold her breath, her gaze shifting to Prince Rayne, who seed entirely at ease with the outco. He even smirked slightly, flashing a playful wink in her direction.
The crowd erupted into hushed discussions about how Princess Viana was receiving all the hunting rewards.
"And the first-place winner..."
At those words, the murmurs stopped, and the camp fell silent.
"The first-place winner of the Royal Hunting Event is... Princess Viana of Elysia!" the ssenger’s voice echoed throughout the camp.
For a mont, silence blanketed the area before protests erupted.
"This is unfair! Winning just because she captured a magical wolf?" a nobleman shouted.
"The hunt isn’t about capturing a creature that shouldn’t even be here!" another noble protested.
However, so in the crowd began clapping, acknowledging Viana’s bravery and success. Though doubts lingered, the decision was final.
The royal ssenger ignored the murmurs filling the air and continued firmly, "With this victory, Princess Viana is crowned as the Queen of the Royal Hunting Event."
Joel and Reyes exchanged small smiles, while Prince Rayne seed indifferent to the brewing controversy.
Viana, on the other hand, was still trying to process what had just happened.
She won. She was nad Queen of the Royal Hunting Event. And she hadn’t expected it at all.
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