The Solitude of an Emperor [TO BE UNPUBLISHED]

29 : The Foreigner

It was another year's celebration for the hunting competition. This time, it was a three-day celebration containing different activities. Every year, it has always been a new activity and this time, commoners have hunting competition as well. On the first day of the hunting competition, nobles started it. On the second day, participants from the commoners had the same competition. And the third day was the most thrilling one. It is a competition where any qualified man can join, either commoner, noble, or foreigner.

Nobles who lost on the first day of the competition joined the third day as well as commoners who lost during the second day. However, there were unexpected people who participated in the third day competition. These include Alluka, Silla, the Five Captains, Princess Darya and... some foreigners.

What is even more interesting in this year's hunting competition is there are ten winners in every competition, ranked from first to tenth. The ten winners from every category will be given special awards on the last day of the competition.

"I am not going to lose to Her Highness." Alluka announced while looking at Princess Darya.

"So do I, Sir Alluka." Princess Darya chuckled.

"I am not going to lose too, Dad!" Silla exclaimed, rolling her eyes to Alluka.

"Silla, you are with the presence of Her Highness, Princess Darya." Alluka warned his adopted daughter but Silla just showed him her tongue.

"T-This brat!"

Princess Darya could only chuckle while shaking her head because of the usual interaction of the son and daughter. She did not expect that Silla would get Alluka's characteristics after making him adopt her. Now she wonders how annoyed Ejila gets when these two ramble in their home.

"Sir Alluka needs to do his best," Captain Billion joins the rambling of the two. "Your wife will be giving birth this month right?"

"Yes, sir."

So then the other captains began teasing him. "Let us do our best so Sir Alluka will do his best to get the golden trophy." Captain Urgos

"I am also expecting the trophy for my grandchildren." Captain Billion shared, putting more challenges.

"I would like to get the trophy too, for my wife." Captain Key

Alluka started losing hope of winning because of the following challenge from different Captains. How could he ever match these talented people?

Meanwhile, a foreign man with golden hair was looking towards the direction of Princess Darya. He can see her communicating to her subjects, treating them like her friends. She is even going along with their jokes.

'What an interesting Princess.'

After hearing about the changes made in the upcoming hunting competition, he came to the Largoth Empire to join the festival to be held in the capital city. However, who knows that he was given a chance to join the third day hunting competition because he is qualified? Who would also expect that he could see the popular Princess of the Empire? The gods must really favour him for giving this opportunity.

The hunting competition started with the ringing of the bell. All of the participants then entered the forest to start their hunt. As for him who desires to observe the Princess, he followed her trails secretly and quietly but he never knew what obstacles were coming for him. In just a second, he found himself hanging upside down in a tree after his horse fell into a trap.

He groaned in frustration that he was not able to follow the Princess further but the gods might really favour him. He is now looking at the Princess up close. She is below him and is looking up to him.

"Do you need help?" He heard from the Princess. Somehow, he fell into the depths of her eyes. She looked like a goddess who was there to rescue him.

Princess Darya took an arrow from her back as she put in on her bow. She pulled the tail of the arrow and struck the rope he was trapped on. So then, the foreigner fell on the ground and was groaning in pain. He stood up to look at Princess Darya.

"Thank you, my lady."

"I'm glad you are alright. If you cannot bear the pain, you can call for the medics."

"I am alright, my lady. Thanks to your immediate rescue. How should I repay such kindness?"

"I believe that kindness should not be repaid by anything. Are you a foreigner?"

"Yes."

"You must be coming from the nearby Kingdom." She beamed, making him flinch as to how the Princess knew that he was coming from the nearby Kingdom when he was in full disguise.

"You should enjoy the festival and the competition. Good luck."

He watched the Princess run her horse away as he was left speechless and curious. He then found himself touching his head because curiosity was filling him up. He got thrilled with this curiosity, making him smile. "I suppose I will have to keep coming in this Empire."

Princess Darya hunted all animals she came across. It was only a rabbit and small deer. The reason why she joined the hunting competition is not to win. It is because... she saw the foreigners a while ago and she recognized one of them.

The man she saved earlier, she still could remember how he named her 'Danaeris' but left her to be eaten by the wild boars. It was the Crown Prince of Corstan Kingdom, the Largoth Empire's long standing neighbour and enemy at the same time.

The first war between Largoth Empire and Corstan Kingdom cost the life of her father, Prince Darionne. The rulers of the Kingdom are conquerors by blood and their ultimate goal is to conquer the biggest Empire in the world, which is Largoth Empire. However, their first war was stopped upon losing both Princes from each side. And now, the neighbouring countries are at peace while preparing for an upcoming war that soon may happen.

As of this time, was that man already a Crown Prince? If not, he is merely an opponent as they are both desiring for the throne. Soon, she will meet that man again and this time, she will not let him win just like how he tossed her around in her third life.

"Lysandra," Captain Theobarlt finally found her. "Desmond," she turned around to see him.

"Are you alright?" Captain Theobarlt was worried about leaving her alone in the hunting grounds, that is why after hunting a few animals, he came looking for her.

Princess Darya chuckles, "I am strong and well, Desmond."

Captain Theobarlt commanded his stallion closer to her mare as then he reached his hand to her cheek. "Can I kiss you?"

Princess Darya blushed and nodded. So Captain Theobarlt leaned close to her as he kissed her lips. Meanwhile, their horses rubbed their heads to each other, lovingly.

***
END OF CHAPTER 29
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