Why The Hell is Fate Trying to Kill Me?

Chapter 58 Confession

761 NE-08-17.

The morning of the departure for the hunt was filled with primal, disciplined chaos, like a war camp mobilising for glory.

I stood at the top of the entrance stairs, dressed in my dark dress. Adel stood on my right as her hand clasped perfectly in front of her, while Lady Octavi stood on my left with her hand resting on the hilt of her sword.

Below us was a sea of movement. Stable hands and footmen struggled to hold the reins of high-spirited destriers.

"Is a hunt always like.... This aggressive?" I whispered to them as I watched footmen load a rack of spears. "It feels less like a sport and more like an invasion or preparation for war."

"It is a projection of power, my lady," Lady Octavi answered. "The other dukes will bring their best. If House Aurelius brings picnic baskets and a silk tent, they will look us weak. Your father intends to remind them that the 'Golden Family' has steel and prowess..."

"About the destriers... Are they trained for battle as well?" I asked, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension.

Lady Octavi nodded, her expression unreadable. "They are the finest warhorses in the realm, bred for speed and strength. They are the horses of the Cataphract Army, my lady..."

"So Aurelio will ride that horse?"

"No, my lady," Lady Octavi said gently while her eyes remained fixed on the warhorses below. "A destrier is for the charge, to break lines. It is heavy and aggressive. For a hunt, Destrier will make young master, Aurelio, slower than the prey. He just needs speed and agility, warhorse. The young master will ride a Courser."

"Courser?"

"Yes, my lady. A Courser is a swift and nimble horse, perfect for the hunt. Aurelio will be able to keep up with his prey and manoeuvre quickly through the forest," Lady Octavi explained. "The Courser is a noble steed, fit for a young master like Aurelio."

"So why do we need to bring destriers if we don't need them for hunting?"

"Well, the destriers aren't for the hunt." Lady Octavi explained while her gaze swiftly shifted to the armoured destriers. "They are for the Vanguard, my lady."

"The Vanguard?"

"We are entering a gathering of armies, not a picnic," Lady Octavi said. "If your family arrives with only light hunting horses. The other houses will see your family as prey. The Destriers are the heavy cavalry. They are there to remind everyone that while we are here to hunt, we have the prowess to crush armies..." Her eyes glanced at mine. "You may see types of special armies from other families in the hunt gathering, my lady."

"So it's just a theatrical play..." I whispered.

"The court and nobility are a theatrical play, my lady," Adel interjected. "You need to understand that every move, every gesture, every choice is a carefully calculated statement of power and influence. It's not just about the hunt; it's about politics."

Lady Octavi nodded in agreement. "Remember, in the world of nobility, perception is everything."

"And in this play, we are not just the actors who recite the lines; we are the ones who write them."

A voice cut through our conversation, and we turned to the entrance.

It was my mother. She stepped out of the house. She wore a riding habit of deep crimson that suited her red eyes. She looked at me with a warm, maternal smile; her eyes were sharp as they scanned my face.

"Mother..." I went down to meet her with Adel, and Lady Octavi was behind me.

I stopped in front of her. Her eyes softened as she looked at my dress. She reached out to gently embrace my cheek.