The Great Wish - Chapter 12.1

Vol.2 Chapter 12 Part 1 

The large tents near the forest created some shade. Many workers arrived in the morning to create spaces that could serve as picnic spots for the nobles who would arrive. 

This was the first day of the hunt, and knights were not allowed to apply. Over a hundred noblemen applied to participate. The number of participants had doubled since the last tournament. It had become a major social event, and many nobles were in attendance because they didn't want to miss anything. 

"Coming to events like these from time to time isn't so bad." 

"Yes, the weather is nice." 

The noblewomen excitedly fluttered their fans. 

Patricia, who had always been the center of all social events, was not in attendance. Because no one took the lead, there were various cliques gathered throughout the area. 

Violet was surrounded by an unusually high number of noblewomen. After her engagement to the Iron King, she had become a famous figure overnight. 

"His Highness the Iron King looks marvelous today as well." 

The noblewomen glanced at the Iron King who was speaking with a few other participants further away. His arms were crossed as he burst out laughing at something someone had said. 

"He sure does." 

"Haa..." 

Now that he was a taken man, they felt a sense of disappointment. 

Dian's image had completely changed. In the past, many people frowned at his eccentricity and avoided going near him. However, after he became king, Dian changed. Now, no one could recall his eccentricities at all. 

His sociable personality was odd for a member of the imperial family, but now everyone thought it was charming. Now, his outstanding physique seemed brilliant in others' eyes. 

"I heard he's very kind. I'm so envious of you, Lady Grosi." 

Violet laughed bashfully. A few ladies pouted behind their fans. Their envy had transformed into hatred. 

When they caught sight of a carriage from the Palace, the chattering stopped. 

"It seems that Her Highness the Silver King has arrived." 

The carriage came to a stop, and the Silver King got out. She waited by the carriage until Countess Pope came out and was placed in her wheelchair. 

For everyone else, this was the first time they had seen the Silver King be considerate towards someone else. They had heard rumors, but they were still surprised to see it with their own eyes. 

Violet's cheeks turned red as she gazed at Sienna. She exited her tent and approached Sienna. The hesitating noblewomen followed behind her. However, unlike Violet, who walked right up to Sienna, they stopped and stood at a distance. 

"Greetings, Your Highness." 

Violet grasped her skirts and curtsied. 

"It's been a while, Lady Grosi." 

"Yes, Your Highness. Have you been well?" 

Sienna looked at Violet's sparkling eyes and found it strange. She found Violet's overwhelming kindness quite odd. 

Whenever anyone showed her kindness, Sienna was always cautious. However, Sienna didn't feel repulsed by Violet's clear eyes. Violet seemed like a naive girl. She was different from all the noblewomen Sienna had encountered thus far. 

"Would you like to sit next to me as we watch this tournament?" 

"It would be my honor, Your Highness!" 

Violet laughed brightly. 

'She's cute,' thought Beth as she smiled. 

Sienna settled down in the central tent. While the tent could hold dozens of people, there were only three people inside. It wasn't that Sienna rejected them. These ladies didn't approach her in the first place out of fear. 

They were afraid that they would be ignored and humiliated if they dared to walk over to her. These nobles, who valued their faces over all else, couldn't muster up the courage. In the end, they felt that Princess Sienna was a sacred being, and they didn't dare touch her. 

Emma began to brew the tea. After taking a sip, Violet's eyes widened in surprise. 

"It's tasty. I've never had such delicious tea before. The tea leaves must be very special, Your Highness." 

"It's not that the tea leaves are special. The person brewing it is the one with the special skill." 

"I never knew tea could taste like this. Actually, I don't really like tea because of its bitterness. But I think I can drink this every day." 

"You can just add some sugar." 

"Sugar? Can I do that?" 

"Why not?" 

The others noblewomen wondered what they were talking about. No matter how much they perked their ears, the voices didn't reach their tents. 

Their eyes were filled with envy. It's because Violet was the Iron King's fiancée. That's why she's receiving special treatment. The other women made excuses for their alienated circumstances and tried to console themselves. 

Before the hunting tournament was in full swing, the Iron King and Joseph presented the rare articles they were going to put up for their bid. There had been rumors going around that incredibly precious items were going to be put on the line, so everyone watched on with interest. 

"The item I will be putting on the line is a red diamond known as 'the Devil's Eye'." 

Dian presented the jewel encased in a glass box. 

"Oh!" 

"My goodness. How can it be that big?!" 

As if it had drunk blood, the diamond was a deep red. It seemed that 'the Devil's Eye' wasn't an exaggeration. Some noblewomen kept repeating 'My goodness!' while others gasped dramatically. 

"I've brought a sword that once belonged to a household blessed by Arr. According to legend, it can kill a desert mantis with one stroke." 

The item Joseph brought with him wasn't any less extraordinary. The sword's sheath, handle, and blade were all white. At one glance, anyone could tell that it was a holy artifact. In this case, the men showed a greater interest in this item than the women. 

"While the two of us were the ones who started this bet, it is open all of those who are participating today." 

Dian spoke while everyone was completely absorbed by the two precious treasures.  

"Between Lord Luke and I, whoever brings back the largest deer will take both items. However, if one of you brings back a bigger deer than both of us, you will win them instead!" 

The participants looked at each other dazedly before shouting out in excitement. 

"The Silver King will evaluate the winner, and she will serve as our impartial judge." 

The two prizes were placed on the table in front of Sienna's tent. 

"Silver King, please declare the start of the tournament." 

Sienna got up from her seat. The participants readied themselves to race into the forest as soon as she declared the start of the tournament. They swallowed back a nervous breath. 

"Iron King, this isn't the rule I agreed to." 

"What do you mean?" 

"Surely, you won't take back the rule that allows any participant to obtain the prize, yes?" 

"Of course not. What say you, Lord Luke?" 

"I will also not take it back." 

"Then I will participate as well." 

The sword blessed by Arr. Sienna wanted it. She wondered if the legendary stories of the sword were true. 

"Whaat?!" 

Dian shouted out. 

Sienna ignored all the shocked gazes and placed her hands on her hips. 

"Why must I stand by and watch when such precious items are on the line?" 

"You're going to participate in that outfit?" 

Sienna gestured to one of her ladies-in-waiting. The lady-in-waiting nodded and raced back to Sienna's carriage. 

"I brought some clothes that will be suitable for hunting." 

"...Why?" 

"It doesn't hurt to be over-prepared." 

Dian burst out laughing, but he was the only one. Everyone else looked dumbfounded. This was different from a fox hunt. A woman had never participated in a deer hunt before. 

"Is there a reason why I shouldn't participate?" 

"No, not at all. Of course you can participate." 

Dian laughed so hard that his eyes were glistening with tears. 

"Do you know how to hunt?" 

"I'm better at the bow and arrow than you, Iron King." 

"Where is all this confidence coming from? I won't go easy on you just because you're a woman." 

"I will be the gracious one and only use a portion of my skills today." 

Dian snickered. 

"We will begin the tournament once you are ready, Silver King. Ah, then who will be the judge?" 

Sienna turned her head. 

"Lady Grosi." 

Violet clasped her hands and looked at Sienna as if she wanted to cry. She replied in shocked confusion. 

"What?" 

"You will be the judge." 

"What?!" 

Violet quickly shook her head. 

The ladies-in-waiting managed to obtain wooden boards and thick curtains from somewhere and created a makeshift dressing room. A little while later, Sienna came out dressed in a hunting outfit. She received a strip of fabric from a lady-in-waiting and tied her own hair. 

"Aah... Your Highness, you are truly a perfect being. You're so beautiful and strong..." 

Violet looked like a young girl entranced by her first love. 

Violet had a complex about her shyness. Every night, before she went to sleep, she imagined having the confidence to be someone completely different when she woke up in the morning. The ideal person she had imagined all this time was now standing before her. 

Beth sympathetically nodded her head. She turned her warm gaze to the Princess who was walking down to the starting line. 

Holding a longbow, Sienna looked like a hunting goddess.