I Slept with the Villain Holding My Hand

A few days later, Merria and her family were having an early breakfast.

It was because Themis had gathered everyone, saying that he had something to announce.

It was around the middle of the meal.

Merria’s hand, which tried to put ripe salmon steak in the sauce and put it in her mouth, stopped.

“A hunting contest?”

Serinia and Raven’s eyes widened at her intense reaction and looked at her.

At their gathered gaze, Merria murmured, fiddling with the useless knife.

“No, it has never been opened since His late Majesty the Emperor passed away…”

The late Emperor was a person who had a strong sense of victory and enjoyment.

Therefore, he hosted various events that were naturally held for fighting with armed forces.

Competitions to select the strongest gladiator in the Empire, horseback riding, and even hunting competitions.

Thanks to the Emperor’s pursuit of strength, it was called an era when knights enjoyed the greatest fame.

However, Afrion has been a person far from touching a sword or bow since his days as a prince.

As a result, since the Emperor died, and Afrion ascended to the throne, the knights’ tournaments, which were held every quarter, let alone hunting competitions, became so lax and sloppy.

At the same time as the long war ended in victory, the Order of the Crown Prince was established, although the Knights of the Imperial Family were honored for another reason.

‘I can’t believe such a scaredy Afrion revives the hunting competition again.‘ Merria thought as she heard from Themis.

The first thing that struck me was that it was really absurd and out of the blue unlike Afrion’s personality.

Themis nodded a couple of times as if sympathizing with him.

“Anyway, for whatever reason, the invited family has been commanded to attend.”

At this, Raven, who had been quietly tilting her glass, opened her mouth and spoke, “I heard that not only the Crown Prince and the Grand Duke, but also all the knights under his command will participate. He must have created a place to show off.”

At least that was a reasonable thing to say for Afrion’s decision to make sense.

The strong knights were the great pride of the imperial family and were the ones who established the prestige of the imperial family’s strength.

To put it bluntly, the Knights of Altairs were the people of the Crown Prince.

It would not be impossible if the nobles, who act according to their tongues, twisted it, saying that everything in the empire eventually belongs to His Majesty the Emperor.

As I nodded my head in agreement and convinced at my conclusion, Themis continued,

“Who should I send out?”

If no member of his family wields a sword, it was even recommended the knights of the family to join as a substitute on behalf as the family’s representative.

Although it was burdensome to fight under the name of the family, it was the same as saying that he was recognized and trusted for his ability and skills.

The Rackesters were a family that had served in the imperial family from generation to generation, but the field…

It was far from invincible.

In the previous generation, Gaia served as the Prince’s mentor and prime minister, and Themis also served as prime minister.

In other words, it was difficult for a person who was too far behind to compete even though he had no passion to win first place in the hunting competition.

“How about Sir Gwen? I heard he’s very talented and his skills were outstanding.” Serinia glanced at Themis and said.

Gwen was one of the most talented knights in Rackester.

So if Gwen plays for the family, there won’t be any noticeable gap in his skills.

“Ruben also recommended knight Gwen. After dinner, bring Gwen to my office.”

Themis beckoned to Ruben, who was standing behind him.

Merria was a little startled by the news of the hunting contest, but shifted her attention and quickly lost interest and focused on her meal.

✿

After dinner, Merria took off her comfy clothes and changed into a light beige dress.

As I sat down at the dressing table, Lexie put on a light make-up on me and started decorating my hair.

“It’s a small open party, so there’s no need to make it too fancy.”

Merria dissuaded Lexie, who brought a lot of jewelry that looked like chandeliers.

Lexie smacked her lips disappointingly and finished it off with pins and earrings made of pink pearls that match the dress.

After wearing my shoes, it was just time to leave.

Merria boarded the carriage, which was waiting for her on the front door.

The coachman, who had already been given a destination, began to drive the carriage towards the shopping street.

Currently, a neatly dressed Reukis was sitting next to her.

He was faithfully keeping the promise he had made before, ‘Going to the shopping district’.

Merria had reduced her visits to the shopping district itself thanks to previous hideous rumors.

Recently, I didn’t have time to go out leisurely because of Coming-of-Age Night.

Merria continued her relationship meeting Karina and Lilith and invited them to each other’s mansion.

Meanwhile, there was news that the culprit of the injury case against a young woman that Lilith previously said was caught.

We couldn’t narrow down the search because they couldn’t find a connection between the victims.

He was caught at the scene trying to get back to work.

The criminal was the youngest son at the top, who had a big deal, and has been carrying a lot of gossip since before.

And most of them were chivalrous or slanderous.

In the end, his eyes were quite blurry as he confessed that he had even touched drugs.

Reukis said he didn’t have to accompany the criminal because he was already caught, but Reukis replied that he did not have enough time to spare.

The place the two of them headed now was a small open party invited by Lysia.