"You're not going to let me explain, are you?"

I asked as two eyes flared down on me.

"She's not."

Called Edmund from above teeth clenched as he grunted to reach the ropes that coiled on his legs.

"I might."

She then put the blade next to my cheeks.

"Alright, alight, get me out of this net and I'll..."

"No!"

"No!"

Both Wendy and the armored girl with her snapped at me when I tried to stand up.

"Told you."

Shrug Edmund.

"Shut up."

I rolled my eyes and looked at Wendy.

"What are you doing here anyway?"

"Wendy, watch out!"

Called out her companion and before tackling Wendy away from the green feathered gryphon that just pounced in front of me.

It hissed and screeched at Wendy and her guard who was reloading her crossbow while Wendy on guard and wary at the furious gryphon that stood between me and them. This was my chance and tried to get out of the net.

"Charlotte, guard!"

I heard Lilly call and as I got out of the net she threw me the trousers while she pointed a gun at two. Everyone froze.

"Julie, careful, that's loaded!"

Shouted Edmund.

"Lady Juliana!?"

"Wendy!?"

The two exclaimed as they locked eyes and the very gaping mouth they gaze felt like some betrayal was happening.

"Elfien, throw me a knife or something."

Said Edmund when I just finished pulling my trousers up.

"Not now."

Since Wendy and Lilly were each others throats.

"Lower your weapons!"

I stood between the barrel and the rapier just to calm them down.

"No! Why are you with her?"

Snapped Wendy then pointed the rapier at me.

"Wendy! Don't point that... S-sword... at him!"

Spoke out Lilly as she pointed her musket even further to her.

"Then don't point that musket at her then!"

Wendy's guard pointed her cross bow at Lilly then at the gryphon who began hissing, snarling and showing its razor teeth with terrifying anger at Wendy's guard who switched target.

"Why don't we just stop pointing and bring me down! We are not going anywhere if we keep pointing!"

"Alright, alright, I'll start,"

I placed my hand above the musket and blade.

"I'm working as her footman! I'm sorry, I didn't want to wake you up early in the morning since you helped me and May work last night."

I gave the answer bluntly and told her to lower her sword now.

"And Lady Juliana please, Wendy just misunderstood something."

Now I lowered hers.

"Charlotte, kneel."

At once the gryphon retracted its snarling attitude and returned to her masters foot with a sneezing growl at Wendy's guard.

"Ivy, at ease."

Said Wendy that made her guard lower her crossbow and kicked a rock.

We got Edmund down from the tree tops next, and somewhat stabilized the conflict and decided that I explain everything to them inside the carriage as we go on.

Sat besides me was the gryphon and the basket that Lilly brought while the three sat opposite from me as explained everything. Which, I was thankful for having enough experience in my past life.

"So there, it was early I didn't wake you up since I thought you were tired on helping me and May work at the Inn last night."

Of course, I emphasized the part of her helping us, and leaving the part that both of us slept together in the same room.

"Then why were your pants down?"

Spoke the curly hair and red fiery eyed Ivy, Wendy's guard, the merchant I fought in the tournament, and Wendy's adoptive sister, and now the most inquisitive among the three when she removed her helmet.

"His trousers were too tight and I decided to adjust them."

Explained Lilly, as she showed the sewing kit she brought.

"So you undressed your pants in front of a girl? Shame on you!"

Ivy snapped at me.

"It was too tight,"

I kept a cool tone,

"Lady Juliana was thoughtful that even when I didn't say anything about she was the one who took the initiative to adjust my trousers."

So far so good, all of them were silent when I presented my answer, and Ivy eyebrows burrowed and hands on her chin was looking like she was brewing some more questions while the two crossed their arms.

"Anyway, how did you find me?"

Instead, I took the initiative.

"Ha! She has me!"

Ivy used her tongue to point her smug smile before Wendy could speak.

"I have my own ways."

Spoke Wendy covering Ivy's mouth.

"By 'own ways' you mean gathering pieces of information from the manor when trading on behalf of your father this morning,"

Spoke Lilly eyes looking outside the moving terrain.

"Only a select few knew about our trip, I reckon you began talking to the serfs and began gathering small crumbs of information; witnesses, and hearsay about our general direction and probably guessed where we were headed. You're always such shrewd merchant."

"And your a great detective always, all thanks to those books I gave you."

Replied Wendy with a low tone.

A small pause of silent came afterwards... From the curly Ivy to Wendy who also began to look outside.

"So, he's the fiancé you were talking about yesterday when you delivered me those books to my tent?"

Said Lilly.

"Yes, and he's the idiot knight in shining armor that visited you in your tent yesterday?"

Replied Wendy.

From the corner of their eyes both Wendy and Lilly gazed at me.

"What are you guys talking about?"

Asked Ivy but never got a reply as the carriage stopped.

"Me and Elfien, Julie and her gryphon dog,"

"Charlotte!"

Stomped Lilly.

"Charlotte whatever, and miss merchant and her cheeky guard. That's our grouping now, first one to hunt and kill game does whatever you want to Elfien,"

"Wait what!?"

All of us. Especially me since when did this hunt became about me!?

"Since those two showed up and things are getting complicated."

Growled Edmund at me when I asked.

"But if we win, that means you lot will leave him alone. We all ears?"

"Nimi alony banala na nomo saluhin, nahra lagras."

Spoke Ivy as she dawned her helmet.

"Ivy!"

Wendy gasped and grabbed Ivy's shoulder who slumped and groaned as Wendy gave her an right earful.

"E harna silmi Reglia! Cheeky tart."

Edmund told me to pick the guns while he began giving weapons to Wendy and Lilly.

"Brother, she might not respectful about it but she is correct, how is this a fair hunt. You know the place like the back of your hand while it's our first time."

Spoke Lilly.

"Well, little sister, one thing for sure is that we are not going too deep inside the forest. Even though lady winter has left her mark, I can't endanger Elfien in the woods."

Thus we were just hunting just the edge of the forest only.

"And to make things fair for all of us,"

He continued.

"We hunt something that is big; no rodent, no hare, nor any squirrels nor anything the size of my boots! I'm taking about hairy fat boars or jittery tall deers, I don't care if its just a babe or a grown one. Just two if those game. Aight?"

They all agreed. If none of us gets any thing before sun has fully melted all the snow we meet back at the carriage where they will settle this at May's table.

"You sure were not at a disadvantage?"

I told Edmund as all of us now went to our separate ways. They crept inside the deep forest while were strolled just the edge of the sea of trees where just looking to my right the walls of Ellena was visible. Some soldiers were already dotting about on the field while the large tents were being dismantled my workers who looked like ants.

"Trust me, once they see a wet pink nose of a boar those girls will either shout, or shot and miss."

"Oh yeah,"

Did he even taken account that one is predatory gryphon?

"And how long is that going to take?"

"Aha! A boar!"

"Ahhhh!"

Not a second pass a thunder echoed throughout the forest that made birds fly into panic.

"Hey princess! That's our boar!"

"I wasn't aiming for the boar! Elfien run!"

"Heh-heh,"

Edmund shook his head.

"Well that was fast."

I readied my gun and chuckled with Edmund.

We were now running deep inside in the thickets. His pupils a flare and a grimace wide towards this danger as he pulled me along.

"Keep your eyes peeled and guns up!"

"I thought..."

I panted.

"I thought we were just hunting on the outskirt of the forest."

"Who cares, those girls are probably running away by no.. Watch out!"

"Jesus Christ!"

I jumped out of the way as the boar bulldozed trough a bush in front of us. Some scratches and bruises but it's better than being turnover by that enormous black hairy boar.

"Who the heck is Jesus Christ? Your new lover? Shot!"

He gave me a growl and a smile he pulled me up.

Remembering what he said to me earlier -- The musket's butt leaning on my shoulder, aimed at the marauding boar, and leaning forward and twitched my finger.

"Jesus!"

I hissed and curled to my stomach a bit when grabbing my shoulder after that crack of thunder like shot. Spark and smoke flew away while the painful horse like kick that echoed throughout my body... I missed.

"Hehehe. You'll get use to it. Let's go."

He said clapping my back as we pursued the bawling and screeching boar.

Through the thickets and bush we followed the boar out of the forest until it reached to the fields where some soldiers were waving at us.

"Net! Net it!"

Edmund shouted and waved at the company.

That they did, from a crossbow that once shot me Allan and Roland, the boar had no chance of escaping once the net whistled off and embraced the black pork chop.

When we arrived we saw its yellow bulging eyes, black pupils strafed up and down left and right as it grunted and heaved in air heavily that blew away some grass.

It still tried to stand and ran to and fro from its netted entrapment and made an ear shattering squeal each time it tumbled and rolled around.

"Take the shot."

He said to me giving his unfired gun. It was five soldiers looking at me at the side line with their spears and shield planted on the ground and smiles hung on their face.

"Let's watch the captain's boy turn into a man. So don't miss."

"Ey, ain't it illegal for commoners to kill a game, my lord?"

One of them said a loud in competition to the loud boar.

"Do I look like a fat powdered wigged sleazy noble?"

Spat out Edmund, hands on his hips as he strafed at the company.

"Well, you did shave."

After that remake the five of them gave out a laughter that I couldn't help but go along.

"Haha!"

Edmund then took my gun and shot upwards.

"Shut up! Elfien take Benjie's gun."

Said Edmund as he pointed the company's gunner.

With a whistle from the gunner, he threw the gun at me.

"Don't you need this?"

I asked since surely they're not going to waste a shot on a boar.

"I got my shots in my satchel so don't sweat it."

He replied.

Edmund reassured to me to don't worry about it. It's winter he added.

"Guys! O'Brian he heard that shot!"

One of them suddenly spouted.

Everyone was scrambling around as we saw that towering old man with twinkling white mustache and bloodshot cheeks.

"Way to go prince Ed."

I know what was going to happen if I don't kill that boar now that's why I quit ogling before they do and aimed my attention towards the boar who were much more erratic and was running towards in a singular direction. It was rapidly clawing its hooves on the ground and screaming from its lungs like it wanted to get in Ellena's wall.

"Shoot!"

One of them shouted seriously.

I pulled the trigger and felt that backfire again... The boar was dead. Indeed, the boar was sliced in half clean like an oblong watermelon sliced in half clean by a razor sharp scythe... Scythes from her hands that disappeared when she stood up.