"Aderi...you are officially registered," Thomas said telling Aderi the news.

"Thank you very much, father!" Aderi thanked her father with a smile.

"You should also say thank you to his majesty later," Thomas said. Aderi nodded.

"Will do, father" Aderi replied.

"The hunt is about to start soon...get ready, I have a separate bow, I brought it even though I'm going to use my sword, but-- it's a good thing I brought it with me since you will be using it," Thomas said as a servant of his gave the bow to Aderi.

"Thank you, father," Aderi said thanking Thomas as she accepted the bow.

"I'll go get ready myself now," Thomas said before walking away.

"Wait, Father!" Aderi said stopping Thomas.

"Yes?" Thomas asked as he turned to Aderi again.

"Here, take this...it's a lucky charm," Aderi said as she took out a small pouch.

"Thank you...but are you sure you want to give me this? I'm your opponent in the hunt" Her father asked jokingly. both of them laughed.

"Of course" Aderi answered.

"Well then...thank you, and good luck on the hunt," Thomas said with a smile. Aderi nodded and with that Thomas left.

"That's the first time I saw the duke smile," Lucas said after Thomas left.

"He's different now...but he still wears that cold look on his face when with others" Aderi responded to Lucas.

"Here Lucas, I have one for you as well," Aderi said also giving Lucas a lucky charm.

"W-wow...thank you," Lucas said as he opened up his hands. Aderi placed the lucky charm in his hands.

"Is it not to your liking?" Aderi asked since Lucas was only looking at the lucky charm.

"Of course, it's to my liking! what are you talking about?!" Lucas asked defensively as he closed his hands with the lucky charm in his palm. indeed he liked the lucky charm a lot.

"Phew...I thought you didn't like it since I'm not good at sewing" Aderi said chuckling.

"Anything that you give me will be to my liking...so don't worry too much," Lucas said with a smile.

"Hearing that made me relax a bit," Aderi said as she let out a sigh.

"Well... I'll go get ready," Aderi said to Ari and Lucas. Ari was at Aderi's side since the very beginning but was quiet since Aderi was talking to a lot of people.

"Good luck Lady Aderi," Ari said wishing Aderi good luck.

"Good luck, I'll see you after the hunt," Lucas said with a smile.

"Thank you, and good luck to you Lucas" Aderi said thanking the two. after that she left to go to her station. she received one after she was registered in the hunt.

"I've never hunted before...but I did play archery in my school," Aderi thought as she was walking back to her station.

"I hope my mvp skills are enough-" Her thoughts were cut off when she was pulled by the arm.

"Wha-" Aderi reacted but when she saw the person's face she stopped.

"Carl?" Aderi asked. Her confused reaction turned into an angry one.

"what do you want?" Aderi asked demanding answers as she folded her arms together.

"Are you sure you want to join the hunt?" Caelias asked with worry in his eyes.

"Yes, I am" Aderi replied.

"You know...you don't have to do it just because the people pressured you," Caelias said giving some words of advice to Aderi.

"I don't need your advice," Aderi said as she pushed Caelias away.

"it's my choice...don't get involved," Aderi said without looking back before continuing walking again.

"What a way to ruin the mood," Aderi said mumbling over and over again while looking at the ground. with that, she bumped into someone.

"I'm sorry," Aderi said apologizing to the person as she looked up.

"Greetings, Lady Callista," the person said greeting Aderi.

"Greetings, your highness the future sun of bisoplain," Aderi said greeting Oscar as she bowed.

"I heard you are participating in the hunt," Oscar said starting the conversation.

"yes, your highness" Aderi responded with a smile.

"I forgot that he was also gonna participate..." Aderi thought.

"I look forward to your performance, m'lady," Oscar said flashing Aderi a smile.

"Thank you very much, your highness" Aderi replied.

"I have to go now since I need to get ready...I look forward to talking to you after this" Oscar said.

"Until we next meet, my lady Callista," Oscar said as he held Aderi's hand and placed a kiss on the back of her hand.

"U-until we meet again, your highness," Aderi said stuttering since she didn't expect Oscar to kiss her hand.

Oscar flashed Aderi another smile before walking away.

"why the hell would he do that!?" Aderi asked herself in her head in a panic.

"Shake the feeling off...you have a competition to attend to," Aderi thought to herself as she shook her head and continued on her way.

°

°

°

"The participants are here, please get onto your horses," The announcer said. Aderi got onto her horse and fixed her bow. The bow was gold that has a crest of the callista, it resembles her father's golden hair due to Thomas being the original owner of the bow.

"Is lady Callisa gonna play?

"she is, she is already signed in the participant list and she already got into her horse"

"But...is she seriously gonna hunt in that long blue dress of hers?!"

People were whispering among them about Aderi. Thomas heard it and went to his daughter.

"don't mind them...pay close attention to the event at hand" Thomas whispered to Aderi.

"I know, father" Aderi responded as she looked at the ladies who were whispering among them.

"There are a lot of dangerous animals here...be careful, alright?" Thomas

tasked, Aderi flashed Thomas a smile.

"Will do, father" Aderi responded, Thomas gave Aderi a small smile before going away with the horse that he was holding.

"get onto your horses..."The announcer said, all the participants got onto their horses and lined up.

"ready...." the announcer said.

"Go!" the announcer yelled along with a horn that went off. Everyone rushed inside the forest to catch their prey.

"I didn't think I would hunt on my first time joining the hunting event," Aderi thought as she loaded her now with an arrow.

Aderi spotted a small rabbit and she aimed at it. With one arrow, Aderi caught her first prey.

Aderi hurried onto the prey she caught.

"Sorry little one" Aderi mumbled as she got off of her horse, she then took the arrow she just shot.

"Please take care of it," Aderi said as she saw one of the servants that will retrieve your prey.

"Yes, m'lady" The servant responded. With that Aderi got onto her horse again and ran to catch more prey.

Multiple servants will follow the participants to get the prey they caught to avoid people lying about how much they caught. The servants might lie but at the end of the competition if they are paid. but a mage from the tower will judge them and use magic to see the timeline of events to reach an answer.

The mage will cast a spell onto you while he interrogates you, if you lie you will face consequences.

°

°

°

After a little while in the safe zone where small and harmless animals can be hunted Aderi went to the red zone. It is where the dangerous and big animals are located.

Aderi saw a deer and shot it with an arrow, Aderi went close again to the prey to retrieve her arrow and wait for the servants to record her points.

"Aderi" Someone behind the trees called out as she was dragged by her arm.

"What?" Aderi asked Caelias.

"what are you doing here?" Caelias asked.

"hunting," Aderi said bluntly.

"This is the danger zone!" Caelias said with worry in his tone.

"WATCH OUT!" Aderi said pushing Caelias to the side as she quickly shot an arrow in the eye of the bear that was slowly approaching them.

The bead roared and ran towards them. Aderi shot another arrow as Caelias charged with an attack using his sword.

Soon enough the bear fell to the ground.

"Are you hurt?" Aderi and Caelias asked each other at the same time.

"I should be the one asking you since you were the one who came close to the bear," Aderi said with a frown. Caelias shook his head.

"I'm fine...now do you see what I mean?" Caelias asked.

"you were the one who failed to notice it...you should be the one who's careful!" Aderi said scolding Caelias.

"Look...I'm just worried for you" Caelias said, Aderi fell quiet cause she knew that Caelias was sincere.

"Oh my...a bear," The servant said surprised.

"Sorry to interrupt your conversation, your highness and lady Callista, but, who killed the bear?" the servant asked.

"Lady Callista did...she helped me notice the bear approaching, I only landed the final blow, it's her points," Caelias said.

"He hit the final blow so shouldn't he get the point?" Aderi asked the servant.

"that is the case, but in the hunting event, people can give their prey to you, and it will be converted to your points" The servant responded.

A horn can be heard from the distance and it means the hunt was over.

"The hunt is over," Caelias said, Aderi nodded.

"I'm going now," Aderi said as she got onto her horse and left there.

°

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°

"Lady Aderi! You did not hurt yourself right?" Ari asked after running to Aderi once she saw her.

"I'm fine lady Ari...thank you for your concern," Aderi said with a smile.

"All participants shall take a rest first while we convert your points," the announcer said, all participants went back to their stations for the time being.

°

°

soon later the participants were called to fall in line so the top 5 can be announced. the people gather around to see the winners.

"We have finished counting the scores and we will now announce the top 5" The king announced.

"On the 5th place...Lucas Albert Stefan" The king announced, everyone clapped, and Lucas looked at Aderi who was beside him.

"Congratulations, Lucas," Aderi said with a smile to Lucas. Lucas returned the smile as he mouthed 'Thank you'.

"Come forward," The king said, Lucas quickly went to the king to receive his medal of recognition.

"On the 4th place...His highness of bisoplain, Prince Oscar Victor Red" The king announced, everyone clapped again and Oscar went to the king to receive his medal.

"On the 3rd place..." The king said before pausing for an intense effect.

"Aderi Nova Callista!" The king announced, and the people were stunned before clapping intensely.

"CONGRATULATIONS LADY ADERI!" Ari said hugging Aderi. Aderi was shocked and stood there.

"Please, come forward lady Callista," The king said, Aderi nodded and went to the king.

"I didn't expect this, Lady Callista...I guess the duke's blood does run into your veins intensely, congratulations" The king said praising Aderi while he gave Aderi the medal.

"Thank you, your majesty," Aderi said as she received the medal, she stood next to Oscar.

"Congratulations, Lady Callista, I certainly did not expect this" Oscar said proudly.

"Thank you very much, your highness, and congratulations to you too," Aderi said with a smile.

"Congratulations, Aderi," Lucas said with a proud smile.

"Thank you, Lucas," Aderi said thanking Lucas with a smile.

"On second place...Your Highness, Caelias Beau Keane" The king announced, Caelias came forward to the king.

"Now that I think about it...I never saw Ronan" Aderi thought as she scanned the people in the hunting event.

"Congratulations...Lady Callista," Caelias said to Aderi.

"Congratulations, to you too," Aderi said replying before turning away.

"On the first place...the last year's champion, Duke Thomas Claude Callista" The king announced, Aderi clapped along with the others as her father came forward to get his trophy.

only the first place can get a trophy, the others get a medal.

"Please congratulate the winners!" The king said everyone clapped.

"Objection!" Someone said.

"What is it, Viscount Ronald?" The king asked.

"Lady Callista cheated! I'm sure of it! How can a small one like her get prey like a bear? I demand the mages check!" Viscount Ronald yelled. everyone whispered among themselves.

"This fool!" Thomas remarked glaring at the viscount.

"Do you have any objection lady Callista?" The king turned to Aderi with a worried look.

"No, your majesty...please bring in the mage to check the things I've caught," Aderi said confidently.

"Bring in the mage" The king commanded.

°

°

°

"Hmm...she did catch a lot of small prey, all of it can covert into 4th place...but she ranked higher due to the bear, the bear was killed using a sword but the Lady's weapon was a bow...could you explain?" The mage said observing the prey.

"Please let me do the explanation," Caelias said stepping forward.

"Go ahead," The king said.

"Father...a bear was creeping up on me while we were talking, Lady Callista was the one who noticed it, if we both failed to notice it, the bear might have attacked me and will seriously injure me...my sword might have been the one who landed the final blow but Lady Callista was the first to attack it," Caelias said explaining the situation.

"Are you covering up the cheating of Lady Callista, your highness Caelias?" Viscount Ronald asked.

"No, I'm confident that even if I didn't hit the final blow Lady Callista can take down the bear," Caelias said defending Aderi. what he said was also true since he saw Aderi hunting before he pulled her aside. her speed and posture while using the bow were as if she knows how to use the bow for years.

"If it's alright, might we examine your memory? don't worry we will just see the memory of that event, what you both are saying and talking about will be mute for your privacy" The mage said, Aderi and Caelias looked at each other.

"If you must, I have no objection" Aderi spoke agreeing to the conditions.

"Same goes for me" Caelias responded also agreeing to the conditions.

"Please kneel and we will begin our examination," The mage said. Aderi and Caelias kneeled in front of the mage side by side.

the mage's hands were hovering over the heads of Caelias and Aderi.

°

°

"I've fully examined their memory...and indeed what they are saying is true," The mage said.

"Since I've landed the final blow it should have been my score but I gave it to Lady Callista, I hope that clears everything up," Caelias said as he stood up.

Caelias offered his hand to help Aderi stand. Aderi took the offer and held Caelias's hands and let go of it as soon as she stood up.

"His highness is telling the truth, although I refused...he also refused my offer of taking the point for himself" Aderi spoke.

"I see no further to question this matter...I hope you learned your lesson viscount Ronald that not all females are weak" The king said to the viscount.

"Your majesty...I think the viscount deserves a little punishment for humiliating my daughter and accusing his highness the prince of this kingdom of lying" Thomas spoke.

"Indeed...We shall talk about the viscount's punishment later...and Lady Callista, thank you for saving my son, ask for anything as a reward" The king said.

"It's alright, your majesty" Aderi replied.

"I insist," The king said.

"Nothing comes into mind at the moment...please give me time to think about it, your majesty," Aderi said. the king nodded.

"Now, please another round of applause for the winners," The king said. everyone clapped again.

the winners walked away, and Aderi walked towards the viscount.

"It was a mistake to trust the duchess...viscount" Aderi whispered, Viscount Ronald looked at Aderi. Aderi flashed the viscount a smile before walking away.