Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters-Chapter 979 - 45 Another Hunt (Part 2)
Chapter 979: Chapter 45 Another Hunt (Part 2)
Siegfried stretched out his arms, allowing Farnan to wrap his wrists, palms, and knuckles tightly with cloth strips.
“As you said, Your Highness.” Siegfried gently clenched his teeth: “It’s just a performance.”
…
[Time rewinds to fifteen minutes earlier]
“Earl Harlan?” Duke Tarlac, proudly holding a trophy animal ear, walked past by Siegfried, and seemed to casually ask: “Aren’t you participating?”
The Castile Lords always looked down on the “new nobility,” not to mention Siegfried who came from a humble background, the son of a poor Knight.
Siegfried acted as if he heard nothing, ignoring Duke Tarlac. He held his wine glass, but his gaze involuntarily drifted to the royal viewing platform.
Duke Tarlac was about to explode in anger, but the auburn-haired Lieutenant by Siegfried’s side stepped forward first, replying neither humbly nor arrogantly: “Your Grace, the winter hunt is a stage for the Castile youth to display their prowess. How could the Earl compete for the spotlight with the gentlemen of Castile?”
Being a favorite of the Emperor, Siegfried didn’t want a real conflict to erupt, so Duke Tarlac directed his anger at the auburn-haired Lieutenant.
Duke Tarlac glanced at the Lieutenant and asked: “Are you Farnan? The ‘Shadow of Earl Harlan’ as they say?”
“Or to put it another way…” Duke Tarlac’s tone shifted, becoming mocking and lewd: “Earl Harlan’s male concubine?”
Before Farnan could speak up, Siegfried turned around, glancing at Duke Tarlac.
If Siegfried’s face was like a marble statue meticulously crafted by a master sculptor, then the three deep lines at his brow now were like scars left by a craftsman’s slip.
The newly-appointed Earl Harlan spoke coldly: “His Majesty does not permit me to participate.”
“Is that so?” Duke Tarlac, seeing the blonde young man provoked, left with a smile of a victor: “That’s too bad.”
Siegfried pursed his lips tightly, his left hand unconsciously resting on the hilt of his sword.
Suddenly, another hand rested on Siegfried’s bracer—it was Farnan, who looked at Siegfried and shook his head.
The matter should have ended there, but…
“No wonder.” Duke Tarlac, who had walked some distance, loudly spoke to himself: “The hunting of Castile is too barbaric, how could His Majesty bear to let his male concubine take the risk?”
…
[Time returns to the present]
[The hunting ground, viewing platform]
The Castor Empire’s royal winter hunt included falconry, hawk hunting, dog hunting, and the grand hunt. Both dog hunting and hawk hunting involve horseback chases, while falconry is conducted on foot.
After the other hunting activities concluded, it was time for the grand hunt, the main event of the winter hunt.
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The grand hunting tradition of the Empire’s nobility closely resembled that of the Herders, involving Attendants and servants herding wild animals scattered throughout the forest together, then enclosing the hunting ground with wooden barriers and curtains.
Compared to the nearly ten-kilometer-wide hunting grounds of the Red River Tribe, the diameter of Castile’s winter hunting ground did not exceed a hundred meters.
As there was no high vantage point similar to Qingqiu, craftsmen would build temporary viewing platforms around the hunting ground.
The higher the viewing platform, the more prestigious the spectators on it.
Royal family members and dukes had their separate viewing platforms. Lesser nobles without the privilege to sit either stood or rode horses, with their status clearly reflected by their positions.
The largest amphitheater was reserved for the families of various households, a special courtesy extended to the ladies.
At this very moment, on the highest viewing platform, a young girl was quietly complaining: “So boring, Daddy, do they really have to torment those poor wild boars?”
“Mind your words.” Said a voice, gentle and pleasing to the ear—it must belong to a noble lady: “Elizabeth.”
The girl pouted: “Daddy didn’t say anything.”
The girl’s demeanor only increased the lady’s dissatisfaction: “Where did you learn such manners? Your father spoils you too much; you’re almost turning into a wild girl.”
The girl blinked her eyes, putting on an expression of a helpless young creature, her gaze imploring the man on the throne: “Daddy…”
The man on the throne showed a trace of a smile: “You have angered your mother yourself; don’t expect me to help you.”
“Daddy!”
“You’re always like this, always like this.” Beside her anger, the gentle voice of the noble lady carried a touch of sorrow: “Always thinking of using your father…”
“Enough.” The man on the throne looked toward the lady on his right.
The mature, gentle voice abruptly ended.
The girl sneakily arched her eyebrows, as if celebrating her victory.
This ordinary exchange occurred within the most prestigious family of the Empire.
The girl who was acting coy with her father is the Emperor’s eldest daughter and the most beloved Princess Elizabeth. The noble lady admonishing Princess Elizabeth was the Empress Diana.
The man sitting between the princess and the empress needs no further introduction; his full title would require six hundred forty-six characters to spell out.
Typically, he would use a simpler designation — Graced by the Principality, the sole and lawful ruler of the Empire, Tannaria, Castors, and Norsen along with their territories and dependencies, Protector of the Faith, the most supreme and splendid Emperor, Henry IV.
At this moment, the Emperor seemed different to those unfamiliar with him—devoid of authority and divinity.
But those who truly walked the courts of the palace would not be surprised, for it is only in the presence of Princess Elizabeth that the Emperor becomes mortal.
So you see, while everyone else sat properly and even dared not breathe too loudly, Princess Elizabeth could move her seat next to the Emperor’s throne, lean on his knees, and complain about the dullness of the hunt.
