The Slave Is Too Handsome - Chapter 85

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The slave is far too handsome!
085.
Duke Dominic, who had been watching Lucian and Camilo, the two princes, in turn, made his decision.
“Good morning, Your Highness.”
At the Duke’s greeting, Camilo, who had been conversing pleasantly with acquaintances just moments before, turned his head.
As the acquaintances naturally retreated, Camilo approached the Duke slowly. He appeared to be in quite a good mood.
“Welcome, Duke. What a fine day for hunting, is it not?”
The sky Camilo gestured toward was overcast. It was a desolate sort of day where anything might happen without surprise. Yet darker than that sky was the Duke’s face.
‘Revolting creature.’
Watching the cheerful Camilo, Duke Dominic recalled the events of the previous night.
The night before, Duke Dominic had hastily summoned a small number of retainers he had brought from the Grand Duchy.
‘Pack your things quickly. We must leave this place as soon as possible.’
After much deliberation, the Duke had reached his conclusion. Leave quietly. Slip away like a shadow.
The moment he learned Camilo’s true intentions, the Duke understood that withdrawing from this game was his best choice.
Whether Argen lived or died, Camilo would not let him go unscathed.
‘What are you doing? Prepare to leave at once!’
The retainers, following their lord’s command, began hurriedly packing only the bare essentials. They planned to leave word with the Emperor that a grave matter had arisen in the Grand Duchy, necessitating their sudden departure.
Just as their preparations were nearly complete,
‘Where is Aden?’
Duke Dominic’s eyes widened. The servants exchanged glances and set out to find Aden and his attendant, but they were nowhere to be found.
‘What in the world are they doing!?’
Duke Dominic, bursting with frustration, threw open the door to the bedchamber.
‘……!!!’
Standing before the door was Camilo’s aide. Behind him, trembling servants lay pinned down alongside Camilo’s knights, one of them cradling the sleeping Aden in his arms.
Camilo’s aide glanced past the Duke toward the bustling packing operation and asked,
‘Where are you headed so late?’
‘……I was searching for something important that I’d misplaced.’
It was a transparent lie. Yet Camilo’s aide nodded as though willing to overlook it this once.
‘I hope you find it. And His Highness Camilo asked me to tell you that he will see you at the Hunting Festival tomorrow.’
‘……Very well. Bring Aden inside.’
‘I’m afraid that won’t be possible.’
The aide drew the line firmly, and Duke Dominic glared at him.
‘His Highness has grown fond of the boy and wishes to spend the evening with him.’
At the transparent falsehood, Duke Dominic let out a hollow laugh, though there was nothing he could do.
‘Then I shall see you tomorrow morning.’
With that parting, the door closed. Duke Dominic drove his fist against the heavy wood.
With Aden held hostage, they had no choice but to follow Camilo’s will.
So the morning dawned. When Camilo appeared at the Hunting Grounds at daybreak, he wore such a cheerful expression that it only further grated on the Duke’s nerves.
“Yes, Your Highness. It is indeed magnificent hunting weather. So excellent that I wish to present Your Highness with a remarkable quarry.”
The Duke spoke each syllable deliberately, as though grinding them out.
For now, he chose to play the part of one who steers carefully away from offending Camilo. Instead, he resolved to remain at Camilo’s side and focus solely on rescuing Aden.
“…….”
From a distance, Lucian watched the Duke struggling to smile beside Camilo. His aide spoke with regret,
“Has the Duke chosen Camilo, Your Highness?”
“Wait and see. In the end, he will take my hand.”
As disappointment flickered across the young aide’s face, Lucian spoke with deliberate confidence. Inwardly, he resolved to bring the Duke to his side by any means.
Then it came.
“Let everyone make a fine hunt today! To whoever catches the largest beast, I shall personally bestow a magnificent reward!!!”
At Camilo’s declaration, like the proclamation of an expedition, his followers erupted in cheers.
They seemed so eager that even if they failed at greater prey, merely bagging a wild boar would satisfy them—such was their aggressive spirit.
“Your Highness, will you not say something as well!”
Not to be outdone, another of Lucian’s acquaintances spoke up. Those friendly with Valensio, who stood opposed to Camilo’s faction, sent expectant glances his way.
“I would hope only that you all remain unharmed and enjoy this day without incident. That is all I desire.”
Everyone save Camilo and his followers, who stood apart with sullen expressions, applauded heartily.
Following the opening declarations of both princes, the trumpeter sounded his horn loudly, and the hunt officially began.
“Onward!”
Again, Camilo’s party charged ahead first. They kicked up dust as they rode, mocking Lucian and his companions.
Cough, cough, cough. As Lucian’s group spat out dust, their eyes gleamed.
“Your Highness! We shall surely catch a wild boar and honor Your Highness’s name!”
“I will bring down a bear!”
“Then I shall take a wolf!”
Each began calling out their own quarries. Seeing their enthusiasm, Lucian was taken quite aback.
“No, there’s no need to exert yourselves to such an extent…….”
Why waste energy on such things? But his words fell on deaf ears. They straightened their reins and galloped forward with burning eyes.
“Sigh.”
I truly despise hunting.
Unaware of Lucian’s inner thoughts, his aide waved encouragement, praising him.
Lucian reluctantly fell in behind them, leaving his enthusiastically cheering aide in his wake.
He maintained a safe distance from those racing ahead, following at a leisurely pace.
“You’re not fond of hunting either, are you, Your Highness?”
As they ventured deeper into the dense forest, one of the acquaintances matched Lucian’s pace and speech, falling into step beside him.
He was Felix, the third son of a marquis—a quiet fellow who preferred books to physically demanding activities.
“Well, not particularly.”
“I see we have that in common, then. I’ve never had any talent for hunting or archery either.”
Felix smiled quietly, having discovered this point of kinship. He seemed to be laboring under a misunderstanding.
‘It’s not that I lack talent.’
Lucian considered correcting Felix’s misconception but decided against it.
Felix glanced ahead, then began speaking in a low voice. Lucian listened appropriately and responded in kind.
Before long, they had ventured quite deep. Then it happened.
“A grey wolf!!!”
Someone shouted. At news of such a coveted quarry, everyone began urging their horses forward with frantic speed.
“This way!”
Both Camilo’s faction and Valensio’s faction vanished from sight in moments.
The forest, now quiet, held only Lucian and Felix. The two paid no mind to the commotion and followed at an unhurried pace.
“Wow……. A grey wolf—I’ve only ever read about them, never seen one in person. Truly fascinating.”
Felix gazed in wonder with wide eyes. Lucian felt much the same.
‘Were there even grey wolves in the Imperial Palace Hunting Grounds to begin with? Unless someone released one intentionally, there’s no way such a creature should be here…….’
Lost in thought, Lucian gradually slowed his horse’s pace. In that very moment of his reasoned suspicion,
“Watch out!”
Lucian, sensing something flying toward them, thrust out his arm and pushed Felix’s shoulder hard.
“Oof!”
Felix, utterly lacking in athleticism, tumbled to the ground, and an arrow that had come from nowhere shot through the space where he’d been sitting, embedding itself deep in a tree with a sharp crack.
“Ugh……”
As Felix lay groaning on the ground, Lucian’s eyes swept the surroundings quickly.
One, two, three, four…….
The moment shadows watching them numbered more than five, Lucian shouted,
“Get on the horse, now!”
“What?”
“Now!!!”
Only then grasping the gravity of their situation, Felix scrambled onto the horse with a blanched face.
“Just look ahead and ride…….”
Lucian’s words trailed off.
Before the two riders appeared figures in long black cloaks, their faces masked, identity unknown. To anyone’s eyes, they were assassins who had come for Lucian.
“Wh—wh—wh…….”
Felix’s jaw dropped in shock. To keep from losing his senses, he gripped the reins even harder.
“Your Highness! Are you unharmed?”
The shadow guards attending the First Prince landed on the ground a beat too late, stepping forward to appear.
“For now, yes.”
Lucian frowned. The assassins numbered at least ten by his count.
Against them, Lucian had but two guards. With himself and Felix, that made four to face ten—a dire calculation.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————