BXBX NOVEL Chapter 72 71: Hunting Event (2)
That red dress she was wearing hugged her body perfectly, and the open front showed just enough to be enticing while remaining proper.
Leone was, without a doubt, the most gorgeous woman here.
Even Kat fell behind in some aspects, though I imagine that if I could clad my puppy in the finest silks and let her dress up, she would likely rival Leone with relative ease. Sadly though, my delectable maid was wearing a simple dress, and although it did show off some of her curves, I knew that I was likely remembering her sinful body from the dozens of times I held her, and not actually seeing what was in front of me.
Continuing the small talk with the Elven Heir, Jillian Sariel, I shuddered slightly when I found my mind slowly slipping towards the image of both Leone and Kat in my bed...
How soft would that be?
Taking a breath, I sipped on the tea in front of me, clenching my legs to divert the blood from the other \'leg\'.
"... which is why I believe the salt mines of the Soride Mountain Range is of vital importance to the Thorin County on our Western Border, and as such we should keep them out of the hands of the Felian Kingdom, even if they are our allies."
Sheesh, I really dislike talking politics and strategy when it concerns a land I could care less about.
"So what has Thorin County done to try and keep Soride Range under its control?"
Looking towards me, the blonde, Ulysses Gragori, spoke in a serious tone.
"They have tried to negotiate for them, mainly offering the hand of their youngest daughter, Sef, as well as fifteen percent of all profits from the salt mines."
I grimaced at that, despising the way some nobility just threw their daughters away for minor gains.
"Was there no other way? A show of force, perhaps?"
Jillian scoffed, her eyes glowing with disapproval as she said "Why, to incite a war with the Felians? All over one girl? Who cares?"
Chuckling, Leone looked over at Jillian, her eyes cold as she said "I would care, if that were my daughter; my sister. Besides that, there would be no war; the Felians wouldn\'t risk angering the Empress, and especially not Lady Joana D\'Arcon, who was one of the people to initially reclaim the land for their people."
Jillian closed her mouth, nodded as she looked away.
Running my gaze over Leone again, I nodded in approval.
The way she thinks and acts is different from most nobles, but that is to be expected; in all honesty, Leone, Anput and I are exceptions to this rule, hell, maybe even Draka as well.
Anput and I could care less for the decorum and practiced way of speaking and acting; we would rather let our actions speak for us. If I can solve something with enough violence, than it wasn\'t that large of a problem to begin with.
Might makes right, after all.
And I have might, both politically and physically.
As for Leone and Draka, they simply enjoy the freedoms they were given due to their parents.
Draka never had to worry about something like being married off, as her mother would plunge the Empire into a never ending winter before handing her daughter off to some random person. The Duchess may speak using crude words like \'spawn\', but she has already destroyed a house for attempting to strong arm her into handing over her daughter.
As for Leone, one of her parents is the founder of the Empire, who also happens to be married to four other strong women besides her own mother. Each of the Empress\' wives could lead their own nation, both due to their strengths and acumen, but instead they chose to stay here.
We are among the more... open minded of the nobility.
Mainly because I could care less about anything that doesn\'t involve me; that\'s how Anput and Draka feel as well, while Leone has her own sense of morals, mainly revolving around family.
We continued the discussion, Ulysses arguing for the handing away of the girl as it was the most peaceful solution. The needs of the many out weigh the needs of the one, and all that.
Snacking on the small biscuits offered, I waited in boredom for the hunt to start, contemplating if I should just say I need the bathroom and take Kat with me.
Before I could convince myself that was a good idea, Gia stood up again, gently tapping her glass with a spoon to grab everyones attention.
"As it is currently noon, we shall now begin the hunt! All participants should make their way to the flag raised behind me; bows and arrows, as well as a map of the forest will be provided. As for those of us remaining here, more food and drink shall be provided as we wait for our companions to return!"
Smiling at everyone, she placed her glass back on the table, speaking to her maid in a low tone.
Getting up, I was about to make my way to the flag when Leone grabbed my hand, stopping me.
Looking down at her, I tilted my head as I waited for her to speak.
"Ah... Um, I heard the Vesca House offers the nobles waiting some ribbon to make a tassel for their chosen hunters... would you... like me to make you one?"
Seeing the blushing Leone looking up at me with pursed lips, I smiled and lifted her hand again, placing a kiss on her smooth skin, nodding.
"It would be my honor to be your hunter, Lady Presa-Ash."
Leone smiled up at me, her orange eyes glowing with warmth.
Gently releasing her hand, I made my way to the flag, Jillian and Ulysses beside me.
Both were trying their best to hold back their glares, and I found it rather amusing.
Standing beside a large tent was an old man with a long white beard.
Seeing us approach, he stroked it as he looked around, before nodding when he felt everyone was here.
"While the birch forest in the Vesca Barony is relatively harmless, I shall remind you all to stay aware. Even a normal bear can seriously injury, even kill someone with a strong core."
His grey eyes swept over the crowd, only nodding when he saw everyone paying attention to him.
"Well, you all should be fine; you are the light of our future, after all! Now, the hunt shall work as such."
Picking up a long tube, he showed it to us as he continued.
"When I let you all go, you will venture into the woods, where you will have three hours to hunt to your hearts content. When those three hours are up, I will shoot this flare into the sky, letting you know you need to return. All game you have hunted needs to be carried back by yourself, and when the hunt is over you may dedicate your haul to one of the lords or ladies waiting here."
Leaning forwards, the man chuckled as he whispered "Call it superstition, but I believe in it wholeheartedly. If you offer the largest haul to someone, they are likely to return your affections! Haha, I offered three deer and five rabbits to my wife, and she used to despise me before I did this hunt!"
I chuckled at the old mans story, and many other nobles did as well.
However, I saw that Jillian and Ulysses were serious, and I just. sighed internally.
Did I seriously need to go all out just to squash these two idiots hopes of having Leone?
Fine, fine, I will.
"Now, these are the bows you are to use; these are the arrows. Everyone will be given two dozen arrows, as well as a map. After you have gotten your weapons and map, return to the area in front of the tables to receive the tassels being made."
Nodding, we all looked at the large amount of arrows in the tent, as well as the bows and maps.
Getting into a line, we all received our equipment before going back.
Yet again Jillian and Ulysses were beside me, and when I approached Leone I coulda lost feel them trying to stand as straight as they could, hoping to impress her.
Shrugging, I looked towards Leone working hard on her tassel, Kat standing behind her as she pointed and whispered to Leone.
Smiling, I watched them, feeling happy when I knew they were making something for me.
Minutes passed, and I watched as Leone got up, a tassel in her hand.
Approaching me, she offered the tassel to me, her hands shaking slightly as she blushed, looking towards the ground.
Taking it, I attached it to one end of the bow, looking at the red and amber ribbons twined perfectly together around a deep blue ribbon.
Raising a brow, I saw Kat holding back a smile, her eyes shining as she looked at me.
The meaning wasn\'t lost on me, and I grinned as I looked between them.
Bowing, I said "I will bring back the most beautiful deer for the most beautiful woman here~"
Looking up, I smirked when Leone went crimson, and I saw Kat\'s lips were slightly upturned, her shoulders shaking slightly as she held back a laugh.
Leone just nodded, quickly turning away and leading Kat back to the table.
Turning my gaze to Jillian and Ulysses, I saw their fake smiles as they received a few tassels from some of the lower ranking nobles, their eyes hard as they looked up towards me.
Giving them a good look at Leone\'s tassel, I made my way to the forests edge, waiting for the hunt to begin.
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So, if it seemed all over the place in the middle, that\'s cause I had to step away from the computer for a few hours, so my train of thought was completely and utterly derailed.
Anyways, I got my printer fixed... and realized that the ink I had is not enough for the contract... I\'m getting some tomorrow, but I don\'t know how long the application and review of my contract takes, so...
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