Please Kill Me - Chapter 104
A man mingling in the crowd discreetly tugged his brother closer.
“Brother, which house is that? I don’t think I’ve seen them before.”
His brother followed the direction he pointed. There, two selected participants wearing robes emblazoned with a shield emblem on their backs stood out.
“What? Have you never seen the emblem of Rostislav before?”
“Rostislav? That’s Rostislav?”
“Yes! They said the Duke himself would participate this time, and there he is. Looks like the Duke is one of the selected.”
“The blond man? Then who is that next to him?”
“Next to him?”
At his brother’s question, the older man stretched his neck for a better look.
There was a figure on horseback, face covered by a hooded robe. The figure had the build of a boy barely past puberty, looking even smaller next to the tall and broad-shouldered Duke of Rostislav.
Finally, the man addressed as ‘Brother’ tilted his head in puzzlement.
“Hard to say. Maybe he brought along a female knight? Rostislav is known for its renowned knights regardless of gender.”
“A female knight from Rostislav? Now I’m curious.”
“Indeed.”
As their murmurs continued, a strong north wind blew through.
Through the fluttering robes, a glimpse of long silver hair appeared.
* * *
The selected participants from each house lined up at the starting line.
The commander loudly reiterated the rules of the hunt one last time.
“As you all know, the selected participants’ event is a fox hunt! Only foxes will be recognized as a valid game, and the fox chosen by His Majesty will be an offering to wish for good fortune in the new year!”
A fox hunt. Anyone participating in this event would know the significance.
The idea that the game serves as an offering for the new year’s fortune is merely a façade. The real importance lies in the fact that it is the Emperor who chooses the game.
In simple terms, this is one of the rare opportunities to catch the Emperor’s eye.
Furthermore, considering the current tense situation, it could potentially tip the scales in the ongoing, evenly matched Arlan War.
All eyes were on Rostislav and Offenbach.
The chosen representatives from the central two houses validated their attention. Not only was the esteemed Rostislav represented, but also Sergei, the head of the Offenbach house, had stepped up as a contender.
Naturally, everyone was curious about how these rival houses would fare against each other.
“The heads of both houses are participating. Has such a thing ever happened before?”
“It’s probably to keep each other in check, given the current situation.”
“So, who do you think would win if they faced off? Rostislav or Offenbach?”
“I’d bet on Rostislav.”
“Me too. No matter how powerful Offenbach is, when it comes to sheer force, Rostislav has the upper hand.”
Hearing the whispers from all around, Sergei ground his teeth in irritation.
‘How dare they compare me to that greenhorn?’
Despite their efforts to keep their voices low, the finely honed senses of the experienced could pick up their murmurs.
Leonid, standing right next to him, must have heard them as well. However, Leonid showed no reaction. Normally, he would have responded with a smirk, mocking Sergei’s diminishing reputation.
But today, he stood there, motionless, as if his mind was elsewhere.
Sergei narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Leonid.
‘That bastard probably has Yekaterina.’
The reason Sergei insisted on attending the hunt today and specifically chose to stand in the same vanguard as Leonid was to uncover Yekaterina’s whereabouts. Just before coming here, Sergei had received a report from Dmitry on Rostislav’s recent activities.
— Nothing particularly noteworthy, except for one thing.
— Do you mean calling the merchants from Laosa Street to his home?
Sergei’s expression was unimpressed. Such occurrences were not uncommon among wealthy noble families.
— You can’t be serious, Dmitry, presenting this as substantial evidence.
— They’ve had little activity, so this is all I could find. More importantly, consider the timing and the merchants involved. The timing aligns closely. And this tailor shop specializes in women’s clothing.
It’s a well-known fact that there are no women in Rostislav. The former Duchess rests in her grave, and Leonid boasts a spotless reputation devoid of any scandal. Yet, he had summoned a tailor specializing in women’s garments shortly after Yekaterina went missing.
— It may not be much, but it’s worth noting.
Sergei couldn’t deny the significance of Dmitry’s observation.
