The Sub Male Lead is Burning with Jealousy - Chapter 9 Part 10
He hated that others would see her, but the Harvest Festival placed great importance on the Empress’s choices. Strictly speaking, the Harvest Festival was two days away, yet starting today the celebrations would continue for three straight days.
“…You’re so beautiful it makes me angry.”
“Why?”
“Because I hate the thought of other men seeing you. Ugh…”
He wanted to tell her to wear a veil, but Anais would definitely be angry if he tried that. Instead, Rahil stepped closer.
“Can I hold you? Or would that mess up your dress?”
“It’s all right. It’ll get messed up anyway during the carriage ride.”
The maids would fix her attire after they disembarked. With Anais’s easy permission, Rahil pulled her into a firm embrace. He held her firmly, but not enough to hurt—yet it still didn’t feel like enough.
‘I want to touch her.’
He reached out and cradled Anais’s cheek, gazing into her eyes. Her blue eyes were clearer than his own. His eyes trailed down from the bridge of her nose to her lips, but just as he started to lean closer, Anais gently pushed against his chest.
“No.”
‘I want to cry.’
Seeing Rahil more dejected than usual, Anais tilted her head, studying him curiously. With a sullen expression, Rahil let her go.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“Of course not.… If anything, I’m too healthy for my own good.”
Rahil composed himself and stood beside Anais. Meanwhile, the maids approached to carefully arrange her attire.
“Shall we depart?”
“Yes.”
He offered his arm, and Anais, as if well accustomed to it, took hold of it. Feeling her warmth through the fabric, Rahil decided, for now, to be satisfied with this much.
‘Next comes the contest.’
He couldn’t care less about the competition among these young brats, but it was still an important imperial event.
* * *
The young noblemen were visibly encouraged by the Emperor’s personal attendance and his words of praise. However, the imperial knights who had joined the event didn’t look pleased at all.
Since this was a venue to select those who would represent the Harvest Festival, the appearance of the candidates was heavily considered. This meant that many of them were lacking in swordsmanship or hunting ability.
As a result, the first through third trials were simple tests that didn’t determine success or failure outright. Essentially, these tests were to gauge which type of magical beasts a candidate could face without dying.
The most crucial trial was the fourth one. In it, the candidate had to enter a designated area and hunt a magical beast.
These beasts were summoned by a mage and could not leave the magic circle. The candidate, on the other hand, was free to move in and out of the circle. It was a highly advantageous setup for the candidate, so deaths were rare and even severe injuries were uncommon.
For the candidate’s safety, the family that recommended them could bring a ‘witness.’ If they could not afford such a witness, an imperial knight would serve in that role.
Once the Rahil had finished his speech, he seated himself next to the Empress. When Sion stepped forward and looked at Rahil, Rahil gave a slight nod. Sion then signaled a soldier seated in the distance. The soldier raised a horn and sounded a long, resonant note.
“Wooooooaaah!!”
The cheers erupted from the crowd. Though only a few dozen voices joined in, their enthusiasm made up for their numbers. Mounted on horses with bows slung across their backs, the contestants rode off into the forest. Rahil tilted his head slightly to the side.
“How long will the first trial take?”
“That depends on their skill, but for the fastest, it should take less than ten minutes.”
By now, the citizens of the capital would be entering the circular arena. The selection of the Maiden of Abundance would begin after the Emperor and Empress, along with the other nobles, had taken their seats in the guest of honor’s section.
Inside the arena’s building, numerous candidates were likely in a frenzy, busy preparing themselves.
“Your Majesty, the first flag has been raised!”
This meant that someone had passed the first trial. Duke Noer, seated among the other dukes, was impatient to know who it was. A short while later, a chamberlain returned with the news.
“It’s Emil Kirthalros, Your Grace!”
“Kirthalros? Which family is that?”
Though Kirthalos had openly used his own name, it was unknown across the continent, and no one recognized it. Duke Noer, too, had no idea that the dragon had used his own name as a noble’s surname. After all, he had never heard the dragon’s real name to begin with.
“He… he’s from a branch family from our Noer Dukedom, Your Majesty.”
When Duke Noer quietly volunteered this information, a subtle tense atmosphere passed through the nobles. Everyone knew that because of the matter involving his son, the Emperor and Duke Noer were not on the best of terms.
Duke Noer had long been forced to tread carefully under the Emperor’s watchful gaze, thanks to previous issues tied to his heir.
“Looks like Duke Noer found a decent candidate. But it’s only just the beginning; who knows how the results will turn out.”
Shortly thereafter, the second and third flags were raised, and the next names were announced. Only the first three successful candidates had their names announced to the nobles; from the fourth onward, no such honor was given.
When Kirthalros raised the first flag in the second trial as well, Duke Noer suppressed a smile.
‘I wonder how a dragon could possibly know how humans fight… but things are unfolding so smoothly!’
On the other hand, Rahil looked less than pleased. Fortunately, the second and third candidates seemed to be keeping up with fierce competition.
The Emperor, Empress, and nobles waited at the entrance of the testing grounds only until the first candidate cleared the third trial. Afterward, most of them would head to the circular arena.
