TYND 83

TL: Motokare

“I greet you, Lord Rothy.”

“We pay our respects to you, Lord Rothy.”

The nobles who’d been with Theon bowed politely. Rothy, now dressed in formal attire befitting his identity as the archduke’s spouse, returned their greetings with practiced courtesy. 

“I hope everyone enjoys the hunt and makes many good memories.”

“Yes, Lord Rothy.”

Smiles spread across the nobles’ faces, the kind of fond expression one might give watching a kitten trying to act like a big cat. Meanwhile, Theon stroked Rothy’s cheeks and ears, checking for signs of fatigue and fever.

“You seem fine.”

“Yeah……”

Rothy shyly nuzzled his cheek against Theon’s large hand. The palpable affection between the two of them made the nobles’ expressions turn slightly awkward. 

“Rothy! Your Grace!”

From a distance, Aeruhen came running, waving his arm high above his head. 

“Hey! How many months has it been?! A hunting tournament using wooden dolls? Lord Rothy, you’re really a genius! Even if some people are unhappy now, history will record you as the one who led the way and did what was right!”

The Falsen heir, who’d been championing animal rights alone, was practically glowing with praise for Rothy. 

“Aeruhen. Did they not teach you at the academy that those who wield swords mustn’t be easily excitable?”

“My apologies. I’ll compose myself, Your Grace.”

Aeruhen answered decorously, but the goofy grin on his face still stayed. Rothy, in contrast, responded with perfect composure.

“It’s been a while, Lord Aeruhen. I think you’ve grown taller since I last saw you. How long will you be staying this time?”

“I got three days’ leave for the tournament. And yes, I’ve grown, though there’s more growing to do. Oh, Chi-chi, how’ve you been? You’re still so ridiculously adorable.”

Aeruhen reached out to pet Chi-chi who was perching on Rothy’s shoulder. The weasel, remembering Aeruhen from before, allowed the young man to stroke its tiny head. Aeruhen practically melted with delight at that. 

“Thanks to your wooden dolls, I can finally participate in the hunting tournament. After demonstrating my exceptional skills and securing my quarry, I’ll present everything to you.”

“Aeruhen.”

Theon cut in.

“I’ll be the one presenting to my spouse. You go find someone else.”

Aeruhen was taken aback, and so did the retainers and the nobles. 

“Ah… yes… of course. Your Grace should be the one obviously…”

If not for Chi-chi rubbing its little head against him as if to say ‘but you can give things to me’, Aeruhen would’ve stood there gaping for quite a while.

Since Theon, Rothy, and Aeruhen were all members of House Falsen, the three of them greeted the nobles together.

Aeruhen displayed the proper arrogance befitting the heir of an archducal house when speaking with the nobles. But when greeting peers and young ladies from other noble families, he quickly transformed into a mischievous boy. Some of them were the ones Aeruhen had introduced to Rothy before the academy term began. Since they attended the same academy as Aeruhen, they would’ve to return in three days. 

“Lord Rothy, you remember him, right? This is Rivahn, the aspiring mage who wants to become like you. He gets treated as oddly as you do in the North. But wait, Rivahn. Why’re you carrying a bow instead of a wand? Don’t tell me you’re planning to use a bow today?”

“Well, yes. There’s no need to go all out just to catch some wooden dolls.”

“Rivahn!”

Rivahn’s mother gasped and clapped her hand over her son’s mouth. His father stiffened and apologised as well.

“Your Grace, forgive us. My child doesn’t know how to behave.”

Theon nodded to indicate it was fine.

While adults who disapproved of hunting wooden animal dolls maintained polite conversation without showing it openly, youngsters around Rothy’s age openly grumbled about how boring it’d be to hunt them. 

Children could be like that. But once the hunt began… they’d probably be the most excited ones running around.  

“Our sincere apologies to Lord Rothy as well. Rivahn, apologise to Lord Rothy immediately!”

“Sorry…”

“Rivahn!”

“Look, it’s fine. I’m not offended.”

Rohy waved his hands, showing that he was fine to the pale-faced noble couple.

“His Grace won’t be angry either. Right…?”

“That’s right.”

Theon answered while smoothing Rothy’s dishevelled bangs.

“I want to be angry though…”

Aeruhen grumbled to himself. 

“We’re sorry and grateful. Then, we’ll take our leave.”

The couple tried to end the conversation and leave, grabbing their thoughtless son by the ear as they did. 

“Oh, but wait.”

“Yes, Lord Rothy. Please speak.”

“I’m a little concerned, so I really want to say this…”

Rothy spoke slightly louder than usual so others nearby could hear as well.

“If you underestimate the wooden animals, you mightn’t catch a single one. That would be really embarrassing. Please give your all.”

It was an innocent declaration of war.

Once the greeting ended, each family returned to their assigned posts to prepare their bows and blades for the hunt. Theon and Rothy headed to their post with their attendants as well. 

The posts where non-participating household members would stay were set up at the foot of the mountain, though calling them ‘posts’ was a bit of a stretch… it was too lavishly decorated. Silk-wrapped columns framed sheer white cloth draped around all four sides. But compared to the posts Rothy had seen on battlefields, this was more like an aesthetic canopy set up for autumn leaf viewing picnics. 

“Your Grace, will you be wearing your cloak?”

“I think something light would be better.”

“Understood. Shall I pack in thirty flags?”

“Since it’s the first day, I’ll take just ten.”

“Your Grace, it’s unlikely you’ll need it, but just in case, please wear your chest armour.”

At House Falsen’s post, Ultje and Zey fussed over Theon, adjusting his attire and preparing his hunting gear. Rothy, not participating in the hunt, sat quietly in a chair watching Theon transform from handsome to handsomer. Even while answering his aides’ questions, Theon didn’t forget to flash small smiles whenever his eyes met Rothy’s.

Unlike Theon, Aeruhen had come in light gear from the start and finished preparing quickly. He nocked an arrow in his custom bow and struck a pose before Rothy.

“Hunting’s all about the bow! I’ve been dying to show off my amazing skills, and finally the opportunity has come! I’ll sweep them all up!”

“You look really excited, Aeruhen.”

“Of course I’m excited. Last hunting tournament, I was protesting alone under that oak tree with a picket sign.”

“That must’ve been tough…”

“People would walk past me hauling deer, marten, and rabbit carcasses and laugh at me.”

“That must’ve been heartbreaking…”

“Some bastard even waved a bloody deer antler in my face to mock me.”

“That’s really cruel.”

Thrilled by how responsive his audience was, Aeruhen picked up his bow and struck various poses. At one point, he aimed an arrow at Rothy. 

“Lord Rothy, get behind me.”

Naran Daisy, who’d been standing behind Rothy, his face hardened, stepped in front to shield him.

“Oh, this is a blunt tip. Don’t worry.”

Aeruhen pulled out the arrow and tapped its end with his finger. Of course, it was simply a practice arrow, not one for actual hunting. If it’d been real, Theon would’ve been the first to act.

“You still shouldn’t aim it at other people.”

“Yeah, I get it. So you’re that new guard mage? But you’re still an apprentice, right?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Don’t call me ‘Your Grace’ yet. You’ll get us both in trouble.”

“My apologies, Lord Aeruhen.”

Aeruhen frowned at the dry apology from Naran and Rothy hurriedly grabbed Naran’s wrist.

“Naran’s always looking out for me like this. I really appreciate it.”

“Well, that’s what a guard is supposed to do. But you’re really small for someone our age. Are all mages from outside the North this tiny?”

So far, Aeruhen had met three mages from outside the North—Rothy, Chungnip, and Naran. Rothy went without saying, but Naran was barely two finger joints taller than Rothy, and even Chungnip stood at around mid-170s, which, to Northerners, looked small and adorable. It was enough to cement a stereotype.

“To Northerners, anyone from outside looks small, be it they’re a knight or a mage.”

“Is that so?”

“And I’ll still grow. Thanks to Lord Rothy, I’m eating and sleeping well now.”

“You weren’t before? Where’d they even find you?”

Naran, unable to tell the truth, shut his mouth. Aeruhen turned his eyes to Rothy instead, but he too pressed his lips tight as he was terrible at lying.

“What? Why won’t anyone answer me?”

They couldn’t explain to Aeruhen about the Mandate or assassins one by one. Especially since it involved the fallen as well.

“So… it’s a secret right now?”

Aeruhen’s expression steadily hardened. Rothy could tell immediately he was seconds away from sulking. Aeruhen was a good kid, but he sulked easily. And nothing made him sulk faster than feeling like someone didn’t trust him. Caught in an awkward moment, Naran couldn’t let himself be the reason things turned tense between master and friend. He blurted out the first excuse that came to mind. 

“I was spotted by Lord Rothy while I was out hunting.”

“Hunting?”

The expression on Aeruhen, the animal rights advocate, worsened. 

“Uhm, not animal hunting… it’s more of the human kind.”

Rothy rushed to clarify, and just like that, Naran became a former human hunter. Which wasn’t entirely wrong.

“Fuck, you scared me for a second when you said hunting. It really wasn’t animals?”

“No.”

“then it’s fine. Make sure you protect Rothy from now on. Got it?”

“Yes, Lord Aeruhen.”

Thanks to Aeruhen’s peculiar priorities, a disaster was fortunately avoided.