I Raised the Beast Well

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“May it be your portrait hanging here in the future.”

Adelai clutched the key tightly, staring at her father’s portrait.
Her cheeks flushed with joy at the thought of it being her one day.

***

The season was slowly passing by, the wind felt warmer, and the color of the garden’s flowers changed.
Belinda stretched out, looking up at the sky.

It was the day of the hunting contest.

The Empire’s hunting competition in the Shinsu forest was only held twice a year.
Although hunting outside the capital was a daily routine, everyone was in high spirits for one of the rare times that the Shinsu forest, full of rare plants and animals, opened.

The Shinsu hated hunting, but they decided to show their respect for human culture by allowing access about twice a year.
Although they didn’t get along very well with humans, the tolerance required to live in harmony remained.

Belinda was sitting on a ledge with Lucy as the Emperor gave a short speech.

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Mazetto was off eating snacks – he didn’t want to come because human hunting was too scary and cruel for him.

Aymon, who was probably somewhere in the woods, wasn’t around either.
Belinda’s daily life was pretty dull without her two animal friends.
Pretending to listen to the speech, she turned her head and yawned.

How boring….
I’m sure no one will dedicate their prey to me this year either.

It had been more than a decade since she’d entered the palace, and though she’d adapted to imperial life in her own way, there was still an insurmountable gap in status between Belinda and the royal family.

When Belinda and Adelai were together, all the nobles knew very well who to stand behind.

Once again, Belinda wouldn’t receive any of the prey.

There will be a whole pile of deer and rabbits in front of Adelai.
Well, as always.

By then, the Emperor’s speech was over.
The nobles gathered before him, also on a white horse, with their horses.

“Begin the hunt!”

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He shouted, grabbing his reins.
The sound of hooves against the ground covered the field.

Belinda went on fanning herself, unimpressed.
As she turned her head, her eyes met the rider of a brown horse.

It was Duke Phillip Rodson.
He’d been staring at her for some time.

Is he looking at me?

Belinda looked around before nodding as a greeting.
Then, he turned away and followed behind the rest of the party.

What was that?

Belinda leaned forward to see him disappearing into the forest.

After the hunters were gone, those who stayed behind also began with their own entertainment.

Belinda watched the clown’s performance and listened to the music as people gathered in small groups to drink tea and talk.

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Belinda also talked with some noblewomen, making sure to avoid Adelai.

A countess, who had been fiddling with her large pearl ring, spoke.

“There are rumors that elephants were brought up from the southern kingdoms for the event… Do you think it’s true?”

A duchess, standing opposite, folded away her fan with surprise.

“Elephants? How big are they?”

“His Majesty has announced that he will hold a banquet more spectacular than ever before.”

“So, he may….”

The duchess nodded with a faint smile.

It was a golden age, with the imperial treasury richer than ever and no shortage in finance.
The Emperor had publicly declared a banquet for the new Shinsu chief.

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The fragility of the relationship between the Shinsu and the royal family was a truth that hadn’t been revealed, and the banquet would be a stepping stone for improving relations.
The key to finding the descendant of Barahan had been handed over to Adelai, but that was just the last piece – a possibility that had to be guarded.

For now, the focus was restoring relations with the Shinsu, led by Belinda.

Belinda had an odd expression.
Shinsu, chief – those words were familiar but unfamiliar at the same time.

Just yesterday, she was with the exact Shinsu they were talking about, but whenever he came up in conversations, Belinda felt as if she didn’t know him at all.

The countess lowered her head to whisper something.

“Oh, speaking of that, there’s been a strange rumor in the palace…”

“What rumor?”

She carefully asked after looking around.

“There are rumors that someone saw a big black leopard in the palace.
It was so fast that the shape wasn’t clear, but a servant saw it a few days ago.
Near the temple.”

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That temple was right next to the guest palace.

Belinda lifted up her glass to awkwardly cover her face.

The black panther they were talking about must have been Aymon.
How could he have gotten caught when he was supposed to be so good at hiding?

Well, it would be more difficult to hide with his large size than when he was a baby leopard.
Come to think of it, it was amazing that they’d kept the secret for so long.

It was only possible because the few maids she did have wouldn’t talk, and Lucy, her personal maid, was trustworthy.

Belinda stared over at the forest, thinking of Aymon, who was probably deep inside.

As the hunt continued, the sound of the hounds and hunting whistles rang out over them.