The Hero's Forsaken Princess
Chapter 102: The Royal Hunt IV

Chapter 102: The Royal Hunt IV

In the western and southern parts of the forests, General Alaric, Crown Prince Cassian, and Crown Prince Stefan engaged in fierce competition.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

Flying arrows could be seen in the different areas. The howling of wolves echoed as they fought the hunters.

Prince Cassian focused on targeting wolves and boars. The knights following him collected a lot. His cart was almost full.

Two hours had passed when Prince Cassian ran into General Alaric on the western side of the forest.

The two stopped in their tracks, gazing at each other.

"General Alaric, have you hunted enough?" Prince Cassian asked him with a taunting smile. "Did you miss a lot of prey? One hour left. Do you think you can still win?"

He shifted his gaze to Alaric’s cart. As compared to his cart, Alaric’s cart was only half full. He also stared at Alaric’s arrow. He only had a few arrows left.

Prince Cassian was confident that he was going to win.

Meanwhile, General Alaric ignored his provocation. He wasn’t disheartened even after seeing Crown Prince Cassian’s cart.

"You don’t have to worry about me. Just continue your hunt," Alaric said nonchalantly.

"Aren’t you afraid? I might ask Princess Evelina to come with me to Kingdom Eldara," Prince Cassian said, grinning broadly.

Alaric narrowed his eyes when Eve’s name was mentioned. Crown Prince Cassian really knew how to get him so worked up.

"Stop pestering my wife. Stay away from her," Alaric said, gripping his bow tightly.

Crown Prince Cassian let out a sarcastic chuckle. "You can’t order me. You are just a general. Know your place, Alaric."

"Why don’t you let her go? You don’t deserve her. I can give her everything. How about you? What can you offer her?" he added, provoking Alaric further.

Alaric fell silent. He had to admit that Crown Prince Cassian had so many things to offer Eve.

"I can only offer her my life. How about you? Are you willing to die for her?" Alaric asked him back.

Crown Prince Cassian burst into a peal of laughter. "You are funny, General Alaric. You are a knight while I’m a ruler. Be realistic. Why do I have to die for her? I have my knights who can offer their lives for me and for her."

Alaric smirked. "That only means you are not sincere. You only love yourself. So stop your madness. Eve is not an object you can own. Just find another woman who is willing to serve you. Leave my wife alone."

"I can’t do that. Eve is meant to be my Queen." Crown Prince Cassian spat back at him.

"You have to kill me first. I will not allow you to take her away from me," Alaric said with conviction.

"Stubborn people die easily," Prince Cassian replied meaningfully. "And everyone who tried to challenge is no longer in this world." He raised his bow, aiming his arrow at Alaric.

Alaric could tell that Prince Cassian was threatening him. However, he wasn’t afraid of him.

Without hesitation, Prince Cassian released his arrow. But Alaric stayed still, unfazed.

Swoosh!

A shriek was heard behind Alaric as Prince Cassian’s arrow hit the boar.

Prince Cassian smirked slyly. He thought Alaric would try to dodge his arrow. However, it seemed that he also sensed the boar behind him.

"Why didn’t you move? What if I hit your head instead of the boar behind you?" Prince Cassian asked him curiously.

"I read the direction of your arrow," Alaric simply replied.

"Oh, then you have to be careful. Who knows, my next shot will be aimed at your head." Prince Cassian smirked slyly.

"You can try. I’m not backing down." After saying that, Alaric walked past him. He didn’t want to waste his time talking to Crown Prince Cassian. He made himself clear. He would fight for Eve.

Prince Cassian could only watch Alaric’s retreating back. ’He is a great warrior. Unfortunately, we can’t be an ally. If he will be a hindrance to my plan, then I have no choice but to eliminate him for good.’

Meanwhile, in the northern part of the forest, Princess Aliyah’s group managed to track down Eve.

"Oh, Eve is truly useless and incompetent. Her cart is still empty." Princess Aliyah mumbled, laughing at Eve.

Aliyah and her knights were watching Eve’s group from their hiding spot.

"Gerard, make a move now. Separate Eve from her guards!" Aliyah gave her command.

Without further ado, Gerard and his comrade made a move, obeying Aliyah’s instruction. They changed into assassins’ clothes while hiding their face with masks.

Sera was following Eve while Julius was still pushing the cart when they suddenly heard a scream.

"Somebody! Help! Help!" Aliyah screamed to get Eve’s attention.

"That’s Aliyah’s voice," Eve mumbled.

"Stay with Princess Eve. I’ll check it out!" Sera instructed Julius.

"I’ll protect Princess Eve. Commander Sera, Please be careful." Julius grabbed his sword, walking closer to Eve.

Sera dashed forward when two figures blocked her path. ’Are they assassins? How are they able to enter the forest?’

"Who are you?" Sera asked them.

They ignored Sera’s question as they charged in her direction. They attacked Sera simultaneously. The clashing of swords echoed in the area.

As Sera fought Gerard and his comrade, Julius stayed by Eve’s side. They couldn’t see what was happening to Sera.

"Your Highness, do you have the wooden whistle with you?" Julius asked her.

"Yes. Alaric gave it to me before the start of the hunt," Eve replied.

Julius heaved a sigh of relief. If something went wrong, they could ask for help. Once Eve blew the whistle, Alaric would certainly come to them.

"Julius, I’m worried about Sera. Should we follow her?" Eve asked Julius.

"We can’t do that, Your Highness. Your safety is our main priority. You don’t have to worry about Commander Sera. She is a skilled warrior," Julius reassured her.

Eve nodded, believing his words.

"I want to see her fight," Eve said, smiling sheepishly.

Julius scratched his face. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I can’t bring you to her. General Alaric might kill me if something bad happens to you. I must secure your safety first."

Eve let out a soft giggle. "I understand. I’ll behave. I won’t cause you any trouble."

Princess Eve and her guard were still conversing when Aliyah aimed her arrow at Eve’s back.

Swoosh!

An arrow flew through the air. Eve suddenly pounced on Julius as though she had seen the incoming arrow from her back. The two of them fell to the ground, dodging the arrow.

’Damn! I missed! How did she find out about my sneak attack?’ Princess Aliyah pondered to herself, eyeing Eve with disbelief.

Little did she know, a rabbit alerted Eve about the incoming arrow.

"Your Highness, are you alright? What happened?" Julius asked her.

"An enemy is hiding from the tree trunk!" Eve said, picking up the arrow.

Julius immediately stood up, grabbing his sword, shielding Eve’s body as he darted his gaze in their surroundings. He searched for the enemy.

Eve narrowed her eyes. She took her bow and gazed in a certain direction. With a serious expression on her face, she placed her arrow on the arrow rest of her bow, assuming a shooting stance.

"Shhh!" She signaled Julius to be quiet.

Julius nodded, watching Eve in amusement. ’Did she manage to locate the enemy?’

Eve pulled the string back smoothly as she aimed the arrow. Taking a deep breath, she finally released the arrow.

Swoosh!

"Aww!" Aliyah whimpered when an arrow grazed her shoulder. "Damn! She shot me!"

Following Eve’s arrow, Julius ran to capture the person who tried to hurt Eve. Upon reaching Aliyah’s hiding spot, Julius was shocked to see her.

"Princess Aliyah?"

Aliyah glared at Julius while clutching her wound. "How dare you point your sword at me?!"

Slap!

Aliyah slapped Eve’s knight, taking out her frustrations on him.

Julius immediately dropped to his knees, apologizing to Princess Aliyah. "Forgive me, Your Highness. We thought you were an enemy who tried to shoot Princess Eve."

"I’ll have you punished for your insolence! I got wounded because of you! I’ll make sure you are beheaded for hurting me!" Aliyah scolded the knight. She was furious that her plan had backfired. Eve had shot her, and she had been caught by Eve’s knight.

Julius trembled in fear. He knew he was doomed. No one would believe him. He could be killed if Princess Aliyah accused him of hurting her.

"Julius, rise. No need to apologize to her," Eve’s voice was heard from behind. "I was the one who hit you with my arrow, not him."

Aliyah clenched her jaw as she glared at Eve. "I’ll tell Father and Mother what you did! You will be punished for this!" she threatened.

"It was you who attacked me first," Eve retorted.

"Do you have proof?" Aliyah spat back at her.

Eve squinted her eyes on Aliyah. "Julius, Leave us for a moment. I need to talk to my sister alone."

Julius quickly rose and left the two princesses, but he stayed close to guard them.

"Princess Aliyah, you know who is at fault here. I won’t allow you to harm my guard and me." Eve said coldly, confronting her sister.

Aliyah let out a sarcastic laugh. "I was the one who got hurt. Who do you think they will believe? Your words against my words."

Eve remained calm, unfazed by her threat. "I don’t want to cause trouble for you. But if you will bring this matter to our mother and father, then I have no choice but to reveal your crime."

Eve leaned in closer and whispered, "You killed someone. I have proof and witnesses. Don’t challenge me, sister. I’m no longer the weak girl you once knew. I’ll fight anyone who tries to harm my people."’

Aliyah was rendered speechless upon hearing that.