The Princess' Harem
Chapter 46: Magical Wolf

Chapter 46: Magical Wolf

Viana raised an eyebrow and set her wine goblet down on the table a little too firmly. She wasn’t happy with the prince’s words, especially when they involved Count Lazarus.

"Are you saying I encouraged the Count’s persistence toward me?" she asked, her tone sharp as she stared at the prince.

Prince Rayne chuckled while swirling the wine in his goblet. "No, it’s not your fault. But watching him struggle for your attention is pretty entertaining."

Viana frowned. "Well, I wouldn’t mind making sure he never talks to me again."

The prince tilted his head, looking both confused and surprised. "What did he do to you?"

Viana realized her words had given away more than she wanted about her feelings toward Count Lazarus. Even though people knew they rarely spoke, she didn’t want to make it obvious. She took a sip from her goblet, pretending to focus on the drink.

She finally answered the prince’s question. "Nothing. I just don’t trust him."

Prince Rayne furrowed his brow and glanced around, looking for Count Lazarus, who had disappeared.

"Alright. I know he travels to Valendale for business often. I’ll remember your words and keep my distance."

Viana looked at the prince but didn’t say anything else. She took another sip of wine, not wanting to let anyone know the truth about her past with Count Lazarus.

Memories of what the Count had done to her suddenly returned, making her stand up abruptly. "We should return to our tents and prepare, Your Highness," she said quickly.

Without waiting for a response, she walked away, leaving the prince staring after her, looking confused.

***

After leaving the banquet table, Viana walked quickly to her tent, trying to push away the memories that had suddenly surfaced in her mind. She didn’t want thoughts of Count Lazarus ruining her focus before the hunt began.

Inside the tent, Reyes and Joel were already waiting, each checking their hunting gear. Bows, arrows, and swords were neatly arranged on the wooden table, ready for use.

Joel looked up as Viana entered. "Are you alright?" he asked, noticing the serious expression still lingering on her face.

Viana took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "I just want to start the hunt," she said as she stepped toward the equipment and grabbed her favorite bow.

Reyes studied her closely before speaking. "We need to make sure everything is ready. There’s no room for mistakes, especially deeper in the forest."

Viana nodded, then began checking the hunting gear that had been prepared. She fitted an arrow to her bow, tightened her belt, and made sure every detail of her clothing was right for the hunt.

Just then, Arden appeared at the entrance, carrying several documents. He looked rushed, as if something urgent had come up. "I can’t join the hunt," he said bluntly. "There’s an issue with the event that I need to handle."

Viana paused and gave him a sharp look. "What issue?" she asked.

Arden sighed and handed her the documents. "Some guests from other kingdoms want to change the rules on how the hunting spoils are divided. This could turn into a diplomatic problem if it’s not handled properly."

Viana frowned, flipping through the papers quickly. "Can you take care of it?"

Arden gave a small, confident smile. "I’ll try. Just focus on the hunt, I’ll make sure everything stays in order."

Viana studied him for a moment before nodding. "Alright. Make sure no one tries to take advantage of this event."

Arden didn’t say anything else, just nodded before leaving the tent in a hurry.

Viana turned her attention back to her preparations, realizing that she had more to think about than just the hunt itself—there was always politics and scheming involved in every royal gathering.

Reyes and Joel had finished their preparations. Reyes looked at her and asked, "Are we ready?"

Viana took a deep breath before lifting her bow and giving a small smile. "Yes. Let’s go."

With that, the three of them stepped out of the tent, heading to the gathering area before the hunt began.

***

As all the participants gathered, the sound of a trumpet signaled the start of the hunt. The hunters quickly mounted their horses and rode into the forest with excitement.

Viana, Reyes, and Joel were at the front of their group, followed by several soldiers whose real task was to protect the princess. They moved deeper into the woods, scanning for any signs of movement among the trees.

The forest air was fresh, carrying the scent of damp earth. Leaves rustled as the wind passed through, creating a calming atmosphere, though now and then it was interrupted by shouts from other hunters.

They managed to hunt several deer and smaller prey. Joel demonstrated his skill, while Viana proved that her training as the heir to Elysia had not been wasted.

But as they ventured further into the forest, Viana caught something in the corner of her eye—a shadow moving swiftly between the trees. It looked like a deer, and without thinking, she urged her horse forward to chase it.

"Princess, wait!" Joel shouted, sensing something was off.

Reyes quickly followed, both of them pushing their horses to catch up with Viana. "That’s not a deer!" Reyes yelled, tension in his voice.

But Viana was too focused on her target, and she was getting closer. Now, she could see that this creature was different.

Sweat formed on her forehead as she realized her mistake, but she still pulled out an arrow and aimed at the creature.

Reyes and Joel were right behind her, trying to stop her from releasing the shot, but it was too late. She had already drawn the bowstring, and the arrow shot forward.

Luckily, it struck a tree trunk in front of the creature, but instead of fleeing, the beast turned around. Its eyes glowed red as it locked its gaze onto Viana.

She froze, her face shifting into fear as she stared at the creature. It growled, the sound deep and loud.

"Damn it," Viana muttered, realizing she had mistaken this beast for a deer.

Reyes and Joel immediately dismounted their horses, both drawing their swords as they ran toward her.

The creature was a massive wolf, far larger than a normal one, with thick, glossy black fur. Its glowing red eyes locked onto Viana with an intense stare.

Reyes and Joel stepped in front of her, their swords drawn. The wolf growled again, and Viana trembled slightly, though she tried to steady herself.

"What is this? A wolf like this shouldn’t be here," Joel said, never taking his eyes off the beast.

Reyes nodded and whispered to the others, "It’s a magical wolf. It’s supposed to be deeper in the forests near the border."

Viana’s eyes widened. She had only heard stories about magical wolves, but seeing one in person was completely different. It was enormous.

The wolf’s growl became lower, its rage building as Viana’s arrow nearly struck it.

Its leg muscles tensed, then suddenly, the wolf leaped forward, attacking.

Reyes reacted first, swinging his sword quickly to intercept the beast. The blade barely grazed its thick black fur before the wolf twisted in mid-air, dodging the hit. It landed hard, kicking up dirt and leaves, then snapped its jaws dangerously close to Joel.

Joel barely managed to dodge, stumbling backward as he swung his sword, trying to keep the creature away. "It’s fast!" he shouted.

Viana grabbed another arrow, swiftly nocking it onto her bow. She pulled back, aiming for the wolf’s head. The moment she released, the beast spun, and the arrow only scraped its shoulder instead of piercing its flesh.

The wolf locked eyes on her. There was no time to move.

It charged, closing the distance in an instant. Reyes dashed forward, slashing his blade into the wolf’s side, forcing it to shift its path. The beast snarled, blood now staining its dark fur from the wound.

Joel seized the opening, thrusting his sword toward its flank. The wolf twisted again, dodging, but this time, Reyes and Joel worked together to trap it.

Viana jumped down from her horse, trying to steady her shaking hands. She quickly retrieved another arrow and aimed at the wolf again.

"Keep pushing it back!" Reyes shouted.

Viana took a deep breath, focused, and released the arrow. This time, the wolf couldn’t dodge. The arrow sank deep into its front leg, making it stagger.

With a furious roar, the beast lunged wildly at Reyes, snapping its jaws dangerously close to him. Reyes barely managed to block with his sword, the impact forcing him backward. Joel swung his blade down, slicing across the creature’s shoulder.

The wolf let out a piercing howl, its body trembling.

Then, suddenly, it stopped. Its glowing red eyes flickered as it stepped back, then bolted into the depths of the forest.

None of them chased after the creature. No one spoke as they stood there, panting.

"What... just happened?" Viana finally whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks before she even realized it.

Reyes shook his head, his expression grim. "It was a magical wolf."

Joel wiped the sweat from his forehead, his eyes fixed on the blood staining the ground. "That was strange, Your Highness. This isn’t their habitat."

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