Esme's POV
The trap was set, the bait was fresh. Blood spilled in enticing amounts and my eyes were peeled for my first unfortunate prey.
Yet the wind hissed past me again. If I didn't know Ruby was likely unaware of my location, I'd assume he did that to tease me.
Did the animals know that they'd be hunting today? Or was there a bigger predator in the forest right now? That could help me win this game. If I caught that big predator.
As I inspected the traps for the fifth time, wondering what Sora was doing and how many catches Eidrin likely had, I heard the whimper of a deer. Finally!
My eyes sharpened at the shrubs I heard the sound from. I grabbed an arrow and walked towards it, trying to keep my footsteps as light as possible. If I let it run off, it could take me to the other animals.
"What!" It jumped above me when I opened the shrubs underneath some trees. It looked young. My conscience pricked me for a second before I engaged it in a chase.
This animal ran like a drunk dog. "Have you died before? Why were you so scared of dying!" I yelled. How could it run almost as fast as me?
It jumped over a log and I slowed down to climb as I didn't want to stain my clothes. Eidrin still wore his tailored clothes to hunt so I shouldn't look like the animals and wrestle in mud.
After catching, killing quickly, and tying all limbs, I lifted it on my shoulder and started back to my part.
I had strayed a bit towards the north. I didn't want to take away Eidrin's chance of getting game, even if so far, these places looked deserted.
My steps halted when I heard humming. I frowned, lowering my catch to the ground. I couldn't see who it was because a distant oak tree, as large as five trees, was blocking the view. "Wasn't this place supposed to be without people?"
It had been a while since I'd met people, as life revolved around these brothers now. From the ritual, meeting Sanya, talking with Eidrin, and then this date.
Those Jusia ladies I had met were a welcome encounter since I got to let out pent-up frustration.
"Is this person lost in the forest? Eidrin rented this place for only us." Did I even have the right to say that when I was an illegal traveller? If they asked me for my permit, what would I say?
I hid on top of a tree so that I wouldn't have to explain difficult things. I kept the feather Sora gave me in my pocket because a floating feather was also suspicious. The person got closer, humming as they walked.
I held my breath since they'd likely be a hunter and have great hearing. As they came towards me, my heart constricted and I struggled to hold my breath. Was I exhausted after the run with the deer? That was unlike me. I adjusted my sitting position and covered my back with my hair. The tree had dried reddish leaves so it would easily mask me.
They stopped just underneath the tree. Why did they stop moving? Had I been spotted? Not yet. Perhaps they got curious about the dead deer. My heart ached again, and I clutched it.
"Esmeralda, you're getting afflicted."
"What?" I slapped my mouth immediately. Did they hear me? Oh Goddess. But getting afflicted? A curse?
"Get down. Sora's feather masks your scent so you appear as a wolf-less girl. I wished this never happened."
I didn't understand a word she said, but she heavily hinted that whoever was humming, they just cursed me. I jumped down from the tree, and almost onto the delicate figure before I locked eyes with them for a second.
Was it a young lady? She was quite tall, and her flowy white dress hid any other body curve I could use to decipher. She glared at me, after shaking imaginary dust off her body. I felt ease radiate through my body and thanked Sanya. I could breathe easily again. I inhaled, easing my heart, then exhaled.
"You are heartless, miss." I heard their voice, low, sad… why sad when I was the one left breathless? "Eat vegetables instead of stopping a deer from running. Death is painful and it can never be with its family ever again."
I curled my fists at that nonsense. So she's a righteous vegetarian who cursed me for hunting? Typical noble.
She looked pale, and was likely a foreigner on vacation from her dialect being similar to mine. I pulled the arrow tied on my waist and her glare faltered.
She stepped back and I followed her, pointing it at her stomach. "I will let you go because you're a naive pretty lady, however ignorance is no excuse. If your father gave you a spell, don't use it on anyone who disagrees with your ideals." I stopped moving when her back hit a tree. "Understood?"
You'd think these nobles were taught basic manners on how to behave within society. How did they still have positions in our towns? She didn't look scared, mostly deep in thought. I lowered my arrow.
"If your parents made you eat vegetables," I looked her over and sighed. "Just follow me. My friends and I will do a roast. You can try it if you want, and if you hate it, you can stick to the leaves."
She opened her mouth to refute, looked at the arrows in my hands and shut her mouth.
I started my search for animals again, the deer on my shoulder and the eager young mistress behind me. "When I try to hunt, look away. I'm playing a game with someone I don't plan to lose against."
"I hid the animals."
"You what?"
"I hid the animals' traces when I heard this area was bought for hunting." She looked away, almost shyly. "Two friends I made today were those hunters. Only this young deer had run into me."
She had already made two friends in this forest? Others were here? This place was far from that spot for her friends to be the Jusia ladies.
"Where are the animals now?"
She was likely not saying. And she didn't. She only gave me a frown as if I wanted to make her impure. "I should leave her, right, Sanya?"
"You can't teleport. That's the only way to make sure he doesn't latch onto you."
"He?" I snapped my head toward the noble and they looked at me, more curious than offended now. Was it that type of situation?
They'd latch onto me because they were those creepy noblemen who liked the girls of other kingdoms to give them pleasure? Well I was clearly a foreigner.
"Can I give you a taste of nice vegetable dishes? I'd make it myself and if you like it, you can eat meat."
Trying to throw my words at me? I only asked to try meat if he had been made to only eat vegetables. Of course, if it was a conscious decision then he should ignore me, but he should have no say in what I do.
"I'm staying in a fancy inn now so you'd like the place."
That was suspicious, speaking about his inn. Was he really a creep? "No, thank you, my husband would be worried."
Uncle always said that if you meet a creepy high-status noble, tell them you're married. Having a fiancé doesn't work at times, but they definitely let you go if you're married, to avoid trouble.
This young master kept following me even after I declined. I shouldn't have promised to give him a roast. I assumed he was an ignorant little lady.
Now the height difference between us made me cautious, but he was leaner so I just had to overpower and tie him to a tree or something.
"I am sorry I used a spell on you, young miss. Your hair is also really pretty."
An apology and a compliment? I stopped walking and smiled. "It's great you are trying to redeem yourself. Thank you."
Of course, that could just be a way for me to loosen my guard and then he'd afflict me again.
"How do I stop that though, Sanya?"
"You can't."
I stopped walking. He stopped as well, tilting his neck in confusion. Sanya had definitely learnt to fight cheap spells as an ancient hound.
"That's not a spell. He's not just any noble either."
The warning dripped from her as she spoke to me, and her earlier words repeated in my head. She didn't want this to happen.
A Disciple.
I started walking quickly, gripping the deer on my shoulder. Even without his help, it became hard to breathe and my stomach tightened.
"Why did you stop? Is something wrong?"
I ignored him and kept on moving. I no longer heard my footsteps, only the faint sounds of his murmuring.
"You don't have to come. It's alright. Don't just run away. I didn't mean it like that."
All my senses focused on getting as far as I could from him. He kept mumbling but before I understood it, my surroundings had changed.
My breathing was shaky, and the deer slid off my sweaty palms. I was in front of the two servants, with Sora. He blinked, staring at me in surprise.