The Lord Of Blood Hill-Chapter 117: The Origin of the Spring Hunt
Catherine, riding her horse, complains, "It's almost summer, so why do they call it the Spring Hunt?"
A young noble beside her replies, "Probably because the weather is perfect—not too hot or too cold!"
Another young noble chimes in, "And all sorts of animals are out this time of year, making for a richer variety of game."
Catherine responds to the eager explanations of the young nobles with her signature smile. Soon, signs of animals appear ahead—cattle, sheep, and even tigers and wolves. Each noble, eager to demonstrate their prowess in front of the lady, spurs their horses to chase the prey.
Catherine notices Henwell riding leisurely in the distance and approaches him. "Why aren't you with your brother?"
Henwell glances at Arius, who is heading towards a stream with a lady. "Wouldn't want to ruin the mood!"
Back in their extraordinary training sessions, Catherine had stopped pretending and even sat next to Henwell with a sense of pride. But when she realized he was fully engrossed in the lessons, she lost interest and never sat by him again. During that time, Henwell barely spoke to her, and even his interactions with Arius were minimal.
Eventually, it seemed as if Catherine forgot about Henwell entirely, not speaking to him again. Since Arius and Karitan's romance was heating up, and with both countries' leadership silently approving the match, Catherine felt relieved. She was not keen on marriage, especially not an international political one, which she found devoid of any emotional foundation.
Free from the prospect of an arranged marriage, Catherine was enjoying herself, though she occasionally bothered Arius. After all, Karitan was her cousin, and she felt obligated to look out for her. Knowing that Arius wasn't exactly walking "The Path of Honor," she saw him as a coward, unworthy of lifelong commitment.
Unable to change the decisions of their countries' leaders, she sought opportunities to embarrass Arius. However, Arius completely ignored her, so now she sets her sights on Henwell as her next target.
Catherine, riding her white horse, continues questioning Henwell, "Earlier, I asked why this event is still called the Spring Hunt when it's already late spring. My companions gave many reasons, but you seemed unimpressed. Surely you know the real reason! Why not enlighten us, you famous knight lord of the Duchy of Vorry, with your vast knowledge?"
Henwell doesn't hold back, "I do know, but the real reason isn't exactly pleasant."
Catherine raises an eyebrow, "Whether it's pleasant or not, are you so confident that your reason is the true one?"
At this moment, a few more riders approach. Among them are two of Princess Catherine's guardian knights and Addison, the third prince of the Billie Kingdom. At twenty-five, Addison is already married to the daughter of a powerful marquis, a match considered quite suitable. He has largely stepped back from the capital's political scene and is soon to return to his own earldom.
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The third prince is gentle and refined, with an air of scholarly elegance. He notices his younger sister's mischievous intent and approaches to prevent any trouble. The alliance between the two countries is of utmost importance and must not be jeopardized.
Addison tries to smooth things over, "The tradition of the Spring Hunt exists in many countries, and its origins are lost to time. Every region has its own reasons, and there's no single answer."
Catherine fixes her gaze on Henwell, "But this smuggling knight seems quite certain. I'm curious to hear what tradition he believes in!"
Addison's expression darkens, "Catherine, that's quite rude. When has Henwell ever smuggled? Both countries have agreed on this matter. He's done nothing wrong, certainly not smuggling. Apologize to Henwell!"
The term "smuggling knight" is a jab at Henwell within the noble circles of the Billie capital. It's a nickname whispered behind closed doors, never openly addressed. For Catherine to say it outright is a blatant insult.
As just a knight lord, Henwell wouldn't typically warrant an apology from a princess. However, as a member of the delegation and the personally appointed guardian knight of Arius by Grand Duke Amir, insulting Henwell publicly equates to insulting Arius and the entire delegation. On a larger scale, it's a slight against the Duchy of Vorry itself.
Faced with her brother's reprimand, Catherine offers a half-hearted apology, "My words were out of line. I shouldn't have said that so openly."
She then smiles, "But it wasn't my own words, nor those of anyone from Billie. It was someone from your own delegation who said it! A month ago, Robin, the knight beside Arius, was boasting in front of some ladies, belittling Henwell. He called you a smuggling knight, accused you of using Arius's name for personal gain, and claimed you were all about schemes and tricks."
Henwell responds calmly, "There's some truth to that. What sets humans apart from animals is thinking. I have no family background to rely on, so I must carve my own path. Having a territory means I need to find ways to earn more money; otherwise, I can't even sustain my own fief. Seizing opportunities to make money isn't shameful for me. Using my brain isn't a disgrace either."
Henwell's candid acknowledgment leaves the royal siblings momentarily speechless. With his words laid bare, further comment would make the Billie royal family seem lacking in grace. For a commoner to rise to the rank of knight lord through sheer determination, dismissing it as mere trickery would be an affront to the entire noble system.
Henwell continues, "Regarding the Spring Hunt, I do know a bit about its origins. Since Princess Catherine wants to hear it, I'll share."
"Why is the Spring Hunt held in late spring? It's because this is when the spring plowing is over. Only after the plowing do the serfs have some free time. They could then wear animal pelts and serve as game for the nobles in the hunt. Long ago, when our human territories weren't as vast and wild beasts hadn't been driven deep into the forests, hunting in the wild meant encountering real, fierce animals."
"For safety, the nobles hunted within their estates or lands. But there weren't many animals there, so they had people dress up as game—or perhaps serfs weren't considered people at all. Due to the demands of spring plowing, serfs were needed in the fields. Afterward, their value diminished, making them convenient targets for the nobles' amusement."
Everyone stares at Henwell in shock. After a moment, Catherine exclaims incredulously, "You must be making this up! How could that be possible?"
Henwell shrugs, "It's described in the ninth volume, eleventh chapter of the Continental History. Not just the Spring Hunt, but the Autumn Hunt and others were for similar reasons."
Chapter 117: The Origin of the Spring Hunt
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