The people who questioned the verdict of a royal are charged with treason and the crime of disrespecting the royal family. So of course, any sane person would shut up by now.
Not him though. He's probably aiming to be an edgelord or something.
"Isn't the Hermans His highness's relative? How do we know if His highness is not just trying to boost a family tie?"
'You have a point, Mr. Edgy.'
Those who are not in favor of the result began to feel hopeful. Their eyes had been filled with vigor.
'Guys, if you all don't stop this, my brother would get your heads. He is not a patient man..'
"And also, how can a weak-looking little lass kill this big wild boar? Isn't this the same boar which has terrorized the great forest of Rosenthal?" He added some more, looking smugger and smugger by the minute.
It is true that I have no care for the formalities at all. But I won't just stand here and take the insults either. I am not born to be weak. My hands reached out to my back and grabbed my last remaining arrow. Bea, who was at the side, saw me readying my bow and offered me a smile as encouragement.
"Hmmm..." I hummed as I aimed my bow at him. The people who saw me doing that became all buggy-eyed and glanced at the culprit.
"I'm just saying that it is impossible for a girl to--" his next few words were swallowed by him, as my arrow sailed through the throng of people and hit the side of his head. It whizzed through his hair, cutting some of it in the process before it lodged itself on a tree from afar.
His eyes shook as he grasped the fallen locks in his shaking hand.
"Who are you calling a weak girl?" I argued.
My eyes were glued at him, smiling darkly. The man shivered as if he was cold and looked down at his hands again.
Flipping my hair, I relaxed my stance and stood there with my arms crossed, then roamed my eyes at the gathered people.
"Acting salty just because you are all bested by some 'weak-looking little lass'. If you all wanted to kill it badly, then you all should've raced to its direction quickly. Not even one person had peeked when it came out trampling," I announced, scoffing at their hypocrisy.
A long time had passed before the knights came to help us bring the wild boar. No one had come to us during that whole time, not even one curious soul. So if they really are raring to hunt down the wild boar, they should have quickly come around, right?
"And you all have the guts to question the verdict. How audacious," my sharp voice resonated throughout the grounds.
The crowd of buzzing flies was silent now, looking guilty as hell. I basked in their somber expressions, finding satisfaction from it. There is nothing that gets me going more than the feeling of slapping someone in their faces without touching them directly.
Prince Ezekiel then cleared his throat, "Now I hope that there would be no more objections with the result��"
Ezekiel spoke a few more formalities before it officially ended. The crowd had begun to disperse and had all entered their own tents, probably preparing to leave with all their spoils. There were still a few who had remained, like our group, some noblemen and those from the noble ladies.
Rosamunde and her troupe were looking at me nastily. She had intensely glared at me with full of hatred before walking out as well, and with her entourage trailing behind her like obedient pets.
Gwen had come running to us and hugged me, to my surprise.
"Nadia! You were seriously cool earlier! And you won The Hunt! I am so proud of you!" She exclaimed as she gave me one last tight hug.
"Thank you," I murmured and returned her embrace.
The fox crooned and nuzzled my neck. Gwen noticed it and blinked at the sight of the little fox.
"Oh, wow! I thought it was a scarf! It looks like that from afar," she remarked while still gazing at it in wonder.
"It's my pet now," I said and grinned at her.
Gwen grins back, "You even earned yourself a cute pet. Now I am jealous that I have not participated either..." she mumbled while pouting.
She then turned her attention to Bea who was walking towards us slowly.
"Bea!"
"Hello..." Bea replied in a soft voice as soon as she got closer.
'Ah, now that she is here...'
"A bow for The King of The Hunt!" Eon suddenly yells out, appearing at our side out of the blue.
He was with Nathaniel and Luther, who were then made a small gesture of bowing as a joke. It was hilarious.
Ezekiel is with his attendants, doing his duties again so he could not join our little reunion.
"If Nadia is The King of The Hunt, then this also meant that Bea is The Queen, right?" Luther pointed out.
Gwen's eyes blinked and turned to us, "Wait, for real?"
"Yep. I had offered her my kill at the start," I muttered, answering her question.
"Wow! Congratulations Bea!" Gwen says and grinned at her.
"Yaay..." Bea said and clapped, looking ridiculously adorable.
"Then, bow down to the King and Queen of The Hunt!" Eon declares, being foolish again.
I only laughed at their silliness when they started bowing. Of course, to not come out as a killjoy, both Bea and I acted like monarchs.
"You can now rise," I ordered as majestic as possible.
Nathan sidled up beside me, "Are you okay?"
I looked up at him and smiled warmly. He must have been so worried about me earlier.
'I want to pat his head!'
"I am fine, brother. I'm a strong woman," I responded.
"Hmmm..." was his response. But he looked at ease now.
The remaining noblemen from the grounds approached us. Some were hesitant, while the rest were not. They all came to congratulate me in earnest, which I warmly accepted. They were those who were silent despite the doubts they had.
Welp. I really did not care if they are still in doubt though, because in the end, I am still the winner anyway.
'Now, I can go home and get that precious sleep.'