A Guide to Raising a Villainess-Chapter 106: Imperial Hunt (2)

The forest greeted us with coolness and the soft rustling of leaves.

Sunbeams broke through the thick canopy of trees, falling on the ground in golden stripes, and the air was filled with the tart aroma of pine needles and damp earth.

The noise that had accompanied us at the reserve gate gradually subsided. Soon, the sounds of voices and neighing horses were left behind, giving way only to the rustling of the wind and the distant singing of birds.

I rode slowly, keeping my horse at a steady pace and trying not to fall too far behind my group.

Most of the riders ahead seemed much more enthusiastic than I was. Their lively voices occasionally drifted through the trees — laughter, jokes, and the lighthearted rivalry typical of nobles, for whom any event turned into a competition between themselves.

For them, this hunt was primarily an opportunity to show off — to demonstrate their agility, their skill with weapons, to prove themselves to the prince, or simply to impress those around them.

For me, it was more like a walk than a real hunt.

I never enjoyed such activities.

The thought of taking the life of a defenseless creature for the sake of a fleeting sense of victory or a trophy only disgusted me. Even the very idea of considering murder entertainment seemed alien and unnatural to me.

Therefore, I had no intention of participating in any competition. All I wanted was to ride peacefully along the trails of the reserve, allow myself to be distracted from my usual worries, and enjoy the rare silence that could only be found far from the palace walls.

The nature of the royal reserve was truly magnificent. Centuries-old trees with tall branches were scattered everywhere, through which soft sunlight streamed. Somewhere in the distance, a stream murmured. A light breeze rustled the leaves, creating the feeling that the forest itself was alive and breathing.

From the moment we entered the shade of these trees, time seemed to slow down. Everything around us became different — as if cut off from the rest of the world.

Several hours must have passed. The sun rose higher, and it became a little warmer in the shade of the trees.

Gradually, the groups of hunters began to disperse in different directions. Each chose its own path: some headed closer to the hills, others to the lake, where, according to rumors, rare animals lived.

I didn’t even notice how, at some point, I was left alone. It all happened so naturally that I only realized it when the forest finally swallowed the sounds of the other riders.

My group must have already gone far ahead.

I saw their silhouettes flashing between the trees just a minute ago, but now even the distant clatter of hooves had disappeared, dissolving into the rustle of leaves. However, I was not going to catch up with them. On the contrary, at that moment, I just wanted to be alone for a while, away from the usual noise and bustle of people.

Let them compete and prove their skills — I preferred to just enjoy the ride.

I hoped that everything was going well for Ruby and that she was really enjoying today. In fact, that was the only thing I wanted.

Sometimes I could hear the sounds of crossbow shots and shouts echoing through the forest in the distance, but they seemed very far away. Here, where I was riding, there was almost complete silence.

For a while, I just continued this leisurely and peaceful walk, enjoying the rare silence and the sounds of the forest, waiting for today’s hunt to end so I could return.

Unfortunately or fortunately, it wasn’t going to happen until evening, which meant I had at least a few more hours to spend here.

Sighing, I looked down at the path in front of me, feeling a slight fatigue, but also an unusual calm that this walk away from all the usual hustle and bustle gave me.

Suddenly, something flashed between the trees nearby.

I froze, listening. For a moment, I thought it was just a trick of the light — a glint of sunlight on the foliage, shining through the tree canopy. But then I saw it more clearly.

In front of me stood a small animal — light-colored, almost snow-white, with long, graceful legs, alert ears, and a thin, slightly trembling tail. It watched me, as if trying to figure out if I was a threat.

I froze, afraid to make a sudden movement, and slowly took a step back so as not to scare it away.

My heart was beating a little faster, but not out of fear, but out of a strange feeling of surprise and awe at the beauty and grace of this creature.

"Hello..." I said quietly, as if hoping that this animal could hear and understand me.

The forest around me suddenly seemed even quieter. Only the soft rustling of leaves and a gentle breeze carried their sounds.

The animal continued to watch me, not taking a step, not taking its eyes off me. Its eyes seemed unusually intelligent and attentive, as if it understood more than anyone could imagine.

I slowly took another step, trying to get a better look at it. Its snow-white fur shimmered in the sunlight, and its long legs gave it an almost fairy-tale grace.

For a while, I just stood there, looking at it, as if afraid to blink and miss the moment.

The animal’s light grace, the smoothness of its movements, and the almost magical shine of its coat all made me hold my breath. Finally, I realized that it was indeed a deer, but an unusual, rare one, one I had never seen before. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

I couldn’t help but smile in admiration.

"How beautiful..." I murmured softly, almost inaudibly, as if afraid that the sound of my voice might scare it away.

The animal, as if hearing me, slowly turned its head in my direction. Its eyes, deep and alert, met mine for a moment.

Then it slowly took a step forward and glided between the tree trunks with such grace that I could barely follow it with my eyes.

Without realizing it, I tightened my grip on the reins and followed it, as if spellbound by its extraordinary beauty.

We moved further and further away, and the trees grew taller and denser, and the light dimmer. The forest seemed to gradually sink into its own silence.

And yet, despite the calm around me, I felt a slight, almost imperceptible sense of unease.

I suddenly realized that I could no longer hear the other riders. No shouts, no voices — nothing. Even the familiar sounds of the forest, as if obeying some invisible will, suddenly fell silent. The birds stopped chirping, the wind in the treetops died down, and even the rustling of the leaves almost disappeared.

"Strange..." I whispered, stopping involuntarily and looking around. The trees seemed taller, darker, and the path ahead seemed to narrow, sinking into the shadows.

Could it be that I had wandered too deep into the forest without noticing? The thought flashed through my mind, and my heart beat faster for a moment.

I looked down at the path where I had just been following the white deer and noticed that there were no more traces of its movement.

It seemed to have dissolved into the greenery, disappearing so suddenly that I found it hard to believe what was happening.

For a moment, I was confused, trying to find it with my eyes, but the forest around me was dense, and the darkness between the tree trunks seemed as thick as a curtain. The longer I stared into the green mist, the clearer it became to me that the animal had truly disappeared.

Finally, I gave up with a heavy sigh when I realized that the wonderful snow-white creature was gone for good.

I looked down at the reins, feeling a slight uneasiness gradually turn into alertness. An unknown tension seemed to pierce the air — as if the silence itself had become too unnatural.

I frowned, about to turn around and ride back, when suddenly I was overcome by a strange, almost inexplicable feeling. It wasn’t just anxiety — more like an instinctive premonition that someone was watching me.

It came suddenly, without warning, like a cold wave running down my spine.

I held my breath. Everything around me remained still, but that only made it more unsettling. Even the light breeze that had been rustling the leaves a moment ago seemed to have disappeared, giving way to an ominous stillness.

The horse beneath me snorted nervously, twitched its ears, and shifted from foot to foot, clearly sensing something. Its breathing became ragged, and I felt the muscles beneath my knees tense.

I raised my head, peering into the thick shadows between the trees, but I couldn’t see anything there.

My heart suddenly beat a little faster, as if sensing something unknown.

"Is anyone there?" I called softly, trying to keep my voice calm.

The only response was silence.

I gripped the reins tighter and slowly turned around. The forest around me was the same as before — serene and motionless. I had almost convinced myself that I had just imagined it. There was probably no one here after all.

But at that moment... suddenly there was a quiet, barely audible crunch of leaves nearby. A sharp sound — as if someone had carelessly stepped on a dry leaf.

I swallowed involuntarily, feeling my breath freeze in my chest.