Chapter 40
Most of the princes had arrived with female companions, so when it came time to gather them all, it didn’t take long before everyone was assembled.
At the very last moment before entering the forest, Damian seemed to come to his senses. “Stay outside and enjoy yourself. I’ll have Thomas keep you company. I’ll be back soon.”
“Your Highness, please let me go in with you,” Thomas said, clearly uneasy.
They’d seen firsthand just how dangerous the wolves were last time. That was exactly why the king had put Nigel in charge of leading this mission himself.
Suensonland was a nation that took pride in its strength. The wolves had already claimed the lives of several royal guards. The only answer to bloodshed was more blood. Sending Damian in alone? Thomas wasn’t comfortable with that.
Deborah glanced at Damian, a bit exasperated. “If Your Highness would just give me a proper longbow, I could handle myself in there too.”
“You sure about that?” Damian raised an eyebrow.
She’d been pestering him to trade out her toy bow for a real one. He wondered, ‘Does she really think longbows are that easy to use?‘
Deborah glanced around. She thought, ‘All the other women have full–sized longbows. If they can handle it, why can’t I?‘
Damian caught the stubborn glint in her eyes and gave Thomas a look.
Without a word, Thomas rode off to a nearby supply post. Moments later, he returned with a longbow in hand and offered it to her.
“Your Highness.”
Deborah’s eyes lit up as she reached for it—but the moment Thomas let go, her expression changed. She nearly toppled off her horse.
This bow was heavy. She thought, ‘Seriously—is this even meant for a normal person? It has to weigh at least twenty pounds. Are these people crazy? How is anyone supposed to hunt with something this bulky?‘
Thomas stifled a laugh. “Maybe we should switch it back—”
“No!” Deborah snapped before he could finish. ‘It’s not like I can’t hold it–I just haven’t expected it to be that heavy. I’ve underestimated it.’
“I’m actually pretty good at archery,” she said, looking straight at Damian.
He didn’t reply–just watched her coolly as she wrestled to strap the longbow across her back. She might look delicate, but there was a quiet determination in her expression that even he couldn’t ignore.
Up ahead, Nigel raised his hand and rode into the forest, the woman named Gwendolyn Hopkins close at his side. They were headed straight for the predator zone. As soon as Nigel entered, the others followed without hesitation.
Deborah finished adjusting her bow and looked at Damian.
“You’re really coming with me?” he asked, his expression as unreadable as ever.
That flicker of loneliness he’d felt earlier was long gone. Now he was back to cold, detached reason,
The predator zone was crawling with wolves and other dangerous creatures–not exactly a place for someone as soft as her.
“Stop looking down on me,” she huffed. She could see it written all over his face–he didn’t think she could handle it.
Letting out a sharp breath, she gave her horse a nudge and trotted forward ahead of him, heading straight into the forest. From behind, her small figure looked surprisingly determined.
Damian’s eyes flickered with something unreadable. Then, with a light squeeze of his knees, his horse followed after her.
Thomas, his saddle packed with arrows and supplies, brought up the rear.
This was Deborah’s first time seeing the princes of Suensonland in full battle mode–and it was nothing like what she was used to.
Once they entered the forest, their usual calm, noble demeanor vanished. All that remained was raw instinct and brutal efficiency.
Wolves began howling almost immediately.
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Chapter 40
These weren’t pampered royal heirs–they were warriors. Every last one of them.
Even the refined Alistair looked like a completely different person once inside. His eyes gleamed with bloodlust–like a seasoned cavalry officer ready for war.
“Your Highness, you’re falling behind–you’re going to lose, Deborah called over her shoulder. There was a bet among the group: whoever lost would face a punishment.
Damian just looked at her, completely unfazed.
She scowled. “Hey! We can’t let the Damian’s estate lose face. Take this seriously!”
His expression didn’t change, but a flicker of amusement passed through his eyes. “Then you’d better work hard and make us proud
On a distant hill, Nigel watched the trio ride past below.
Gwendolyn rode up behind him. “Your Highness, the way Prince Damian looks at Princess Deborah–it’s not normal.”
“Oh?” Nigel’s eyes glinted with interest.
Gwendolyn had sharp instincts. If she’d picked up on something, he knew better than to dismiss it.
He thought, The ever–stoic Damian, showing interest in Simon’s brand–new wife? Well now… that is very interesting.
“Gwendolyn, Nigel said, voice low and deliberate. “Go test them.”
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