I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain [EN]: Chapter 103

“W-what is that?”

“No, what on earth is that….”

I immediately captured the attention of many people.

To be precise, their eyes were drawn to the tiger I brought.

Everyone stared at me in silence, and the first to speak was Meriel.

“Ah, that’s a tiger Yurika met by chance. They became friends from the start, so it’s living with her at the Medest Estate.”

As she explained cheerfully, everyone looked even more dumbfounded.

Where on earth do you meet a tiger by chance, and what are the criteria for becoming friends?

However, Meriel continued to speak brightly, even as she saw the bewildered expressions on people’s faces.

“I think Yurika is like my long-lost younger sister! The Medest family has always had a deep connection with beasts, right?”

At those words, people were speechless.

Because now it was a political issue.

Everyone knew that the Medest family had been turned upside down because of the fake daughter of Medest.

It was also known that the fake daughter was related to the temple, and the temple was hostile to Crown Prince Roymond.

And after that, Yurika returned to the Medest Estate as if to show off.

If they officially questioned, ‘Does it make sense for Yurika to tame such a beast?’ it would be the same as denying Meriel’s words.

That was also going against her lover, Roymond.

Then, they could be suspected of having some kind of connection with the temple, which had lost its backing.

“Ohohoho! Is that so? Could she really be Medest’s real daughter?”

The most perceptive noblewoman clapped and laughed, and everyone else acted as if they agreed, creating a strangely friendly atmosphere.

I wore a proud expression and stroked the tiger’s head.

“Yes, he’s my friend.”

Please forgive my filial impiety, Father…….

I couldn’t bring myself to call him a pet…….

But the tiger seemed to like my touch, purring pleasantly.

“So, we decided to participate together in this hunting competition!”

At those words, one of the nobles opened his mouth wide and muttered in disbelief.

“…Participate with a tiger? Not hunting?”

“Yes.”

Since I had anticipated this kind of reaction, I smiled brightly and nodded.

“Is it not allowed to participate with a beast? Everyone else will be riding horses, right?”

“Are horses and tigers the same?”

“Then what’s the difference? My tiger friend will be much closer to its owner than Young Master’s horse.”

I said sulkily.

“Well, if everyone isn’t going to ride a horse and I can’t participate, I’ll give up too. Fairly.”

I could see the scribes in the distance frantically looking up the regulations.

Of course, there wouldn’t be a regulation that says you can’t participate with a tiger.

Since it was an event held after a very long time, there would be many loopholes in the documents.

“Whether someone rides a horse, a rhinoceros, or a tiger.”

Yoann said languidly, stroking his chin with a grim look.

“Yurika’s tiger friend will take responsibility if there’s an accident. Why the fuss?”

And the scribe, who had been diligently searching the documents, declared with a resigned face.

“Then… Yurika will take full responsibility for any accidents caused by this tiger, as Duke Hierrad has said.”

“Yes, I will.”

I raised my chin haughtily.

“Then I’ll receive a reward if our tiger friend does a great job. That’s only fair. Write it down quickly.”

The scribe sighed and picked up his quill.

The tiger wagged the pink ribbon on its tail contentedly and walked gracefully.

And a slight shadow fell over Libena’s face as she watched the scene.

‘Yes, that’s right.’

I smiled proudly inwardly.

‘We are protecting it.’

The reason why we kept the tiger’s existence a secret at the Medest Estate was for today.

The plan was to surprise her by revealing it at a time Libena least expected, and to make her panic.

‘She can’t take any action right now because it’s an official event, but she must be feeling impatient.’

People move more boldly when they are in a hurry.

And that bold move always leads to mistakes.

Just like with Partre.

‘Besides, today is the only day Theodor can be pardoned.’

In fact, from the moment the hunting competition was mentioned, my mind was racing.

An external event with many variables. Moreover, it’s being held after a long time, so there’s no proper system.

Theodor was scheduled to participate because his confinement would be lifted only on that day, and his fiancée Libena was the same.

And Libena was also scheduled to be in the imperial family’s tent with Meriel.

Isn’t it the perfect condition for Libena to plot something with the Emperor to completely lift Theodor’s confinement?

‘This time too…….’

I smiled and thought.

‘We just need to put a spoon on the table that Libena has already set [take advantage of a situation already in motion].’

Libena must be feeling very complicated.

She must be wondering how much I know and how much has been revealed.

Besides, Baron Olteba and his son were also under protection at the Medest Estate.

“Now.”

And there was someone who changed the chaotic atmosphere at once.

“I have an important announcement to make before the hunting competition begins.”

It was Crown Prince Roymond.

“Actually, there’s good news I want to share with everyone.”

Meriel was smiling shyly next to him.

Just by looking at that, everyone seemed to have guessed what Roymond was about to say.

“Yes.”

The Emperor and Empress also raised their glasses with proud faces.

“There are many good things happening in the imperial family after the war.”

They seemed to like Meriel as Roymond’s partner as well.

‘Of course. It’s only natural that Meriel is loved by many people.’

Soon after, the engagement announcement was officially made.

Meriel’s blonde hair sparkled brightly in the bright sunlight.

Meriel, exchanging rings in front of many people and receiving words of blessing, looked very happy.

‘Well, this was the happy ending in the original story.’

I don’t really know about the existence of the original story anymore, but at least that’s what the story I knew was like.

Achieving her first love with Roymond and receiving blessings in front of others.

Seeing the ending of a story being achieved so easily made me feel strangely moved.

The days when I thought I had to protect Meriel from the moment I first met her flashed through my mind.

‘Be happy, Sister.’

Meriel, surrounded by people, was more beautiful than ever.

“Now.”

Yoann whispered softly next to me.

“Now that your sister is engaged, can we get engaged too?”

He seemed to remember what I had said carelessly at the victory banquet.

I chuckled and playfully nudged Yoann’s shoulder.

Of course, no one was paying attention to our sweet banter.

Everyone was only looking at Meriel and Roymond.

Naturally, the tiger that was with me was also out of the spotlight.

I had to desperately stop the tiger from growling hostilely at Roymond.

“Yes, you can be angry.”

And Yoann said very politely next to me.

I was slightly touched by his human side, thinking he was comforting my father.

“Vent it all you want today at this place, and then be less angry at Yurika’s engagement ceremony.”

What on earth is he saying? Is this supposed to be sowing discord?

‘What is that wizard-like behavior…….’

My emotion completely disappeared like that.

* * *

A loud explosion erupted, and birds soared into the sky with a flurry of wings.

The hunting competition had officially begun.

The rules were very simple.

This place was a small forest near the capital, and there was a headquarters in the central field.

People who were not hunting stayed in the field and enjoyed the festival.

And the person who brought the most game from the forests surrounding the field on all sides was the winner.

The field was naturally guarded by many knights and was noisy, so beasts did not come often.

So, people who were not participating could just go in and out of the well-decorated tents of each noble family and socialize.

“Have a good time, Yurika.”

Yoann, who could not participate in the hunting competition, also had to stay in the tent in the field all the time.

He was with me at the last minute, checking my weapons to cheer me on.

“Yeah. If I win, I’ll dedicate the wreath to you.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Well, don’t expect too much. Actually, I think His Highness Roymond will win.”

“Then I can give you instead.”

It was when Yoann was stroking my hair in the Medest tent, trying to ignore the tiger’s piercing gaze.

“Excuse me.”

An unexpected guest visited our tent.

I was startled for a moment because he was wearing a gray hood from head to toe, but I could tell who it was as soon as I heard his voice.

“Please excuse me for a moment.”

It was Paul Olteba, who I didn’t even know had come to the hunting competition.

Both Yoann and I stared at Paul with bewildered faces.

However, I noticed that he wanted to keep it a secret, so I gestured to the servants to close the entrance of the tent.

The old man, over 70 years old, bowed to the tiger with a serious face and then took off his hood.

“Young Lady, I’ve thought about it a lot, but still…….”

And he said to me with a determined look.

“I have something to give you.”

……Here? Now?