The Male Leads Were Stolen By The Extra [EN]: Chapter 95

Selonia was in the participant seating area at the Mirnar Forest entrance for the Hunting Festival.

She had fully recovered her energy from her illness a few days prior.

It was almost miraculous how quickly she had shaken off her illness and become completely fine, just as Tan had predicted.

Today was the day of the Hunting Festival.

The Hunting Festival, held once a year before winter, was a time to burn the captured beasts and offer them to the sky, praying for a bountiful harvest in the coming year.

A barrier was set up around the forest’s edge, so there was no chance of the beasts escaping.

The winner of the hunting competition was the person who caught the largest beast. The nature of that beast would be revealed when participants showcased their catches after the competition.

It was an annual event, so the nobles weren’t particularly interested—usually. But today was different.

The viewing stands were already packed to see this year’s winner, except for the highest seats reserved for the Imperial Family.

Not far from the viewing stands, another temporary tent served as seating for the participants, where Selonia and Tan sat together, attending today’s Hunting Festival.

“I told you to just watch.”

Tan, sitting next to her, shielded her face with his hand to prevent the sunlight slanting in through the tent from reaching her.

Selonia chuckled, not disliking his excessive behavior.

Since her illness, he had constantly checked her complexion and asked about her health.

He asked how she felt today and if anything hurt, as if he were a doctor checking on a patient he had prescribed treatment to.

“Who knows? Maybe I’ll be the winner.”

Selonia retorted confidently. She was also participating in today’s Hunting Festival.

Originally, she had no intention of participating, but when the Emperor encouraged Tan and Ian to attend together, she had expressed her intention to participate as well.

Her father had tried to dissuade her, but he couldn’t break her stubbornness, especially given her concern that Ian might use some dirty tricks.

The list of participants for this year’s Hunting Festival was impressive.

Including her, Tan, Ian, McRyan, and even the Crown Prince had declared their participation in this year’s Hunting Festival.

In fact, it was a total turnout of the most popular and influential figures in the Empire.

No wonder everyone was paying attention.

“Oh my!”

“They all look so dashing!”

Selonia turned her head at the excited voices coming from nearby.

She saw young ladies sitting in the viewing stands glancing at the participant seating area, their faces flushed.

Looking around, she immediately understood.

The participants, who usually wore stuffy formal attire, were dressed in much lighter and more comfortable clothing, as they often wielded swords. Heavy armor could sap their strength when hunting.

Thanks to that, their bodies were more prominent.

Among them, Tan, in particular, had unbuttoned two buttons on his shirt so freely that the scar was barely visible, but part of his firm chest was exposed.

Tan was the reason most of the young ladies were blushing.

“Tan, shouldn’t you button up your shirt a bit?”

Selonia, alternating her gaze between the young ladies and Tan’s chest, grumbled without realizing it.

“Huh?”

At the sound, Tan looked puzzled, trying to understand her words, then suddenly smirked. He seemed very pleased.

He immediately brought his lips close to her ear.

“Don’t worry. Only you can see what’s underneath.”

“…What! Who wants to see?”

Selonia, who had curled her toes at the stimulating whisper, retorted with a flushed face, feeling as if she had been caught off guard.

“Really? Oh, and it’s even better to touch.”

At her reaction, Tan chuckled slyly and leaned his head on Selonia’s shoulder.

“…”

While Selonia was dumbfounded by Tan, who was becoming increasingly socialized and even seductive.

“You both must be careful. You mustn’t get hurt.”

A creepily saccharine voice was heard.

Turning her gaze, it was Grace, as expected.

Grace, who had followed Ian and McRyan into the participant seating tent, was earnestly urging them with a worried expression.

Grace, in her fancy attire among the participants dressed in hunting clothes for convenience, stood out noticeably.

“The Bennet barony’s expenditures are very high.”

“It seems they are receiving funds from somewhere.”

Selonia immediately recalled the words of Daniel, the Storm Guild Master [a powerful information-gathering organization].

Now that she saw it, everything Grace was wearing was indeed expensive, not befitting the daughter of a humble barony.

A dress decorated with lace woven with delicate patterns, and jewels dangling from her neck, ears, and arms.

Moreover, on top of her neatly tied-back blonde hair was a hat adorned with flamboyant peacock feathers and jewels.

Unlike herself, who was wearing comfortable pants and a vest without any accessories, Grace was very flashy and luxurious.

Who would see her as the daughter of the Bennet barony?

This was a luxury that even Grace, the Duke of Cherbil’s fiancée, could not yet enjoy, as she was not yet the Duchess.

Besides, the sapphire necklace carved in the shape of a butterfly that Grace was wearing now…

It was a necklace Selonia had seen in a sample book from a jewelry workshop.

As the best customer of any place, Princess Bessin Selonia received sample books of products to be sold from various boutiques and jewelers earlier than others, and she had seen the product there.

‘It was said to be a one-of-a-kind limited edition from Erzel Jewelers.’

She hadn’t bought it because she didn’t like the pattern.

But that necklace was now around Grace’s neck.

‘It definitely smells fishy.’

It was a price that most nobles couldn’t afford even if they wanted to buy it.

She had already told the Storm Guild to find out the details, but she couldn’t just sit idly by.

Selonia thought she should personally investigate what Grace was wearing now.

At that moment, Ian, who had sent Grace away, found the two and approached with a very displeased expression.

“I thought you’d back out, but you didn’t.”

Ian’s arrogantly raised blue eyes looked down at the seated Tan.

He knew that Tan was a Grand Duke and didn’t speak informally, but just raising the end of his words didn’t mean it was respectful. There was not a speck of courtesy to be found in the words he chose.

Tan, who had been leaning on Selonia’s shoulder, slowly rose from his seat at the provocation that wasn’t even a provocation.

The towering man immediately lowered his gaze from a higher position than Ian.

“I should swing my sword this time.”

Tan raised one corner of his mouth and put his hand on Ian’s shoulder as if encouraging him.

Everyone here realized that he was looking down on Ian, who had not played any role in the monster rampage at the Denroha Marquis’s residence just now.

“Don’t boast and prepare to be humiliated.”

Ian, who knew that, spat out the words as if chewing them, his face coldly hardened, and pushed away Tan’s hand.

No, he tried to push it away. He just couldn’t push it off.

Tan put even more strength into the hand that was holding Ian’s shoulder. The strong grip pressed down on Ian’s shoulder.

He hadn’t forgotten how Ian had grabbed Selonia’s shoulder tightly at the celebration, causing her pain.

“Is your back healed well? I think I flew you too hard that day.”

Tan smiled without showing any sign, even though he was putting so much force on his shoulder that he could crush his shoulder bone.

Despite the pain as if a rock was crushing his shoulder, Ian tried to maintain his pride and grabbed Tan’s arm without showing it.

He grabbed Tan’s arm with all his might, shaking so hard that he was trembling, but it didn’t budge.

“Ugh, let go of this…!”

“Oh, dear. You have to participate properly.”

Eventually, when Ian opened his mouth with a reddened face, Tan chuckled as if he found it ridiculous and took his hand off his shoulder.

All the gathered participants were looking at Ian and Tan. If a fight broke out between the two, there would be no more interesting sight than this.

“Let’s see how long you can maintain that face.”

Feeling those gazes, Ian glared at Tan and Selonia alternately with a spiteful face, muttered, and turned away, vowing to crush that arrogant nose of his.

“Everyone, please rise from your seats. His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress are entering.”

At the thunderous voice echoing through the venue, everyone sitting in the viewing stands and participant seating area rose from their seats.

Selonia and Tan also stood up and bowed their heads towards the seats where the Emperor and Empress would sit.

The Emperor, who had entered the seat, spoke to the participants.

“I thank you for attending to grace this year’s Hunting Festival.”

The Emperor began to utter ceremonial words.

Starting with mentioning the long history of the Hunting Competition, which was already over 40 years old this year, he even mentioned the winners who had graced the event every year.

Then, he tried to tell the story of his heroic deeds from that time, saying that the winner of the 12th competition was himself.

“Ahem.”

The Empress, who noticed that everyone was feeling bored, coughed at the Emperor at a good timing.

“Haha, oh dear. I’ve been talking too long.”

The Emperor, who understood the meaning, laughed heartily and added.

“This year, we have prepared especially to match the skills of the formidable participants, so I hope everyone returns safely.”

Now, the sound of firecrackers signaling the start of the Hunting Festival was heard.

As if they had been waiting, the participants began to prepare and enter the forest. Tan and Selonia were no exception.

“Princess Bessin.”

If only the person blocking her way hadn’t been there.

When she raised her head at the shadow cast on her face, the Crown Prince, fully prepared, was standing in front of her.

She immediately signaled to Tan and paid her respects.

“I greet His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Tan bowed his head, following Selonia, with a reluctant face.

“Is the Princess also attending?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Hmm. I see. But don’t be too disappointed if you don’t win. The Princess will share the glory of the winner.”

The Crown Prince walked towards the forest with a greasy and confident smile, leading a few groups.

As the Crown Prince passed by, a heavy and familiar scent pierced her nose on the wind.

Where had she smelled it before?

“Ah…”

It was the scent she had smelled on Roana, who was late at the celebration.

The scent of men’s cologne that wafted from Roana, who appeared with her dress and hair slightly disheveled and lipstick slightly smudged on her lips.

The young ladies said that Roana seemed to have a lover, and it seemed that it was the Crown Prince.

But why is he smiling at me so creepily when he has a lover?

Selonia shuddered with goosebumps and pulled Tan’s arm.

“Let’s go.”

“This guy or that guy, they’re dying to die.”

Tan muttered with a fierce look, watching the Crown Prince’s receding figure.

Then, he decided in his heart that he had to end the Hunting Festival as soon as possible, before those small fries dared to flirt with her.

He held Selonia’s hand tightly, as if he could never give her to anyone else.

“Excuse me? What did you say?”

Selonia, who didn’t hear his terrifying remarks properly, asked back with wide eyes.

“I like you.”

Tan smiled playfully at her and kissed the back of her hand he was holding.

His slightly lowered eyes curved lewdly, filled with unquenchable passion.

“Heol…” [Korean slang expressing disbelief or shock]

Selonia shook her head as if she was dumbfounded by his increasing boldness, but she couldn’t stop the corners of her mouth from rising.

The two entered the Mirnar Forest last.

Watching the two people entering the forest far away, one person was flashing a chilling look. It was Titania.