I Helped The Imprisoned Male Lead And He Became Obsessed - Chapter 65

Our gazes locked, and a brief, awkward silence settled between us.

It was the first time I had seen Emilian since our argument.

From the time we met at the Transcendents’ Research Institute until now, we had never had even the smallest disagreement—until then.

I don’t know what to say…

While I hesitated, nervously shifting my gaze, he broke the silence first.

“What brings you here?”

His tone was surprisingly even, as though nothing had happened. Caught off guard, I answered without thinking.

“Oh, I’m here as part of the medical team,” I replied.

“I thought most of the medical team were court physicians,” Emilian remarked, his tone tinged with dissatisfaction.

“That’s true, but… there were some special circumstances.”

I decided against mentioning the Crown Prince’s personal request. Thankfully, Emilian didn’t press for details.

His gaze shifted to the court mages stationed around the campsite.

“The campsite is protected by wards, but don’t wander into the forest by mistake. You never know where a monster might appear,” he warned.

“Ah… alright, I won’t,” I answered.

The tension I had felt dissipated as our conversation flowed smoothly.

I had been worried about facing him, remembering his stern tone and resolute demeanor when he turned his back on me after our argument. But now it seemed like he wasn’t as angry as I feared.

He doesn’t seem too upset.

Relieved, I watched him for a moment before his voice broke my thoughts.

“What’s that in your hand?”

“Huh? Oh…”

His eyes had fallen on the leather gauntlets I was holding, reminding me of the errand I had almost forgotten.

“They’re the Crown Prince’s gauntlets. He left them behind in the tent, so I was going to return them before the hunting festival begins—”

Emilian’s brow furrowed slightly, his expression darkening.

“Why are you carrying the Crown Prince’s belongings?” he asked, his voice laced with displeasure.

“He accidentally left them in the tent,” I explained.

His irritation deepened for a moment before he sighed and softened his expression. He extended a hand toward me.

“I’ll return them for you,” he said.

“Huh? No, it’s alright—”

“The festival’s about to start. I’m heading to the hunting grounds anyway, so it’ll be quicker if I hand them to him,” he insisted.

I glanced past him toward the gathering nobles. Riders were already mounting their horses and heading toward the forest’s entrance. The Crown Prince was nowhere to be seen, likely already blending into the crowd.

It might be easier to let Emilian handle it.

Reluctantly, I handed him the gauntlets.

“Alright, then. Please take care of it,” I said.

Emilian accepted the gauntlets just as a young servant approached, leading a horse by the reins. The atmosphere around us grew busier as the festival drew closer to starting.

Emilian took the reins from the boy and looked back at me. His expression suggested he had something more to say.

“Anise,” he began.

“Yes?”

“Let’s talk after the festival. There’s something I need to discuss with you.”

“Oh… alright,” I replied, nodding.

With that, he mounted his horse.

As he settled into the saddle, I hesitated for a moment before calling out to him.

“Emil, be careful out there,” I said earnestly.

He paused, his red eyes meeting mine. Then, in a low voice, he answered, “I will.”

The sound of hoofbeats filled the air as he rode off. I stood there for a moment, watching his retreating figure until it disappeared into the crowd.

Had Emilian begun to consider receiving treatment from Serena? Or was there still no change in his feelings?

Either way, I’ll have to talk to him about it again.

With that thought lingering in my mind, I returned to the tent.

Just then, a loud horn sounded—a deep, resonant blast that echoed through the campsite.

It was the signal marking the start of the hunting festival.

***

The once-quiet forest was now alive with the thunder of hooves. Nobles scattered in all directions, galloping into the woods in search of game.

The Crown Prince’s white horse reared powerfully before racing into the depths of the forest.

Emilian, watching the Crown Prince for a moment, turned to his lieutenant, Leonard.

“Leonard, could you dispose of this for me?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Leonard dutifully accepted the item Emilian handed him.

“What is this, my lord?”

“Trash,” Emilian replied curtly.

Leonard tilted his head in confusion. The item was a pair of leather gauntlets, made of the finest material, barely used, and polished to a glossy finish.

“Shall I really throw it away? It still looks nearly new,” Leonard asked hesitantly.

Emilian let out a dry laugh, his crimson eyes narrowing with an unmistakable chill. Leonard immediately realized he had misspoken.

“No—wait—I misspoke! Now that I look closely, it’s definitely trash,” Leonard stammered. Hastily, he added, “I’ll make sure to burn it thoroughly so not even a trace remains.”

The icy glint in Emilian’s eyes faded at that, and Leonard let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Lately, serving his superior had become at least 1.5 times more challenging. It was reminiscent of how people behaved after quarreling with a lover—prickly and sharp-edged.

Ever since his return from Kelburn, he’s been in a constant bad mood.

Leonard couldn’t help but wonder if something had happened during that trip. Still, as a loyal subordinate, he wisely kept his curiosity in check.

“Where did you say I’d find the Caligos?” Emilian asked abruptly.

“You’re targeting the Caligos?” Leonard replied, surprised.

The Caligos was a massive beast, standing over four meters tall. Its steel-like hide, razor-sharp teeth, and acidic venom made it a formidable predator.

Classified as a top-tier threat, it was notoriously aggressive and dangerous. Only participants aiming to win the hunting festival would dare target it, as capturing high-threat beasts was more valuable than amassing a large number of smaller kills.

But Emilian had never shown interest in winning the festival before.

“I’ve changed my mind,” Emilian said simply, urging his horse forward. The animal let out a spirited whinny and bolted ahead.

Leonard hurried to follow.

“I need to make my claim clear—so there’s no room for unwelcome flies to hover around,” Emilian muttered under his breath, his tone calm but his gaze blazing with intensity.

Leonard was uncertain about the context of Emilian’s resolve, but he welcomed the change of heart.

This hunting festival is a perfect opportunity to remind the nobles who the strongest in the Empire truly is.

Drawing a map and compass from his coat, Leonard quickly located their target.

“The Caligos’ lair is approximately three kilometers north of here, my lord,” he reported.

“Lead the way. We don’t have much time.”

“Yes, sir!”

Spurred by enthusiasm, Leonard galloped ahead, charting a course through the forest.

***

Crown Prince Lucas urged his horse deeper into the forest, heading toward the northernmost edge where the lair of the beast Caligos was located.

“If I’m going to participate, I might as well aim for victory.”

For too long, he had been consumed with suppressing the southern rebellion, leaving little room for enjoyment or excitement. Now, with his blood pumping and adrenaline surging, he felt alive again. With a sharp tug on the reins, he spurred his horse forward, the wind tousling his hair as towering spruce trees flashed by.

Branches obstructing his path were swiftly cut away with his sword as he pressed on. Beside him, his lieutenant, who was guiding the way, suddenly asked,

“Your Highness, why are your hands bare?”

When they had first arrived at the hunting grounds, the Crown Prince had been wearing his gauntlets. The lieutenant worried that even the smallest injury might befall the royal.

Lucas replied nonchalantly, “Ah, I must have forgotten them somewhere.”

“Excuse me? How…?”

Forgetting already, and at such a young age? The lieutenant couldn’t help but feel a flicker of concern for the future Emperor’s memory.

But before he could dwell on it, Lucas let out a sharp whistle.

“Regrettably, it seems we don’t have time for idle chatter.”

The lieutenant followed Lucas’s gaze forward, and his breath caught.

Standing before them was a two-headed beast—the monstrous Keraton.

Grrrrr…

Saliva dripped from the gaping maws of the beast as it growled, muscles rippling under its fur.

Though the Keraton wasn’t the Caligos they had been targeting, Lucas showed no disappointment. Instead, he grinned, welcoming the challenge.

“This is a perfect warm-up.”

The Keraton crouched low, muscles coiling as it prepared to pounce, its jaws spreading wide in a menacing display.

Lucas laughed boldly, his eyes alight with excitement, and swung his sword as the charging beast came hurtling toward him.

***

“Who do you think will win the hunting festival this year?”

I was on my way back to the medical tent after seeing Emilian off when I overheard the cheerful voices of noble ladies chatting under a nearby canopy.

“Isn’t Lord Emilian the most likely winner? He’s the Empire’s only Transcendent, after all.”

“Oh, but His Highness the Crown Prince is also an exceptional swordsman,” another chimed in.

As expected, Emilian was considered a strong contender for victory. The Crown Prince’s name was also mentioned, no doubt due to the martial prowess he demonstrated during the suppression of the southern rebellion.

“But don’t you wonder which lady those two might present their game to?”

“That’s true. Neither of them is betrothed yet, after all.”

“Which means… it’s possible one of us could be the lucky recipient!”

“Oh my, is that what you mean?”

The young women’s laughter bubbled over as they chatted with growing excitement.

Returning to the tent, I began preparing for any potential injuries, laying out disinfectants, coagulants, and other medicines on the examination table.

In the novel, both of them end up offering their game to Serena.

I recalled how the Crown Prince had mentioned already deciding who would receive his prize.

It might be Serena again, I thought, adjusting the magic-powered medical devices to ensure everything was working properly.

Time passed since the start of the festival. Apart from treating a young knight who had been poisoned by a beast, things remained quiet, and I found myself with little to do.

Then suddenly, a commotion broke out outside. Excited murmurs and exclamations of admiration filled the air.

It sounds like someone has brought back a beast.

Having been idle for over an hour, my curiosity got the better of me. It won’t hurt to take a quick look, I reasoned. There weren’t any urgent cases to attend to.

Pulling aside the tent’s entrance flap, I stepped outside.

Just then, a young man dressed in hunting attire appeared, glancing around as though searching for someone. His gaze landed on me, and his eyes widened slightly.

“Oh, could you possibly…!”