I Helped The Imprisoned Male Lead And He Became Obsessed - Chapter 66

“Do you know where Saint Serena’s tent is?” the young man asked.

I looked around and soon spotted a tent flying the banner of the Aurelia Order.

“That one over there. You’ll find her inside,” I said, pointing toward the tent. Unlike the others, it stood out with its distinctive flag.

“Thank you for your kindness!” he said with a slight bow before quickly making his way toward it.

Behind him, several sturdy servants followed, pulling a cart.

The cart carried the body of a beast—a massive wolf-like creature with shimmering silver fur. Noblewomen gathered under the canopy fluttered their fans, watching the spectacle with interest.

“Oh my, it’s the young lord of the Northgrad family…” whispered one of the ladies.

“It seems the young lord is offering his game to the Saint…”

The hushed murmurs swelled into a low buzz of excitement among the nobles.

At that moment, Serena emerged from the tent alongside the young lord of Northgrad. His face was flushed as he knelt on one knee before her, looking up with an earnest expression.

“Saint Serena, I offer this game to you. Please, I implore you to accept it,” he said.

The murmuring grew louder, the nobles clearly thrilled by the unfolding drama. Serena, however, looked slightly troubled as she gazed down at him. It seemed even she hadn’t anticipated such a public display.

Yet, rejecting the offering outright would be impolite. Composing herself, Serena soon wore a soft, gracious smile and replied,

“Thank you for your gift, my lord. I will gladly accept it.”

Her pale golden hair shimmered like molten platinum as it gently cascaded over the side of her face. The radiant smile that graced her lips resembled a blooming flower.

The young lord of Northgrad stood, his cheeks red with a mixture of bashfulness and pride.

“It’s truly a magnificent gift. The way you’ve managed to preserve the hide shows your exceptional hunting skills,” Serena praised warmly.

“Y-you’re too kind,” he stammered, his expression brimming with youthful admiration.

The noble onlookers couldn’t hide their intrigue, their whispers spreading like ripples through the crowd.

“It looks like the young lord has fallen head over heels for the Saint.”

“Men, I tell you!”

“Well, she’s so beautiful that even we, as women, can’t help but admire her. It’s no surprise he’s smitten.”

“Still, I never thought he’d go so far as to present her with his game. He always seemed so reserved, but I guess Lord Northgrad knows how to make a move when it counts.”

The curious and admiring glances toward Serena and the young lord only intensified.

If they’re already surprised, they’ll be in for a shock later, I thought.

Toward the end of the festival, both the Crown Prince and Emilian were set to present their game to Serena—or at least, that’s how it played out in the novel. This time, it might only be the Crown Prince, but even that would be enough to create a stir.

I watched as the servants moved the cart bearing the silver-maned wolf to a spot beside the tent.

The gallbladder of a Gray Wolf is a rare and valuable medicinal ingredient.

It was tempting as a research material, given how difficult it was to obtain.

Meanwhile, loud, thunderous booms echoed from deep within the forest. They sounded like explosions, the telltale signs of a fierce battle.

“I heard the Caligos appeared in the northern part of the Antheros Forest,” someone remarked.
“Someone must be hunting it now,” another replied.
“They say the Caligos breathes venom so potent that even a mere touch can dissolve bone.”
“My goodness, how terrifying!”

The nobles turned their attention to this new topic, speculating about the ongoing battle.

On my way back to the tent, I paused to glance toward the forest in the distance.

I hope neither of them gets hurt.

***

Time rewound slightly to when the young lord of Northgrad was presenting his Gray Wolf to Serena.

Thunk!

Crown Prince Lucas pulled his sword from the thick nape of the Keraton he had mounted.

A spray of blue blood splattered as the beast thrashed in its death throes, its massive body beginning to topple.

Grurrr…

With a final pained groan, the Keraton collapsed to the ground.

The lieutenant assisting the battle let out a sigh of relief.

“Your Highness, are you unharmed?”

“As you can see, perfectly fine. That was just a light warm-up,” Lucas replied breezily, shaking the blood from his sword with a satisfying swish. He flashed a bright, victorious grin.

“You truly are remarkable, Your Highness,” the lieutenant said, giving an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

“I know,” Lucas replied matter-of-factly.

“Ah, yes, of course.”

The lieutenant, well-versed in the Crown Prince’s remarkable self-confidence after years of service, could only offer a resigned smile.

The two resumed their ride, the scenery rushing past in a blur of towering trees.

“The Caligos’ lair should be close,” the lieutenant reported.

“Good. Now the real fun begins,” Lucas said, his excitement still palpable.

He spurred his horse onward, anticipation building as they approached the path leading to the lair. The air grew heavy with an ominous energy emanating from the forest depths.

Prrrr…!

The horse, sensing the danger, whinnied and reared in fright. Lucas gently stroked its mane, murmuring, “Whoa, easy now.”

Despite his calming efforts, the animal remained restless. Sighing, Lucas dismounted in one fluid motion.

“It’s definitely going to get dangerous from here,” he remarked, turning to his lieutenant.

“You should head back.”

“What? But, Your Highness, why?”

“Because it’ll be difficult to fight while keeping you safe. And no, this isn’t just a polite suggestion—it’s the truth.”

“B-but I can’t leave Your Highness alone…”

The two were locked in a back-and-forth argument when a voice interrupted from behind.

“Excuse me, but would you kindly step aside?”

Lucas turned, his emerald eyes narrowing slightly at the sight of the newcomer.

“Oh, Duke. I see you’re heading this way as well,” Lucas remarked.

“Your Highness too, it seems,” Emilian replied with a faint smile.

It became immediately clear—they were both after the Caligos.

A subtle tension sparked between the two men. Lucas let out a thoughtful hmm.

“This is troublesome. I’ve already claimed the Caligos as my prey,” Lucas said.

“Is that so? Then perhaps Your Highness might consider relinquishing it,” Emilian replied lightly, his tone devoid of hesitation.

Lucas let out a hearty laugh. It wasn’t every day someone spoke to him so casually, as if even royalty were beneath them.

Rather than feeling offended, Lucas found the exchange amusing—his eccentric nature often made him enjoy such boldness.

Still, entertainment aside, he had no intention of giving up his prey.

The smile faded from Lucas’s green eyes, replaced by a cold intensity. His voice lowered.

“And why should I yield it?”

“Because the Caligos is a ferocious beast. It would be disastrous if the future Emperor of this Empire were to suffer a serious injury,” Emilian said evenly.

“Ha! Duke, I appreciate your concern, but if I worried about getting hurt, I wouldn’t have joined the hunting festival in the first place,” Lucas replied with a casual chuckle.

His words, though jovial on the surface, made it clear he had no intention of stepping aside.

A flicker of annoyance crossed Emilian’s crimson eyes, though he kept his composure.

“Let me ask one last time: are you truly unwilling to yield?”

Lucas chuckled, a glint of mischief in his emerald eyes.

“And if I say no?”

The conversation had reached an impasse, and the tension thickened. The air between them grew heavier, almost tangible, as if their unspoken battle of wills carried the weight of invisible swords clashing.

“If words won’t suffice, I suppose this is the only way,” Lucas said, lightly tapping the hilt of his sword at his side.

“Let’s settle it with a duel. The loser concedes the Caligos. How does that sound?”

“Agreed,” Emilian replied without hesitation.

The metallic ring of a blade being unsheathed echoed in the air as Emilian drew his sword.

Just as their weapons were about to collide—

Rumble.

The ground beneath them trembled violently, like the prelude to an earthquake.

Small animals scattered in all directions, fleeing in panic, while birds erupted from the trees in a flurry of wings, escaping into the sky.

Both men instinctively turned their gazes toward the forest.

“…!”

It was as if the earth itself had risen. Trees were uprooted and dirt erupted skyward as the massive form of the Caligos emerged from its underground lair.

The beast, towering and monstrous, let out a deafening roar that shook the air.

KRAAAAAAH!

The ruler of the Antheros Forest, the creature that inspired fear in even the bravest of men, was awake—and it was glaring directly at them.

***

The sun, once high overhead, had tilted far to the side, casting long shadows across the campsite.

Nobles who had ventured out into the forest began returning one by one. Their spoils were brought back on carts—rabbits with horns, foxes with twin tails, and other fantastical beasts, each a testament to their bravery and skill.

These hunters presented their game to lovers, fiancées, or individuals they admired, offering their prizes with pride. Those waiting at the campsite received the gifts with joy, their smiles brightening the celebratory atmosphere.

Even outside Serena’s tent, an impressive pile of beasts had accumulated. Clearly, the young lord of Northgrad wasn’t the only one captivated by her.

But I knew Serena’s gaze was likely fixed on someone else.

I glanced toward the forest, where the loud clamor of earlier had suddenly died down.

By now, most nobles had returned and were lounging in the campsite, leisurely sharing their tales of the hunt. Only a few, including Emilian and the Crown Prince, had yet to reappear.

“His Highness is taking longer than expected.”

“The Duke hasn’t returned yet, either.”

“Surely nothing has happened to them?”

“Oh, that’s unlikely. Both are among the strongest in the Empire.”

Despite these reassurances, murmurs of concern began to ripple through the crowd.

Time slipped by, and then suddenly, a commotion arose at the edge of the forest.

Turning toward the source of the noise, I saw something enormous moving near the forest entrance.

At first, it looked as though a mountain were shifting, but as it drew closer, its form became clear.

A beast!

The colossal Caligos, towering at four meters tall, was being transported on a massive cart.

And the one who had captured it was—