Chapter 55: Villainess Princess × Slave (18)

"Before she could even process the terrifying warning, a deep, raspy voice spoke right behind her ear.

"Your horse’s saddle has been tampered with, Princess."

Lyra jumped in surprise, whirling around to face Cassian. He was dressed in black riding gear, looking tall, broad, and formidable. His pitch-black eyes were locked onto her horse’s saddle strap, which had been subtly cut through half its thickness- one strong jump from the beast, and the strap would snap completely, throwing her off at full speed onto the jagged rocks below.

"W-What?!" Lyra gasped, her dark eyes widening in pure shock. "Who cut it?!"

Cassian didn’t answer directly. His eyes flicked toward the high royal balcony, where Crown Prince Julian sat calmly sipping wine, watching them with a cold, sinister smile that made the skin on Lyra’s neck crawl.

"Someone wants you injured today, Princess," Cassian whispered raspy and low, stepping closer to her side. His dark gaze returned to her pale face, searching her expressions with an intense focus. "Will you blame me for this negligence when the guards arrive... or will you let the slave fix your reins?"

Suddenly, a loud, booming horn echoed across the foggy grounds, signaling the official start of the hunt!

TRUMPET BLASTS ECHO

Dozens of noble horses galloped wildly into the dense forest, their hooves thundering against the damp earth.

Before Lyra could even make her choice, her white horse spooked at the horn blasts and the sudden rush of galloping beasts. The horse reared up on its hind legs, then wildly charged straight into the dangerous, fog-covered deep woods. The cut saddle strap groaned loudly, loosening further with every stride!

"AHHHH!" Lyra panicked internally as the wind whipped through her hair, the saddle slipping sideways under her weight.

"PRINCESS!" Cassian shouted, his dark eyes flashing with raw intensity

Without a second thought, he vaulted onto a black stallion nearby, snapped the reins, and galloped into the dangerous forest right after her.

The dense, misty woods swallowed them whole. Thick branches slapped against the air around her as the white horse bolted deeper into the untamed terrain.

Snap!

The cut strap finally tore completely in half! The saddle slid to the left, slipping right off the horse’s back.

However, instead of falling and breaking her delicate neck, Lyra acted on pure instinct and the lingering muscle memory of the original Princess Lyra.

With a gasp, she kicked her feet free from the failing stirrups just in time. Using her core strength, she let the saddle tumble away into the dirt, while she gripped the white horse’s coarse mane with both hands, swinging her body gracefully over the horse’s bare back

She was riding bareback now. Her burgundy riding outfit strained as she gripped the horse’s muscular flanks tightly with her knees, balancing herself.

Ding!

A bright red notification screen popped up right before her eyes!

[ EMERGENCY MISSION OBJECTIVE UPDATED! ]

OBJECTIVE: Win the Imperial Autumn Hunt by bringing down the rare Silver-Horned Stag!

REWARD: High Prestige Points & Public Acclaim!

PENALTY FOR FAILURE: Severe loss of standing in the Imperial Court!

WIN THE HUNT?! BAREBACK?! Lyra wailed in her head. System, are you insane?! I am a modern girl! Why are you turning me into an action hero?!

[ Host, you have the original Princess’s master-level archery and horsemanship skill set! ] the System shrieked back excitedly. [ Use it! Show them the villainess isn’t a weakling! ]

Lyra gritted her teeth. Right in front of her, leaping gracefully through the thick fog across a narrow ravine, was the legendary Silver-Horned Stag! Its majestic coat shimmered under the sunlight filtering through the canopy.

"I am NOT dying today!" Lyra yelled through the rushing wind. She sat tall on the bare back of the white horse, unslung her golden recurve bow from her shoulder, and pulled a hunting arrow from her quiver.

Close behind her, the thunderous pounding of hooves echoed as Cassian caught up on his black stallion.

He had sprinted into the woods expecting to drag her bloody, broken body off the rocks. Instead, his eyes widened in pure surprise.

There was no crying princess tumbling into the dirt.

Instead, Lyra was riding bareback at full speed with grace! Her ponytail fluttered, her tunic tight against her posture, her eyes clear as a falcon’s. She looked like a fierce war goddess commanding the forest.

She... she saved herself? Cassian thought. Without a saddle... she balanced herself effortlessly?

A sudden flicker of motion caught Cassian’s eye. A massive fallen pine log blocked her path up ahead, hidden by the thick fog! If her horse tried to jump it without proper steering, they would crash badly.

"Princess! Lean left and jump together!" Cassian roared, spurring his black stallion right alongside her.

Without slowing down, Cassian leaned sideways off his saddle, extending his broad arm. He caught the loose edge of her horse’s halter bridle with his hand, forcefully yanking the white horse’s head up and guiding its momentum!

"Hah!" Lyra yelled, leaning her weight perfectly in sync with Cassian’s pull.

WHOOSH!

Both horses leaped high into the air simultaneously, clearing the massive fallen pine log in a breathtaking jump.

As they soared over the barrier, Lyra drew the bowstring all the way back to her ear. Her eyes locked onto the distant Silver-Horned Stag leaping across the clearing. She aimed not with panic, but with precision.

RELEASE!

THWACK!

The golden arrow shot through the mist, piercing the Silver-Horned Stag directly through the neck. The magnificent beast collapsed instantly in the center of the royal hunting clearing, dead before it even hit the soft moss.

The horses thundered into the clearing and gradually slowed to a halt.

Lyra panted heavily, her cheeks flushed a vibrant red, her chest heaving as she held her bow high. The adrenaline coursing through her veins made her feel exhilarated!

Cassian reined in his black stallion right beside her. He stared at her, completely motionless. His dark eyes were filled with an intense, complex storm of emotions- disbelief, amazement, and a sudden realization of just how strong, skilled, and utterly unpredictable this Princess truly was.

She wasn’t just a spoiled girl crying in her bedchamber. She possessed the talent of a royal predator.

Ding!

A soft blue notification screen flashed gently between them.

[ CASSIAN DRAVEN’S HATRED METRIC UPDATED! ]

Hatred toward Host: 78% ➔ 74%

FOUR POINTS?! Lyra almost fell off her bareback horse in pure horror! NO! WHY IS HE IMPRESSED?! I’M SUPPOSED TO BE A USELESS spoiled VILLAINESS! STOP LOWERING YOUR HATRED, YOU CRAZY MALE LEAD!

An hour later, the trumpets sounded again at the main pavilion.

The entire court of nobles, imperial guards, and ministers stood assembled around the high balcony. Whispers rippled through the crowd as two horses emerged from the foggy tree line.

Cassian rode slowly behind, holding the reins of the white horse. And sitting arrogantly atop the bare back of the white horse, trailing the legendary, massive Silver-Horned Stag tied securely behind her, was Princess Lyra!

The entire courtyard went dead silent.

"Is... is that the Silver-Horned Stag?!" a minister gasped.

"Her Highness killed the prize beast bareback?!" a noblewoman squeaked, covering her mouth in awe. "Without even a saddle?!"

"She is truly the Emperor’s daughter! What magnificent skill!"

The crowd erupted into stunned applause and excited chatter. The nobles who had previously mocked her as a spoiled, useless tyrant were now bowing their heads in deep respect.

Up on the high royal balcony, Crown Prince Julian stood perfectly still.

The glass of wine in his slender hand trembled slightly. His amber eyes narrowed into murderous slits as he stared down at his sister. His charming, fake smile had completely vanished, replaced by a dark, twitching vein on his temple.

She survived...? Julian thought, his mind burning with pure fury. I cut the saddle strap myself... she should have been trampled or maimed! How did she ride bareback?! How did she take the grand prize?!

Lyra dismounted gracefully with Cassian’s steadying hand resting near her waist. She stepped onto the grand red carpet, her head held high, soaking in the praise while her soul cried inside over her failed villainess metrics.

"Presenting the Grand Champion of the Imperial Autumn Hunt... Her Imperial Highness, Princess Lyra!" the herald announced loudly.

The head court official stepped forward, presenting her with the magnificent prize- a golden dagger encrusted with brilliant red rubies.

Lyra took the golden dagger, putting up her classic arrogant, smug smirk. "A minor achievement," she declared casually, her voice echoing across the courtyard. "This beast was far too easy for this princess."

The nobles cheered again, mesmerized by her fierce confidence.

Suddenly, a slow clapping sound echoed from the high staircase.

Clap... clap... clap...

The crowd instantly fell silent, parting as Crown Prince Julian descended the stone steps. His golden dragon robes swished gracefully against the marble, but the aura radiating from him was suffocatingly cold.

"Bravo, my dear sister," Julian drawled smoothly, a dark, sinister smile slowly spreading across his face. "A truly astonishing performance. To ride bareback and take down the Silver-Horned Stag... you have thoroughly amazed us all."

Lyra’s heart hitched slightly, her hands tightening around the golden dagger. "Thank you, Imperial Brother."

Julian stopped right in front of her. His amber eyes didn’t look at her flushed face or her ruby dagger. Instead, his predatory gaze slowly turned toward the quiet guard standing half a step behind her- Cassian.

The tension in the air instantly spiked to a dangerous level.

Julian stepped closer, leaning down slightly, his voice dropping into a chilling tone that carried clearly across the quiet crowd.

"However... while inspecting the woods, my shadow guards found something quite interesting," Julian purred, his voice dripping with amusement.

He raised his hand, gesturing toward a royal knight who stepped forward, holding up the torn, severed saddle strap that had been recovered from the forest floor. The clean cut through the leather was obvious to everyone present.

"It seems like my dear, talented sister was almost the victim of a terrible ’accident’ today..." Julian whispered softly, his amber eyes locking directly onto Cassian’s pitch-black, emotionless eyes with pure malice.

Julian’s smirk widened into a bloodthirsty curve as he pointed a long, slender finger directly at Cassian’s chest.

"...because someone deliberately sabotaged Her Highness’s horse before the hunt even began."

Julian looked back at Lyra, his eyes gleaming with dark triumph. "Tell me, Lyra... as the Princess of this empire, what punishment should we give to the dirty slave who held your horse’s reins right before you rode out?"

Lyra froze completely, the cold autumn wind blowing past her pale face as Cassian’s dark eyes shifted toward her, waiting silently for her choice.