I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain Chapter 103

“W—What is it?”

 

“No, seriously, what on earth is…”

 

I had instantly captured everyone’s attention.

 

Well, to be exact, it was the tiger I had brought with me that caught their eyes.

 

Everyone was looking at me in silence, but the first one to speak was Mariel.

 

“Oh, it’s a tiger that Yurika met by chance. It became close with Yurika from the start. It’s been living with us at the Duke of Medes’s residence.”

 

As she explained cheerfully, everyone looked even more bewildered.

 

Where could one possibly “happen to meet” a tiger, and what were the standards for “becoming close”?

 

But Mariel continued speaking brightly, even as she saw the people’s bewildered expressions.

 

“I just have this feeling Yurika is my long-lost sister! And you know how the Medes have always had a strong connection to beasts, right?”

 

At those words, people were at a loss for words to respond.

 

Not because of the absurdity, but because it was now a political matter.

 

Everyone knew that the Medes family had been turned upside down once because of Medes’s fake daughter.

 

That the fake daughter is related to the temple, and that the temple is also hostile to Crown Prince Roymond.

 

And after all that, Yurika had returned openly to the Medes estate.

 

If someone were to officially question whether Yurika could have tamed such a beast, it would be the same as denying Mariel’s words— which in turn would be opposing her lover, Roymond.

 

And that could lead to suspicion of being connected to the now-powerless Temple.

 

“Ohhohoho! I see. Could she really be Medes’s biological daughter?”

 

One of the quickest-witted noblewomen clapped her hands with a laugh. The others, though doubtful, followed along warmly for the moment.

 

I stroked the tiger’s head with a proud expression.

 

“Yes, the tiger is my friend.”

 

‘Forgive me, Father….’

 

‘I couldn’t bring myself to call it a pet…’

 

But the tiger growled happily, as if it was pleased with my touch.

 

“That’s why we decided to participate in this hunting competition together!”

 

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

 

“You mean with the tiger? Not hunting it…?”

 

“Yes.”

 

I had expected this reaction, so I simply smiled sweetly and nodded.

 

“Can’t we participate with animals? Everyone will be riding horses, right?”

 

“Are horses and tigers the same?”

 

“And what’s the difference? My tiger friend is probably far closer to her master than any young lord’s horse.”

 

I pouted.

 

“Well, if no one else rides a horse, I’ll give up too. Let’s be fair.”

 

In the distance, I could see the servant frantically searching for the regulations.

 

Of course, no rule says you can’t participate with a tiger.

 

Especially since the event hadn’t been held in so long. There would be plenty of gaps in the documentation.

 

“Whether it’s riding a horse, a rhinoceros, or a tiger,”

 

Yohan said with a chilling expression, rubbing his chin with a languid expression.

 

“If someone gets killed, Yurika’s tiger friend will take responsibility. Why bother?”

 

And the servant, who had been diligently searching through the documents, declared with a look of resignation.

 

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

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

I raised my chin proudly.

 

“And if my tiger friend accomplishes something great, I’ll receive the reward. That’s only fair. Write that down too.”

 

The servant sighed and picked up his quill.

 

The tiger walked briskly, the pink ribbon on its tail fluttering happily.

 

Watching this, a shadow passed over Rivena’s face.

 

‘Yeah, that’s right.’

 

I smiled proudly inside.

 

‘We are protecting him.’

 

The reason the tiger’s existence was kept a secret in the Medes mansion was precisely for today.

 

The idea was to surprise Rivena by revealing it at a completely unexpected time.

 

‘She couldn’t take action during an official event, but her mind would be racing.’

 

People act more boldly when they are in a hurry.

 

And those bold moves always lead to mistakes.

 

Just like at Patre.

 

‘Besides, today is the only day Theodore can be free.’

 

In fact, from the moment the word hunting competition came out, my mind had been working quickly.

 

It was an outdoor event full of variables, held for the first time in ages, with no proper system in place.

 

Theodore was scheduled to attend on that day, as his ban was lifted, and so was his fiancée, Rivena.

 

Rivena would also be in the royal encampment with Mariel.

 

It was the perfect situation for her to set something up to convince the Emperor to lift Theodore’s confinement completely.

 

‘This time too….’

 

I thought with a grin.

 

‘All we have to do is put our spoons on the table that Rivena has prepared.’

 

Rivena’s mind would be in turmoil—wondering how much I knew, and how much had already been exposed.

 

Moreover, even the Viscount Olteva was protected by the Duke of Medes.

 

“Now,”

 

A voice cut through the restless atmosphere.

 

“Before the hunting competition begins, I have an important announcement.”

 

It was Crown Prince Roymond.

 

“Actually, I have some good news to share with you all.”

 

Next to him, Mariel was smiling shyly.

 

Just by looking at him, it seemed like everyone could guess what Roymond was going to say.

 

“Yes,” the Emperor said, raising his cup, the Empress following suit.

 

“After the war, many good things happened in the royal family.”

 

They clearly approved of Mariel as Roymond’s match.

 

‘Of course. Mariel is someone naturally beloved by many.’

 

The engagement announcement was made officially soon after.

 

In the bright sunlight, Mariel’s blonde hair sparkled.

 

Before the crowd, she and Roymond exchanged rings and received blessings. She looked utterly happy.

 

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

 

I’m not sure if the original story exists anymore, but that’s at least the story I knew.

 

Realizing her first love with Roymond, and being blessed in front of everyone.

 

It was strangely moving to see a story’s ending come so easily.

 

Memories flashed through my mind of the days since I first met Mariel and decided I would protect her.

 

‘Be happy, sister.’

 

Surrounded by people, Mariel was more beautiful than ever.

 

“Now,” Yohan whispered beside me,

 

“Since your sister’s engaged, can we get engaged too?”

 

It seemed he remembered what I’d said carelessly at the victory banquet.

 

I chuckled and playfully slapped Yohan on the shoulder.

 

Of course, no one noticed our sweet moment.

 

Because everyone was only looking at Mariel and Roymond.

 

Naturally, the tiger beside me had also faded from people’s interest.

 

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

 

“Yes, it’s okay to be angry.”

 

And Yohan spoke very politely from the side.

 

I thought he was trying to calm my father down, and for a moment, I was touched by that human side of him.

 

“Let it all out today, and at Yurika’s engagement ceremony, please be less angry.”

 

‘What the hell is he talking about? Are you trying to sow discord?’

 

‘What’s with that oh-so-wizard-like way of talking…..’

 

And just like that, my fleeting moment of admiration vanished completely.

 

* * *

 

A loud bang echoed, and the sound of birds flapping filled the air as they took off.

 

The hunting competition has begun in earnest.

 

The rules were very simple.

 

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

 

In the fields, people who did not hunt stayed and enjoyed the festival.

 

And the one who brought the most game from the forests surrounding the field was the winner.

 

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

 

That’s why those who didn’t participate would simply go in and out of the well-decorated tents of each noble family, engaging in social activities.

 

“Good luck, Yurika.”

 

Since Yohan couldn’t participate in the competition, he had no choice but to remain in the tented area for the entire event.

 

He was there with me to check my weapons one last time and to cheer me on.

 

“Mm-hm. If I win, I’ll dedicate the victory wreath to you.”

 

“I’m looking forward to it.”

 

“Well, you shouldn’t expect too much. In fact, I think His Highness Roymond will win.”

 

“Then you can just give yourself to me instead.”

 

It was while we were in the Medest family’s tent—Yohan deliberately ignoring the tiger’s sharp glare while stroking my hair—that it happened.

 

“Excuse me.”

 

An unexpected guest arrived at our tent.

 

I was startled for a moment by the gray hood covering that person from head to toe, but I knew who it was as soon as I heard the voice.

 

“Excuse me for a moment.”

 

It was Paul Olteva, whom I didn’t even know had followed me to the hunting competition.

 

Both Yohan and I looked at Paul with bewildered expressions.

 

But noticing that he wanted to keep things secret, I gave a signal to the servants to close the tent’s entrance.

 

The man, over seventy years old, first gave a respectful nod to the tiger, then removed his hood.

 

“My lady, I thought long and hard about this, but in the end…”

 

He looked at me with a solemn expression and declared:

 

“I have something to tell you.”

 

‘Here? Now…?’

 

* * *