I Will Avoid The Death Flag [It's Published]
23. Hunting Competition II

A horse carriage with the coat of arms of Duke Cyrill walked across the street towards the hunting area in the forest of the northern part of the Asher Kingdom.

In it, Clare sat down. Before him, a golden-haired man sat down.

Verro wore predominantly white clothing, thus displaying a match between his suit and hair color.

"Don't forget, Verro."

Verro smiled widely. "Of course, Miss Clare. I'll greet some nobles first there, then I'll continue everything as planned."

Clare nodded happily. He poked his chin and glanced out the window. The area around has begun to be filled with trees and the homes of the surrounding residents began to decrease. The sign was, they would soon arrive at the competition area.

"What about the paid guy?"

"Me and him will move together, Miss Clare."

"It has to be perfect" Clare said. "It has to be perfect."

Clare stabbed her palm with her fingernails until she stuck behind her thin glove, she wore it to cover the lash scars Viten had done to her first.

"Just calm down, Miss Clare. I'll make sure this to be a very perfect plan."

"I've lost a lot."

"Miss Clare has lost a lot."

"So, if this plan fails, I'm not sure what to do."

"Yes, right."

Verro looked at Clare with a sad look.

"Yet, Miss Clare. Is the position to be queen that important?"

Clare hurriedly looked at Verro with a look of intimidation. "Verro, I've told you before, haven't I?"

"Miss Clare. Sometimes your one-sided love will only bring disaster, what if you just give up on the position of Queen and Her Majesty's lover?"

Clare clenched her teeth until they rang. "You! Just tell me if you don't want to help me!"

Verro flinched when Clare snapped at him. Quickly, Verro grabbed Clare's hands and kissed her.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry, Miss Clare. I promise I won't say it again, I promise I will continue to support Miss Clare. Please ease your emotions, Miss Clare."

Clare's two hands shook with anger, but Clare allowed Verro to kiss her every finger while saying promises like a mantra.

Not long after, the horse carriage finally arrived at the hunting area.

Verro directly got out of the horse carriage and extended his hand to Clare, who greeted him with a smile.

Now, the attention of the nobles is shifted to both.

"Mr Duke Alverro and Miss Clare could be a sweet couple!"

"More, rumors say that Mr. Duke Alverro likes Miss Clare!"

"Ah, they are really sweet! I also want a partner like Lord Duke Alverro!"

Alverro, or Verro to Clare, just smiled sweetly at the public. He actually had two sides on his face, where he only showed his thin side before Clare, while in public he was a polite and friendly man.

Alverro Cadeearo is a 24-year-old young Duke who was forced to be crowned Duke. This was due to his father dying in battle, which caused Alverro, the man who was indeed the Duke's successor, to be crowned earlier than planned.

Now, Alverro is known as the gracious and innocent young Duke. However, he was serious in his work and duties as Duke.

"Then, Miss Clare, I will meet some other nobles here to talk about something. Miss Clare get ready, thirty more minutes of the hunting competition is about to begin," Alverro said in a soothing voice.

Some of the noble ladies who were stealing heard felt that their hearts were shot by the arrow of love. That was because Alverro's tone of voice sounded so sweet and soothing. Makes any young lady fall in love.

Clare smiled at Alverro. "Thank you, Mr. Duke Alverro. May your affairs end according to your expectations."

"Thank you, Miss Clare. All right, I'll see you later."

Clare waved at Alverro who moved away from her and approached a tent usually filled with people who wanted to have other business or privacy conversations.

Meanwhile, Clare focused her gaze on one point. To a girl who was talking in the middle of another noble lady. He then smirked a little, seeming evil.

At the same time, the two made eye contact.

...***...

When her black eyes highlighted me, I immediately felt goosebumps. Wow, look at the smile that covered her grin that only lasted for a few seconds.

And damn, he came to me. He came up to me and looked down short.

Ih, horrible. I became afraid of him after listening to Axel's story about Sorena Krone.

The other side of the new Clare, which I never knew, was a fact I never read even in the novel [Luka Serethy], that Clare was a true psychopath.

"Shine the star of the Asher Kingdom," greeted Clare as she lowered her head gracefully, following what was taught in the etiquette class skillfully.

I gave him a friendly smile. It was as if we were old friends who were having a light conversation compared to the competition opponents to become Asher's queen.

"Hello, Miss Clare. It's nice to meet you."

"Is that true, Princess? I'm touched by your words." Clare wiped the corners of her eyes that were completely watery. Is he really touched or is his acting ability above the average level?

Well, definitely his high acting level.

"You're overreacting, Miss Clare."

"Where is it, Princess."

Clare grabbed my hand, grasping the two tightly. This made me flinch small and become more alert.

"Mr Princess, even though this competition is a competition to determine who the future queen of Asher is, I hope that the Princess and I will continue to be friends like this."

Clare smiled so sweetly, that I got goosebumps.

Are we friends? Of course not. I don't want to admit that we were friends when he himself shone a spotlight on me with that awful psychopath.

"Of course, Miss Clare." Even so, I still smiled gently at Clare.

Many pairs of eyes were staring at us with various reactions.

And what I have to show the public is how Serethy is so friendly to Clare. How Serethy would become a figure worthy of being obeyed by the crowd.

Nobles are innocent people.

They will fall for the kind and friendly nature of the Princess. Well, although not all of them are innocent, there will be many nobles who fall into the charm of the Princess' favor.

"I hope that Miss Clare and I can remain friends. And I also expect fair competition for both of us, yes. No cheating at all. If we cheat, wouldn't this stain the Asher Kingdom and the Sun God?"

I could faintly see Clare's vile gaze that instantly disappeared in just a few seconds. Wow, base face two. But it's okay. That's because humans have many masks on their faces. And they will sort out the masks that will be used when interacting with different people. And ever since I came to this world, many characters have had masks like Viten and Cioten. It no longer surprised and shocked me.

"Where would I tarnish this Kingdom that I love, Princess. And also, I am very obedient to the Sun God, where might I stain the sanctity of the God? Wouldn't I be a brash servant if I did?"

"Rubber. I'm so glad you're self-conscious."

Clare slowly released her hand at me.

"By the way, Princess. What weapons did you use for this competition?"

"Oh, that's an arrow."

"Art?"

"Rubber. Archery is easier for me."

"Then, good luck, yes, Princess."

After saying that, Clare paused and turned around.

Good luck what? Aren't you the one who prayed for me to fail this competition? Well, it's not like I really want to win the competition and become Asher's queen. But I will of course fight a little to please Viten.

...***...

Guess who Alverro's character was inspired by? Exactly right! Helio of manhwa I Wanna Be U! He's a young Duke and only showed up to Medeia doang, if here, Alverro pointed the spotlight to Clare doang.