The Atrocious Duke'S Wife
{Season 2} Golden Horned Deer

Previousley....

"Sister! The match is about to start, you better get ready!"

Daisy's words made me fall out of my daydream. I smile for Daisy, then follow her who is currently tugging at my arm.

I have to win this match.

...~ The Atrocious Duke's Wife...

...Chapters...

...(11)...

The game has started since a while ago, all the women who participated are now assigned to find an animal to be hunted.

As I said, the larger and rare the animal, the more chances of winning.

Armed with a sword in the palm of my hand, with extra care I walked through this silent and vast forest.

Suddenly in front of me was a deer eating his food.

If I hunt that deer, I'm sure I will lose, because deer are animals that are used to being hunted.

I'd better find another animal.

Grp...!

What's that noise?

Suddenly I turned my body and put up my ball to catch the source of the terrible sound.

My mouth was open when I saw a tiger aiming for the deer and then quickly ambushed it at any time.

Why did they choose a forest that had so many beasts?! Do they want to take responsibility if any lives are lost?!

This was a female hunting match, at least they chose a forest that had little or no beasts.

But that's not all I'm worried about, a woman was there too.

Oh my God, which fool approached a tiger?! Is he going to die?!

It's bad, if I don't come forward to save her, she's done. But, if you advance, then my life will also drift.

Haish! How'this?! Do I have to run away and pretend not to see?!

Argh, shit! Bodo! Breaking ajalah!

"Yes!"

"Exit!"

A slash!

"Groar!!!"

"Run!"

I quickly pulled the woman's wrist and immediately pulled her away from the tiger who was injured by the slash of my sword.

Fortunately I hit one of the tiger's legs, so the animal did not chase us.

I took the time to glance behind me at all times, watching if the tiger was following us or not.

After the dozens of footprints we created, I think we are already quite far away from the beast. Even my heart pump was crazy, so I decided to stop.

"Huh.huh...." My lungs greedily inhaled all the air around me, trying to calm my heartbeat

Until after a bit of calm, I began to turn to look at the woman I saved earlier. Even I haven't had time to take my hand off to him.

"What did you do so that you could be near such a savage star?! You want to be his meal?!"

Somehow my emotions suddenly soared upwards. I can't help this lip to yell at him. I was annoyed, when people foolishly remained silent when danger was in front of them.

It reminds me of my old self. And I was so upset when I remembered it!

As I stared intently at this woman in front of me, I glared in disbelief. No, rather very distrustful.

"Anastasia...?" I muttered unconsciously. Instantly I immediately closed my lips by folding them.

It's weird! Didn't you first meet during a party held at Arlen's residence?

Why did we meet here?! Has everything really changed?

"Eh... How do you know my name?" He asked with his innocent look.

"Ah, uhm.you're similar to my acquaintance," I'm a little gago. Fortunately, that reason crossed my brain.

"That's it...."

For a moment, we were silent. No more conversations after that. Before long, an apology came out of his lips.

"I'm sorry, for being troublesome. If you don't save me, I'm definitely not helped anymore" he said with tears beginning to slide.

Shit... Why is he so different? She was so cute now, so different from her when she had grown up.

"It's okay. Besides, I also yelled at you earlier, so let's just say we're even" I replied.

Anastasia smiled so that her neatly arranged and white teeth were plastered very clearly.

His gaze, was exactly the same as when we were friends first. I don't want to be a hypocrite, I miss that moment a little.

"Anu...."

Suddenly I woke up from my daydream. "Ah sorry, did you say anything?"

"That's...." He looked agitated while taking his eyes off me. Even his fingers could not remain still.

"If you don't mind.. Would you like to be my friend?"

As if there was an arrow of faith striking me right on the forehead, I felt extremely defeated at this moment. If he puts on such a look, how can I refuse?

Being friends with him won't mess with my plans, will it? After all, I've also devised a plan if anything unpleasant happens.

"All right," I replied. I hope I don't regret this decision.

"really?! Then you can call me Ana! Since we're friends, may I know your name-"

"Not to be so formal. Have we not become friends?" cut me. "My name is Cassandra" I said.

He grinned with a small laugh. "Ah yes of course! You can call me Ana. Then can I call you Cass?"

Cass, huh? There are so many nicknames that can be made from my name.

"Of course, because we've been friends" I replied with a smile.

Anastasia went back to grinning and then extended her hand towards me, intending to shake hands.

With a smile, I accepted his position. Starting from today, we became friends.

"Oh yeah, we better not waste time. We better find an animal to hunt now!" anastasia's memory reminded me of that.

I almost forgot about it, I should have rushed to look for it. Because I have to win this match, and get the position of honorable noble lady of the year.

...~•~...

"Cassandra, what are you going to hunt?" It turns out that besides being innocent, Anastasia who used to be also very chatty. I forgot about that.

I took a tired breath, hoping that he would stop asking questions and not interrupt my concentration. "Come," I replied of origin.

"Oh yeah, since I'm not an expert on hunting, will you teach me?"

"Huh?" confusedly. "If you can't hunt, then why are you in this game?"

He just nodded with his coolness. "Hehe. Actually, I came along just because I wanted to see the man I liked, "he replied blushing.

His shy smile appeared with a red hue that began to creep on his smooth cheeks. Even his eyeballs can not be silent, really the characteristics of people who are drunk romance.

"Oh.. that's it." Yeah, without saying I already know. No more bother asking.

I turned my eyes back to the front, before long the iris and my pupil caught something.

It was a deer. Again.

But wait, it looks like the deer is a little different. Once again I noticed at once I observed the deer and tried to find the difference.

And sure enough! The deer has golden horns! How can this be? This is not a fairy tale!

"Well, look at Cassandra! It was a golden horned deer!" anastasia. Looks like my eyesight was right.

"Gold horned deer?"

"Yes. I read in the book that the golden-horned deer is a rare animal that only has hundreds of tails in the world. We're so lucky to see it!"

That means if I get it, I have a great chance of winning?

Hehe. Somehow a grinning smile suddenly appeared on your face and I couldn't erase it.

"But they say they are very violent. If the common deer will run away if they see the enemy, then the golden-horned deer will chase them by chasing them and heading them with their sharp horns" Anastasia explained.

Now how am I supposed to catch him? I had to quickly catch him by ambushing.

Because if I was too slow, I might have been dragged by that powerful horn until it bounced off before I could slash it.

Uh! Yeah, I think I should use it that way. I was able to carry a net.

...~•~...

"Who do you think will win this match?" ask a Knight who is close to the future Master Duke next to him.

The man who had a strand of blonde, straight hair was silent when questioned. His hands were folded in front of his chest and his face showed a slanted smile as thin as possible.

He seemed to be thinking of something with his clear sky blue irises straight forward, not poking around at the surrounding.

The knight next to him was flabbergasted, rarely did the man next to him smile.

But he was not too worried, maybe the man was in a good mood.

"But strange as well, you are suddenly very adamant about holding this match. Even the princes and princesses became interested," the Knight chuckled. "What makes you so desperate? Not usually."

The man was still loyal to his smile. He took off the folds of his hand and began to stand up so that the shadow of himself created by the incoming sunlight was formed.

"Just want to," he answered briefly then left the Knight who was still confused on the spot.

It's strange, the knight thought.

...~•~...

"Hey, Cassandra. Are you really sure? Isn't this too dangerous?" doubt Anastasia to me who is setting up a net to trap her prey.

"You don't have to worry, I've taken everything into account" I assured him.

When I finished, I pat both my palms to remove the dust in my palms.

I had filled up some pretty heavy chunks of rock then wrapped them in the net I was carrying. Then I wrapped his long rope on a tree branch that was quite high and tied it to a very large fallen tree trunk right next to the tree.

So, I just need to lure the deer after me. After the time is right, I will cut the rope tied to the trunk of the large and heavy fallen tree earlier so that the stone package on the tree branch fell on the deer earlier.

I wish you luck.

"Hey, Cassandra! Is this really safe? What if you get hurt? What if you get hurt and the deer comes off?!" anastasia shouted earlier.

"Here you go, you trust me" I said, then pulled my sword from the cover.

"But...!"

"Ana," I said then patted her shoulder softly and smiled confidently. "I'll be fine."

I turned around to start my action.  The deer had not moved from its place since he was busy eating his food.

I took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly to calm and relax my body.

After I made up my mind, I walked closer to the deer. Quusik he who was busy enjoying his meal, until finally he realized my existence.

He quickly chased me, making me shocked. But I'm not just gonna give up. As hard as I could, I ran towards the tree I had prepared for the trap.

Another bit....

I have to keep running. I turned my head to look back and measured the distance the deer was chasing behind me.

It's time! Time cut!

Put the sword out on a rope tied to a fallen tree trunk that holds the weight of a stone package hanging from a tree branch just above me.

Deftly, I slashed at him without hesitation until the rocks fell to the ground.

Brukh!!

His voice is quite big ear-piercing, still faithfully running I look back, good luck!

I turned my head to look back.

Be...

it worked!

The deer was hit by a rock I had prepared and was lying on the lifeless ground.

"Huh.huh...." I stopped my steps to rest my legs and gave more breath to my lungs that felt dry.

My heart rate was chasing me, so my chest was like being hit from the inside. I was so lucky to be able to do it in one ordeal.

"Cassandra!" anastasia shouted as she ran towards me. He also put on a worried face with his mouth that did not stop nagging.

"Gosh, you're okay, right?! Are you hurt?! Are you scratched?! Did that deer hurt you?!" he asked while checking my body.

I can't help but smile at her sweet behavior. "I'm fine. I told you I'd be okay," I said.

My eyes then caught the deer lying down earlier, then walked up to him and examined him.

It turns out that this deer is no longer alive. Then I'll bring him in soon.

Shuts!

But before that, suddenly there was an arrow that flew and shot right in front of my nose.

That was so close!

"Cassandra!" squeak Anastasia.

I immediately circulated my gaze to look around to find out who did this.

It turned out that there was a woman on the far right there, and before long she walked over to us.

"What are you thinking?! What if your arrow hits Cassandra?!" anastasia snapped at the figure.

I could see the look on his face instantly changing, it seemed like he was really very angry.

Wait, I think I know that face.

"Pardon me, Miss Anastasia," he said, raising his head.

Yes, I know his face! She was Charlina Krystilian, the woman who had looked at me with an unusual look this morning.

"He should have accepted your apology, not mine" Anastasia sneered.

"I'm sorry" he said. I don't know why I don't think he's saying that.

"Ah, that's okay," I replied with a smile and waved both palms.

"What made you shoot an arrow at Cassandra?" search Anastasia.

"I actually wanted to shoot the rabbit behind Miss Cassandra, but my shot missed and the rabbit escaped" he explained.

It seems he's not lying. The arrow missed, huh?

"Yes already. Next time just be careful," Anastasia replied.

Charlina left in a hurry, but before that she looked back at me cynically. What's the problem, actually?

"Cassandra!" call Anastasia to disperse my reverie.

"What?" my many.

"Ish, daritadi you always daydream. I said, don't you think you should be back? You've got your game animals, haven't you?"

"Then what about you? Aren't you in this match too?"

"You don't have to care about me. After all, I also had no intention of following this match from the start," he explained with a grin.

"Yes if you say that. Then let's go back."

...22.01.2021...