Chapter 93: Something That Belongs To Me
It wasn’t a remarkable item, nor did it carry any exceptional craftsmanship. Lorelai wasn’t skilled at embroidery and had needed help from her maids to complete it. She had pricked her fingers so often during the process that by the end, it was too painful even to hold the needle.
She had chosen green silk because green was the color of the royal lineage. The ribbon was adorned with elegant floral embroidery along its edges—delicate green leaves and red petals intertwined with fine strokes of golden thread, adding subtle contrast to its rich hue.
Kai’s eyes caught the ribbon’s color as Lorelai extended it toward him. His expression hardened, his frown lasting for only a few fleeting moments before he accepted the offering without protest. The color itself didn’t matter to him; what mattered was that his sister had gone to the trouble of giving it to him.
With the same frown lingering on his face, Kai tied the ribbon firmly around the handle of his sword. His voice, as cold and unyielding as steel, broke the silence. "No matter what happens, stay put. I won’t let anything happen to you. You know that."
Lorelai arched an eyebrow, startled by the weight of his words. "Is something going to happen?"
Kai shook his head, exhaling a long, frustrated sigh. He was already regretting his slip. "No," he muttered, brushing off her concern. Then, as if changing the subject, he asked, "Is there any animal you’d like me to catch?"
"Oh..." Lorelai hesitated, caught off guard by the sudden shift. "Anything is fine."
"Perhaps a black wolf, then," Kai remarked, a faint smirk playing on his lips as he turned and strode out of the tent.
***
As soon as she was certain Kai had left, Lorelai decided to take a look around. The beasts were already mounted on horseback, prepared for the hunt. She observed their effortless control over the animals—they carried no riding crops, relying instead on their skill and innate authority to manage their mounts.
Even the most unruly hunting dogs had been deliberately assigned to the beasts, yet they required neither food bribes nor harsh commands to gain their obedience. A mere whistle or gentle pat was enough to bring the dogs to heel, as though they had been impeccably trained from the start by the very same men.