The sixth day was a causal hunting event; nobles would gather near the forest outside the capital's walls and spend the day hunting. It was to be a social gathering, nothing serious, solemn, just for people to have fun, but a pillar of social circles was to compare yourself against others, so the men would always try to see who had the better catch at the end of the day. Once, someone had their fiancée taken from them because their catch wasn't as good.

During the carriage ride towards the training grounds, Wania was distracted by something else. "I've been sharing my bed with a stranger for several days," she thought, recalling the actions and happenings of the past involving Agnius and what possessed her to do what she did.

"Me losing my position doesn't vote well, sure, but marrying someone is crazy. Did I assume he would be given my position? If it's that, it is logical, but the position is been given to his father. Maybe I was thinking of playing the long game, getting the position back by holding his son hostage. But that doesn't mean I should marry him. I need to stop drinking. My mind goes blank; I struggle to remember why I did all this." Throughout this thought process, Wania stared down at Agnius, who was fiddling with his clothes. After the banquet the other day, Wania had ordered more clothes for Agnius, enough for the festival and some days more, but in the end, she settled on beautifying the leather armour he always wears, even getting him to leave the coat.

She shook her head and focused on getting through the day. "What is the plan for today?" Agnius said. The special guests are coming to the hunting event, and one of them will even be participating. I'm going to offer your hunt to them and invite them home. So, your hunt has to be the best of everyone."

When they arrived at the venue, the place was crawling with people setting up tents and preparing the gear for the hunters. Everything was underway. Wania and Agnius went to their tent to get ready. Agnius got his gear out: a simple dagger for slitting throats and dealing the final blow and a strange-looking bow.

"I've never seen a bow like that." It was sectioned into three parts, connected by interlocked joints and a white string. "What's the string made of?" Wania asked. "Hair, dragon hair from its mane."

The words surprised her. "Dragon hair?! Where did you get dragon hair?" Wania asked. "The deep north." Agnius said, "Even the wood is from a flexible tree." He bent it, and it snapped back into place without losing shape. The elasticity it showed was incredible.

A trumpet signalled the start of the event, and everyone came out and paraded about like peacocks searching for a mate; it's common tradition for a woman to tire a handkerchief on a man's bow on request from the man a wish for their safe return, and a chance to prove their love, upon said return their hunt would be dedicated to the lady as a show of affection and capability. The unwed members of the nobility did this tradition.

  "Well, get to in, bring back something big or as many as possible," Wania said. While waking away, she set up a sitting circle outside and was joined by other married and elderly women.

"Good day to you, Archduchess Wania Sapphire," said one of the ladies seated beside Wania. It was Countess Miranda Ornette. She was old and widowed from a humble Count family in the western territory of the empire. She came to watch her son in the hunting event. The boy was unwed and hoping to get a lady's attention via the event.

"Oh, I do hope my Jeoffrey can meet a nice girl," Miranda said. "If you have anyone you want, I could recommend him to them," Wania said.

"That would be lovely but too easy. I want my son to pick his wife himself. I want them to be at least half as passionate about one another as you and your husband." As Miranda said this, all the other ladies around turned their attention to them. Wania was waiting for this. Everyone wanted to know about her marriage. It was out of nowhere and controversial for a woman to marry a commoner in nobility.

"Your words are too kind; I never imagined married life so enjoyable," Wania said. "Is it true you met each other in a bar, your grace?" one of the other ladies crammed in. "Yes, we did. We drank together, and he was such enjoyable company that we ended up dancing the night away", Wania said; the ladies were dazzled by the tall tales Wania told. She talked about how he came up to her in the bar and started talking to her, how he didn't know who she was and chatted with her, "He bragged about being a mercenary and was telling me of all his adventures; I didn't mind because he was paying for my drinks." Wania said the ladies snickered. "Drinks and entertainment, he knows how to charm a lady", words from the crowd that had been growing, "Indeed, it was already late; at some point, music was playing, and he asked to dance. Things unfolded as they should, and now, we're here," Wania said. A loud voice came from a little way away. Wania had been loud enough for others to hear; another group of ladies had overheard and wanted to join the discussion. "General Wania, a wonderful day to you," she said. "Grand Duchess Naomi Jabbar, it's good to see you out and about; how's your husband? I heard he couldn't make it," Wania said. The two glared at each other; tensions were rising; the Sapphire and the Jabbar houses were known not to like each other; before the war, both houses were located in the western parts of the empire, and the Jabbar hose was made into a grand dukedom, but due to the difference of contribution Wania gave to the emperor, she was granted the most extensive territory and was given first pick. She chose the West and displaced the Jabbar and their support from the West.

They resent her for that but couldn't do anything about it; in the previous years, Grand Duke Rajin Jabbar attempted to seize their home back forcibly, but Wania put a stop to it, giving them a warning to never try it again by taking his left hand and eye, used it to make a statue of him surrendering to her and magically sealing it into their bedroom. They wake up to it daily, and if they change rooms, it follows them to the new room. It follows Rajin specifically, so Naomi had to leave and now stays in the capital most of the time.

"I don't know why everyone is so excited about the news of you bedding a dirty commoner," Naomi said. She had been openly hostile. The fact that she can't spend time with her husband this close to her anniversary due to Wania's mockery has her anger boiling, but the thought was something only known to her.

She didn't stop her words nor the reaction everyone had, "What you married him, I'm sure you've done at least once. Did you finally get tired of scaring away all the men that you dragged a man who's used to facing monsters into your bed?" Naomi continued. Her entourage, other nobles who were from the West but left, snickered and laughed. Wania's group was up in arms about it. The two groups clashed with words, but Wania stared Naomi down and smiled.

"You're just angry 'cause you're his second pick or was in the third", Wania said. "It was the seventh, Your Grace; her family couldn't possibly afford such luxury." Miranda said, "I understand you miss your home, but if you want it back, just abandon your title and serve under me", Wania said. Before the war, Wania was a princess and the most sought-after for marriage; Rajin Jabbar and even other men among the current grand duke family once tried to marry her.

Just as the commotion kept rising, Naomi, with rage and embarrassment, was about to reply, "Shut your fucking mouth Naomi my nephew is coming", Wania quickly snapped at her. Wania's eyes conveyed the intent to kill just to make everyone shut up. Behind them, a little boy calmly walked towards them, waving from afar. "Aunt Wania, you all were so noisy; mother sent me over to see what you were talking about", said the little prince. Wania stood up from her seat and went to pick the boy up, passing by Naomi. "We were arguing about how adorable you are. Weren't we, Naomi?" Wania said, placing her hand on Naomi's shoulder. "It's so close to my neck, this hand, this hand mutilated my husband. It's so heavy I can't breathe" These were her thoughts as she said, "Yes, My prince. I will be on my way".

Naomi was taking her leave when Wania tightened her grip. "Let's continue this discussion later," she said. Her nails drew blood. Naomi had left. With her life, not many can claim that being a grand duchess does have its benefits.

"I am not cute and adorable, aunty. I am to be emperor one day. I have to be elegant and project strength. That is what father says." The little prince tried to look serious, but he was bounced on Wania's lap with a juice cup in his hand.

"That's true, but the first step to being elegant and projecting strength is to be cute and adorable." She patted his head and played with him. The other ladies admired him while calming themselves down.

"Aunty, where is Madam Helga?" he asked. Indeed, I don't see her. Is she well?" Miranda asked. She is; her age is getting to her," Wania answered. I told her to stay home and rest; she wanted to come today."

"Oh, that's a shame. She loves hunting, and watching her score in the top three is always a treat. Everyone among the men," one of the ladies started, and the others followed, singing Helga's praises of how she represented the women in the hunting event and always gave her hunt to the lady nobody would. You remember the time she came in first place?"

"Yes, she danced and jumped into the general's hands." Everyone recalled Helga's triumph, but Wania was grateful they believed her lie. What really happened was that Helga started laughing and mocking Wania for just realizing how crazy she'd been those few weeks.

"I can't deal with her this morning," Wania thinks. Your husband is hunting this time. I know his mercenary, but is he any good at hunting?" a lady asks. "Well, I don't know," Wania answers.

Just then, a large boat came running out of the forest towards the nobles. Wania stood up to stop it, but an arrow came flying straight through its eyes, falling the beast. Everyone turned to see who made the shot, only for Agnius to come out. Upon closer inspection of the boar, it was found that the arrow was made of iron, and he had come to retrieve it.

"Tell me, this isn't all you expected to catch to win this event?" Wania said. "No, someone startled the boar, and it came running out. I thought I'd kill it before it attacked the others," Agnius said.

"There's no need to worry about their safety. I'm here. You focus on getting the bigger game." She handed him his arrow and went to sit.

"I guess he is somewhat capable," Miranda said. "To fall a boar in one shot is incredible," the ladies praised him. "To shoot between its eyes whilst it ran is truly grand," Helga said. "Helgaaa!!" the little prince shouted excitedly, throwing his hands into the air. The sight of her maid startled Wania, but she hid it behind a smile.

"We were told you couldn't make it," Miranda asked. "True, but I sensed that Prince Pidaras was looking for me and came running," Helga said. She smiled wide and big and looked Wania straight in the eye.