"Beloved officials and subjects! As you are aware, this Emperor has decided on a winner on the Annual Hunting Competition! The one with the most hunts, or the one with the rarest hunts, will win the first place prize!"

As soon as he finished his words, an Eunuch carrying a small tray entered the stage. As the cloth that covered the tray was removed, everyone gasped in surprise.

On the tray, a beautiful emerald hairpin was laid down. It had expensive crystals embedded on the flower pattern and had a huge emerald in the center. Under the sunlight, it glistened brightly and majestically.

But what amazed people was not the hairpin itself, but who the hairpin belonged to.

This hairpin belonged to the Empress Dowager, given to her by the Late Emperor that had it forged by the most skilled craftsman. Rumor had it that it had been a token of good luck for the Empress Dowager, and it was the reason why her weak son was able to wipe out all competitors to the throne and become the Emperor of today.

The fact that His Majesty was willing to give away something so valuable made people wonder what sort of hunts the winner had presented.

Aria's eyes twinkled immediately as she saw the hairpin. She was more than aware of it's value. If she received this hairpin, her prestige would increase by leaps and bounds!

Such a hairpin, wasn't it befitting the Empress of the Kingdom?

If she had it in possession, wouldn't it mean that her chances of becoming the consort of the future king would be greater then anyone?

She had confidence in herself, this time she was sure she got something better than anyone else. This time in particular, she had a complete 100% chance of victory. No one could surpass her now!

She tried hard not to smile, thinking of her blessed future.

Not just Aria, many people were thinking that Aria had a greater chance of success as compared to everyone else.

Back at the stage, the Emperor glanced at the hairpin one last time, before he started the main announcement.

"After every participant's submitted prey were carefully examined, one winner was decided. This person had not only submitted all the rare animals, but one of them was a treasure for this kingdom itself. This Emperor is pleased with the effort and would like to call over a Young Miss from the Prime Minister Azer's manor..."

Truly, Prime Minister Azer's older daughter was an unprecedented genius. She managed to win the competition one more year.

Thinking of their own kids, many officials sighed to themselves, gazing enviously at the proud Azer for his perfect children.

Aria couldn't control her delight anymore, she barely controlled herself from smiling wildly. She could feel the envious gazes of the people on her, making her feel even more complacent and happy.

She raised her foot to go forward towards the stage, until she heard the Emperor complete his words.

"...Iris Silcia!"

"..."

Aria's foot froze mid air. She blanked out at the Emperor's words, even forgetting to set it back down. She thought that she had heard wrong.

Iris?

Iris had won?

How could that country bumpkin win over her?

Did she hear wrong?

However, when she saw the dazed and astonished look on the people surrounding her, she knew had she heard right.

But how?! How could she have lost to Iris, to Iris of all people?!

Impossible! It was simply Impossible!

Aria immediately turned to face Iris, who happened to be looking at her as well. Upon meeting her gaze, Iris smiled sardonically.

"Iris Silcia? Who's that?"

"Was there such a Miss in Prime Minister Azer's mansion? How come I never saw her?"

"This girl actually won over Miss Aria? The unprecedented genius who won 3 years in a row?"

This outcome...it went way beyond unexpected!

As no one came up stage, the Eunuch called out again.

"Miss Iris Silcia, come and receive your prize!"

After his words, a figure moved through the crowd towards the stage, attracting everyone's gaze. Iris calmly went up towards the Emperor and knelt before him.

"Your subject greets His Majesty, Long live the Emperor!"

"Ah..."

Amongst the crowd, people recognized the girl on stage.

"So she's that Iris, the weak girl who was living in the countryside to recuperate her poor health?"

"Yes, I have heard of her! I heard she recently came back, no wonder!"

"Yes, but this Iris must be better than Aria Silcia, to beat her the moment she came back!"

"Yeah, is the time for a new genius to take the stage here?"

"Who knows! But wow, to win the competition against everyone, all noble sons and daughters, she's got some talent!"

Immediately, the people started talking about Iris, mixing in insults to Aria in between.

Aria, who was already stunned speechless, felt herself drowning in shame. Her smile became strained and stiff, and her face turned red. She wanted the earth to swallow her up at this moment.

As she saw Iris onstage, she started seething in envy, something she had never felt before.

Her hands clenched into fists.

As the Emperor dismissed Iris's courtesy, he examined her again. This was the same girl he saw standing with old seventh a moment ago.

He didn't think she was Iris Silcia, and further didn't think was the winner of the hunting competition. The more he looked at her, her beauty and strange calmness that a girl her age wouldn't possess, the more he liked her.

He took the hairpin from the Eunuch, and placed it in Iris's hands, praising her. At once, Iris knelt to display her gratitude, followed by Azer who came up to her with a slightly dark face.

After the award was given, it was time to display the hunts.

Soon, a few servants entered the venue with some glass boxes and set them up for display. The boxes had animal corpses in them, all which the people recognized.

After the few boxes, the servants carried in a rather large box, that was prettier than the rest.

After that, the Eunuch started calling out the names of the animals one by one.