The prey that was struck down was not wasted; a dedicated team was constantly collecting it.
There was a whole series of procedures: from the prey being taken down, to nobles stepping forward to identify it, taking commemorative photos, transportation by specialists, and finally processing it into food.
This was the prey Altair and the others were eating for lunch today; the start of today's hunt also marked the official climax of the banquet.
At 12:00 PM, people began to gather in the banquet's lunch dining hall, waiting for the meal to begin.
The central figure of this banquet, the Third Prince, Edsak Augustus, made his official appearance before the luncheon even started.
He was not wearing the distinctive attire of a royal family member; instead, he wore a deep blue naval uniform, complete with the rank of Major.
His choice of clothing acted like a pause button for the lively banquet, causing the atmosphere to gradually quiet down. After all, when everyone else was in formal or casual wear, someone suddenly appearing in a military uniform stood out like a crane among chickens.
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The high-ranking officials seated at the head table, especially Duke Nigen, began to look troubled.
He was a representative of the Navy, and now that Edsak was wearing a naval uniform, it signaled that his enlistment had become a reality.
While it wasn't uncommon for a prince to serve in the military, they usually entered a military academy for studies and were appointed as Captains or, at most, Major Generals upon graduation.
But Prince Edsak Augustus had never even stepped foot in a military academy; now, without going through the proper procedures, he had been appointed as a Major.
Altair could understand Duke Nigen's expression; after all, a drama of the struggle for succession among the sons was set to play out in the future.
Edsak wearing a naval uniform was a blatant statement: 'I have joined the Navy, and you must support me from now on.'
Mingling in the crowd, Altair watched the spectacle. Truth be told, Edsak Augustus bore a striking resemblance to King Henry Augustus I on the 5-pound note. He was the fifth king of the Kingdom of Loen and a direct ancestor of George III, with a rounded face and narrow eyes.
Thinking off track, Altair quickly cut off her stray thoughts.
This point of focus had nothing to do with her future. As for seeking cooperation with him—forget it. Given that the future remained unchanged, this prince was destined to become a scapegoat.
As for why he would become a discarded pawn, that had nothing to do with Altair.
She was certainly curious, but not to the point of investigating. After all, these were royal secrets; excessive curiosity could kill the cat.
The protagonist, Edsak Augustus, gradually stepped onto the stage. When his father, King George III, began to introduce him and appoint him as a naval Major, everyone was forced to applaud.
This Third Prince was also shrewd; he had brought a large group of reporters with him. Now, these reporters were crouching and rapidly clicking their cameras to take photos of the people on stage. For a moment, the entire banquet hall was filled with the blinding flashes of cameras.
George III and Edsak Augustus were impressive as well; despite the intense flashes, neither of them blinked, maintaining their smiles throughout.
This truly earned Altair's admiration. Cameras in this era relied on flashes for lighting, and a sudden burst of light could be quite uncomfortable.
Meanwhile, the expressions of Duke Nigen and the others nearby were not pleasant; they kept a stiff face the entire time.
In contrast, the expressions of Uncle-Grandfather Leif and his group didn't change, but they were likely overjoyed inside.
Since the dawn of the Great Era of Navigation, the Navy's status had been rising indefinitely due to its unique nature, and the annual military budget granted by the Empire had been steadily increasing.
Naturally, the status and funding of the Army would decrease accordingly. After all, the country only had so much money; it couldn't conjure extra funds out of thin air.
Although the 'leaders' of both branches had more or less been related in the past, their relationship began to shift after the Navy split off during the Era of Navigation, becoming increasingly strained.
Now, seeing the Navy suffer a setback, the representative figures of the Army were naturally happy. It was only logical.
This interlude lasted for over half an hour before the luncheon officially began.
Due to the hunt, the lunch consisted mostly of roasted meats and the like, which had a unique flavor thanks to various marinades and spices.
After lunch, the big shots began to leave in groups to discuss matters. The remaining people gradually departed on their own—some went back to their rooms for a nap, while others formed small groups for their own activities.
Meanwhile, the protagonist, Edsak Augustus, was chatting and laughing with some young nobles, attracting many to join in... At night, Altair dressed up as usual and attended the ball. To those who came to invite her to dance, she used the same excuse as yesterday: she had sprained her ankle and couldn't dance.
She found a random corner to sit and wait for the ball to end. Not far away, after speaking with her father, Audrey happily approached Altair.
Seeing her happy expression, Altair couldn't help but ask out of curiosity, "Why didn't you go dance with the others? Why come sit with an 'injured' person like me?"
Audrey smiled and said, "I told my father I wanted to come look after you, and he agreed. So I don't need to dance with anyone else. Dancing at a ball is something you only need to do once or twice a month; I couldn't stand doing it every day."
Altair had no intention of refuting Audrey's words. At her age, she was in her most active years, so repeating the same thing every day would surely grow tiresome.
While they were chatting, Edsak Augustus walked straight over and invited Audrey to dance. Seeing the pitiful look in Audrey's eyes...
Altair said to Edsak Augustus, "I'm truly sorry, Prince Edsak, but Miss Audrey has been temporarily 'requisitioned' by me. It's also my misfortune to have sprained my ankle, making it impossible for me to participate in the ball. As a gentleman, I'm sure you wouldn't want to see an injured young lady sitting alone in a corner, would you?"
It was only after Altair finished speaking that she caught Edsak Augustus's attention.
As for Edsak Augustus, he didn't know Altair.
Before coming over, he had merely regarded her as a close friend of Audrey's.
To maintain his image, Edsak Augustus asked politely, "And who might this young lady be?"
Audrey also began to introduce them: "Prince Edsak, this is Earl Altair Sheffield."
"Earl Altair, this is the Third Prince, Edsak Augustus."
For most people, they still didn't really know Altair, as she hadn't yet been formally enfeoffed by the King in person; only a few insiders were aware.
As it happened, Edsak knew. He gave her a deep look and said helplessly, "I'm terribly sorry, Earl Altair. I wasn't clear on your situation when I came over."
He then turned and said, "Then, Miss Audrey, I'll have to trouble you to look after Earl Altair."
After Edsak left, Audrey returned to normal. Taking Altair's hand, she said, "Thank you so much, Earl Altair. If it weren't for you, I would have been dragged off to dance, and that would have been really boring."
Looking at her, Altair asked curiously, "That's not the only reason, is it? I get the feeling you don't really like being around him."
Having her thoughts exposed, Audrey seemed to deflate like a punctured ball. Her shoulders slumped slightly as she cautiously checked her surroundings. Seeing no one, she whispered to Altair:
"I really don't like those princes much. I feel like they're like restless male peacocks performing in front of me. You should be able to understand that feeling."
She could understand this. The phrase 'the most dazzling jewel' explained it simply enough—a jewel is always priceless, no matter the time.