Grand Duke Monstrell casted a long glance at the Duke and Marchioness before turning away from them swiftly.

'Lionel'
Typical. At least he wasn't brazen enough to broadcast his intentions further. He gave a bit of a hand signal to Gallagher to keep eyes on him as the Empress was distracted by Giselle.

Gallagher gave him a nod, staying near the Empress while inconspicuously glancing over at the Grand Duke every minute or so.

'Lionel'
Lowell had nothing to say to the duke himself, but he couldn't help but wonder what relations his own brother may have had with him and if his own distance from him was drawing any suspicions.
Monstrell was.. at best, a difficult man to read.
Still, Diana and the others had yet to show, making him mildly impatient with apprehension. He wanted nothing more than to get this over with himself.

As more time went by more nobles flocked in, similar to sheep. Including Diana and both her children. She had a very smug look on her face, as if something pleasing had happened.


The Empress Dowager was the last to arrive with her father, the current head of their ducal house, and her eldest brother, the next head of their house.

'Lionel'
Lowell did the part of greeting others as they arrived and scanning them over with wary eyes under a mask of cheeriness and good spirits.
Diana had unsettled him with her smugness, but he held his tongue. He wouldn't let her distract her. She wasn't the target, but if she dare stand in his way..

Giselle
Giselle was much more naturally friendly with them all, but she still kept in sight of the Empress, flitting between conversations, much like a butterfly.
She knew Lowell's mental energy was probably wearing thin and did her best to keep people in her own sights as preparations were made.

Soon all the nobility had arrived. At least the ones that mattered.

The competitors began getting atop their horses, prepared for the horn that sounded to mark the start of the competition.

'Lionel'
Lowell had opted to follow Giselle on horseback, for mobility's sake.
He was more than well prepared to abandon it if needed, but it would be far too slow to keep eyes on the situation on foot. He'd leave that to Gallagher, who seemed much more adept at hiding than himself.

Giselle
She gave a wink to the Empress, bow strapped onto her back and reins in hand.
"Good luck."

She gave her a smile. " and good luck to you too, Marchioness. But I think youll realize you need more than luck when hunting. "

The loud horn sounded and the Empress took off into the forest on her elegant white steed, followed by several other nobles.

Gallagher began following the Empress from the trees, but while staying concealed.

Giselle
Giselle took off alongside the Empress, far enough away to keep distance from her as she looked for this 'boar' while still close enough to maintain a visual of the situation.

'Lionel'
Lowell followed behind her, keeping a much closer set of senses on the surrounding area. The sound of hoof beats would obscure footsteps, but any assassins here would be foolish to try to hide from his nose.