K-Eldest Daughter Possessed a Childcare Novel

As I glanced back slightly, my eyes met the Emperor’s, who was resting under a large tent prepared by the attendants. He was clapping with a rather pleased expression on his face.

In response, I bowed my head politely and looked at the knight beside me.

“What’s the matter?”

“Ah… yes!”

The knight hurriedly dismounted and retrieved the fallen bird.

Zion, adjusting his crooked glasses, asked in a dazed voice.

“Did you really hit that bird flying in the sky?”

I just smiled leisurely without saying much.

“See you in a bit, Zion.”

Then, I urged my horse in a direction no one else had taken.

As I entered the forest, the early summer sunlight and the green trees surrounded me, with birds singing in between. Not long after, the sound of gunfire began to echo, breaking the peace.

I, too, went deeper into the forest and adjusted my grip on the gun.

‘Everyone seems to be working hard.’

The usual autumn hunting competition hosted by the imperial family was won by the one who caught the largest animal.

But the summer hunting competition personally organized by the Emperor was won by the one who caught the most animals.

‘The location alone can’t be compared to the autumn competition.’

This place was the imperial forest within the palace. There were no way dangerous beasts would be released in such a forest.

‘There are only small animals like rabbits and deer.’

So, rather than quality, quantity was the key to victory…

I took aim at a bush. One of the knights following me whistled.

At the sound of the whistle, the bush rustled. Without missing the moment, I pulled the trigger without hesitation.

Bang-!

The rustling bush became quiet.

The knight who had picked up the bird earlier dismounted again and inspected the bush. He spoke in a slightly surprised voice.

“Another hit.”

While he took out a hunting box provided by the imperial family, I glanced back.

Including the knight who had dismounted, there were three knights following me.

‘Maybe I should leave just one.’

I slowly opened my mouth while looking at them.

“Waiting to collect the game will take too long. Sir.”

The knight who had whistled bowed his head at my call.

“Yes, Lady Belladi.”

“From now on, you also dismount and help gather the game. Only one follows me.”

“Yes!”

At that, the knight dismounted with precision and approached the bush. The knight who was gathering the game also bowed his head.

I made eye contact with the last remaining knight.

“Shall we go then?”

Finally facing him clearly, I addressed the first knight’s aide.

“Sir Vincent.”

“Yes.”

Zeppelin’s dark blue eyes shone quietly.

***

Those who handled the aftermath for the powerful were destined for a short life.

Zeppelin, who inherited the leadership of the from his father, had long abandoned the dream of a long and healthy life.

But even he had one dream.

‘I want to raise a genius with my own hands at least once…!’

For example, someone like Duke Theodore Alton.

He was the most perfect being Zeppelin knew.

No wonder, since Theodore was the Empire’s sword that no one could deny, and his charisma was unmatched.

The thrill felt every time Theodore swung his sword!

Theodore was undoubtedly the strongest gem, honed from the most solid rough stone.

It wasn’t just the family’s legacy that made Zeppelin’s proud father willingly take on the responsibility of handling Duke Alton’s affairs.

‘It’s the same for me, too.’

Having inherited his father’s pride, Zeppelin also decided to serve Theodore, captivated by his charisma.

Recently, however, Zeppelin had a significant concern…

‘Meldor Alton…’

It was because of Meldor, the heir who would succeed Theodore in leading the Alton family.

Tragically, Zeppelin was younger than Theodore. Hence, he would likely serve Meldor longer than Theodore.

This fact did not sit well with Zeppelin.

‘Though he’s still young and has room for growth, his innate talent is different from the Duke.’

Like a direct descendant of the Alton family, Meldor had good physical condition compared to his peers. But that was far from satisfying Zeppelin’s standards.

‘Even if you assume talent can be made up with effort… he doesn’t seem to like swordsmanship in the first place.’

At that rate, when would he make up for everything with effort? This made Zeppelin reluctant to personally train him.

Zeppelin wanted to raise a gem capable of rivaling Theodore, someone so skilled that everyone would be astonished—a genius of the century!

Zeppelin, who had been watching Theodore since he was aware of the world, had a discerning eye that was now sky-high.

When Meldor grew up and passed his coming-of-age ceremony, Zeppelin would have to teach him about the Watchers.

His pride and discerning eyes made it hard to accept this harsh reality.

‘At times like this, I envy my father so much.’

His father taught Theodore, a genius, about the Watchers.

But he… he…

When Zeppelin felt this gloomy, his only sister would clutch her chest in frustration.

– Brother, seriously… why are you so picky? If you’re going to be like this, just quit being a Watcher! I’ll manage everything instead!

His sister, who was also a Watcher and undercover as a senior maid in the Alton household, couldn’t understand Zeppelin’s desire for talent.

Every time he heard her scold him, Zeppelin felt only frustration.

‘Why doesn’t she understand? Wanting to see a genius I raised rule the world… is that such a big desire?’

Of course, it was a big greed.

Reluctant to admit this, Zeppelin began to seriously consider what his sister had said in exasperation.

‘Should I really give up the position of leader? Then I’ll leave to find the genius of the century.’

Zeppelin already spent very little time in the knights’ order. Most of the time, he was on missions outside under Theodore’s orders.

His sister already managed the internal Watchers of the Alton family, so if she could handle the external ones…

Then his sister could definitely take on the role of leader.

‘Fine. Before Meldor Alton’s coming-of-age ceremony, I’ll hand over the leader’s position and leave the Alton family.’

It was just a few days ago that he had almost fainted thinking of his sister’s reaction to this decision.

Now, Zeppelin felt his resolve shaking rapidly.

Bang-!

A crisp gunshot echoed in his ears.

Soon, the shooter lowered her gun and asked.

“How many have I caught so far?”

Zeppelin, staring blankly at her back, responded habitually in a flat voice.

“Six birds, four rabbits, one deer.”

“Really? That’s not as many as I thought.”

Not as many as she thought…?

Zeppelin swallowed dryly.

Last year, Meldor had only managed to catch two rabbits in the hunting competition.

Despite her overwhelming results, the woman did not boast but continued to ride.

Zeppelin attentively watched the woman reloading her gun with newfound interest.

Belladi Alton, the only princess of the Empire.

And Theodore Alton’s daughter.

Beyond this, Zeppelin knew little about Belladi.

Officially, he was just one of the many knights of the Alton family, and Belladi was a noble lady who had never approached a sword.

Although he had met Meldor a few times under Theodore’s orders to get acquainted with the heir…

‘I’ve had no interaction with Belladi Alton.’

Today was the same.

Theodore always wanted Zeppelin to assist Meldor in the Emperor’s hunting competitions.

Even though he didn’t like it, he couldn’t refuse his master’s orders. So, every time, Zeppelin mixed in with other knights to follow Meldor’s hunt.

Today, however, Belladi participated instead of Meldor.

So, he was even more displeased…

‘You didn’t tell me your daughter was such a good hunter, Duke…!’

Belladi fired her gun in textbook-perfect form.

Click, bang-!

The bullets she fired never missed their target. Her speed was incredible too.

Zeppelin glanced back. The two knights who were to gather the game were now far behind, thanks to Belladi’s swift hunting.

She even detected the presence of game that Zeppelin had missed. And he was trained to detect the presence of living creatures all his life.

As far as he knew, she had not undergone any special training in detection or swordsmanship. Yet, she was more perceptive than him?

This scratched Zeppelin’s pride deeply.

‘I’ll strengthen my training as soon as I return…!’

Despite this resolve, his heart pounded violently.

His discerning eye, honed over a lifetime of seeking talent and managing the Watchers, instinctively observed Belladi’s back.

‘Naturally superior frame and physique, stamina that remains steady even after firing a powerful hunting rifle, enjoying the hunt for an hour without showing fatigue. Above all…’

Neiiigh-!

Before Zeppelin could finish his thought, Belladi’s horse acted up. The horse, Alexander, known for its bad temper and strength, was barely five years old.

When she first appeared riding Alexander, he had been worried about her falling off…

“Alex, behave.”

She spoke softly while firmly gripping the reins with one hand. Then, she raised Alexander’s head, which was shaking its mane violently, towards the sky.

The large black horse was easily subdued by that simple motion.

Neiiigh-

“Good boy.”

Despite her gentle voice, the hand holding the reins was very imposing.

The smart Alexander scratched the ground a few times with his front hooves and, admitting defeat, wagged his tail slightly.

‘Above all, the monstrous strength to subdue a horse like Alexander with one hand!’

In her other hand, she held a hunting rifle that even a grown man would struggle to hold for long.

Witnessing this, Zeppelin felt pure admiration.