?Chapter 204:


    Recalling their previous interference, a mocking chuckle escaped me. “Stop staring. That woman might not have made the cut. She could be hiding somewhere, crying her eyes out.”


    They frowned at my remark, and yton, who had a milder disposition, responded confidently, “Makenna hasn’t emerged yet. It’s premature for you to jump to conclusions.”


    Dominic’s cold gaze swept over us before he withdrew it, indifferent.


    “Let’s wait and see,” I snorted, dismissing them.


    Once Makenna failed the assessment, I would take her away, and then I would see how these two tried to meddle.


    My impatience to witness Makenna’s failure and her pitiful tears grew with each passing moment. But as the minutes ticked by, everyone had exited except for Makenna.


    An uneasy feeling began to creep over me.


    Why hadn’t shee out yet? Had I pushed too far this time? Was she too proud to emerge after the blow to her self-esteem?


    Restlessly pacing, I felt a cocktail of regret and irritation. If I had anticipated Makenna’s distress, perhaps I should have held back. If she wanted to stay in the pce, so be it. I could devise other ns…


    Amidst my growing frustration, a suddenmotion in the crowd snapped my attention.


    “Someone else ising out! Is that Makenna?”


    “My God! What on earth is she holding in her hands?”


    Makenna’s POV:


    I dragged the colossal brown bear from the depths of the forest, its blood staining me from head to toe. A crowd had already gathered outside—a mix of women who hadpleted the assessment, a few servants, and the princes themselves.


    Let your imagination soar with gα?ησν????s．?ο??


    Everyone’s eyes widened in shock, as though they had stumbled upon a scene beyond imagination. I had no time to dwell on their astonished reactions. I must have looked ghastly, the stench of blood so overpowering that even I found it unbearable. I no longer had the strength to wipe the gore from my face.


    Barely able to keep my bnce, I staggered before the crowd and let the bear slump at their feet.


    “Ah!” A few of the more timid women shrieked in terror, scattering quickly to avoid the gruesome sight.


    I drew a deep breath, wiped the blood from my face as best I could, and croaked, “I didn’t hunt anything else, just this brown bear.”


    The assessor’s face turned ashen, his voice faltering as he stammered, “A… a brown bear… How… how could there be a brown bear…” He seemed too stunned to form a coherent response.


    I propped up my weary frame, locking my gaze onto the assessor with steely resolve. With only one concern, I asked, “So, did I pass the assessment?”


    “You…” The assessor was momentarily dumbstruck, and just as he was about to respond, my vision blurred to white. Dizziness overtook me, and I crumpled to the ground.


    As I teetered on the edge of unconsciousness, I thought I heard Alice’s cries and the three princes shouting my name in unison.


    When I slowly regained consciousness, I was greeted by a stark white ceiling and the overpowering scent of disinfectant. Confused, I blinked and heard someone approaching with frantic excitement, shouting, “Makenna! You’re finally awake!”


    Turning my head with great effort, I saw Alice, her eyes red-rimmed from worry, and Lily standing beside her, her face etched with concern.


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