28 The winner is ...

After Liz tied the ribbon around Ares wrist, she caught a glimpse of Lilly.

She still stood petrified and her gaze fixed on where Ethan stood just a few minutes ago.

Liz could only shake her head in resignation at this sight.

"What's wrong?" Ares inquired.

His voice was tinged with concern.

'He would not understand such a thing. Although, if he is half as good at playing wingman as he is shameless, he would be qualified enough to become a shipper, hehehe.'

A malicious smile raised at the corner of Liz's mouth and a shiver ran down Ares spine.

He had a bad premonition what was going on in Liz's mind.

From one moment to another, Liz's eyes lit up.

Her eyes exuded a young euphoria like a child unpacking its Christmas present.

"Ehm big brother Ares… I want to ask you a favor." she gave out meekly with glimmering eyes.

'The art of persuasion, first get your opponent in disarray and then you can wrap him around your fingers.' recited Liz inner voice.

Ares curls his lips thoughtfully, his gaze on Liz caught.

His eyes pierced her, making Liz feel uncomfortable.

The lasting silence between the two then broke Liz.

"Stop staring at me and answer me." Liz growled impatiently.

"I was wondering how long you were going to play the façade of the creepy little neighbor girl. I like you far better like this." Ares asserted.

"C-creepy? I was cute." Liz pressed out in disbelief with gritted teeth.

In the next moment Ares made a move towards her, reached out his hand to stroke her cheeks, which was brutally slapped away by her.

"No, you're cute like that when you are yourself so in fierce kitty mode." he poked.

"Masochist." murmured Liz.

"I am only a masochist when it comes to you." he objected.

On this confession Liz drew her face in disturb.

Images of Ares as a sub and her as a dom popped up in her mind.

Just like in that bestseller erotic novel "Fifty shades of Grey".

Only that in this case she takes the role of Christian Grey and Ares embodies Anastasia Steele.

She with a whip and Ares tied up and blindfolded in the bed of the "Playroom".

'What the heck am I thinking?' her inner voice rebuked her and Liz shook her head vigorously to chase the images away once and for all.

When she managed this, she put on a serious face and turned her gaze to Ares.

He had an amused smile on his face.

'You like to see me so irritated, or? Sadist. Maybe there is more Christian Grey in you than I thought before.' noted her inner voice.

Just when Liz had finally said goodbye to the outrageous pictures, they reappeared.

Only more intense than before and this time Ares was the dom and she the sub.

"Is everything ok with you?" Ares asked.

"Yes, everything is fine." Liz replied with a throaty voice.

"Now what do you say to my offer?" Liz addressed her question to Ares with a firm voice.

One could not tell that she had just shrunk from embarrassment inwardly a moment ago.

"That depends on what kind of favor my little piglet has in mind. Judging your previous daydreams with the wrong signals you sent, I assume that this is a shameless request. It seems that Mrs.Glutton has become Mrs. Shameless faster than I would like." Ares teased her.

"Listen lover boy I just wanted to ask you nicely if you would be interested to become my partner in crime and nothing more." hissed Liz at Ares and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"Partner in crime?" repeated Ares with a raised brow.

"Do you see Lilly and Ethan over there. They are made for each other but they are much too blind and too slow to acknowledge this. Our job is to give them a push. In short, we will play wingman." explained Liz with eyes full of anticipation.

Ares heaved a deep sigh and then patted Liz's head like a toddler.

"You cannot pressure them to get together. It is well-intentioned but everything will work out with the flow of time. They are not fictional characters that can be shipped but real people with real feelings. If they are destined for each other, fate will not turn against them but will bring them together." Ares explained with a melancholy expression.

His eyes looked dull as well as tired as if they had experienced every inhumanity in the world and longed to finally close.

Somehow it broke Liz's heart to see him like this, even though she knew she should not feel this way.

He is the man who wants to see her dead.

Still, the sight of a broken Ares is too much for her.

For some inexplicable reason, she wished to get the cheeky, shameless and carefree Ares back.

"Fine, I will not interfere in their love life." Liz declared somewhat grumpy to distract him from whatever tragic things were going on in his head.

"Good girl."

A light-hearted smile emerged on Ares face and he ruffled Liz's hair more than before.

"Enough." rumbled Liz.

Although Liz would normally have scolded him more, she forgave him for his tactless behavior for once, since he was very upset a moment ago.

All participants should take their places was called out in the next moment.

Just as Ares was about to leave, he was stopped by Liz, who was holding his sleeve.

"It does not matter if you win or not." Liz clarified in order to calm Ares nerves.

Ares was surprised by her consoling words as Liz herself.

His lips stretched into an amused smile.

"Pff you handed me your ribbon as a symbol that I am your chosen winner and then you tell me this. Quite contradictory, huh?" teased Ares.

Thereupon Liz rolled her eyes.

Once again, the participants were called out to head to their positions.

When Liz was about to take her leave, Ares stopped her this time.

"What about my kiss of success?" he joked.

At this Liz threw him an air-kiss which he caught to her astonishment.

'Idiot.'

Finally, Ares went to his position and the hunting horn was blown, which officially started the hunt.

…

The winner of the hunt was Leopold.

He was the first to bring back the fox which was released for the hunting competition.

A wave of disappointment spread among the audience.

Naturally everyone wanted that their chosen winner would win the competition.

This hope was shattered by Leopold.

Even Liz secretly hoped that Ares would have won this hunt, though she would never openly admit it to herself.

Therefore, the disappointment was great when not Ares, but Leopold was the first to cross the finish line.

Leopold dedicated his victory to Lilly, who was obviously very embarrassed with the whole situation.

To officially end the hunt, the hunting horn was blown again.

Participants for participants came on horseback from the Winter forest.

But of Ares and Ethan was far and wide no trace.

Even after 1 hour had passed when the hunt was officially ended.