I had dinner with Linel at the Empress's Palace. At the end of the meal, he suggested that I ride a horse to the training ground and teach me how to shoot arrows. I pretended to be excited and flirted. I made a cute gesture, like "Piyung, Piyung," while pretending to shoot an arrow.
“...Did something unpleasant happen here?”
“You little shit. You knew that, right?”
Prince Tesla shouted, his eyes rolling.
“What are you talking about?”
“That mercenary is alive. And he’s the Prince of the Parsha Empire! Didn’t you know that?”
“Even if that were true, even this statuesque face almost got torn to pieces.”
The Grand Duke looked down at the shards of glass scattered on the floor and spoke calmly to Prince Tesla. He approached Prince Tesla, wiping the blood from his cheek with his hand. The Prince, bewildered by his reaction, shouted again.
“Did you know that, you little punk!”
“This must be your first time at a training ground.”
As we arrived at the training ground and dismounted, Linel wrapped his arm around my waist and said:
'I like you for the first time. Our acting Empress, this is already the third time here. Emperor.'
The incarnation inside me chuckled and answered for me. I coughed in vain and entered the training room. The room was bright as day because all the lamps were turned on.
“Let’s just teach you the basics today. We don’t have much time.”
He said as he selected a bow in front of the weapons display case.
“You don’t have time? Didn’t you say you finished all your work today?”
I asked him, staring at the target posted on the opposite wall.
“The night is short.”
He picked up a suitable bow and came back to me.
“Zelda, stand like me.”
He made me stand in line with the target and put a bow in my hand.
“Are you sure you’re holding it like this? I’ve never held a bow properly before, so my hands are shaking.”
'What the heck? You've never held a bow properly before? Hahaha.'
The incarnation within me sneered. I ignored its mockery.
“You don’t have to do it.”
He squeezed my hand once as if trying to give me courage, then let go.
“Yes, I like it.”
I moved my fingers gracefully as if I was playing the harp. He watched my hand movements and let out a worried sigh.
“Oh my, I don’t know if you can shoot properly with these small hands. Don’t worry, I’ll be there to help you.”
I stood awkwardly and acted awkwardly. Then Linel stood right behind me. He wrapped his arms around my body and straightened my posture, and together we slowly pulled the bowstring. I could hit the target with my eyes closed, but it wasn’t bad to learn from him like this. It felt like I was back when I was thirteen and first picked up a bow.
“Zelda, I always see you in dresses, so seeing you in a riding outfit makes me... want to run with you.”
Linel whispered in my ear while pulling the bowstring behind me.
“I just developed a running instinct. What should I do...”
“It’s too dark to ride a horse?”
"...It’s not that good for riding a horse. Yeah, it’s like that for a horse. Haa, that’s enough. Should I draw my bow again?”
Linel's voice and breathing became gloomy, but he continued to explain seriously about the archery stance. Suddenly, I began to feel how much he loved me. I glanced at him. As I had expected, his eyes were soaked with instinct.
"Why?"
"No."
I smiled slightly and took my place again, pulling the bowstring. Linel also began to interfere by pulling my waist towards him as if he was tugging at his desire.
“Why are you doing this, really...”
My concentration was disrupted by the line.
"What."
He asked solemnly.
“Don’t worry about me and keep practicing.”
“How can I not care?”
I know my instincts are growing stronger.
“Zelda, this is all training.”
He spoke with a pretended solemn tone.
“What are you talking about?”
“Beasts don’t stand still and take arrows flying at them. The same goes for archers. They have to run around and aim accurately while also running.”
He had a remarkable ability to hit people with words.
I don't know if he thought it was cute, but his reaction wasn't too bad. Linel held his stomach and laughed, begging me to shoot an arrow at him too, so I shot an arrow with my hand while shouting "Piyung!" with a serious expression, as he wished. Then he started arguing about the direction of the arrow I shot. Did I target his vital organs?
“The aim is very impudent.”
He stood with his legs apart, put his hands on his hips, and laughed angrily. How could he laugh so angrily?
“The aim is very impudent.”
He stood with his legs apart, put his hands on his hips, and laughed angrily. How could he laugh so angrily?
I looked at him in amazement, and then I realized something. I always have a habit of thinking, 'This is the last arrow,' and aiming for the vital spot when I shoot an arrow, and that habit came out even when I pretended to shoot an arrow.
“Was the aim planned?”
As he kept asking questions,
“Sorry, I thought the arrow was supposed to hit the most important part.”
I brushed it off like that. I changed into my riding clothes and went out to the backyard of the Empress's Palace. The horses we were going to ride were already prepared. I wanted to pull the reins and run through the forest right away, but I quietly got on the horse and headed slowly toward the training ground with him.
“Was the aim planned?”
As he kept asking questions,
“Sorry, I thought the arrow was supposed to hit the most important part.”
I brushed it off like that. I changed into my riding clothes and went out to the backyard of the Empress's Palace. The horses we were going to ride were already prepared. I wanted to pull the reins and run through the forest right away, but I quietly got on the horse and headed slowly toward the training ground with him.
***
After finishing his conversation with Princess Resilia, Prince Tesla returned to his room where he was guided. As soon as he arrived at the bedroom, he looked for wine. He sat down on the sofa and drank the bottle of wine.
“An unexpected obstacle has popped up.”
He was constantly worried about Prince Norton. He wouldn't dare to touch Prince Norton. If he touched him, it would not only be a problem for the Kingdom of Shattonil, but it could also develop into a problem between the continents.
“Let’s leave it to Resilia for now.”
At first, he ignored her words, but after listening to her, he concluded that it would be better to use Norton rather than destroy him.
'I'm going to tease Norton and make him mine again.'
No man would be swayed if his sister decided to seduce him. Even a man who had betrayed her once would be no exception. Prince Tesla believed so. But if Norton asked him about that day...
“An unexpected obstacle has popped up.”
He was constantly worried about Prince Norton. He wouldn't dare to touch Prince Norton. If he touched him, it would not only be a problem for the Kingdom of Shattonil, but it could also develop into a problem between the continents.
“Let’s leave it to Resilia for now.”
At first, he ignored her words, but after listening to her, he concluded that it would be better to use Norton rather than destroy him.
'I'm going to tease Norton and make him mine again.'
No man would be swayed if his sister decided to seduce him. Even a man who had betrayed her once would be no exception. Prince Tesla believed so. But if Norton asked him about that day...
Yes, he could have said that he had never heard of the incident where the man and the child fell off the cliff. And he could have blamed the Royal Knights. If he had chosen the most useless vice-captain of the Royal Knights and executed him for that incident, what more would he have to say?
“What can I do if I keep trying? If that bastard wants to get back on good terms with Resilia, I have to hand it over even if I’m suspicious.”
Using and discarding someone was Resilia's specialty, so there was no way she would mess things up for the sake of love or her own children.
“Wait, Martins really didn’t know about this fact?”
Just as Prince Tesla's head tilted crookedly in disbelief, a cautious knock was heard outside the bedroom door. He picked up his wine glass and said,
“Come in.”
“Your Highness, how have you been?”
The Grand Duke Martins entered the room with a cheerful face.
“What can I do if I keep trying? If that bastard wants to get back on good terms with Resilia, I have to hand it over even if I’m suspicious.”
Using and discarding someone was Resilia's specialty, so there was no way she would mess things up for the sake of love or her own children.
“Wait, Martins really didn’t know about this fact?”
Just as Prince Tesla's head tilted crookedly in disbelief, a cautious knock was heard outside the bedroom door. He picked up his wine glass and said,
“Come in.”
“Your Highness, how have you been?”
The Grand Duke Martins entered the room with a cheerful face.
Pazik-!
A wine glass flew to the right side of the Grand Duke's face. It hit the wall next to him and shattered into pieces. The shards of glass flew into the Grand Duke's face, leaving a small cut on his cheek.
“...Did something unpleasant happen here?”
“You little shit. You knew that, right?”
Prince Tesla shouted, his eyes rolling.
“What are you talking about?”
“That mercenary is alive. And he’s the Prince of the Parsha Empire! Didn’t you know that?”
“Even if that were true, even this statuesque face almost got torn to pieces.”
The Grand Duke looked down at the shards of glass scattered on the floor and spoke calmly to Prince Tesla. He approached Prince Tesla, wiping the blood from his cheek with his hand. The Prince, bewildered by his reaction, shouted again.
“Did you know that, you little punk!”
“I didn’t know, you punk.”
Grand Duke Martins replied with an eerie calmness. Prince Tesla jumped up from the sofa.
"...What?!"
The two were cousins. They had been like brothers since they were young, so they often spoke comfortably to each other when they were alone. But now, the atmosphere was different. Martins Lohain, who was quick-witted, could not have noticed that so why was he suddenly talking back?
Grand Duke Martins replied with an eerie calmness. Prince Tesla jumped up from the sofa.
"...What?!"
The two were cousins. They had been like brothers since they were young, so they often spoke comfortably to each other when they were alone. But now, the atmosphere was different. Martins Lohain, who was quick-witted, could not have noticed that so why was he suddenly talking back?
Prince Tesla looked at him with a look of being hit.
“Right now... don’t let go, Your Highness.”
Then as if nothing had happened, Grand Duke Martins bowed his tail again and became polite.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
'Is this kid toying with me right now?'
Prince Tesla felt like he was being toyed with somehow.
“Right now... don’t let go, Your Highness.”
Then as if nothing had happened, Grand Duke Martins bowed his tail again and became polite.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
'Is this kid toying with me right now?'
Prince Tesla felt like he was being toyed with somehow.
***
“This must be your first time at a training ground.”
As we arrived at the training ground and dismounted, Linel wrapped his arm around my waist and said:
'I like you for the first time. Our acting Empress, this is already the third time here. Emperor.'
The incarnation inside me chuckled and answered for me. I coughed in vain and entered the training room. The room was bright as day because all the lamps were turned on.
“Let’s just teach you the basics today. We don’t have much time.”
He said as he selected a bow in front of the weapons display case.
“You don’t have time? Didn’t you say you finished all your work today?”
I asked him, staring at the target posted on the opposite wall.
“The night is short.”
He picked up a suitable bow and came back to me.
“Zelda, stand like me.”
He made me stand in line with the target and put a bow in my hand.
“Are you sure you’re holding it like this? I’ve never held a bow properly before, so my hands are shaking.”
'What the heck? You've never held a bow properly before? Hahaha.'
The incarnation within me sneered. I ignored its mockery.
“You don’t have to do it.”
He squeezed my hand once as if trying to give me courage, then let go.
“Yes, spread your legs 11 inches apart. Never take your eyes off the target, and don’t raise your head too much.”
“Like this?”
I awkwardly raised my head for no reason.
“No, you should go a little lower. Should you just pull the bowstring first?”
“Like this?”
I awkwardly raised my head for no reason.
“No, you should go a little lower. Should you just pull the bowstring first?”
“Yes, I like it.”
I moved my fingers gracefully as if I was playing the harp. He watched my hand movements and let out a worried sigh.
“Oh my, I don’t know if you can shoot properly with these small hands. Don’t worry, I’ll be there to help you.”
I stood awkwardly and acted awkwardly. Then Linel stood right behind me. He wrapped his arms around my body and straightened my posture, and together we slowly pulled the bowstring. I could hit the target with my eyes closed, but it wasn’t bad to learn from him like this. It felt like I was back when I was thirteen and first picked up a bow.
“Zelda, I always see you in dresses, so seeing you in a riding outfit makes me... want to run with you.”
Linel whispered in my ear while pulling the bowstring behind me.
“I just developed a running instinct. What should I do...”
“It’s too dark to ride a horse?”
"...It’s not that good for riding a horse. Yeah, it’s like that for a horse. Haa, that’s enough. Should I draw my bow again?”
Linel's voice and breathing became gloomy, but he continued to explain seriously about the archery stance. Suddenly, I began to feel how much he loved me. I glanced at him. As I had expected, his eyes were soaked with instinct.
"Why?"
"No."
I smiled slightly and took my place again, pulling the bowstring. Linel also began to interfere by pulling my waist towards him as if he was tugging at his desire.
“Why are you doing this, really...”
My concentration was disrupted by the line.
"What."
He asked solemnly.
“Don’t worry about me and keep practicing.”
“How can I not care?”
I know my instincts are growing stronger.
“Zelda, this is all training.”
He spoke with a pretended solemn tone.
“What are you talking about?”
“Beasts don’t stand still and take arrows flying at them. The same goes for archers. They have to run around and aim accurately while also running.”
“Are you saying this is also a kind of training?”
"Yes. Anything can be a nuisance in the forest. Even the wind.”
This guy is really good at talking.
“The target is currently stationary, so I’m creating a situation by interfering with you.”
“Aha, so that’s why you deliberately stopped me from behind... I didn’t realize your deep intentions.”
He didn't care even though I responded sarcastically.
“Yeah, you have no way of knowing what I mean. Phew, it’s hot.”
“It’s so windy outside right now. Are you feeling hot?”
I pointed to the fallen leaves rolling in with the wind into the open entrance to the smokehouse.
“Ahem, concentrate and stand straight again.”
He cleared his throat and readjusted my posture.
“Hold the arrow and string on your index finger at the same time, and keep your eyes on the target while imagining that your bow arm and your string-pulling arm are in the same position.”
Linel was still right behind me, interrupting me, but his voice was serious as he explained.
“Zelda, keep your eyes focused on the target until the very end. Just as my body is focused on you.”
“...Yes? You’re focusing on me?”
“Why are you asking when you already know?”
“I’m asking because I don’t know.”
“You’re probably just pretending not to know.”
“Why me?”
“You really don’t know?”
"Yes. Anything can be a nuisance in the forest. Even the wind.”
This guy is really good at talking.
“The target is currently stationary, so I’m creating a situation by interfering with you.”
“Aha, so that’s why you deliberately stopped me from behind... I didn’t realize your deep intentions.”
He didn't care even though I responded sarcastically.
“Yeah, you have no way of knowing what I mean. Phew, it’s hot.”
“It’s so windy outside right now. Are you feeling hot?”
I pointed to the fallen leaves rolling in with the wind into the open entrance to the smokehouse.
“Ahem, concentrate and stand straight again.”
He cleared his throat and readjusted my posture.
“Hold the arrow and string on your index finger at the same time, and keep your eyes on the target while imagining that your bow arm and your string-pulling arm are in the same position.”
Linel was still right behind me, interrupting me, but his voice was serious as he explained.
“Zelda, keep your eyes focused on the target until the very end. Just as my body is focused on you.”
“...Yes? You’re focusing on me?”
“Why are you asking when you already know?”
“I’m asking because I don’t know.”
“You’re probably just pretending not to know.”
“Why me?”
“You really don’t know?”
"Yes."
Linel tilted his head.
“That’s strange. How could you not know?”
He muttered with a slightly hurt look on his face, then soon fell silent.
“Am I by any chance Your Majesty’s target? Do you have any arrows or something hidden somewhere on your body?”
“It sounds like an arrow. I mean, the heart, the heart.”
“...Your heart?”
As I turned to look at him, my eyes glazed over,
“Yes, a heart that is strong enough to freeze to death! Look at what? Look in front of you!”
Oh, surprise. Linel quickly put both hands together politely in front of him and gave me an order. I suppressed a laugh and turned my gaze toward the target.
“Now, let’s pull the bowstring and actually shoot the arrow.”
His voice, now soft, reached my neck again. One shoulder twitched because of that, but my eyes were already searching for where to shoot the arrow. Of course, I had to avoid the center of the target. Yes, I had to get away from the target completely so there would be no doubt.
Linel tilted his head.
“That’s strange. How could you not know?”
He muttered with a slightly hurt look on his face, then soon fell silent.
“Am I by any chance Your Majesty’s target? Do you have any arrows or something hidden somewhere on your body?”
“It sounds like an arrow. I mean, the heart, the heart.”
“...Your heart?”
As I turned to look at him, my eyes glazed over,
“Yes, a heart that is strong enough to freeze to death! Look at what? Look in front of you!”
Oh, surprise. Linel quickly put both hands together politely in front of him and gave me an order. I suppressed a laugh and turned my gaze toward the target.
“Now, let’s pull the bowstring and actually shoot the arrow.”
His voice, now soft, reached my neck again. One shoulder twitched because of that, but my eyes were already searching for where to shoot the arrow. Of course, I had to avoid the center of the target. Yes, I had to get away from the target completely so there would be no doubt.
I noticed a small, long wooden board placed to the left of the target. That would be a good place. The point I had decided on was the 7 o’clock position in the middle of the wooden board. I had never waited long after pulling the bowstring. I had already finished aiming when I pulled the bowstring.
Bang!
The arrow flew with a refreshing sound. As expected, the arrow hit the target I had set. I secretly smiled in satisfaction before turning to him.
“Oh, that’s because it’s your first time. There’s no need to be discouraged.”
But Linel, who couldn't know this fact, patted me on the back.
'You were planning to shoot there from the beginning?'
I answered him inwardly, but outwardly I looked up at him with a very intimidated face.
“Ugh, I guess I’m not good at archery.”
“No. You did well the first time.”
“Really?”
"No."
“...”
What is this, Your Majesty the Emperor?
“Actually, your skills are poor, but I interfered from behind. It’s great that the arrow didn’t go straight to my face.”
He shook my shoulder vigorously and encouraged me.
“If I practice, I’ll improve, right?”
“Wouldn’t it be wiser not to create the situation where you have to shoot arrows?”
"...Ah."
“Oh, that’s because it’s your first time. There’s no need to be discouraged.”
But Linel, who couldn't know this fact, patted me on the back.
'You were planning to shoot there from the beginning?'
I answered him inwardly, but outwardly I looked up at him with a very intimidated face.
“Ugh, I guess I’m not good at archery.”
“No. You did well the first time.”
“Really?”
"No."
“...”
What is this, Your Majesty the Emperor?
“Actually, your skills are poor, but I interfered from behind. It’s great that the arrow didn’t go straight to my face.”
He shook my shoulder vigorously and encouraged me.
“If I practice, I’ll improve, right?”
“Wouldn’t it be wiser not to create the situation where you have to shoot arrows?”
"...Ah."
He had a remarkable ability to hit people with words.
“If you keep going, you’ll make progress... But don’t get your hopes up.”
He seemed to be comforting me, but in the end, he gave me an honest evaluation. In short, he said that my skills were poor. I pretended to be bad on purpose, but I still felt a little bad. I rolled my eyes at his strange consolation.
“Are you saying that my skills won’t improve?”
“Yeah. It doesn’t increase.”
Until you are resolute.
“But why would you shoot an arrow in the hunting grounds?”
Linel smiled faintly, pushing my hair behind my ear. His gentle face was so beautiful that I wanted to draw his expression right now. That smile that only I could see, that only he gave me. Suddenly, I thought about what I could do for him. Compared to what he could do for me, there was little I could do for him.
“What are you thinking about?”
He asked, snatching the bow from my hand. I wanted to shoot a few more arrows, but I didn't really regret it. Even if I shot, I would hit the strange target I had set every time, and on top of that, I had to act regretfully every time, so that was more annoying.
“I feel like there is little I can do for Your Majesty.”
I just blurted out the thoughts that had crossed my mind a moment ago.
“Why did you suddenly think of such an obvious fact?”
He asked, patting my back.
“...It just occurred to me.”
“So what’s the conclusion?”
“There isn’t any.”
His eyebrows furrowed at my honest answer.
“What a disappointment.”
He went to the weapon rack and put the bow back on. Suddenly, his emotions changed from disappointment to anger, and he turned his head towards me and asked me with a pout.
“There must be? No, there is.”
"Yes?
“The greatest thing you can give me is.”
Linel said with an expectant look in his eyes... What is it?
He seemed to be comforting me, but in the end, he gave me an honest evaluation. In short, he said that my skills were poor. I pretended to be bad on purpose, but I still felt a little bad. I rolled my eyes at his strange consolation.
“Are you saying that my skills won’t improve?”
“Yeah. It doesn’t increase.”
Until you are resolute.
“But why would you shoot an arrow in the hunting grounds?”
Linel smiled faintly, pushing my hair behind my ear. His gentle face was so beautiful that I wanted to draw his expression right now. That smile that only I could see, that only he gave me. Suddenly, I thought about what I could do for him. Compared to what he could do for me, there was little I could do for him.
“What are you thinking about?”
He asked, snatching the bow from my hand. I wanted to shoot a few more arrows, but I didn't really regret it. Even if I shot, I would hit the strange target I had set every time, and on top of that, I had to act regretfully every time, so that was more annoying.
“I feel like there is little I can do for Your Majesty.”
I just blurted out the thoughts that had crossed my mind a moment ago.
“Why did you suddenly think of such an obvious fact?”
He asked, patting my back.
“...It just occurred to me.”
“So what’s the conclusion?”
“There isn’t any.”
His eyebrows furrowed at my honest answer.
“What a disappointment.”
He went to the weapon rack and put the bow back on. Suddenly, his emotions changed from disappointment to anger, and he turned his head towards me and asked me with a pout.
“There must be? No, there is.”
"Yes?
“The greatest thing you can give me is.”
Linel said with an expectant look in his eyes... What is it?
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