Chapter 40

“Puahahaha!”

At that moment, Baron Ignes burst out in pleasant laughter. 

Why was he laughing all of a sudden? I looked at him coldly because he spoiled my mood, and he immediately lowered his upper body and said,

“To hear that Her Majesty the Queen would be my opponent… I shouldn’t even show my skills.”

“……”

“But please forgive me. I can’t let you win as I am the lady’s bow now.”

“You are a man of great chivalry, Sir Ignes.”

Yuria praised him, and there were actually a few young girls who seemed to have fallen for his bluff.

Actually, it wasn’t necessarily a lie. Because he was a really talented person.

Even in Spinel, I had heard of the ‘Moon Archer’.

It was said that he was nicknamed so because he was able to hit the target accurately even in the dark night.

But I already knew of a genius swordsman who defeated the cursed magician while he was blind. So he wasn’t that amazing.

I looked at him with scornful eyes.

‘What is it, you dung beetle, don’t push me.’

Baron Ignes might be able to feel my displeasure from my eyes, but it probably wouldn’t have bothered him much because I originally had a cold face.

I held out my hand gracefully and smiled.

“Thank you. I don’t want to lose either.”

“Hahahaha! You’re a woman with a large backbone!”

I was like a child who was very upset with every word he spoke.

Suddenly, my desire to win heated up.

Then the sound of the horn was heard, signaling the start of the game.

There was a small apple placed far away.

Just looking at it, it was clearly not a competition for beginners. All the participants had serious expressions on their faces. It also meant that today’s prize was great.

‘Madam Verdi’s letter of recommendation can bring up to three people into the salon, right?’

This was the information I had heard from Laura before coming here.

She said that if you obtain 10 signatures from nobles participating in the salon, it would form a letter of recommendation for one person.

Even with that, however, it was still up to Madam Verdi’s judgment.

But with Madam Verdi’s recommendation letter, it would be a free pass.

‘This is the best chance. I really need it… I’ll have it.’

“It’s mine…”

As my will burned brightly, the cheerful Count Quokka suddenly raised his head.

“Your Majesty, are you participating because of the letter of recommendation?”

“……How did you know?”

He smiled brightly.

“Didn’t you just whisper to yourself, ‘It’s mine’?”

…I was just thinking in my head, did I say something so greedy out loud?

Count Quokka said in the midst of my embarrassment of being caught.

“If the Queen wins first place, you can write three names of your choice in the letter of recommendation.”

I think he’s a pretty good person…?

“Thank you.”

After a brief reply, I turned my attention back to the game.

No one could accurately hit an apple that was so far away. Even the arrows of those who seemed to shoot pretty well were often narrowly missed.

At that time, Count Quokka boldly went to the shooting site.

The presenter said in a solemn voice.

“Next, it will be Count Metheus!”

“I will shoot for the Queen’s sake.”

He made a proud squirrel-like expression and puffed out his chest.

‘I’m looking forward to it.’

‘I mean, how well will he shoot?’

It was when I was watching with interest.

He sharply pulled the bowstring and released it.

“Oh!”

Exclamations erupted from the audience. It was because the arrow that flew quickly managed to skim the apple.

It was the first time.

That a person was about to shoot so close to the target.

“So far, Count Blanche Metheus is in first place!”

“Haha.”

Count Quokka looked back at me with a very proud face.

He nodded his head to signify that he did well.

He came to my side, walking like a squirrel who had been reassured of picking up a lot of chestnuts.

‘Hmm… This brings me one step closer to Madam Verdi’s recommendation letter.’

If the letter of recommendation belonged to Yuria, it meant that three more people close to Yuria would join the salon.

The entourage of the angelic-looking woman who had a burning hostility towards me……

If that happened, it would not be easy for me to adapt to the salon.

This salon was the ‘center’ of noble connections. I was greedy to keep it in my reach.

So I couldn’t lose today.

‘Besides, she doesn’t even hide her feelings anymore.’

Yuria was staring at me as I was thinking deeply, and then she turned her gaze away. It was a brief moment, but her gaze was so cold that my heart froze.

I thought that the only person who wouldn’t mind making eye contact with me would be Rixus… 

It increased by one.

One was love, and the other came from hostility.

It didn’t feel good to have a new enemy.

“Next up is our Baron Ignes!”

The audience cheered for the appearance of the ‘Moon Archer’.

Baron Ignes smiled confidently and held up the thick, large Aktoum bow.

Yuria got up and cheered for him.

“Baron, please be strong.”

“I will win and give you the letter of recommendation, my lady.”

When the words ‘letter of recommendation’ came out, I was really nervous. I couldn’t help but hope he would make a mistake.

‘It’s not that I’m not confident.’

If it was a Spinel bow, it was not too much for me to hit an apple from this distance.

I had played similar games several times.

At a very young age.

‘But there’s nothing good about showing all of my fighting power.’

I didn’t come here to look scary. I was here to make friends.

There was nothing wrong with being seen as a gentle crown princess.

“Well then, let’s get started.”

Baron Ignes drew his bow as hard as he could.

His pulling force was just amazing to look at.

He took a while to aim at the target. As soon as the string was released, as if he was making a hook or throw, the arrow flew sharply.

Swoosh!

It pierced the center of the apple.

“It’s a hit!”

“Wow! He’s the ‘Moon Archer’ after all!”

The reaction was hot. I was the only one whose expression hardened for a moment.

Madam Verdi said with a light smile.

“As expected, Baron Ignes is playing an active role this time as well.”

Baron Ignes shrugged and said,

“I apologize. There is still no other archer like me in Aktoum. Haha.”

“You’re the best bow.”

Yuria quietly complimented, then turned to me and smiled slightly.

It was just a moment, but I could tell at a glance that it was a smile full of superiority.

‘She’s laughing?’

I did not show my emotions outwardly, maintaining an expressionless face.

After all, no matter how arrogant and ostentatious that man was, if I did well during my turn, that was enough.

“Now, our last candidate. It’s Her Majesty’s turn!”

I was specifically introduced by Madam Verdi.

As I slowly moved forward, the nobles applauded.

However, it was not the same applause of anticipation they had just sent to the Moon Archer. They looked at me without tension or expectation as if they were watching a fun event.

As if number 1 was already decided.

“Your Majesty, Spinel’s bow is light, but tricky to handle, is it okay?”

Baron Ignes smiled brightly with his straight, thin eyes and explained to me.

Did he really have to pretend to know everything so that his ego was satisfied?

“It’s okay.”

Winning would be enough to relieve this irritation, so I briefly dismissed it and examined the bow all over.

By the way…

“!”

The spinel bow was a bit odd. There was a crack in the stem of the thin bow. If I applied any force, it would break.

It was not a crack that occurred from being naturally old, but a trace that someone artificially ruined a new thing that had just been made.

‘Who did such a mean thing…’

Perhaps, Yuria?

When I looked over to her with a frown, Yuria looked back with a somewhat indistinct expression.

It was not a smug face that had intentionally dug a trap.

Then, there was only one possibility left.

With stiff eyes, I looked at the table where some of the nine nobles were gathered.

The main characters such as Duchess Deborah, Prime Minister Bernard, and Archduke Johann Marquis were missing, but they were united.

And they were blatantly delighted.

‘Despicable dog-like people.’

Time to revise my plan. I must express my fighting power to the fullest here. To prevent those runny bugs from climbing again.

I picked up the largest and blackest of Aktoum’s traditional bows.

It was a bow made by processing a six-fruited tree that was said to never break because it shared a root with the world tree.

The six-fruited tree was the heaviest of the existing trees.

As Baron Ignes watched me pick up an Aktoum bow, he let out a low laugh.

‘What a disgusting expression.’

“Your Majesty, how about just playing with a Spinel bow?”

He said with a smile of courtesy that was full of ill-intent.

“Aktoum’s bow is quite different from Spinel’s bow. It’s a ‘real man’s bow’.”

“…….”

“With those weak arms, it will be difficult to pull the string.”

The nobles also murmured in unison and agreed with that statement.

I patted the string of the bow with my fingers as if I had covered my ears.

It was moderately tight.

“With that slender body, you wouldn’t even be able to shoot an arrow at that target…”

I still looked at the bow as I spoke, cutting into his words.

“Then Baron Ignes can serve as the target.”

For a moment, he hesitated, startled.

“What?”

Only then did I look back at him. Then I asked calmly.

“Are you afraid?”

Baron Ignes’ thin eyes blinked twice.

Soon, he burst into laughter.

“Puahahahaha! Your Majesty is really funny.”

“……”

“I’ll be the target.”

He smiled as if he was cool with it, but he couldn’t erase his displeased expression, as if his pride had been slightly damaged.

I threw a cherry at him as he walked towards the target.

“I like this cherry.”

Baron Ignes took the cherry, and it finally showed on his face.

It was written on his face. Cherry? It’s not an apple, it’s a cherry…?

Either way, I checked the bow and he walked towards the target with a tight smile on his face.

Standing so far away that he could not be seen, he shouted.

“I have arrived! Your Majesty the Queen, please shoot as much as you like! …Now that I am the target, shouldn’t the arrow come at least 1/10 of the distance?”

A small laugh erupted from a table. Again, it was the nine nobles group.

“You have to be careful when you pull, Your Majesty… you might break your slender arm.”

It was then.

I did not pick up one heavy arrow, but six.

I put two arrows between each finger and pulled the string taut at once.

Shiiik–! The tough bowstring screamed and my hand stuck to my cheek.

I looked at the target with sharp eyes.

“!”

At that sight, the nobles were completely frozen.

Ame: Triple updates people!