My body shook at Michael's words.
“Oh, don’t even mention that word lady, it disgusts me.”
Why would Mr. Duke do things I didn't ask for and put me in an embarrassing situation?
I have an ominous feeling that the title of “Mrs. Winner of the Tournament” will haunt me for a long time.
Even if the community rumors have been blacked out thanks to Freesia and the Crown Prince, the problem lies with those around me.
The Crown Prince would obviously make fun of me whenever he got bored, and William would talk about it with his kind, if secretive, smile.
It goes without saying that Rose will investigate my relationship with Carlex until the dust settles.
Ah, my head is already starting to hurt.
Maybe I could use this as an opportunity to take a long vacation?
I looked at the sky with worry and distress.
The sun had set before I knew it, and the redness was spreading across the sky behind the square, leaving glowing trails.
The spectators left the arena as the tide receded.
Some nobles and knights kept talking and laughing animatedly.
We too headed to the break room.
As we walked, Michael looked at the riders admiringly.
“It's amazing how knights stick together, regardless of victory or defeat.”
“You will become a brave knight when you grow up, Master Michael.”
The Kingdom of Ruberia is a country founded on the loyalty and dedication of knights.
Therefore, it is common for young nobles to join the Knights upon reaching adulthood.
“Will I be able to? My body is weak and I get sick a lot.”
Michael looked at his thin wrist as he lowered his head.
Feeling sorry for his disappointed appearance, she gently took his hand.
“I heard that a knight needs a strong and warm heart. You have a stronger and more compassionate heart than anyone else, so you will become a brave knight like Sir Duke.”
He looked embarrassed that I was holding his hand, and his soft, downy cheeks turned a little red.
“Sister, that’s my brother’s rest room. Let’s go quickly.”
It's quite clear that he's trying to change the subject.
What a cute baby.
I smiled when I saw the boy's back leading me, holding my hand tightly.
His hands, small and weak now, would be different when they were big enough to envelop mine.
Maybe you will become two hands that warm the world.
***
On one side of the field stood a row of about ten tents for the knights' rest rooms.
The knights, who had taken off their heavy armor, were talking with relaxed faces.
I saw others maintaining their weapons or grooming their horses.
There was also, in another part, a group of young nobles wearing extremely competitive expressions, bows and arrow sheaths hanging on their backs.
With the target board in place, they seemed to be in the middle of a friendly archery competition between the young nobles.
When I turned my gaze, I saw a young man with curly brown hair and a sharp gaze standing guard in front of the last tent.
Gilbert was from the Shadow Knights.
I was about to call out to him happily when one of the young nobles, Michael, blocked my way.
"Hey, Michael! What are you doing here, you bookworm in the greenhouse?"
•|A passive participle derived from the verb “to isolate,” and it refers to a person or thing that is isolated, alone, or isolated in a corner or corner away from others.
The young man making the problem suddenly looked three or four years older than Michael.
He was wearing a velvet hat decorated with peacock feathers, a leather jacket, and riding breeches, which gave him an arrogant appearance.
The boy studied Michael with eyes full of jealousy and envy.
When Michael didn't answer, he suddenly exploded in anger.
“Don’t you remember me? I am Lord Zeke of the Duke Arid family!”
She whispered gently into Michael's ear.
"He doesn't seem like a friend. Is he a rival?"
“No, sister. He is a young nobleman. I saw him briefly at a tea party in the royal palace. Don’t worry about him.”
Hmmm… you don't even need to look.
Michael clearly admired the young women at the tea party and was praised as a brilliant genius.
This guy is jealous, so he's making trouble.
I tried to move forward with only a polite greeting, but Zeke violently grabbed Michael's shoulder and pulled him down.
“Where are you going!”
“Master Michael!”
The young noble lost his balance, swayed, and almost fell. I hurried and picked it up.
Zeke pointed out sarcastically.
“You child lives in a maid's skirt!”
How dare this arrogant bastard touch our little noble?
Gilbert noticed the disturbance and hurried around Michael's shoulder.
“Young Master, are you okay?”
Gilbert looked angry that his dear young master had been pushed, and looked at Zeke with a stern expression.
But the arrogant young man also became angry and shouted at the top of his voice.
“How dare you, you worthless knight, stare at me when I am a noble?!”
When your costume caused a stir, it naturally attracted attention.
The knights looked at Zeke with annoyed expressions, while the other young nobles stood with their arms crossed, watching curiously.
As more onlookers gathered, Zeke grew more boastful and pointed his finger at Michael.
I would really like to break his finger.
“Michael, your family’s knight dared to insult me since you are his young master, you have to make amends on his behalf.”
"This is unbelievable. Sir Gilbert has done nothing."
Michael protested, but Zeke completely ignored him and ordered his servant to bring the bow.
After a moment, the servant returned with a bow and quiver.
Zeke threw them both at Michael's feet.
“Even Greenhouse Rose should know the basics of archery to compete with me.”
This little green boy insulted my dear Michael, treated me like a servant, and went so far as to harm innocent Gilbert.
I can't take it anymore.
You must gently step on the deviated bud from the beginning for it to grow properly.
إنه يحتاج إلى درسٍ جيد.
She picked up the bow and quiver that had fallen to the ground and looked at Zeke defiantly.
“There is no need for Mr. Michael to participate in such a competition, let us compete with you and me.”
Michael, confused, rushed to stop me.
"No, sister! I'll do it!"
Zeke frowned as well, in disbelief.
"Aren't you a maid? How dare you challenge me?"
“I, Erica Dale, Royal Librarian, challenge you on behalf of our young master Michael and Sir Gilbert, whom you have insulted.”
"Huh? Do you think you're on my level?"
The arrogant young man laughed loudly.
It wasn't worth answering, so I put an arrow in the bow.
When I extended the string, Zeke recoiled backwards in horror.
I smile as I pull the string.
“Let's start the competition. I'm a hasty person.”
"If you're a librarian, read books. Why are you interfering in the peerage competition? Don't you know your place, acting so rude?"
He was trembling for fear that the arrow would fly, but his pride remained intact, and he flew into a rage.
A lot of talk for such a young boy.
Maybe he shot like an accident.
He will cry, scream, and search for his mother even if the arrow passes near his face.
"Were you two about to start an interesting rivalry while I was gone? That's sad."
A familiar voice came from behind.
I turned to see the Crown Prince approaching with the knights of his guard.
He was smiling while whistling softly.
“Librarian Erica, there always seems to be interesting things happening around you?”
With the sudden appearance of the Crown Prince, Zeke froze in place and bowed his head until it almost touched the ground.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, I hope you are in the best of health.”
Ludving furrowed his eyebrows for a moment in thought, then regained an indifferent expression.
“I don't remember who you are, but that doesn't matter. Let's start the competition. I want to see Lady Erica's archery skill.”
The quick-witted palace assistant even brought over a chair.
With the Crown Prince sitting down, the other nobles and knights who were naturally resting gathered around.
As a simple friendly competition turned into an event sponsored by the Crown Prince, Zeke and the other young nobles looked puzzled.
Servants quickly lit torches around the target board.
“Okay, let's start the contest. I will reward the winner personally.”
The Crown Prince's voice was solemn, but his facial expression was like a lane leader immersed in a fun game.
The confusion was only momentary, as Zeke stepped forward, smiling confidently and tying his bow.
His bewildered servant followed him, carrying his sleeve.
I was getting ready to go too when Michael and Gilbert, with worried expressions, tried to stop me.
“Sister, there is no need for you to participate in the competition and exert yourself for my sake.”
“That's right. The young nobles have received archery training since childhood, so they have great skills. It will definitely be a tough competition.”
Hmm, I'm good at archery now too.
Maybe I have talent, because my scoring rate is high.
Can't you just trust me this time, little brother?
I tried to convince Michael when I heard a low, raspy voice behind me.
“I want to see that too. Your archery skill.”
“My brother!”
Michael shouted with a bright face.
Carlex, dressed in casual clothes, was looking at me with a gentle smile on his lips.
His face looked kinder as he wore a comfortable white tunic, instead of his usual strict formal attire.
Carlex came closer to my face.
“Since this person has desecrated my brother’s honor, I beg you, my lady, to restore it.”
He whispered politely, in a calm but captivating voice, close to my ear.
As if an attractive lover were tempting a knight to bring him victory.
Without realizing it, my hand gripped the bow tightly and my pulse quickened.
“Th-Thank you for your trust, Sir Duke.”
I stepped aside and stood as far away from Carlex as possible.
وجود هذا البطل قريبًا ليس جيدًا لقلبي.
I calmed myself and looked ahead.
The distance to the target was about 80 metres.
The sky was dark, but torches spread across the field and a central campfire solved the problem.
The palace assistant came forward and began explaining the rules of the competition.
“You will shoot arrows in turns, three arrows each, with higher scores the closer you are to the center.”
“I'll go first.”
Zeke went first and confidently extended his bow.
The arrow shot off in the blink of an eye and came to rest in the center of the target.
The observing young nobles applauded.
"Zeke, you're a really good shooter. Very good!"
Zeke waved his hand at the people, then looked at me and Michael sarcastically.
As if he was saying you are no match for me.
Michael's facial expression suddenly changed to dark.
“Zeke is famous for his archery skill. Instead of being insulted, sister, I will shoot the arrow myself.”
While Michael spoke determinedly, I tied my long, annoying hair into a bun and rolled up my sleeves.
I grabbed the empty bow and tried the string a few times.
It wasn't familiar in my hand, but it was a good bow.
“Just trust me this once. Erica, the savior of the Duke family, will bring you victory.”
She winked one eye at Michael and moved forward steadily.
The nobles and knights gathered around the square and began to whisper.
A noble girl going out to participate in an archery competition was itself an unusual event, and everyone seemed to have found something new to entertain.
Noble ladies and noble daughters whispered in amazement. Some of the young nobles looked at me with disapproving expressions.
I left the small noise behind me and took a deep breath.
I can see the far dot on the target board clearly.
I stretched the bowstring and released it.
The movement was smooth and natural like running water.
The arrow shot out like light and hit the center of the target.
“Direct hit! Great!”
"Has she received special training? She has amazing archery skill!"
Signs of admiration were heard from the audience watching the competition.
With expectations of failure shattered, the looks directed at me suddenly changed.
Michael let out a relieved breath of relief and cheered, while Ludving shouted excitedly
"I knew it! I was confident in you!"
Carlex just stared at me with a satisfied smile on his lips.
Zeke, who was standing next to me, looked at me with an expression of disbelief.
“This is unbelievable. How do you have this skill...?”
“If there's a secret, it's consistent practice, I guess.”
She smiled sweetly and encouraged him to take his next turn.
He looked angry and gritted his teeth, then quickly put an arrow on his bowstring.
Zeck's stock settled off-center about a finger's width.
“Oh, unfortunately.”
I heard voices of regret from here and there.
When he failed to score a direct hit, Zeke couldn't hold back his anger and angrily shook the arrow until it broke.
Then, it was my turn.
“To be continued in the next chapter”
Loving translation