Chapter 222
I’m screwed.
I thought I shot with full concentration, but my arrow didn’t even come close to the target and ended up stuck in the bushes. It’s a relief that there are no Bodyguard Knights or Imperial Guards around… though it’s hard to say that. After all, I just showed off my embarrassing archery skills in front of the Emperor and Luna…
A heavy silence fell between us. Those 10 seconds were truly unbearable.
At that moment, Luna’s expression was hard to describe. Even one corner of her eye was twitching. I wished she’d just curse me out, but she remained silent.
Sigh…
I didn’t even shoot this poorly during military training. Cold sweat broke out. I was trying to act composed with “Pride,” but honestly, I was scared.
I glanced at Luna’s expression. She still seemed confused. Tristan, a noble, couldn’t possibly be this bad at archery, right? I didn’t know either. I didn’t expect my skills to be this terrible without using “Jealousy.”
In such unexpected situations, there are only a few things I can do. Either keep my mouth shut and hope for the best or act like Tristan would.
Yeah, what else can I do? I decided to brazenly push forward like Tristan and said to Luna, “Your turn.”
Perhaps caught off guard by my audacity, Luna’s mouth opened for a split second but then closed.
She must have a lot of questions. But she wouldn’t dare ask them outright, not with the Emperor’s pride on the line. Especially since I missed the target with such a calm face.
I don’t know what Luna was thinking. But after my repeated urging, she just smiled mysteriously and shot her arrow.
Thwack!
The arrow flew through the air, cutting through the wind as if to show off her excellent archery skills. But…
“How is it? My skill,” I asked.
“……”
Luna nodded with satisfaction. Her arrow landed beautifully… in the bushes next to the target. Just like mine.
‘What the hell…?’
Like Luna, I doubted my eyes. Knowing her skills, I couldn’t help but be suspicious. But only for a moment…
‘This girl…’
I saw the corner of Luna’s mouth twitch slightly as she asked about my skill. I was sure now. Luna had deliberately missed. And she seemed to be eagerly anticipating my reaction.
I couldn’t help but wonder why.
I thought about her intentions for a moment. Was she giving me a penalty for my mistake by doing the same? But if she wanted to kill me fairly, she would have mentioned my mistake and scolded me first.
Then…
To test her reaction, I shot a second arrow.
Thwack!
Again, the arrow disappeared into the bushes. Seeing this, Luna immediately picked up her bow and shot.
Thwack!
Her arrow landed in the same bush where mine had just fallen. Luna smirked and said, “You hit the same spot as me. Do you want to copy me that badly?”
The opposite, actually.
But thanks to this second round of archery, I think I understand her true intentions.
Luna doesn’t want to beat me. No, she can’t beat me.
Although we’ve never explicitly said it, we’re essentially in an alliance. With the Northern Expedition confirmed, Luna can’t harm me, her ally.
Originally, this was a game to kill me, but ironically, it’s become a game where she can’t kill me.
Thinking this way, all my doubts were resolved. Her being busy was just an excuse. The long gap between the first and second games was probably because she didn’t want to play a game where she had to lose. But she still called me to this game for the sake of appearances. After all, we had promised to play.
Understanding the situation, I picked up my bow again. Trying to suppress a laugh.
Now that I know she can’t beat me, there’s only one thing left to do.
How to crush the Emperor’s pride.
I pulled the bowstring.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
The archery battle to lose had begun.
All the arrows missed the target and landed in the bushes. Yet, neither of us showed any sign of concern.
In the midst of the 0:0 situation, Luna spoke.
“Count, even I am surprised by your archery skills.”
Thwack!
Luna spoke with full sarcasm. But Tristan just shrugged.
“Yeah, but your skills aren’t bad either.”
Thwack!
This damn guy, spouting nonsense…
Luna cursed inwardly. Tristan, knowing she couldn’t win, kept deliberately missing.
What an infuriating man. Even when I try to lose, he refuses to let me.
Finally, unable to hold back, Luna snapped.
“Are you testing my patience?”
“No, I’m testing your archery skills.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Do you not realize you’re insulting me right now?”
“Insulting?”
Tristan looked genuinely confused. I felt like spitting in his face.
“Are you going to keep this up until the end? Is this how you repay my mercy? Ungrateful wretch.”
“Was I receiving mercy without knowing it?”
“Sigh… At this point, I should call you the genius of insults, not the genius of evil deeds.”
“I’m no genius. I don’t know how to handle such excessive praise.”
“It’s not praise, you fool.”
Thwack!
Luna’s arrow landed in the bushes again. Now, only one arrow remained for each.
Then, Tristan spoke.
“Luna.”
“?”
“I’ll let you have the last shot since you gave me the first one.”
“Hmph… Are you giving me special treatment because I’m a woman?”
“By the way.”
Tristan suddenly spoke in a serious tone.
“I’m going to hit the bullseye with my last shot.”
“…?!”
Luna frowned. Tristan looked confidently at the target. His gaze was fixed on the bullseye, the 10-point zone. Was he finally going to show his true skills?
“Hmph… So what are you saying?”
Outwardly, she muttered nonchalantly, but Luna had already made up her mind. If Tristan really hit the bullseye, she couldn’t just stand by. Her goal was to lose by a narrow margin, not just lose.
‘Then I’ll take the 9-point zone.’
Luna adjusted her stance and focused on her last shot.
She straightened her back and took a deep breath. Her target was the space right next to the bullseye, the 9-point zone. She slowly pulled the bowstring, feeling it tighten as she aimed at the target. The moment the target came into view, she released the string.
Thwack!
Her arrow landed exactly where she had aimed. 9 points.
Hmph. See? This is the real archery skill I’ve honed.
Luna looked at Tristan with a triumphant expression. But regardless, he was already preparing to shoot his last arrow.
“Thinking about it now, it’s quite amusing.”
“…What?”
“Just a while ago, you wanted to kill me so badly, but now you’re trying not to kill me. It’s refreshing.”
Tristan’s mouth twisted as he pulled the bowstring. He was mocking her.
“Don’t get the wrong idea, Count. Who said I wouldn’t kill you?”
“Right. You’ll try to kill me someday. But ‘not now.’ Am I wrong?”
“……”
Luna was extremely displeased. It felt like Tristan could see right through her.
His cold gaze, glancing at her, seemed to peer deep into her heart.
Tristan smiled and asked.
“What if I don’t hit the bullseye?”
“What?!”
This guy, was he planning this from the start?!
“Are you daring to lie to me?!”
“Calm down. I said ‘what if.'”
Tristan, still holding the taut bowstring, asked.
“Answer me. What would you do?”
“What else would I do? I’d cut off your head as promised, of course!”
“But you don’t want to, do you?”
“Stop talking nonsense!”
“Admit it. You can’t kill me.”
“Nonsense! I will definitely kill you!”
Luna shouted angrily.
Tristan, finding her amusing, asked.
“Be honest, and I’ll hit the bullseye for you.”
“You despicable trash…! Talking out of both sides of your mouth! I hate people who don’t keep their promises!”
This man, already disliked, became even more detestable. He was so infuriating it made my skin crawl.
But Tristan, who never intended to do so, easily backed down.
“Alright. You’re determined to keep this up until the end. Well…”
He just adjusted the bowstring and muttered.
“That part of you is kind of cute.”
“…What?”
Cute…? Cute? Who?
Did I hear that wrong?
Swish!
The sound of the arrow cutting through the air was heard.
Tristan’s arrow was stuck right in the bullseye.
The second match was Tristan’s victory.
It was the result Luna wanted, but it left her feeling uneasy.
“Get out of my sight. Don’t appear before me until I call for you.”
“Alright.”
Putting down the bow, Luna turned to leave. She didn’t want to talk to this man any longer. But then…
“You seem to have forgotten something.”
“…?”
Tristan held out his hand.
“I won the match, didn’t I?”
“You really…”
Understanding what he meant, Luna frowned. Of course, with his obsession over rewards, it’s no wonder he’s rich.
“I bet my life on this match. Isn’t it natural to expect a reward?”
“Sigh… Fine. This should suffice for you.”
Luna took off the glove she was wearing. Tristan didn’t know, but it was a glove she had just changed into before shooting. It was practically new.
Of course, for Luna, who has a cleanliness obsession, it was only slightly less unpleasant. The idea of someone else taking something with her scent was still repulsive. She was about to throw the glove to him, but Tristan shook his head.
“No. I’ve already received that.”
“What? Then what do you want?”
“This time, I want something else.”
“Something else…?”
Tristan was looking at Luna’s calf. His gaze was fixed on her long socks that reached up to her calf. And that was the most shameful thing for her, with her cleanliness obsession.
“D-don’t talk nonsense! Who do you think would give you that?!”
“I’m the winner.”
“You crazy bastard! No way!”
Luna instinctively stepped back. She could change gloves frequently, but not her socks. And unfortunately, the socks she was wearing now were the ones Lucy had been wearing before the body swap.
She hadn’t been conscious of it, but now that he was staring, her feet felt sweaty.
“Y-you! Are you really crazy?!”
“Why are you embarrassed? Aren’t they just the Emperor’s gifts?”
“That’s irrelevant! What do you want my socks for?!”
“Do I need to tell you?”
“You do!”
“Of course, I’ll keep them as a trophy.”
“Y-you!”
Luna trembled with shame. She thought about calling the Imperial Guards but stopped. She didn’t want to reveal her defeat, and showing this side of herself was even more unbearable.
“Wait a moment. I’ll give you a new pair.”
“Can you call that an Emperor’s gift?”
“At least take a clean pair! You inconsiderate pervert!”
But under Tristan’s persistent demands, Luna had no choice but to give in. She pulled off her socks and threw them at Tristan.
“Take them! You pervert! Disgusting man! Take them and do whatever you want with them!”
“I am deeply grateful.”
Tristan casually picked up her rolled-up socks. Seeing this, Luna’s shame reached its limit.
“Quickly! Get out of my sight! Don’t say another word!”
“They’re damp.”
“?!?!”
At Tristan’s muttering, Luna covered her reddened face and slumped down. She was so embarrassed that tears welled up in her eyes.
“I hate you so much!”
