Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Since the butler confirmed there would be no one using the training grounds in the evening, I read and waited for the sun to set. Ha! I was sucked into a game, and now I have to practice shooting a crossbow of all things! It was bothersome and totally unfair, but there wasn’t much I could do about it. After receiving a threatening letter from the crown prince, I now knew I needed to be able to defend myself if I wanted to survive.

I suppose I should be thankful that the duke gave me this nice crossbow. I wouldn’t attack any of the ladies that got on my nerves, as the duke seemed to worry I would. Instead, I would shoot any potential love interest who tried to kill me—especially the crown prince, who was easily the most dangerous and difficult of them all!

If I attacked clumsily, I’d be accused of attempting to murder a member of the imperial family. However, to my great relief, the metal pellet would shock its victim, leaving no trace of the attack and wiping their memory.

“Perfect.” I performed a small standing ovation at just the idea—the crown prince foaming at the mouth as he fell unconscious to the ground. But this is just a means of self-defense, nothing more. This isn’t about personal grudges, I told myself, trying to tamp down my excitement.

Eventually, the sun set outside my bedroom window, and I prepared to go out, changing into my hunting outfit. Ladies in Eorka only rarely participated in the hunt, if at all, so there was no specialized hunting attire for women. Instead, women wore thick tights and shorts with suspenders, which were also commonly worn by young boys.

After pulling on my leather jacket and a tie, I studied my reflection. I expected to look silly, but a glance at the mirror told me otherwise.

“No way... I look fantastic in this.” Apparently crazy good-looking people were unaffected by ugly outfits. With my hair done up in a bun, I looked like some kind of hunting goddess.

With a grin, I lifted the crossbow, completing the look. Though it looked heavy, it was surprisingly easy to lift, no doubt because it had been enchanted to make it more lightweight. Penelope had used the crossbow a lot around this time last year—I somehow found the feeling of it in my hands familiar. My inspection complete, I snatched up my quiver of arrows and left the room.

Each servant I encountered on my way out gasped and avoided eye contact as I passed them. I could feel their ugly glares following me down the corridor; apparently, the servants didn’t enjoy seeing me armed with a crossbow. Looks like I’ll have to walk around like this every once in a while to remind them who’s boss. Thanks to the crossbow, I was able to leave the manor undisturbed since no one dared approach me.

The path leading to the training grounds was empty and quiet, though it was to be expected since I’d purposely timed my visit for after the knights had all left. I was soon proven wrong in thinking I was alone when a silhouette appeared coming from the opposite direction.

His pink hair was dyed an almost crimson red by the light of the setting sun, almost dark enough to resemble my own hair. I knew who it was even before I saw his hair though, thanks to the words above his head, [Affection Score 17%]. I tried to turn back, but by then we’d already made eye contact.

I lurched to a stop. Damn it... I was dismayed to find myself staring at him awkwardly, a stretch of road between us. Why was it him of all people—the person I wanted to avoid the absolute most? I marveled at my bad luck.

What do I do? It didn’t feel right to just say a genial hello after the intense quarrel we’d had not that long ago. However, it would be even more strange to turn around and leave after already making eye contact. I decided to trust in my thick skin and just meet him head-on.

What else am I supposed to do? He’ll ignore me if he has any decency. Reynold, however, had far fewer scruples than I’d expected.

“You look like a country bumpkin out on their first hunt,” he mocked as I walked past him. “Don’t tell me you intend on going to the training grounds dressed in that embarrassing outfit?”

I gave a cursory glance at my surroundings and was relieved to see there were no rocks that I might end up cracking my head open on should things go south. I decided to ignore him and keep moving, but he persisted.

“So you’re ignoring me now?” he said, sidestepping hastily in front of me.

I sighed quietly and peered up at him. “Is there something you want to say?”

His piercing gaze told me he had a great deal he wanted to say to me. Fine, then. Let’s hear what bone you have to pick with me this time. I stared, waiting patiently for him to speak. He simply stared back, however. “If you have nothing to say, don’t bother talking to me,” I said, attempting to step around him again.

This time Reynold spoke in a rush. “The knights... They’re not done yet. They’ve been doing some additional training for a few days now. You’ll run into them if you go now.”

I had no desire to converse with Reynold anymore, but if he was right, it would be a good idea to wait. Apparently even he’d heard of my quarrel with the knights. But what does it matter? They’re the ones who should be avoiding me. They were the ones who did the slandering.

“I don’t care,” I said glumly, “I’m sure there will be a spare target I can use. If that’s all, I’ll be leaving now.”

As I moved past him, Reynold spoke softly, “You can... go up to the attic if you want. I won’t interfere anymore.”

The unexpected words caused me to freeze in place. Once I’d processed what he was trying to say, I burst into laughter. Does he think he’s doing me a favor? Penelope might have had some kind of emotional attachment to that attic, but I certainly didn’t.

If I were to go again, there was no way of knowing when I’d be accused again of making some kind of cruel wish on a damned firework.

Without hesitation, I replied, “No.”

“Why... not?”

“I’d hate to run into you up there.”

His blue pupils dilated, and the white letters above his head blinked threateningly. I watched impassively.

[Affection Score 17%]

I could afford to lose a few percentage points. Instead of worrying about the trivial matter of his affection score, I thought of the knights who were apparently still outside training.

Does that mean Eckles is still there, too? My plan to work on Eckles’ affection score during the hunting tournament had been foiled. I decided I’d need to make some headway before leaving for the tournament instead. My musings were interrupted when Reynold finally managed to get out whatever words he’d been struggling to speak.

“I… harsh.”

“What?” Distracted by my thoughts, I failed to catch what he had said.

His lips moved minutely as he repeated himself. “I... was... a bit harsh.”

I still couldn’t make out what was being said, since his voice was barely audible. I instinctively knew what he was trying to say though. If you’re going to apologize, be a man about it. Internally clicking my tongue, I gave him another chance.

“What?”

“I… then.”

“I can’t hear you at all,” I said, my tone automatically slipping into one of glee. It was rare I got to see him so embarrassed. I knew I wasn’t being very gracious, but I was unable to resist considering everything he’d made me suffer.

“I said I’m sorry! I was a little too harsh on you!” The pink-haired man suddenly shouted, throwing his head back.

I could hear birds in the nearby bushes fleeing into the sky, no doubt startled by the noise. Did he yell into a megaphone? I frowned, rubbing my aching ears.

His cheeks a fiery red, Reynold grumbled, “You used to always be the first to come to find me. Why did you mope for so long this time? Girls can be so stupid...”

I stared at Reynold. Though he was just grumbling at this point, I could glean a lot about the relationship between him and Penelope from his words. How would things go in this situation if I followed the intended route laid out by the game?

I suppose I would accept his apology, and even thank him for apologizing to me first. But why was it that I always had to thank people when I didn’t feel particularly grateful to them?

“Reynold.”

He glared in my direction and said glumly, “What?”

“I’ll accept your apology. It’s not like I was particularly well behaved, either.”

“Well, I’m glad you realize that much,” he said, his expression immediately regaining its usual smug confidence. I could only assume it had deeply hurt his pride having to apologize first. He was already acting as though it was only right that I accept his apology.

“But I want you to know something”

“What?”

“This is the first time you’ve ever apologized to me.” I wouldn’t thank him for such a righteously delivered admission of wrongdoing. “You’ve hurt me more times than I can count with your words, and I’ve forgiven you just as many times without demanding an apology. So...”

“...”

“I’ll forgive you again,” I said, smiling broadly, to make it clear that I was the one being generous here, not him. I had passed him and was standing closer to the training grounds now, so the fiery light of the sunset washed over my face, my hair fluttering in the breeze. I brushed the wayward strands aside, tucking them behind one ear as I gazed up at him.

Huh? There was something odd about the expression on Reynold’s face. He seemed almost mesmerized, and when our eyes met, a blush spread across his cheeks.

“I...” he stammered, his face bright red. “I don’t need forgiveness from the likes of you. I said what I needed to say. Goodbye.”

Before I could respond, he spun and strode away.

“Huh? What’s his problem?” I said, frowning, alone on the forest path.

The letters bobbing atop his head shone suddenly.

[Affection Score 22%]

I checked multiple times to make sure my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me, fixated on the numbers until he was too far away for me to make anything out.