Suddenly, all she could see was the target. The knights, Shan, and even the surrounding scenery had disappeared from her view. All that was left was the target right before her eyes.
A natural smile curved her lips as she embraced the familiar sensation. From the moment she stood here, it was a battle with herself.
‘I can do it.’
Those who were watching held their breath as they stared at the two. They hoped that Shan would step on her so that she could never rise again.
Shan and Evenel pulled the triggers sequentially, and the knights hurriedly checked the targets.
“Oh, Shan’s a little closer.”
No matter what the surrounding people were babbling about, her gaze was fixed solely on the target. Her posture didn’t waver either.
Evenel hated losing, but what was even more unacceptable was facing a result she couldn’t satisfy herself with.
‘I’ve got the feeling.’
Just as she had confidence, the second bullet was much closer to the center.
‘Yes, that’s the feeling.’
The pleasure of hitting the target exactly as intended was indescribable. That was why she shot.
‘It’s so much fun.’
Evenel continued the competition at her own pace. After hitting almost the center with her last shot, she lowered her hand.
It was then that the surrounding scenery came into view, and several voices reached her ears.
“Oh, right. I was in the middle of a match.”
She had been so focused on shooting that she had forgotten about the competition. She belatedly checked Shan’s target.
His skills weren’t bad, but there were a few major mistakes. As if his concentration had completely faltered during the match.
But what mattered more to Evenel was the fact that she had won the bet perfectly.
“I won.”
No one dared to object. The result in front of them proved it.
In fact, she didn’t know it because she was concentrating only on shooting, but the knights had to suppress their gasps of admiration each time she pulled the trigger.
Her skills were outstanding. Enough to admit that killing the monster last time wasn’t luck.
Shan alternated between the two targets in front of him, his face lost.
‘How could I make such a beginner’s mistake?’
He was so surprised by Evenel’s skills that he lost his concentration. Moreover, her relaxed expression even shook his composure.
He felt overwhelmed by her genuine enjoyment rather than a competitive attitude. Perhaps the outcome had been determined at that moment.
“Then I’ll use the training ground well. You’re not going to change your mind, are you?”
Evenel deliberately repeated Shan’s words.
“I… lost.”
His eyes still showed his dislike for her, but accepting the result without complaining made her think they weren’t entirely bad people.
“What are you doing there?”
Everyone’s gaze turned to the source of the voice coming from behind, and there stood Demil.
“Commander.”
Demil looked around carefully at the knights bowing towards him, trying to understand what was going on.
And then, he discovered Evenel holding a gun at the end, and asked once again with a voice containing a hint of coldness.
“What did I ask you, Raul?”
Just as a command seemed about to be issued, Evenel hastily interjected. After all, she had started this matter.
“I suggested that we test our skills first.”
“It’s not something you asked the young lady.”
Under Demil’s gaze urging a quick explanation, Raul recounted everything that had happened without missing a detail, including the conversation he had had with her.
“So I accepted the bet, and Shan lost.”
Demil, without showing much disturbance in his eyes, stared at Evenel as he looked at the target in question.
“I will escort you to the palace.”
She hurriedly handed over the gun she was holding and followed him out of the training ground. Demil didn’t say a word until they arrived at the palace gate.
“We’ve arrived.”
“Ah, thank you. And since I brought it up first with the knights…”
“You’ve done something unnecessary.”
“What?”
Evenel looked at him with eyes questioning the meaning of his words. The answer coming back was more than cold; it was downright frigid.
“Don’t think you will gain recognition through this. Nothing will change, no matter what you do. So don’t unnecessarily cause a disturbance in the imperial palace.”
‘So he’s telling me to know my place and do as I’m told.’
However, Demil was gravely mistaken. She didn’t propose the match to gain recognition.
“I just wanted to use the training ground.”
“If that’s the case, His Majesty has already permitted…”
“They will have to accept me being there without any choice if I do it this way. You understand the meaning of my words, don’t you, Lord Demil?”
It kept being the same words, and she was arbitrarily judging and speaking about herself, so no matter how Evenel, the words didn’t come out nicely.
“If I feel like I don’t belong there every time I use the training ground, I won’t be able to focus on training entirely. That was the only reason.”
But to Demil, her actions seemed like showing off her skills to gain recognition from everyone.
“I think the misunderstanding is… on Lord Demil’s part.”
With a completely humorless expression, the moment she met the sharply honed, differentcolored eyes, Demil was unable to say anything. The reason was unknown, but Shuher came to mind.
But all of it seemed like a mirage as Evenel smiled the gentle smile she had before.
“Then, I’ll be going. Thank you for bringing me here.”
Demil stood in the same place for a while, just watching her retreating figure. He couldn’t fathom the meaning of the word ‘misunderstanding’ that she had mentioned.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
