But Kirian, standing right next to her, merely looked on without helping. He surely could have jumped to grab the bow, being such a spry child.

In the end, I had to intervene.

“Let me help you.”

I reached out behind Esmeralda. My slightly taller hand easily reached it.

“Huh?”

Surprised, Esmeralda turned around, and our eyes met. She was shorter than me, and we were perfectly framed between the display. Our overlapping hands seemed to trap Esmeralda between my arms.

This looks like one of those back hugs often depicted in dramas.

I quickly picked up the bow and stepped back, but Esmeralda, seemingly startled, stumbled backward.

“Be careful!”

I reached out, but it was already too late.

“Agh!”

Esmeralda hit the display behind her and wobbled. The display dangerously shook and tilted.

Just as it was about to fall on us.

Bam.

Kirian and Hiss simultaneously grabbed the display. Thanks to them, we only ended up covered in dust.

“That was close. Are you both alright?”

Hiss asked, his gaze fixed on me.

“You okay, Nuna?”

Kirian immediately approached me.

“I’m fine, I’m fine.”

“I’m ssorry. Cough, cough. It’s all because of me……”

Esmeralda, her eyes welling with tears, apologized. Whether her breath was choked by dust or not, her continual coughing made her look like a pitiful heroine.

The sight of her tearfilled violet eyes and flushed cheeks made me feel sympathy.

“It’s okay. You don’t need to apologize.”

I immediately went to her and took a handkerchief from my pocket to wipe her face.

“I should be the one apologizing for startling you. It’s my fault.”

Esmeralda stared at me blankly for a moment before suddenly blushing. I stopped wiping her face, feeling the odd atmosphere.

What’s this? What’s with this soft mood?

“Lady Reina always rescues me.”

Esmeralda said, her gaze lowered to the floor, sounding shy.

No, that’s not it.

I dropped the handkerchief.

This makes me feel like I’m playing the role of the male lead.

Esmeralda picked up my dropped handkerchief, clutching it tightly with both hands, and looked up at me.

“I’ll treasure the handkerchief.”

Certainly, here’s the translated passage while adhering to the guidelines:

Something seemed to be going terribly wrong, but since I had won Esmeralda’s favor, I worked hard to rationalize that it was a good thing.

As they each picked up their chosen bows and stepped into the archery range, Esmeralda suggested a bowshooting competition.

“A bowshooting competition?”

I couldn’t completely hide the nervousness in my voice at the sudden proposal.

“Yes! Shooting arrows just for fun is boring.”

But luckily, Esmeralda didn’t seem to notice, smiling brightly and nodding. Esmeralda glanced briefly at Kirian.

“In my experience, even if you meet for the first time, if you compete once, you quickly become friends.”

The words ‘become friends’ were appealing. I silently started rolling up my sleeves. It’s what I had to do to survive.

“How about we bet on our wishes?”

Esmeralda cheerfully threw another curveball. She looked like she had already won her wish, beaming at Kirian, who was obviously going to lose.

“Sure.”

Surprisingly, it was His who answered.

“I like it too.”

Kirian also agreed without losing ground, glaring at His.

I didn’t like it. Only me.

Esmeralda smiled broadly.

“Then how about this? Third place grants first place’s wish, and fourth place grants second place’s wish.”

Kirian and His, fitting so well, looked at each other in silence and nodded simultaneously.

“Alright.”

“Let’s do it that way.”

I also clapped my hands.

“Come on, let’s get the match started.”

The age to foolishly cling to a wish had long passed. It seemed that all I had to do was play along, secure my already reserved fourthplace spot.

If Esmeralda got second place and I had to grant her wish, it would be the icing on the cake.

“Ah, my hand slipped.”

Kirian, who could hit the target even with his eyes closed, proudly looked at the target where 9 points were scored.

“It’s not working as well as I thought.”

His, who was obviously shooting carelessly and then pretending to try, recorded 8 points. He lightly touched his hand.

“Your Majesty, didn’t you train hard? Are you able to do second place, or even first place, like this?”

Kirian looked quite angry, despite winning.

His wore a thin smile.

“You seem to be lacking in training, Duke. And I’m not a petty person who only values first place.”

Kirian’s eyes became sharper.

“Really, what to do. Me neither. I don’t have a personality where I have to be first place, or anything like that.”

“We’ll soon find out who the winner is.”

Ignoring the two, who kept exchanging incomprehensible words, I focused on Esmeralda, who had just begun to pull the bowstring.

Her arms were shaking a bit, showing her lack of skill, but overall, her posture was quite decent for a child.

A loud twang, and all eyes were drawn to the target as the arrow struck.

“7 points! Well done, Lady Esmeralda.”

His smiled broadly at Esmeralda’s score.

Esmeralda faintly smiled, putting away the bow.

“I still have a lot to learn……”

“Tsk.”

Kirian, still holding first place, frowned.

My suspicion grew.

Could it be? Were they all thinking that I would take fourth place and were having a mental battle over the second place?

Looking at Kirian crouching in the corner, playing with his bowstring, muttering ‘How can I do badly?’ it seemed undeniable.

“What a scoundrel.”

Actually, I had expected to be fourth as well, but it felt like a confirming kill.

I deliberately stumbled towards the target.

“You’ll do well.”

“Take it easy, sister.”

Despite the encouragement around me, I pulled the bowstring with a trembling expression.

Then, holding my breath, I released the arrow. A few seconds later, the arrowhead was buried deep in the target.

“Huh?”

My arrow was stuck right in the 10point spot.

A silence fell over the archery range for a moment.

In the quickly shifting glances, I could sense it.