Then, as if asking when he hadn’t done that, Duke Martins Rohain straightened up again and lowered his tail, showing courtesy.

“I apologize, Your Highness.”

‘Is this guy playing with me right now?’

Prince Tesler felt somehow teased by him.

“It must be your first time at the archery range.”

Arriving in front of the archery range and dismounting, Rinel wrapped her arms around my waist and said, ‘You seem to like it. It’s already the third time here, Emperor.’

The deity inside me chuckled, responding in my place.
I entered the archery range, clearing my throat for no reason. The indoor space was brightly lit as all the lamps were turned on, making it as bright as daylight.

“Today, let me teach you the basics first. We don’t have much time.”

He said, choosing a bow in front of the weapon display.

“No time? Didn’t you say you finished all your work today?”

I asked, staring at the target board installed on the opposite wall.

“The night is short.”

He picked up a suitable bow and approached me again.

“Zelda, stand like me.”

He positioned me in a straight line with the target board and handed me the bow.

“Is this how you hold it? I’ve never held a bow properly, so my hands are a bit shaky.”

‘What? You’ve never held a bow properly? Haha.’

The deity inside me sneered.

I ignored the deity’s mockery.

“It’s okay.”

As if trying to instill courage in me, he firmly grasped and released my hand.
“Alright, spread your legs in the shape of ’11.’ Never take your eyes off the target, and don’t raise your head too much.”

“Like this?”

I awkwardly adjusted my head.

“No, you need to lower it a bit more. Shall we try pulling the bowstring first?”

“Yes, sure.”

I deliberately moved my fingers gracefully, as if playing a harp.

Seeing my hand movements, he sighed with a hint of concern.

“Ah, I don’t know if you can shoot properly with these small hands. Don’t worry; I’ll help you from behind, so don’t be nervous.”

I awkwardly stood with a crooked posture and played the role of a novice.

Then, Rinel stood closely behind me.

Wrapping his arms around me, he corrected my posture and even slowly pulled the bowstring with me.

Although I could hit the bullseye with my eyes closed, receiving his guidance firsthand wasn’t a bad experience.

It felt like returning to the fourteen-year-old me when I first held a bow.
“Zelda, seeing you in riding attire instead of dresses every day makes me really… I want to ride together.”

Rinel, who was behind me, whispered in my ear as he pulled the bowstring with me.

“My instinct for racing is suddenly awakening. What should I do…”

“It’s too dark to ride horses now, right?”

“…Indeed, it’s not suitable for riding horses. Alright, forget about the horse. Should we pull the bowstring again?”

Although Rinel’s voice and breath became provocative, he continued to explain the posture for shooting the bow with seriousness.

Suddenly, I began to feel how much he loved me.

I glanced at him.

As I expected, his gaze was soaked with instinct.

“Why?”

“No, nothing.”

I smiled slightly, regained my focus, and pulled the bowstring again.

Rinel, as if pulling his desire, began to pull my waist toward him, causing a disturbance.

“Why are you doing this, really…”

Because of Rinel, my concentration was disrupted.

“What’s wrong.”
He asked solemnly,

“Don’t mind me and keep practicing.”

“How can I not mind?”

Knowing that instincts are growing.

“Zelda, this is also part of the training.”

He said with a serious tone.

“What are you talking about?”

“Animals don’t just stand still and take arrows flying at them. The same goes for the person shooting the bow. You have to be able to hit accurately while running and moving around.”

“Is this also a kind of training?”

“That’s right. Anything can be a hindrance in the forest. Even the wind.”

This man, he speaks quite well.

“Now the target is fixed in that still state, so I’m deliberately obstructing you to create a situation.”

“Ah, so that’s why you intentionally block me from behind like that… I didn’t realize your profound intention.”

Even if I mocked him, he didn’t mind.

“Yeah, there’s no way you could understand my deep intention. Phew, it’s hot.”
“Is it hot for you even with the wind blowing like this outside?”

I pointed to the fallen leaves rolling in with the wind into the open entrance of the training ground.

“Hmm, focus and stand straight again.”

He adjusted my posture again, clearing his throat.

“Hold the arrow and string with your index finger at the same time. Think of the arm holding the bow and the arm pulling the string coming to the same position, and don’t take your eyes off the target.”

Rinelle still clung tightly to my back, interfering with me, but his voice explaining was as serious as ever.

“Zelda, concentrate your gaze on the target until the end. Like how my body is focused on you.”

“… What? Are you focusing on me?”

“If you know, why ask?”

“I’m asking because I don’t know.”

“You’re pretending not to know.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Don’t really know?”

“No.”

Rinelle smirked.