TSMMT Ch 93

A Remarkably Simple Reason

[Dianna] "Archery……"

It was a hobby unheard of among Panborough women. Archery instead of embroidery, raising songbirds, playing musical instruments, singing, or dancing the Tali dance? This felt entirely new.

Dianna recalled hearing brief rumors about it in her past life as well—the women of Lodbrog were remarkable. In any case, were they not taking action to protect themselves?

Though she held no particular thoughts on Lodbrog culture, she considered this impressive.

[Leonie] "Archery? What is that letter?"

Noticing the letter in her hand, Leonie asked, and Dianna handed it over. Saruvia also approached to inspect the letter.

[Leonie] "The House of Islag sent this?"

She spoke in bewilderment.

[Leonie] "That woman never invites just anyone to such gatherings."

[Saruvia] "My, that is true."

Saruvia and Leonie shared a rare alignment in opinion. Such agreement stood as an extraordinary rarity.

[Saruvia] "Since it takes place in a week, we must prepare immediately."

[Leonie] "Prepare what?"

[Saruvia] "The archery competition, of course! Ah, do you know how to shoot a bow, Your Majesty?"

Dianna gestured a refusal. How could she possibly know?

[Saruvia] "You claimed you killed an Echidna alongside His Majesty in your childhood. Do you possess no other talents? Have you trained in martial arts?"

Dianna let out a dry laugh and gestured a refusal once more. Saruvia smiled brightly.

[Saruvia] "My, in that case, it would be best if Our Majesty rests instead."

[Dianna] "……"

[Saruvia] "Or rather, attending would be fine as well. Who would dare criticize the Queen?"

Dianna observed the obnoxious woman's face. Though she had tried to ignore it lately, she occasionally harbored an urge to tear her spiteful mouth apart.

If Dianna stayed away, she would fail to expand her influence. Yet if she attended, unable to shoot a bow, she would suffer isolation and mockery before returning.

Keeping a malicious person nearby drained so much energy. What a relief that Leonie was present; otherwise, she might have lost her mind and murdered Saruvia already.

I have been strange lately.

The emotions surging within her felt unfamiliar. Where once she experienced utter numbness, various feelings now burst forth, echoing her younger, dream-filled self.

Right then, Leonie knit her brows and spoke up.

[Leonie] "You must practice archery. Do you intend to stand there helplessly and suffer mockery while everyone else shoots?"

[Dianna] "Can everyone else shoot?"

[Leonie] "It is a basic requirement in this kingdom."

Leonie stated. Looking at Saruvia, Dianna saw the lady smirk. Her pride stung.

Should I decline after all?

She was already working hard enough managing the budget. She possessed no need for such an opportunity.

[Saruvia] "Even if it is a basic requirement, Your Majesty doesn't need to force yourself. You are a foreigner, after all. People must understand your situation."

She spoke sweetly, adopting an attitude that pretended to comprehend Dianna's struggle.

[Saruvia] "There is no way Duchess Islag invited you out of good intentions."

That remark held truth as well. What if Dianna attended only to suffer humiliation? Instinctive fear gripped her.

Duchess Islag was not favorable toward her. The invitation was meant solely to humiliate her—a challenge demanding that if she were as strong as she claimed, she should prove her skill.

Dianna could avoid the event, just as Saruvia suggested. Or she could cheerfully admit to knowing nothing of archery, acting as a mere bystander clapping for others.

Yet, yet, despite everything……

Dianna stared at Saruvia. The brazen woman openly told her not to go. Or rather, even if she went, she should do nothing.

Emotions she assumed dead flickered back to life, transforming strangely into defiance.

Humans harbor a desire to live a better life. She had read somewhere that a person sunk in lethargy lacked hope solely because they lacked confidence in building a better existence.

The world surrounding Dianna had shifted. Though she squeezed her eyes shut expecting the absolute worst, the world thus far remained surprisingly kind to her.

[Dianna] "In that case, could you teach me archery?"

She was startled by her own words. Before she fully resolved her thoughts, the words escaped her lips. Simultaneously, Saruvia's face hardened. Looking at that expression, Dianna finally recognized the reason behind her choice.

It was a remarkably simple reason.

She refused to yield to Saruvia's wishes. She wanted to witness the contortion on the face of the woman who had ruined her past life and still prayed for her downfall today.

It was a remarkably simple reason.

---

However, Dianna ran into an obstacle from the very beginning.

[Leonie] "How can you expect to shoot when you struggle to draw the bowstring?!"

[Dianna] "I could use a weaker bow……"

[Leonie] "Then the arrow won't fly far enough! Besides, this bow is already crafted for beginners!"

Leonie barked at her defense. Dianna wanted to scream that she was quitting this instant. Watching the exchange, Saruvia offered a smile and spoke.

[Saruvia] "Her Majesty is putting in her best effort."

Obnoxious creature. Dianna bit her lip.

She possessed little physical strength, and archery proved equally daunting. She was far removed from physical conditioning, whereas archery demanded constant practice.

The muscles in one's back and arms required conditioning… muscles she lacked. Most of her shots failed to hit the target altogether.

Have all these women undergone rigorous training?

Dianna found the situation absurd even as she shot arrow after arrow. As she released a trembling shot, the arrow missed the target completely and lodged deep into a nearby tree.

[Leonie] "Pfft……"

Dianna assumed Saruvia had snickered, but it turned out Leonie was chuckling instead. She entertained a wild mental image of turning the bow around and shooting Leonie.

All she needed was a decent presentation. Who could have known even that would prove so difficult? She internally cursed herself repeatedly for volunteering for such a troublesome task.

To make matters more irritating, because this was the knights' training ground, the Vargrhati knights kept casting glances in her direction.

---

Unless an exceptional event occurred, Lodbrog rarely hosted grand banquets. They consumed vast amounts of food and wealth.

And unlike Panborough, Lodbrog was not a land of overflowing resources. Though new farming techniques and monster-clearing campaigns had reclaimed territory and enriched the realm, social banquets remained a financial burden.

Consequently, smaller gatherings evolved among the noble ladies.

Duchess Islag wore a sinister smile.

Oberon.

She recalled her sister's son. Her sister, who had married Count Hailo, gave birth to a nephew whom Duchess Islag cherished. Yet Oberon was disgracefully expelled from the Neust Academy.

To make matters worse, Oberon had his arm severed. Upon inquiring about the reason, she learned that the King cut off his arm to protect a certain woman.

Her beloved sister fell ill, and Duchess Islag ground her teeth in rage.

Tracing the woman responsible for the tragedy led her directly to Dianna Brienne.

Though logic dictated directing her rage toward Oberon's incompetence or the King who actually severed the arm, venting anger onto the weak always proved far easier—and she was not one for self-reflection.

Duchess Islag possessed no intention of letting the woman who caused her nephew's arm to be severed off easily. She would crush her, again and again.

She observed Dianna entering the grounds. Contrary to expectations that Dianna would arrive in an extravagant dress like the airheaded women of Panborough, she wore practical, modest attire suited for movement, just like the ladies of Lodbrog.

[Islag] "Welcome, Your Majesty."

She wore a cruel smile. Her gaze shifted to the tray holding bows and arrows. These items were enchanted with magic. Created during the development of offensive magic, these weapons automatically sought out and struck any human standing near the target, though production was halted due to low yield relative to the effort required.

She looked at the servant standing beside the target to call out scores. What would happen if Dianna accidentally shot that servant?

A queen who lacked skill yet recklessly displayed bravado, resulting in the death of a Lodbrog servant. What a splendid picture.

In truth, intentionally sabotaging someone's archery to make them a laughingstock was a petty scheme fit for weaklings like Saruvia.

Duchess Islag intentionally provoked Dianna, posing as merely one of many noblewomen wary of her presence. She decided to host a team competition rather than individual matches, as dividing into teams offered a far more effective way to isolate Dianna.

Feigning generosity, she assigned Dianna's ladies-in-waiting to the same team.

[Islag] "Here, please use this bow."

[Dianna] "I am fine. I brought my own bow."

Dianna offered a bright smile, brandishing a beginner's bow. Duchess Islag smiled inwardly.

The magic was cast not on the bow, but on the arrows Dianna would shoot. The arrows in her quiver featured a subtle variation in feather color.

Duchess Islag anticipated the impending bloodshed, her heart pounding frantically.

Dianna drew the bowstring with a surprisingly plausible form.

Thwack.

Duchess Islag anticipated a heavy thud followed immediately by a sharp scream.

However—

[Leonie] "Woooah!"

Leonie shouted at the top of her lungs. Duchess Islag widened her eyes.

What is this?

The arrow Dianna shot struck the exact center of the target.

Was the arrow defective? No, I tested them personally!

She assumed it was a single defective arrow. Yet Dianna's second arrow hit the exact center once again. The next, and the one after that, yielded the same result.

[Eiso] "Your Majesty, that is amazing!"

Lady Eiso shouted in excitement. Possessing a loud voice and a fierce competitive streak, she was placed on the team deliberately to create friction, yet now she cheered so loudly that everyone gathered around Dianna, stunned by her archery skills.

[Dianna] "I told you."

She spoke, offering a shy smile.

[Dianna] "I hunted an Echidna alongside His Majesty in our childhood."

The Queen's voice held effortless composure.

Duchess Islag stared as Dianna locked eyes directly with her.

This woman knew all along.

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