Episode 19
Cecil Rosefelt was not in a good mood.
Her father, Viscount Rosefelt, owned a factory that manufactured military supplies, but they had recently suffered a major setback when one of their business partners abruptly cut ties with them.
So, she had devised a plan—to befriend Everlyn Floria, the adopted daughter of Count Floria, who was practically a key player in the defense industry, and ask for her help in securing a deal.
Cecil had heard that Everlyn Floria liked small and cute animals.
She was certain Everlyn would take a liking to her.
After all, Cecil considered herself small and cute.
With her hair tied into two pigtails, a lace-adorned headband, and a frilly dress, Cecil approached Everlyn with the brightest, most innocent smile she could muster.
Everlyn welcomed her with open arms.
Yes.
That is, until Charles Courtney appeared.
“Come on! Don’t just stand there like a fool—come here! I’ll show you how it’s done!”
It was her job to capture Everlyn Floria’s attention, and yet, Everlyn’s focus was entirely on that countryside bumpkin.
“Do you understand how it works? You just have to hit the flying targets.”
“Yes. I got it.”
“But! It’s okay if you miss! No one will laugh at you, so just relax and have fun!”
Her tone was a little blunt, but anyone could see that Everlyn was looking after Charles Courtney.
What’s so great about her?!
Sure, she’s smaller and cuter than me!
Her pink hair is lovely, and her round eyes sparkle!
But still…!
‘She’s just a country girl!’
Besides, wasn’t Everlyn supposed to be chasing after Lu Vansen?
So why was she now looking after Charles, Lu Vansen’s fiancée?
Cecil clenched her fists, her body trembling.
‘I can’t lose to someone like her.’
What did she lack compared to Charles?
And more importantly, she had to befriend Everlyn.
With newfound determination burning in her eyes, Cecil strode toward Charles and Everlyn.
“Lady Evelyn!”
She lightly tugged at Everlyn’s sleeve.
“Charles won’t be able to do it properly anyway. Instead of wasting time, why don’t you spend more time with us? Okay?”
But the gentle smile Everlyn had been giving Charles moments ago disappeared. She frowned.
“And why do you think Charles won’t be able to do it?”
“Oh my, Lady Everlyn.”
Whether she failed to notice Everlyn’s displeasure or simply didn’t care, Cecil responded without hesitation.
“I mentioned it earlier, didn’t I? A backwater place like Courtney Province wouldn’t have access to refined hobbies like this. She’s probably holding a shotgun for the first time—how could she possibly enjoy the game?”
Cecil sneered at Charles with obvious disdain.
“No matter how much you teach her, she’ll forget everything right away. After all, these kinds of pastimes are for those born to enjoy them.”
Everlyn’s frown deepened.
Yes, Charles was a young lady from the countryside.
But that alone wasn’t a reason to look down on her.
Of course, when they first met, Everlyn had also dismissed Charles. But after receiving her help, she no longer wanted to belittle Charles over trivial things.
Besides, Charles was cute.
So Everlyn took a deep breath, preparing to set Cecil straight.
“Lady Cecil, I think your words are—”
“Shall I give it a try?”
At that moment, Charles interrupted.
With a shotgun slung casually over her shoulder, she tilted her head slightly.
Seeing the confidence on Charles’ face, Cecil gritted her teeth in frustration.
“W-Why are you looking so smug?”
For some reason, she felt as if she was the one being looked down upon.
“Then go ahead and try!”
Everlyn quickly waved her hands, trying to stop them.
“Try what? I haven’t even taught her how to shoot ye—”
Bang!
“—t?”
Bang! Bang!
The crisp sound of gunfire echoed through the range.
Everlyn and Cecil whipped their heads around.
Charles was standing there, aiming at the clay targets with a steady posture.
“H-Huh?”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Every single shot was a direct hit.
Each time Charles’ body moved with the recoil, a clay disk shattered and dropped to the ground.
“So she’s not just a cute little lady with a strong personality—she’s also good with a gun…?”
Just how many layers of charm did she have?
Everlyn smiled in satisfaction as she watched Charles.
“Ahem…!”
Cecil, who had been so caught up in admiration that she forgot she was the one who provoked Charles, quickly came to her senses.
Shaking her head a few times, she turned to glare at Charles, who was now lowering her gun.
“I didn’t expect you to know how to handle a gun. Impressive.”
“Well, I guess.”
“I suppose you spent your days hunting in the countryside? I mean, considering survival was probably a necessity for you, it makes sense that you’d be good at shooting.”
“……”
Charles slowly lowered the muzzle of her gun and turned her head ever so slightly.
She had deliberately put in extra effort to crush her opponent, expecting a reaction.
But this level of provocation?
It was even better.
“I have a gun in my hands right now…”
Charles said with a bright, innocent smile.
“So why do you keep provoking me?”
A chilling silence fell over the shooting range.
The hostility in Cecil’s gaze vanished in an instant.
Her face turned pale as she shrieked in panic.
“Y-You… are you threatening me?!”
“No, not a threat. Just stating a fact.”
“That’s the same thing! The gun! Put the gun down!”
“Why would I put it down? We’re at a shooting range. I should be holding it.”
“Put it down, I said!”
Cecil stumbled backward in fear as Charles smirked at her.
She was only smiling because Cecil’s reaction was hilarious.
But to Cecil, that smile was nothing short of terrifying.
“Y-You’re scaring me, so put it down already!”
Just as Cecil let out another shrill scream—
“Charles?”
A familiar voice rang out.
Huh? No way.
“Lu?”
Turning her head, she saw him.
Lu was standing there, dressed in a casual short-sleeved shirt with a hunting vest layered over it.
He pulled off his earmuffs and walked toward Charles.
“What are you doing here?”
His question meant one thing—Wasn’t she supposed to be at Themis’ funeral?
Charles awkwardly scratched her cheek, letting out a dry laugh.
“Haha… well, one thing led to another…”
“And what exactly had to happen for you to end up at a shooting range with a bunch of noble ladies?”
Since there were people around, he refrained from outright scolding her—but his eyes were doing it for him.
Feeling the sting of his gaze, Charles averted her eyes.
“Oh my! Hello, Sir Lu!”
At that moment, Cecil leaped toward Lu, as if she had never been screaming in fear just moments ago.
“Sir Lu, you look absolutely dashing today! How is it that even casual attire suits you so well?”
She flashed a sly smile, as if scheming something.
“You and Lady Everlyn seem like a perfect match. A truly handsome couple, wouldn’t you say?”
Cecil clapped her hands together.
“It would have been even better if the two of you had gotten engaged!”
Whoosh—
In an instant, the atmosphere turned ice-cold.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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