# 15
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“If you continue to hold the bow, you may lose the use of your arm forever.”
Up until high school, I was what was called a “sporty girl.”
A promising pupil in the school's archery team.
My dream was to participate in the Olympics and win a gold medal one day.
But that dream was shattered in an instant.
“My daughter was suffering from psychological distress, so she drank one drink, but don’t you also bear some responsibility, girl, for standing in that dark street?”
The drunk driver's family came to the hospital with rude faces asking me for an amicable settlement.
"Crazy people! Disappear from here!"
Of course I rejected the deal.
The judge granted my request to impose the harshest sentence possible.
But no matter what punishment the perpetrator received, my life was never the same.
That incident made me give up the bow.
In the end, I started school late, went to a normal university and then got a normal job.
But even after I entered the community, things were not easy.
I was harassed at work.
This thirty-seven-year-old single manager, who confessed his feelings to me when I was twenty-five - a novice in professional life - began harassing me in a vile way after I rejected him.
He would criticize every little misstep, exclude me from tasks and then lead the bullying.
He was disgustingly tempting me that my professional life would be easier if I accepted his feelings.
If it weren't for my favorite character, Ethie from the novel 「Revolution Star」, I wouldn't be able to bear that pain.
Seeing Ethie overcoming difficulties gave me strength, and I was able to resist and shame him until he was expelled.
After collecting the recordings and evidence and filing the lawsuit, he did not stop cursing me and calling me an “evil woman.”
“I was… I love you! Can’t you forgive me?! I’m sorry!”
prattle ! They disgust.
“You forgot!”
I heard Hirose's surprised voice.
Even when he presented me with the bow I had asked to make, his eyes held a look of skepticism.
He was wondering how I would use it when I was the girl who had never held a gun before.
But don't underestimate me, I am a descendant of Jo Mong, the Korean who dreamed of an Olympic medal, and my control of the bow is simple.
'I hate that ugly bastard.'
That person who stole my dream with his drunk driving, and that vile person who persecuted me because I rejected his feelings – both are ugly.
'The ugliest of them are those whose souls are ugly.'
And these scoundrels, who were tempted by Vadelmon and his relatives to target the life of the orphan princess who lost her parents a short time ago, are no better off.
“So...”
I extended the bowstring again.
“Die.”
* * *
A report of a disturbance was received in the Doyleton area.
As always, the officer on duty referred the difficult task, so Aetius headed with the palace soldiers to Doyleton.
As soon as he arrived, he saw a street in chaos, two groups fighting, and an overturned wagon bearing the Elmore family crest.
“You came to help us! Thank you!”
One of the injured guards from the Ellimore family pointed out the hostile group.
“These scoundrels attacked Miss Catherine Elmore!”
A question mark appeared on Aetius's face.
He knew Catherine's daily schedule due to his association with his revolutionary army.
So, she was attacked while returning from a nursing home event?
He felt a vague discomfort in his chest.
Perhaps because the revolutionaries owe her thanks to the “Sistina” orphanage she runs.
“These are our allies, leave them.”
One of the guards pointed to another group.
They were strangers.
If their skill was at this level, he must have heard of them before.
Are they Catherine's bodyguards?
Anyway, now is not the time to think.
Etheus silently held his sword.
The image of Catherine confidently uttering her sarcastic words passed through his mind.
Was she hurt?
“Ah!”
One of the attackers fell after the sword cut through his chest.
Then he fired two blows, three blows – his quick movements and the precision of his strikes were perfect, as if from a training book.
When the palace soldiers joined him, the dead people who were already under pressure began to panic.
"Yes !"
“Oh!”
The number of deaths has increased, falling here and there.
“Make sure the bastards don't escape.”
After giving orders to arrest the rest, Etty advanced toward the overturned carriage and stopped.
He looked inside the wrecked car and found it empty.
He immediately frowned.
Did something bad happen?
“Where is the carriage owner?”
The guard answered.
“It seemed like she ran away with the butler into that forest.”
Etheus immediately headed towards the forest.
* * *
Tqq -
Knock!
"Yes !"
A man fell after an arrow pierced his shoulder.
I re-strung the bowstring while thinking.
'I'm really amazing.'
Tqq -
Knock!
Another arrow shot out, piercing another man's thigh.
He too fell with a groan of pain.
I sat in the tree and slowly stretched the string, and the corner of my lip unconsciously raised in joy.
“Ah!”
I heard another scream of pain from below.
It's been years since I held a bow in my previous life, but the sensation is still alive in my new body.
And the most surprising thing. …
'Unwavering focus.'
Even though I'm shooting arrows at people, my concentration sharpens and I blend in with the feeling of the bow.
It was as if the body of Katherine Elmore - the former Wicked Witch - was responding to mine.
It is said that the soul is affected by the body.
Tqq -
Knock!
“Ah!”
This time I hit the back of a man trying to run away in fear.
One, two, three, four, five... Victims.
I looked at the hurting men on the ground.
I put paralyzing poison on the arrowheads, so the pain will be double.
It won't be fatal, but it's very painful.
I raised the corner of my evil lip and aimed a bow at the rustling of the grass.
“Are there others?”
When the tendon was fully stretched. …
Swish.
But I suddenly stopped when a man appeared from the grass.
Then I lowered the bow slowly.
As the bow struck the tree branch, the man looked at me.
Ethi... What is he doing here?
He is usually an office employee in the palace.
I saw his sea-blue eyes sparkle when he spotted me.
The leaves swayed in the breeze, and the hem of my dress swayed as I sat in the tree.
It felt like shimmering winds were surrounding us.
I stared at him for a while before slowly descending from the tree.
Knock —
When my feet touched the ground, I felt as if the tension and excitement surrounding me had disappeared.
I left the bow at my feet, walked towards him, and then stopped.
Tdob, Tdob….
I felt my heartbeat quicken.
“..His Highness the Prince...”
But I suddenly trembled when I saw his handsome face.
Before I finished my greeting, I ran up to him and suddenly extended my hand towards his face.
I wiped the shallow cut on his cheek with my finger.
What is this?
The words came out unconsciously.
“What monster did this to you?!”