Is It Comfortable?

"Larkin, tomorrow, if I beat Clarissa in a showdown, I'll make her call you 'Father' once." Artie sounded so resolute, but Larkin couldn't take her words seriously at the moment. She couldn't even hold the bow properly and shoot an arrow farther from the practice distance. If she couldn't hit a single standing target, then how could she win the showdown?

However, he knew exactly why she said so. He only shook his head before patting her further shoulder. "Dreams are good, but reality is cruel. Come now, let's practice until the sun sets in the west. It won't be good for us to stay out late in the dark." He moved to the other station and tried out the bow. However, he had different problems than Artie as he had… never fired a single arrow from a real bow.

There were things he could pick up from watching Miel and the others hunt, but there were also things one could only learn through experience. Even if Artie wasn't steady, she could still hit the bale. As for him, he was too impatient to be an archer. In the end, Larkin gave up and only watched Artie practice until dusk painted the sky.

…

Supper had ended, and Artie survived another three-pronged attack from the guests. She opened the door to her room and was planning to sleep in Larkin's room in case that Gustova slipped through the soldiers and caused chaos in her room. However, as soon as she entered her room, she found a strange item on her bed. 'What is that? System, you can detect threats, right?'

[There is no anomaly detected!]

Artie then proceeded to take the item and perused it. It was hastily bound by straw rope and wrapped in dark canvas. For the weight of it, it seemed to be as heavy as a hardbound book. She brought it down and began to unwrap it, her eyes suddenly shining the more she uncovered. The item was an elegant brown bow with intricate carvings. It weighed very light, but it also seemed to be reinforced to outlive its use.

She ran her fingers along the smooth body, only to feel a strange protrusion as to where her finger should be. Her eyes widened in shock before laughing to herself. The bow… had a small arrow rest. She then checked the unstrung bowstring and figured it would be too thick for hunting arrows to clip on. No matter, she just needed to get used to it. She still wanted to praise them for the adjustments.

"I wonder who worked through supper for this..." She hummed before putting it down and checking the arrows and the quiver. It was made to be wearable on her hips instead of the back—which was more popular in these times. However, it must be her fluid movement of picking up an arrow on the side that gave away her preference.

Artie couldn't help but sigh as she placed the quiver down. "Has he been watching me so closely?"

[You have obtained a weapon: Maiden's Bout! Type: Rare Bow. Make: Wood. In the spike of the moment, a promise was made. Within this crafted bow rested anticipation for a fruitful struggle between a master and a challenger. ATK: 30 + (10% of Reverence).]

"...! Oh, it already has 30 Attack? It also scales from my Reverence. Hm, I can use this bow to fight off things without showing off too much if needed." Artie smiled as she felt rather happy about the weapon Larkin had given her. Even if there was no note whatsoever, Larkin was the only one who knew about this 'struggle between a master and a challenger'. "Okay, he really is interested in my proposed wager to Clarissa."

…

Larkin swirled the wine in his goblet as he watched the peaceful city from the castle. Knocks then came from outside the door, and Artie's voice sounded from the crack she created. "Larkin? Are you sleeping?"

"Have you seen it?" Larkin only responded when the archduchess walked inside the room. If he only knew that she would come, he would have presented it to her personally. He turned to her and paused for a while. It was because she was flashing a smile in his direction and showing off the fit of the weapon on her.

The Maiden's Bout was comparable to a 60-pound recurve bow, and even if its draw weight was too much for a person like Artie, she was practicing with one earlier and her angel body didn't give her any troubles with it. It was also almost half her height. It was easy to see that when she was holding it right now, keeping it hidden underneath her robe earlier.

Also, she was wearing the quiver over her sleeping gown, defining her waist in that supposed loose garment and pulling down the cloth to show off her chest.

"It looks really good on me! How did you even get someone to make a bow for me so fast?" Artie walked to him before placing the robe and bow on the bed. She wanted to get used to the weight of the empty quiver so she kept it as she joined Larkin at the table. "Did you have the idea already after I first met Clarissa and Marisa earlier?"

"Is it comfortable?" Larkin decided not to stare too long lest Artie would notice.

"Yeah, it's perfect." Artie picked up one of the empty goblets and poured some wine for herself. "Tomorrow, let's see what Clarissa would teach me, and then I'd challenge her after. Of course, I will win. If I say I will lose, won't that dampen the tension?" She then took a sip from her goblet. "Are you not sleeping yet?"

Larkin's eyes blinked. He then chuckled as he closed his eyes and sipped on his drink. "I have a feeling that you're more interested in this challenge than in our wedding."

The archduchess actually whined. "It's because Madame Alfora hasn't returned yet. Without her, I have no dress for it. Moreover, I'm getting worried about her. She was supposed to be staying here in Ellis Plains, but I was told that she left in a hurry a week ago? She hasn't returned yet… and the wedding is in less than three days."

She then curled her lips. "I'm actually excited about it. I gave her free rein as to what kind of wedding dress she wanted me to wear. I have no idea if it will be shockingly beautiful or awfully hard to wear. Then again, I trust her so much about this that I don't want anyone else to make my dress..."

"...she's been called back to Tetroka." Larkin dropped his small smile and hummed as he looked out into the sleeping city that was gradually losing its lights. "Even Emperor Albas sent in a letter of decline and apology about not attending our wedding. It seems that the war starts to intensify."