Chapter 40: Bullseye

Chapter 40: Bullseye

"Emily, we're... We're going to have tea?" Van asked as if I said something unbelievable and amusing.

"Why? Don't you want to?" I said as I ate a spoonful of the pasta.

"B-but we only had it last night. Y-you're going to be exhausted-"

"What are you talking about hmm, Van? I didn't mean anything else, I just wanted to drink tea, is it bad?"

His face which was blushing pink turned red. He's extremely ashamed right now.

"Oh my, the Duke is being naughty. Your Grace, drinking tea everyday might cause some adverse effects on our body, didn't you know that?"

"Y-yes? Ah yes, t-the tea. Bring over the tea that we frequently have." He said to one of the servants who were lined up few steps away from us. They immediately went and followed the order. I didn't pay them attention for I was busy removing the green leafy particles on my pasta.

"Are you not going to eat?" I asked when I noticed him looking at me while I'm busying myself with eating.

"No, but is that all you're going to eat? How about this one? You especially like this before though?" Van asked as he pointed a plate full of pork with vegetables. My face turned sour at the sight of the foods he pushed towards me.

"I don't want those, I only want these. And please just mind your own food." That was the last thing I said before eating the last of the pasta.

The servant arrived with the tea and beside her was Arie whom I instructed to buy some desserts on my favorite Dessert's Shop.

"Let me help you." Van took the dessert's bag from the servant and he was the one who put all those mouthful sweets in front of me.

"You seemed to like these desserts?" He asked out of nowhere after transferring the macaroons on a small plate, the small strawberry short cake and the chocolate cupcakes.

"Hmm, I think it would be better if you could also make these. You know you have a talent for cooking." I gleefully said as I took a spoonful of cake into my mouth. My brows raised when I saw how stunned he was but then he let out a soft chuckle.

"Shall I replace the Castle's Chef right now?" He teased as he wiped off a smear on my cheek. Why is he being so cringe sweet right now?

"I'm just kidding, you already have a lot on your plate." Besides, it would burden him as he can't even have enough time during the day. I gestured the servant to pour tea on our teacups. On that note, it's finally my time to drink this tea. I closed my eyes as I sniffed on its fragrance.

Shit. My stomach churned at the taste of it. It's just a rose tea and it was supposed to be familiar to my taste buds but I could only prevent myself from twitching my lips because of that irritating taste.

"Is it not to your liking?" Van asked as he took a sip on his tea. He must've noticed that I didn't finished drinking it and just only ended with one sip.

"It tastes good though." He said as he gestured to take a sip on my cup. Without hesitation, I pushed the teacup towards him which he immediately took with his hands.

I watched him put the teacup on his lips. I gulped and unconsciously parted my lips then slightly bit it afterwards. Emily has gone crazy I think. To think that I would be glaring at the teacup. What the fuck?

"Van." He just finished sipping on the tea and was about to put it back on the table when he stopped halfway because I called him.

"Hmm? The tea tastes just the same as mine, I don't think there's a problem with this though. Want to have a sip on it again?" He said as he pushed the cup towards me but I have a different idea in my head.

"Come closer, I'll tell you a secret." His brows furrowed because of what I said but he leaned on towards me. Then I took that opportunity to grab his collar and planted a soft kiss on lips. I felt his lips parted maybe because of shock so I unconsciously licked his tongue.

"It actually tastes better right now." I said as I smiled at him. I continued eating a spoonful of cake into my mouth.

"Anyways, how's your hand? I supposed you have called the family Doctor?"

I glanced at him because I didn't receive any response. But I saw him still stunned with his mouth gaping while looking at me. I raised an eyebrow at him when he laughingly shook his head.

"Really, Emily."

"What?"

"Nothing. Hmm, you're asking about my hand? I've already called Spencer while ago and he just replaced it with new bandages. He said it wasn't that serious and would just be healed in a week" I nodded and felt relieved at what he said. I'm kind of worried that it might have been infected but gladly it wasn't that serious.

"Then how about the documents you were writing on, should I lend you a hand?"

"It's alright, I've just prioritized all the documents which will be needed this week so I could take a rest. But speaking of doctor, shall I call a doctor for you?" He said as he glanced at me.

My hand stopped moving as I glanced at him. The sweet strawberry cake turned sour causing me to suddenly lost my appetite.

"Are you already finished eating?" He said as he watched me wiping my mouth off. I was currently contemplating on how I was going to tell him about my infertility. I don't know how he will react on it and I don't want to presume that he was just going to accept it when the vassals were wary of me and just waiting for a valid ground to have me dismissed.

"Emily?"

"No, I think I've had enough. But about the doctor, I'm perfectly fine so there's no need for that..." I said as I stared at the macaroons in front of me.

"I'm just worried about your health. But can you reconsider it? It doesn't have to be an hour of consultation, just a few minutes will do..."

"I'm really fine. By the way, the Harvest Festival as well as the Hunting Contest would be 2 weeks from now, am I right?"

"Right, 2 weeks from now-- I forgot to tell you about the epidemic that occurred a month ago, fortunately it has been resolved."

That's good news then. It would be a pain in the ass if that wouldn't be resolved.

"And about the water filtration and waste management you have proposed, it was expected to be finished at the day of the festival."

"That's good then, people would never have hesitations with the water they would drink."

"And it's all thanks to the Duchess."

"Well, it was generally the Duke who exerted his effort to conduct the project." I said as I sip on the cold water on the table.

"It wouldn't be made possible without the Duchess' brilliant mind. I don't want to snatch that credit from you because you were the one who originally developed that and so all the credit should go to you." He said but then I remembered the vassals.

They would be gritting their teeth right now. They wouldn't believe that it was me who proposed that but the hell I care right?

Our lunch ended peacefully and I once again told him that I would use the training grounds to practice.

"Tomorrow morning then. Before dawn is always the best time to practice." He said which I immediately agreed. That night, we didn't have any tea because I immediately fell asleep. I just felt him lie down next to me and pulled the comforter up to my neck.

"Are you really going to wear that Madam?" Teal asked as she watched me wearing a slightly black fitted pants with a blue buttoned shirt as my upper garment.

"His Grace the Duke has also sent you some dresses and accessories by the way Milady." Gray commented. It must be for the festival.

"Have the servants put it in my closet, I'll check on it later." I said as I tied my auburn hair in an uptight pony tail so it won't get in the way of my aim.

"Let's go." I said as I turned the heel of my boots toward the door of my room. It was still dark outside even though it's already morning.

I smiled as I imagined how I snuck with my brothers just so I could practice with a dagger and arrow.

"A pleasant morning Mada..."

"Mada..."

The servants' greetings halted when they saw my garments. Is it unusual to see a woman wearing pants?

As I arrived at the training grounds, I saw some of the knights bowed at me and some of them weren't able to get their sights off of me.

I was feeling a little uncomfortable with their stares, maybe because they weren't that familiar to me. But I just don't feel good being around them.

"Greetings Your Grace, The Duchess, His Grace would want to tell you that he wouldn't be able to accompany you today, but he'll try to visit you here later. And so he left me here to assist you." Bruno said as he guided me towards the archery range.

"Oh and His Grace suggested that you could use this." Bruno said as he handed me a black bow with arrows that has somewhat reddish trunks.

"Alright then, I'll thank him later when I see him." I said as I gave the bow and the arrows to Teal.

I glanced at the knights who were also practicing in the archery range. There were ten archery ranges and all of them were already occupied so I took the cornermost part of the range.

They were all busy practicing but I sensed that they were stealing glances at me but I didn't mind. I'll just use them as live shooting targets if they do something funny.

I stretched my arms a little when Teal and Gray were behind me as well as three servants. While Bruno was the one who was in-charged of my shooting targets because he volunteered.

I had Gray take some ordinary arrows first since I didn't feel like starting with the arrows given my Van.

I pointed my arrow on the centermost part of the target so I could hit the bullseye.

"Oh, I missed." I retorted as I saw that it hit the outermost part of the target.

I smirked as I heard various mocking comments from the knights.

"Tsk, what is she even doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious? She wanted to garner some attention..."

"Sshh, she might hear you. You would be on her bad side if you do that!"

"Well who cares? It's not like she's the owner of the Dukedom..."

"Hey, maybe she's here because she's looking for a mistress. Well, she's good enough if ever she gets to choose me-- Ah!"

I sensed Gray unsheathed his sword and pointed it at that crude mouth knight.

"Bullseye, Madamme!" Teal said as she clapped gracefully.

The murmurs stopped and all that's left was stares. But I couldn't care less.

I hit the target with five succeeding bullseye and I could hear some gasping, choking and gulping.

10 succeeding bullseye. Then I felt a familiar bulky arms that immediately wrapped around my waist.

"You're much better than me when it comes to archery." He said as he smiled at the arrows that gathered on the bullseye of the target point.

"Well my brothers always taught me to aim for the head so it would be done in just a shot." I said and he nodded.

"Then shall I teach you another tactic in using these?"

"Care to share?" He smirked and held my hands which was currently holding the bow.

"Now, aside from killing your prey as quickly as you can. You can also kill them slowly as you want. And with that, you may aim for non-fatal areas of the body so your prey won't die easily but suffer while in the process of dying." He said as he guided my hands and aimed it at the group of knights who were badmouthing me a while ago.

I saw how their souls slowly left their body as they paled in nervousness.

"Now which part do you want to aim?" He asked.

"Would he die easily if I aim for his tongue?" I asked while the knight was already nearing to the doors of Tartarus.

"We'll just have a doctor cure him later on."

Without any second thought, the arrow was released and it just grazed the knight's cheek.

"Tsk, and here I thought you would actually aim for his tongue." Van disappointedly said while smiling but I felt how he glared at those group of knights.

"Just a first warning. It's not easy to hire anymore knights nowadays, especially when it involves huge financial budget." I said while smiling but my smile gradually faded and turned into a cold gaze when I turned to look at that group of knights who were insulting me a while ago.

"All of you 60 laps now." Van seriously said to them causing them to flinch and avoided his gaze.

"Y-Your Grace?"

"60 laps or your heads. Choose." Van was busy talking to them so I took my time practicing. I have to relive my skills so I could still use it whenever I want or whenever it is needed, especially that I would be using it during the hunting competition. It would be a shame if I couldn't display my talent for this if I wanted to mainstream archery among the women in the Dukedom.

The succeeding days, I practiced in the same target grounds. Sometimes, Van wouldn't be here because he has a meeting with the vassals since they were planning for the finalization of the Hunting Competition and Harvest Festival.

1 week has passed and next week would be the Festival, I don't know why but I don't have a good feeling about this. It feels like I'm in some kind of a novel where big shits always happen during festivals or hunting competition. It would be cliche if that were to happen though. So don't try anything funny Emily or I'll beat the shit out of you.