Eori's Reluctant Archery Triumph
"Eori, cut it out. You've already been caught." The day had finally dawned. The day Eori would demonstrate her archery before King Sejong.
"Cough, cough! Ugh, m-master...! I-I'm afraid I've caught a terrible cold...!"
"Eori, stop it. You've already been caught."
"Y-yes, master...! Cough! As you can see right now, I've been struck by the c-cold...!"
"No. You've been caught faking the cold. By me. Get up."
"Yes, master."
Eori, who had been lying in bed pretending to be sick, immediately sat up. But she didn't get out of bed fully and instead made a pitiful face.
"Master, do I really have to go? I don't want to go."
"No choice. You have to."
"Aaaang, I don't wanna."
"I've already told them you're coming."
"Why'd you go and say that?"
Eori flopped back down onto the bedding. After a moment's hesitation, I went into the room and forcibly pulled her up.
"Come on, Eori. Time to get up. Let's head to the palace."
"Aaaang, I don't wanna. It's all your fault."
"Blame your archery skills. It's a shame to keep them all to myself."
"Everyone else, even Mom, can do that stuff."
"You're the one representing us in Hanyang."
"I came to Hanyang as your bride."
It felt just like waking up a kid who hated going to school. Eori grumbled but let me hold her as she got ready to leave. Naturally, I stepped out while she changed clothes.
"Master, how's the miss doing?"
Takji approached me in the courtyard and asked. I stroked his head—after all, he'd been the one to rat out Eori's fake illness—and replied.
"She doesn't wanna go."
"How could she not want to? Shooting before His Highness is a huge honor for the family, isn't it?"
"Wanna go in her place?"
"Hehe, I don't even have a family worthy of such glory."
"Ah, right. Sorry."
"Why apologize?"
"Just... sorry. My bad."
I'd forgotten Takji's past—living as a beggar in Hanyang before being taken in by Lord Yi In-su. A head pat didn't seem enough, so I tried to do something nice.
"The girl you like is named Mak-sun, right?"
"Master, don't."
"I'll confess for you."
"Aaa! No! Don't do it! Master! Please don't!"
"Why? I'm offering to confess on your behalf."
"Aaaah! For real, don't! I'll let chickens loose in your room while you sleep!"
"Hahaha!"
Just then, Lord Yi In-su's laughter rang out. Only Eori and I had been invited, so we were dressed casually.
"Takji, you two look like a perfect match. How's living down south with Captain Kim?"
"Eek? You mean him?"
"What? I didn't say anything. I don't even like you."
I playfully smacked Takji's head and turned to Lord Yi In-su. He stood on the porch, smiling warmly.
"Milord, is this kid eating you out of house and home? If so, just say the word. I'll ditch him on the way home."
"Master?!"
"Whoops, sorry. Pretend you didn't hear that. Milord? What do you think?"
"Hahaha! Ohoho!"
Lord Yi In-su burst into laughter, shaking his head and guffawing so hard tears welled up in his eyes.
"Ha, yes. It's good you two get along so well. Si-jin, come here."
"Yes, milord! I'll drop him off right now!"
"Master!"
"Haha! Not that. I have something to say. Come here."
Since he had words for me, I approached a bit nervously. He waited until I was at the edge of the porch before speaking.
"So, Si-jin. You've already paid respects to His Majesty?"
"Yes. He visited the Hall of Studies while I was following Crown Prince's orders."
"The Crown Prince must value you highly."
"If so, I'll make sure to credit you for it."
"No need. Si-jin."
"No, there is. Everything I have now is thanks to you."
I couldn't be the only one enslaved to the Crown Prince.
"Si-jin."
Lord Yi In-su, who had chuckled softly, turned serious. Keeping his smile, he said,
"It's good you've caught the eye of His Majesty and the Crown Prince. But not everyone sees it that way—you know that, being wise as you are."
"All thanks to you, milord."
"You rascal? Haha. Keep my words in mind. The tall poppy gets cut down. Use this archery demo to make your mark on the other officials."
"Yes, milord."
"Good answer."
"I excel at other things too."
"Haha. Even as I age, you still make me want to whack you."
"You're too kind, milord."
"Ha. Si-jin, come closer?"
"Sounds like a trap. I'll pass."
"No. Fine. I'll come to you."
Thankfully, he only pretended to step down from the porch without actually doing it. I just pretended to flee.
Creeeak. As we exchanged a few more words with Lord Yi In-su, the sound of a door opening came.
We all turned to see Eori emerging from the room, her quiver at her waist.
"Haaa, master. I'm ready. When do we leave?"
Eori seemed to have fully given up. Shoulders slumped, she stepped down from the porch and put on her shoes. She looked utterly adorable.
"Master."
She pouted, lips pursed and red, glaring at me. Oblivious to her own cuteness, she asked,
"When do we depart?"
"Hm? Probably in 3..."
"30 minutes?"
"2, 1. Now."
As I turned toward the gate, Eori, Takji, Lord Yi In-su—even Lady Yi, who had just come out of Eori's room—all looked that way. But no sign of anyone approaching.
"...Kidding. They'll be here soon."
"......"
"......"
"......"
The victims of my prank stared silently. I savored the calm before the storm. Beethoven vibes.
"Master!"
"Master, when will you grow up?"
"Ha. Tricking the host now."
Ah, this was fun. That's why I tease.
Even amid the glares, I looked at Eori. Beneath her scowl lurked deep grievance.
"It's all your fault my archery demo's ruined today!"
"How do you know? It hasn't even started."
"I just know! It's all because of you!"
"Really? Even marrying me?"
"That's...!"
Eori started to answer thoughtlessly but clamped her mouth shut. Pursed lips curved into a sly smile as she continued.
"That's... not."
"See?"
"Eugh."
"Hey."
The retching came not from Eori, but Takji. If he didn't want to see or hear, he should close his eyes and ears—instead, he grimaced like it was gross.
"Si-jin, it's good you two are close, but don't act like that outside."
"Hehe. They make a cute couple."
Lady Yi approached the frowning Lord Yi In-su from the porch, smiling.
"Dear, don't do that before His Majesty."
"Yes, I'll keep it in mind, milady."
But I knew I'd break that promise.
"M-m-m-master...!"
"Eori, it's okay. Look at me."
"R-r-real, th-th-the k-k-king...!"
"Yeah. Terrifying, right? I get it."
North of Gyeongbok Palace lay a wide open field. A modest archery contest was underway there, as we could see. The problem? All three generations of the Joseon royal family were watching.
"Eori, it's fine."
Eori trembled, face pale before her demonstration. I clasped her hands in mine to comfort her.
"Eori, if you can't do it, I'll tell them. I'll shoot instead."
"M-m-master c-can't sh-shoot...!"
"I can shoot. I just don't know how to do it well."
"Wh-what's the d-difference...?"
Even as she shook nonstop, Eori forced a smile, lips twitching upward. But I couldn't send her out like this.
"Eori, see this?"
I pulled a cloth scrap from my bosom—the good-luck charm I'd carried since the barbarian suppression, the hair ribbon Eori had tied around my wrist back then. I tied it around hers.
"Remember this? You tied it for me just like this. Turns out it's super effective. You knew, didn't you?"
"D-did it...?"
"Yeah. Back then, I didn't get hit by a single sword or arrow. This thing works great. And... here."
Thinking it wasn't enough, I kissed her wrist where the ribbon was tied. Amid her shaking, Eori's eyes widened like saucers in shock.
"M-m-master?"
"Now it'll be even more effective. You don't trust me?"
"N-n-no...!"
"Really?"
"Haaa, fuuu. No."
With a deep breath, she banished the last of her tremors. Eori met my eyes with unusual calm.
"I'll trust you more than myself. I'll trust the you who trusts me."
"Uh, yeah. Trust the me who trusts you."
"Yes, master. Thank you. And, master."
"Yeah?"
"After it's over... do the same on my lips."
She turned away right after speaking, so I couldn't see her expression. Just her flushed ears.
"The fiancée of Idle Captain Kim Si-jin! Kim Eori, step forward!"
Right on cue, they called her. Eori hurried off before the ribbon's warmth faded, without looking back. I watched her go, swallowing hard.
"This girl humbly greets you."
Eori knelt gracefully before King Sejong, the Crown Prince, and Grand Prince. A far cry from her morning fake-sick tantrum.
"Hm. Rise, Kim."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Oho. As rumored, a true beauty."
That old man?
"Your praise humbles me, Your Highness."
King Sejong smiled warmly at words that made me uneasy—sounded like a greeting for a retainer's fiancée.
"I heard from Han-gap you're a master archer. Is it true?"
"Merely a humble skill."
"Let's see if it's truly humble."
"Yes, Your Highness. Your grace overwhelms me."
Eori bowed deeply from her seat and rose. She drew her bow from the quiver and turned to the target.
150 paces away, just like last time.
"Fuuu...!"
Exhaling once more, Eori nocked an arrow. She drew the string steadily in perfect form, aiming unshaken.
Twang! The arrow flew. It arced gently and struck dead center.
"Bullseye!"
The signalman raised a flag beside the target. Before it dropped, Eori loosed the next.
Thwack!
"B-bullseye!"
The second arrow hit the first, snapping it and embedding in the target. The signalman, King Sejong, Crown Prince, Grand Prince, and officials all buzzed in shock.
But the surprises weren't over.
Thwack!
"B-b-bull...!"
Thwack!
"B-bull...!"
Thwack!
"Bull...!"
Repeating the feat left everyone speechless. Eori, having shot all her arrows, bowed to King Sejong with empty bow in hand.
"That concludes it, Your Highness."
"Ahaha! Haha! Indeed a master archer! If Great Ancestor King Taejo saw this, he'd challenge you himself!"
"Your praise humbles me, Your Highness."
"Yes! What reward would suit you? Anything you desire?"
"My desire..."
Eori paused, glancing my way. Our eyes met; she bowed again and continued.
"...has already been fulfilled."
"Haha! Not even married yet, and such harmony! I grant you three slaves and a tiled house in Hanyang!"
"?!"
What?! Eori and I gaped at King Sejong. He beamed, as if expecting our reaction.
A tiled house? And slaves too? Sounded great on paper. But felt like "keep her close to serve me."
"Ooooh...!"
What the—? Why's that guy eyeing her like that? The Crown Prince's gaze at Eori mirrored the one he sometimes gave me during talks. Perfect timing... for female troops later?