When I woke up in the morning, my limbs were hurting and I felt like I was dying. If this was health training, I would definitely have been absent from school with a groan.

The problem was that this was not fitness training.

'Yeah, it is better to die while exercising than to be killed by a knife!'

Thinking that, I washed my face with cold water to come to my senses with these ridiculous thoughts.

After that, Cisen had made tea that was said to reduce muscle pain, so I drank it with gratitude.

After receiving a massage for a while, I picked up my bow again and went outside. Duchess Nerma was already waiting in a comfortable outfit in the corner of the tourney hall where I was training.

Glancing at me for a moment, she resolutely took the bow away.

"Oh, no...!"

Then, in a hurry, she handed me a small bow.

"Oh, this is...?"

"It's something my son uses."

"Is your son's age—"

"Nine years old."

It was the moment when I clearly exposed that my ability was less than that of a ten years old child in the Actilus Empire.

I was despairingly stroking the small bow and short arrow. Somehow, my pride was hurt. However, it was much easier to use the bowstring than yesterday, so shame and joy came at the same time.

Although the bowstring of the small bow was light and the range was short, it was better to control than yesterday. Duchess Nerma also seemed content to be able to teach the skills she was trying to teach yesterday, such as eye aiming and handling the bowstring.

"You will slowly get used to the bigger bows."

After about an hour of getting used to the bow, my arms became a little tired.

"It seems that you are no longer able to focus on the target, so it would be better to stop using the bow for now."

That is right. Oddly enough, it looked like there were two targets...

However, I felt like I had a little more stamina than yesterday, perhaps because I was using the small bow in class today.

Shall I stop here...?

Just as my heart was about to fall for the sweet temptation, the ruthless axe and dagger of the Jacques' family cut through my desire for rest. Yes, even as I am doing this, they would be wielding weapons competently.

My stamina would run out before anything.

With that thought, I stood up determinedly.

"I'm going around the hall."

At my words, the Duchess of Nerma seemed a little worried but supported me.

This choice has resulted in disastrous consequences. Whether I understood my capabilities or Duchess Nerma stopped me, one of the two should have been done.

I was confident that I would be able to run around the hall five rounds before my body would give out. Seeing that Duchess Nerma had joined me, I quietly asked how much she thought I could run. She smiled politely and answered.

"Well, two rounds...?"

It was less than half of my bragging.

At that, I could feel my unyielding pride, which I should not have.

After one round, I was already tired and it felt like my heart was about to pop out of my mouth. But, I brainwashed myself that I could do more. Yes, all I need is preserval and spite. Let's go! Let's run! Let's win! Let's do it...!

It is said that humans secrete hormones in their heads that make them better when they are too distressed. Believing in science, I ran as fast as I could.

It was when I barely passed the second round, gasping for breath...

​​

Suddenly, the sky and the earth turned upside down.

'Huh...?'

...I was ridiculously knocked down.

When I opened my eyes, my back was against something thick and fluffy.

'Heuk—'

I guess I have not gotten up since I collapsed. As I glanced out the window, the sun was already setting.

'What should I do, this body...'

I was really lamenting.

I tried to get up, but I could not even bend a part of my body. It was clear that running around the hall had become a source of trouble. I should have stopped when the Duchess of Nerma asked me to stop...

But, the Duchess did not stop me either.

That was probably because she never imagined I would fall down if I ran around the tourney hall a little...

"Didn't I learn horseback riding when I was young...?"

If I had learned to ride horses, my physical strength should not be this bad...

"Why are you talking as if you don't remember your childhood?"

"Hiik."

I jumped to the languid voice next to me, before I curled up and groaned.

His Majesty—! He did not say he would be coming again. Besides, why did he show up like a ghost like this!

"Don't you think you're too slow?"

Also, reading my thoughts however you want like this...!

Raniero moved his face closer. Surprised, my hair stood upright. I shut my eyes tightly because I was afraid I might get hiccups again. However, at that moment, I could feel my lips grazing something lightly before it fell off.

As I was startled, I lowered my head and covered my lips.

Seeing my reaction, Raniero laughed lowly.

I knew well that this was not an expression of affection but rather a prank to surprise me. You can tell by looking at the eyes of Raniero, which only shows a little playfulness in the midst of a bitter chill.

"Wh, what brings Your Majesty here today...?"

"Just because you fell—"

Raniero, who raised my chin with his index finger, tilted his head and smiled before continuing.

"...I thought something great had happened. I didn't know you'd slightly run around the hall and collapse."

"...."

I could feel my face burning up as I was feeling ashamed.

I tried to take the most polite posture possible by creaking my body, which was not able to move well due to muscle pain. Of course, it didn't go my way. From the beginning, the clothes were not polite as it was just roughly a women's gown.

"Ah, thank you for your concern."

I did not notice it at first as I was surprised by Raniero's presence as soon as I woke up, but somehow, my muscles under my skin started to feel like they were being sliced. Uh, this is dangerous... This feeling was familiar. Is it body aches? I feel nauseated.

Am I going to get sick just because I overdid it?

'Maybe, I am too stressed...'

"You look pale, Empress."

Asking the question, Raniero held my chin and grinned.

Of course, I am pale because I am sick.

Thinking that, I gazed at him with the feeling of unfairness on my face without realizing it. Why did I push myself so hard today? Who is it for? You know it all... I am sure it must be fun to see it like this because you know it all...!

I almost breathed out my nose, though I held it back by pricking the palm of my hand with my fingernails.

Let's not forget. I am able to entertain Roniero, but I should not be arrogant.

In the meantime, the body aches were inflating in real time. Now, even the muscles that were fine yesterday hurt as well. My forehead and temples throbbed in sync with the beating of my heart, as if a belt had been wrapped around my head.

This is my limit. I need to rest.

"I..."

Nonetheless, as I opened my mouth, I shut it again as I did not know how to say it to him.

I wish he would leave soon. I want to lie down!

Perhaps, he read my thoughts of wanting to lie down with the expression on my face, Raniero pushed me onto the bed and laid me down. Gathering the strands of hair on my forehead and moving it to the side of my shoulder, he put a blanket over my chest and put it on my forehead.

His hands were chillingly cold.

"You have a fever."

Soon, the back of his hand moved down as though measuring the heat against my cheek.

"No matter how much I think about it, you are too weak."

Yeah, I know.

It is sad, really.

"You're weak and even a fool. Did you not realize that you have to rest when you are tired?"

I was not even angry at this remark.

It was because this was not intended to insult me, but a question made up of genuinely pure curiosity. The ecology of a herbivorous human like me was something a top predator has no understanding about at all.

I didn't do anything, but I was sad. The first reason was because I was sick, and the second was because this country was full of people who did not understand that people could be so weak...

I tried not to cry, but the moment I became conscious of the tears, it became even more difficult to hold back my tears.

Tears began to well up from my eyes.

"Hoo..."

"Ah, I know, I know. Breathe. If you are tired, you have to rest."

"But—"

The pale face of the empress, Angelica, turned red as the fever rose due to body agitation and crying. He thought everything about her was small, although the tears dripping from her round eyes were as big as her eyes.

Raniero sat down on the bed and began to watch Angelica's crying face in earnest.

She looked very ashamed that she was crying. It was strange to him. How can she be proud of her weakness and ashamed of crying?

Angelica, who normally answered all questions within 5 seconds, struggled for a long time to stop her crying. As a result, he had to wait a long time to hear her answer, but it was fun to watch her cry, so he decided to let it go.

"But?"

When Raniero urged once more, Angelica answered with beady tears running down her cheeks.

"I'm really trying not to die...?"

Raniero laughed out loud.

Usually, Angelica would have been a little more careful about her appearance, but whether it was her cold or muscle pain, she made an expression of disdain for him before putting the blanket up to the top of her nose and covering it.

It felt similar to when he sat her on the throne. She seemed to be trying to do something similar to a rebellion, though sometimes she was vaguely arrogant. However, she was quite good at understanding the subject and she was too trivial to pose a threat.

"You won't die."

This was sincere. Nonetheless, Angelica seemed to have accepted it a little differently.

"Aiik—"

She was furious at the carefree remarks. She trembled for a moment as she looked for her words, and soon seemed to have given up trying to make him understand.

'That is funny.'

In the meantime, the tears stopped flowing because of her anger. Angelica grabbed her aching body and dug into the quilt as she groaned. The blanket that was covering the top of her nose went up to the top of her forehead.

It was a sight that made him laugh.

"Bring cold water and a silk towel."

The blanket that was going up came down. Angelica's round eyes fluttered relentlessly at Raniero's order at the maid. She always has that look whenever he said he would stay at the Empress' Palace for a long time.

Raniero had fun.