CHAPTER 11
1257 Words
THE NEXT MORNING — SHADOW'S QUARTERS
The next morning, Shadow was in the courtyard of his quarters, practicing archery alone.
He pulled the bowstring back and released the arrow.
It struck the center of the target.
He reached for another arrow when he heard footsteps approaching.
Shadow turned toward the entrance.
The moment Shadow saw her, he froze.
“Hye-in?”
She stopped when she noticed him.
“Shadow.”
His eyebrows lifted in surprise.
He hadn't expected to see her.
Not after what had happened yesterday.
Not after Seo Jun had scolded her about staying away from him.
“What are you doing here?” Shadow asked.
Hye-in lowered her head.
“I came to apologize.”
Shadow stared at her.
“For yesterday?”
She nodded.
“I shouldn't have gotten involved in what happened between you and Seo Jun. I didn't mean to cause any trouble.”
Shadow studied her expression.
“So Seo Jun scolded you.”
Hye-in hesitated before nodding.
“A little.”
Shadow almost smiled.
He could already imagine exactly how that conversation had gone.
“And after being scolded, you still came here?”
“I wanted to apologize properly.”
Shadow looked at her for a moment before glancing toward the archery target.
“Do you know how to use a bow?”
Hye-in shook her head.
“Not really.”
Shadow picked up the spare bow resting beside him and held it out to her.
“Then learn.”
Hye-in looked at the bow, then at him.
“Me?”
“Unless you see someone else standing behind you.”
Hye-in gave him a small annoyed look before taking the bow from his hand.
“I was only asking.”
“I know.”
She looked at the bow curiously.
Shadow stepped beside her.
“Hold it properly.”
Hye-in adjusted her grip.
“Like this?”
“Your hand is too low.”
He gently repositioned the bow in her hands.
“Now pull the string.”
Hye-in tried, but the string barely moved.
Shadow raised an eyebrow.
“You really don't know how to use one.”
“I told you that.”
For the first time that morning, Shadow smiled.
“Then I suppose I'll have to teach you.”
Before Hye-in could respond, footsteps sounded from the entrance.
A familiar voice followed.
“Greetings, Shadow.”
Both of them turned.
Lady Ju Young entered the courtyard with a smile.
Her eyes immediately fell on Hye-in.
The smile on her face remained, but her expression subtly changed.
“Oh...”
She looked at Shadow.
“I didn't know you had a guest.”
Shadow glanced at Hye-in.
“Neither did I.”
Hye-in frowned at him.
“What does that mean?”
Shadow smiled faintly.
“It means I wasn't expecting you.”
Ju Young's eyes moved to the bow in Hye-in's hands.
She raised an eyebrow.
“She knows archery?”
“No,” Shadow replied.
“I was just about to teach her.”
Ju Young smiled.
“Interesting.”
She stepped closer.
“Hye-in, would you like to spar with me?”
“She will be no match for you, Lady Ju Young,” Shadow said calmly.
Ju Young's lips curved into a smile.
“If you say so.”
Her eyes shifted toward Hye-in.
“Hye-in, consider yourself lucky today. I suppose I'll let you off.”
Hye-in frowned slightly.
“Let me off?”
Ju Young gave a small laugh.
“Don't misunderstand me. I simply don't want to embarrass you on your first day of archery.”
Shadow's expression darkened.
“That's enough, Ju Young.”
She looked at him.
“Enough?”
“There's no need to provoke her.”
“I wasn't provoking anyone.”
“You were.”
Their eyes locked.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The pleasant atmosphere that had filled the courtyard moments ago suddenly disappeared.
Ju Young's smile slowly faded.
“You seem unusually protective of her.”
Shadow's eyes narrowed.
“And you seem unusually interested in her.”
A brief silence followed.
Hye-in looked between them.
Neither of them looked willing to back down.
Ju Young finally chuckled.
“You're still as suspicious as ever.”
“And you're still avoiding straight answers.”
Her smile returned.
“Perhaps because you ask questions you already know the answers to.”
Shadow took a step closer.
“Then perhaps you should stop giving me reasons to ask.”
Ju Young's eyes flickered.
For the first time, the confidence in her expression disappeared.
But it lasted only a second.
She turned toward Hye-in.
“Anyway, I should leave.”
She bowed slightly.
“I have preparations to make.”
Then she looked at Hye-in.
“I hope you enjoy your day.”
Hye-in smiled faintly.
“I think I will.”
Ju Young's eyes lingered on her for a moment.
“I hope you do.”
She turned away.
Shadow watched her disappear.
Hye-in turned toward him.
“What was that about?”
Shadow remained silent.
“Shadow?”
He finally looked at her.
“Stay away from her.”
Hye-in frowned.
“Why does everyone keep telling me to stay away from people?”
Shadow raised an eyebrow.
“Everyone?”
Hye-in immediately realized what she'd said.
“Never mind.”
Shadow studied her suspiciously.
But before he could question her, Hye-in quickly raised her bow.
“Didn't you tell me to practice?”
Shadow stared at her for a moment before shaking his head.
“You really know how to change the subject.”
Hye-in smiled.
“It works, doesn't it?”
“Unfortunately.”
He stepped behind her.
“Now focus.”
Hye-in pulled the string back.
She narrowed her eyes at the target.
“Focus,” Shadow reminded her.
“I am focusing.”
“You're holdinHye-in pulled the string back.
She narrowed her eyes at the target.
“Focus,” Shadow reminded her.
“I am focusing.”
“You're holding your breath.”
Hye-in blinked.
“I am?”
Shadow nodded.
“You'll never hit the target like that.”
She slowly exhaled before releasing the arrow.
The arrow flew through the air and struck the target.
Not the center.
But closer than before.
Hye-in's eyes widened.
“I did it!”
Shadow looked at the target.
“Better.”
“Better?”
She turned toward him.
“That sounded like you were forced to compliment me.”
“I was.”
Hye-in rolled her eyes.
“You're impossible.”
Shadow took the bow from her.
“And you're improving.”
A small smile appeared on Hye-in's face.
“Then I'll practice again tomorrow.”
“If you have time.”
“I'll make time.”
Shadow raised an eyebrow.
You're very determined.”
“I don't like being bad at things.”
“Then don't be.”
Hye-in stared at him.
“That is terrible advice.”
Shadow's lips curved slightly.
“Yet you understood it.”
Hye-in shook her head with a quiet laugh.
She looked toward the palace.
“I should go.”
“Where?”
“I promised So-Hee I'd visit her.”
Shadow nodded.
“Then go.”
Hye-in turned and walked away.
But after a few steps, she stopped and looked back.
“Shadow.”
He looked at her.
“Thank you.”
“For?”
“For today.”
Shadow said nothing.
Hye-in smiled before finally leaving.
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