I Don’t Want to Be a Lady

The next day, the Royal Shooting Range was noisy from early in the morning.  

A blood-curdling confrontation between the first woman to receive a title and the leader of the protestors who oppose the grating of her title! It was because rumors spread all over the capital that the two were risking their title and life in a bet.

And that time, at Kaien Duchy.

“It’s perfect weather to go kill someone,” said me with a fresh smile under the warm morning sunlight.

“You’re doing it again. I don’t know how Baroness could do such a cruel thing with such a smile. Baroness looks like—”

“Noisy.”

I was upset at Madrenne’s backbiting. Like what? Are you saying I look like my father? It’s funny.

“Baroness, you have to wear a dress now.”

I frowned when I saw the dress Madrenne had brought. “Do you think I’m going to play now? You’re bringing me a dress like that?”

“Baroness usually wear a dress and shoot well. And do you know how many spectators there will be today? At times like this, you have to dress up overwhelmingly beautiful.”

Her words made sense. Pushing the dress Madrenne had brought, I said, “Bring Jacob’s dress.”

“Yes? Why are you wearing such a plain dress?”

Madrenne dissuaded me as if I was saying nonsense.

“Don’t make me say it again.”

Finally, after wearing Jacob’s dress, I moved around and said, “As expected, it’s comfortable. It makes it easy to breathe and good for my posture.”

“No matter what Baroness~ I don’t know how many people will come to see you today, but what if you go out wearing a dress like that and get embarrassed?”

“If anyone opens their mouth, I will shoot them all.”

“Baroness!”

“What about Charter?”

Madrenne answered my question as if she had forgotten. “Ah, he didn’t even come back yesterday. Something must be going on these days.”

“Oh, he didn’t come in yesterday either. Something must be going on these days.”

“I guess so.”

It seemed that Charter couldn’t even come home because he was preparing for the war. Is he even eating properly? Some people couldn’t even come home due to preparations for war, while others made a bet. My heart felt heavy for some reason. I have to solve it quickly, come back, and do something.

“Let’s go now.”

When I came down to the center hall, Bein was waiting.

“Baroness, you’re here.”

“Yes, did you do my order?”

“Yes, I already did it.”

I nodded my head and said, “Let’s go.”

In front of the Royal Shooting Range, as I got out of the carriage, people started to murmur.

“That’s Baroness Devit.”

“How come she’s wearing such a plain dress like that?”

“Why? I think that dress is pretty. It seems to make her look slimmer.”

“Kate, are you really that blind?”

“What? On the subject that you always copy what I wear. This one!”

As expected, there were quite a few people gathered. Probably the largest number of people gathered since the shooting range opened. It was a little surprising that there were so many women.

“Let’s go in.”

As I, Bein, and Dale entered the shooting range, more spectators were already in it. The large shooting range with a maximum shooting distance of 250 m was crowded with people.

“Everyone is watching.”

“The more the better. Won’t they spread today’s result far and wide?”

“It’s like blowing out your nose without touching it.”

“…That’s what commoners say.”

“Noisy.”

I grumbled as it seemed only nags people were around me. With my appearance, the staff at the shooting range hurriedly came out to greet me.

“Baroness, you’re here. I’ve been waiting.”

“Yes. Has the man arrived?”

“Yes. Sir Piere came early in the morning and is practicing.”

“I see. Get the tea ready.”

“Aren’t you going to practice?” The employee asked as if he was puzzled by my request for tea.

“I only need two bullets for practice.”

The staff nodded his head, saying that I deserved my arrogant remark, and went to prepare the tea.

After a while, a tea table was set up on one side of the shooting range. I, who was sitting leisurely and drinking tea, heard sarcastic voices here and there.

“Look at that. After all, women can’t help it. Is she sitting down and drinking a cup of tea before the competition? Does she have the idea or not?”

“I think she’ll lose the title that fast.”

“Now, bet fast! I’ll bet on Sir Piere. What about you?”

“Sir Piere too.”

“Hey! Then there’s no point we’re making a bet!”

They’re all over the place. I put down the teacup, handed Bein the money bag, and said, “There are probably bets about the winner. Go and bet on me.”

“Yes, I understand.”

It’s okay to have a little fun. Heh. The staff came to me, who was drinking tea leisurely regardless of people’s eyes and talked to me.

“It’s the time, Baroness.”

I got up and headed to the shooting range. Piere was staring at me with a high-spirited face, probably because he had already practiced shooting for two hours.

That’s stupid. If you practice and stare at the sight for two hours, will you be able to concentrate when you really need it? You need to practice enough. There was nothing good about overdoing it. But you don’t have to underestimate other people.

“I’ll practice shooting.”

I took the rifle from the staff and aimed at the target. It was as natural as flowing water. Holding my breath. Bang. The gunfire that filled the wide space as it was spreading was familiar yet exciting.

“Check the target.”

An employee waiting on the side checked the target and shouted.

“It’s 2 cm to the right and 1 cm to the top.”

“As expected, the firearms are well managed in the Royal Shooting Range.”

“Thank you for the compliment.” The staff smiled pleasantly and replied to my compliment.

Piere was astonished. 2 cm to the right and 1 cm to the top? How can that woman? Even he couldn’t hit the target at first. He had already practiced for two hours but had never hit the center of the target.

It must be a coincidence. Piere thought. That must be a coincidence because he had already swapped Arianne’s rifle with the problematic one.

Bang. Arianne fired another shot and ordered the staff to check.

“It hit the center!” The staff member who checked the target shouted. The staff in charge of judgment looked at Arianne with admiring eyes. And Piere… His eyes, trembling relentlessly, represented his feelings.

H-How… that woman? And with that rifle? He was sure he had bribed his friend who works at the Imperial Shooting Range to swap the rifle. The fact that the rifle should’ve been changed remains the same…

Did he betray me? Piere did some behind-the-scenes work while scraping off the money he had for his money-loving friend. She must have been a woman who couldn’t be touched easily. Obviously, she must have bought his friend with more money than he did. Damn it! That bastard who has no loyalty!

“Then let’s use six bullets each. Let’s do it in a single match.”

“…Do as you please.”

Piere had already lost his fighting spirit. It was a bet that couldn’t be undone. In the presence of so many people, he would have no choice but to face a shameful and disastrous end.

Honey, boys… I’m sorry. This ugly father will go first… Piere, who shot a drama alone in his mind, glared at Arianne with tears in his eyes. Arianne’s posture was really perfect for shooting. It was never a posture that could be got with only a day or two. Maybe, no. It must be true that she won the hunting competition with her own abilities.

Arianne shot six first, then Piere shot six.

“Baroness Devit. All six shots are on target.”

The spectators began to buzz.

“And Sir Piere. Four shots hit the target, but the other two… missed the target.”

Piere dropped his head helplessly. The murmur grew louder, and soon there began to be the sound of criticism against Piere.

“Sir Piere! What’s going on here! I’m sure you said that you would win!”

“What the hell is going on here! Argh! My money! I bet on Piere!”

“I bet on Piere too. That’s okay. Probably no one bets on her, so the bet is invalid, right?”

The man asked the person in charge of the bet, sitting next to him.

“That… that’s…”

The man’s face contorted.

“What! Has anyone bet on that woman?”

“No way! Who is it!”

My complexion brightened as Piere’s face turned pale. Betting is not something you do recklessly when you don’t know the opponent. Stupid people.  I guess I’ll have to wrap up this game now.

“Referee, make your decision.”

At my words, the staff shouted to the crowd. “The winner of this competition is Baroness Devit!”

“Uaargh! No! My money!”

“Who is it? Someone bet on that woman! This is invalid!”

The screams of people who bet on Piere filled the shooting range. Why was that quacking so nice to hear? I put a smile on my face and stood in front of the person who was in charge of the bet.

“Give me my money.”

The man who had been robbed of his money with a pale face looked as if he was about to cry. Those who were screaming around couldn’t longer express their dissatisfaction.

These people here bet their money that I would lose. So no one bet on me, except for one person. When Bein, standing next to me, reached out his hand, the man placed a gold coin on his palm.

Look at this.  I glanced at Bein standing next to me and smiled lightly. After that, I turned around and went to Piere.

The man stared blankly at her back as she leisurely carried the money bag. They won’t longer be able to argue about Arianne’s title. Because Arianne had shown everyone that she had won with her own abilities.

I walked proudly with my head held up as if I was proud of myself. Before long, standing in front of Piere, I handed him three documents.

“This… what is this?”

“What is this…?”

“Memorandum of transfer of rights.”

“No? What the hell is that! It’s not something we bet!”

“Then, shall I kill you here?”

“No matter how high your title is, you can’t just kill another noble like that!” shouted Piere.

He didn’t have a title, but he was also noble in his name. Although he was the third son, he was far from a title and lived a life like a commoner. Still, noble was noble. Commoners could be sentenced to immediate punishment, but nobles had to go through a trial. That’s why Piere accepted the bet, believing that if he went to trial, he wouldn’t be executed just like in the bet.

I clicked out my tongue as I knew it would turn out like this. “Tsk. I knew this would happen. Then how about this? A friend of yours whom you bribed with money. What if he testifies?”

Piere’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.

“N… No…”

“If you’re going to spend money like that, you should have spent a lot.”

This place was the Royal Shooting Range. It was a place where if you caught bribes behind the scenes, you would be punished by the investigator who directly worked under the emperor. The minimum punishment would be the death penalty. Piere’s trick was a mistake in the first place. And I never overlooked other people’s mistakes.

“Sign it.”

Looking at Arianne’s cold face, Piere knew that she really meant her words. Now, if he didn’t sign these documents… I will surely die.

Piere rolled his head urgently. He would have to run away from this empire after he signed it. That would be better than rolling in dog poop. He could no longer live in this empire anyway. How could he carry his face after being humiliated like this!

Piere signed the memorandum as if he had made up his mind. He was so flustered that he forgot to look at the contents of the memorandum. 

I smiled and said, “You’re mine now.”

* * *

On the way back to the duchy, Bein said to me, “I learned a few things. I never thought he would dare to touch the Royal Shooting Range.”

Stroking the bag of money, I said, “A hunter does their best even when they catch a rabbit.”

Bein frowned as if in agony. Then, he had made up his mind and spoke to me. “That… Baroness, I want to learn how to shoot.”