I Hope You Don’t Recognize Me - Chapter 75

Chapter 75. The unexpected protagonist

 

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No one wanted to respond, so Terban looked at Ellea and asked precisely.

 

“I asked what was going on. Princess Ellea.”

 

Ellea looked at him and noticed that before long there were more eyes looking at them.

 

The headache reminded her of the situation she was in earlier.

 

Why had she argued with the young man in front of her?

 

When the people went to rest in their tents and it was more deserted than before, Ellea moved more widely out to the field with Heris.

 

Heris was amused and not afraid anymore, and she took the reins and ran a little more.

 

Ellea was standing by Heris while talking to her, when she heard something very catchy.

 

The words were clearly meant to humiliate the two of them, as if they were talking loud on purpose.

 

“They can’t even ride well, so I don’t know why they’re here.”

 

“They should just go and drink tea. They’re just too stubborn to interrupt our time.”

 

“Shouldn’t they ride well if they wear riding clothes?”

 

They laughed at Ellea and Heris, and talked loud deliberately.

 

Heris also realized their intentions as they tried to cause trouble. However, it was Ellea who rode out first.

 

She fluttered down from her horse and approached the men who were having a conversation a short distance away.

 

Heris was worried, hurriedly got off her horse and went after her.

 

The men flinched as if they didn’t know Ellea would come, but soon greeted her with a smile as if nothing had happened.

 

But Ellea wasn’t in the mood to accept that greeting.

 

“Did you say that to us?”

 

“What? What do you mean by that?”

 

They brushed it off as if they didn’t know anything about it, but to no avail to Ellea.

 

She crossed her arms and looked them up and down, then said what they said to her earlier.

 

“In my opinion, it’s you who are wasting people’s time. I don’t know if you’re skilled enough to undermine our skills.”

 

 

“You’re a Princess and you’re too much.”

 

“Who was the one who said disrespectfully first? Even if you were a novice, I thought you knew enough to know that such language is extremely rude.”

 

Their expressions instantly hardened, as if they didn’t like what Ellea had said.

 

She didn’t care how they felt. Then the other person interrupted.

 

“Honestly, it’s not like we said anything wrong, is it? Today is the time for the best to compete with each other. But, the Princess…………”

 

“Who are you to say that I’m not a competent person? At the very least, I think I’m much more competent than someone who learned to ride a horse in an attempt to make connections.”

 

“Are you challenging us?”

 

“Fortunately, you understand what I’m saying.”

 

Ellea nodded happily at the man’s words. These people would know action better than words so it was much faster to show them in person.

 

So there was no reason for her to avoid them.

 

They looked flustered, as if they didn’t expect Ellea to accept their proposal.

 

When an unusual atmosphere was created between the Princess and the Young Lords, the knight went to call Terban.

 

In response to Terban’s question, Ellea explained the long situation in just a few short lines.

 

“The Young Lords were curious about my skills, so what’s better than to show them myself? What am I going to do? Whatever their choice is, it’s fine with me.”

 

Ellea spoke her mind, because if she avoided them, it was the same as admitting losing.

 

After a few moments of thinking, the man remembered how Ellea and Heris rode the horse very slow, so he made up his mind and said,

 

“I will accept it if you’ll use your skills fairly.”

 

“Of course. That’s the basis of the game.”

 

As the two people fought a battle of nerves and refused to back down, Terban was unable to stop them.

 

Chaylen was just watching the situation with interest. He was looking forward to seeing what Ellea would show in public.

 

“Please allow it, Your Majesty.”

 

“Okay. If the two of you agree.”

 

“Then it’s done. It’s going to be quite interesting with such a large audience.”

 

Ellea looked very amused, and inwardly she was confident.

 

But then again, so did the man. He didn’t think he would lose, and was rather worried about a less overwhelming win situation.

 

“Then what are we going to compete with?”

 

“Since we have a target, how about riding a horse and shooting it with arrows? It would be boring if we just ran. People would have the fun of watching too.”

 

“I like it.”

 

***

 

The event was set, and Ellea prepared as if she was familiar with it. The people there were all confused by the sudden situation.

 

They couldn’t believe the Princess was going to compete in person.

 

But they immediately showed their curiosity and interest. It was an interesting game, that’s for sure.

 

As Ellea was preparing, Heris and Chaylen came to her side. Heris seemed to be a little worried about the unexpected situation. She felt sorry because this happened because of her.

 

“I’m sorry it was my fault that you have to do this for no reason, Ellea.”

 

“No, it’s not your fault, it’s because I want to do it. If you don’t show those people clearly with your abilities, they’ll not keep their mouths shut.”

 

“You’re right. I’m sure you’ll win, but the look on their faces when they lose will be spectacular.”

 

Chaylen was convinced that Ellea would win outright. She responded to his words with a generous smile.

 

With the two cheering her on, Ellea pulled her horse to the starting line with her bow and arrows.

 

First it was the Young Lord’s turn.

 

There were a number of targets at regular distances in a large open space, and the smallest one at the end was particularly difficult.

 

The game was decided by the accuracy of the arrows that pierced the targets.

 

At the announcement to start, the Young Lord on his horse set off confidently.

 

With a reasonably stable posture, which he didn’t seem to have learned by form alone, the arrow made a light sound and stuck into the target.

 

The accuracy wasn’t bad either, and some of them stuck in the middle. Unfortunately, he missed the palm-sized target at the end.

 

When he circled back to the starting line again, people applauded and congratulated him.

 

As the man dismounted, he said to Ellea, who was standing beside him.

 

“I think the game has already been decided.”

 

“I don’t know. I think we’ll have to go to the end to find out.”

 

“Yes, then I shall look forward to it.”

 

Even though he said he was looking forward to it, his tone showed no expectation. Ellea didn’t even give a small reaction to his appearance.

 

On the other hand, the nobles who were watching were already convinced that he would win, seeing how good the man was.

 

“The game is going to be pretty bland.”

 

“What can a Princess do?”

 

Terban and Shanil were also watching the scene.

 

Since this was unexpected, Shanil was also confused at first, but she soon watched with anticipation.

 

Because she, too, thought that Ellea was obsessed with unnecessary pride. Then she told Terban as if she was worried about Ellea.

 

 

“Will the Princess be okay? We need to stop her now………”

 

“I think she’ll be fine.”

 

Terban only said that and didn’t stop her. When it was her turn, Ellea prepared to mount her horse, but she could hear the man’s worried, sarcastic words. 

 

“I hope this doesn’t mean anything else to Rubain.”

 

 (*the man’s meant he hoped Ellea won’t turn this against the country Rubain)

 

“I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

 

“Huh?” 

 

“I’m sure I’ll win anyway. You should think about how to apologize.”

 

Ellea said with conviction, and she moved before the man had time to say anything else. Instead of being frightened by the fast speed, her posture was steady and her face was rather full of joy. 

 

It wasn’t fake. She was truly happy. Ellea put an arrow on the bow and drew the string, feeling the familiar sensation all over her body. Her posture was near perfect as well. 

 

The moment she released the arrow with all her might, it flew with great force and pierced the red area in the middle just as she had aimed. Those who were watching didn’t even have time to be surprised. 

 

Because each subsequent arrow that Ellea used precisely hit the middle. She simply repeated the process of shooting the arrows with ease, as if she standing on level ground instead of riding a horse.

 

It seemed to be something she was used to, and her whole body exuded a sense of ease, while at the same time there was a seriousness in her expression while holding the bow.

 

In a situation where no one could easily speak due to surprise, only Terban’s expression was different. Sure, it was Ellea at first, but the moment her hair, tight high in a pony tail, swayed and the moment she took her posture, she was no longer Ellea in his eyes. 

 

It was El.

 

Without time to think about it, Terban saw that Ellea looked like El.

 

Her expression, her eyes, her posture, and everything about her. It was as if he was in a different space.

 

That was how much Ellea looked like El.

 

Meanwhile, Ellea fired an arrow at the last target, and the arrow pierced the exact target that the man had failed to hit.

 

Not caring about the reactions around her, she drove the horse quickly and stopped exactly in front of the Young Lord, who was watching the whole situation in a daze.

 

Then, looking around at the quieted troupe, she spoke to the man.

 

“I think it’s time to hear your apology. I’m sure I’ve won without having to look.”

 

 “Yes, so, …………..”

 

“I think we should start with an apology. I told you, you didn’t need to worry from the beginning.”

 

Ellea’s words made the man feel intimidated.

 

It was as if the intangible momentum naturally made him lower his head.

 

Before she knew it, the man bowed down and and started to apologize.

 

“I apologize for all the words I said earlier. Please forgive me, Your Highness, and Lady Heris.”

 

Ellea looked at the man and then at Heris. Then she opened her mouth.

 

 “I accept your apology. I hope this will not happen again next time.”

 

“Since Heris said so, I’ll let it slide. However, if you commit such rudeness again, I will not tolerate it. Of course, these words apply to everyone here.”

 

The nobles who were under Ellea’s gaze naturally averted their eyes from her. The end of her gaze reached Shanil.

 

‘This doesn’t make sense.’ (Shanil)

 

While she was in confusion, Ellea approached her.

 

“This proves that what I said to Lady Shanil before is true, doesn’t it?”

 

Leaving only those words behind, Ellea moved away from Shanil.

 

Shanil could barely contain the shivers that ran through her body at Ellea’s look that proved her victory.

 

She could only stare at the sight of Ellea completely overwhelming this atmosphere.

 

At this moment, Ellea was the hero of this place. Not only that, she even seemed to be shining brightly.

 

It was her very existence.