Saving The Abandoned Empress

155 “The Worst Scenario”

Alexander sighed deeply in his heart as he stood behind her and put his hands above her hands, which was clenching the gun tightly.

“Relax, Elee...

Relax your shoulder’s and look at the target.”

Eleanora let a heavy breathe out to relax her body and mind as she stared at the gun point target infront of her.

“This is the cartridge, where the bullets are loaded. Since it’s a latest model, it can be pulled out from the side.

Pull the pin back, load the bullet and pull the trigger to shoot.”

Bang!

Bang!

Eleanora closed her eyes because of the loud noise and looked at the target board which hit the bullseye as Alexander helped her this time.

.....

“I don’t expect you to master it over in a night. We will be leaving soon for the war and you need to prepare for other things too.”

“All you need is to hit the target from fifteen meters away.”

“Only fifteen meters?”

“It seems simple, right? Then let’s do this, we won’t leave untill you hit the target.”

Alexander spoke as he sit on the chair behind her to watch her shoot.

Eleanora was sure that she could hit the target as she has never lost a single match with swords.

She has always hit the right spot of the enemies.

But...

Bang!

“Again.”

Bang!

“Again.”

Bang!

“Again.”

‘Hah! Why is it so hard?!!’

‘I missed all the targets! This gun shot sound is still ringing in my ear.’

Eleanora thought as she looked at the target board infront of her, not even one bullet has touched the bullseye.

The reason is, Her father forbid her from using mana while shooting the bullet.

This is why she is no different then a ordinary person trying to shoot with no basic right now.

“Concentrate before you shoot! Focus on the target!”

Alexander’s cold voice rang from behind as Eleanora stopped shooting, which shocked her.

This is the first time that Alexander is being strict with her, which made Eleanora feel a little upset as she was getting rebuked.

“When you pull the trigger, your wrist tremble! You need to stay calm and control you emotions!”

“Your eyes, shoulder and gun should be aligned properly or else your shots will be inaccurate!”

Hearing Alexander’s words, Eleanora tried again with her frustrated mood.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

“Concentrate, Elee!! You haven’t land a single shot! Practice more-”

“I CAN’T DO THIS!”

Eleanora spoke in a loud voice as the gun fall on the ground with a chattering sound.

“IT’S BEEN TWO HOURS SINCE AM DOING THIS! MY SHOULDER, HANDS ALL HURTS AS AM NOT EVEN USING MY MAGIC!”

“...”

“Am a swordmaster! I should train with my sword or learn it while using my magic-”

“What will you do if you can’t use your magic?”

“Huh?”

Eleanora was starled because of Alexander’s question.

‘Can’t use magic-‘

A scene from her past life flashed infront of her eyes, the moment when countless soldiers gave up their lives to protect her because she couldn’t use her magic for unknown reasons.

Eleanora thought she could stop that as she knows the past, but forget that as some things are changing, some might remain the same.

She can lost her magic powers during this battle too just like the past.

Without magic, she won’t be able to use her sword for long time like before.

Then, will she hold her sword on her neck just like before again?

Or will she pick up the gun which doesn’t require magic powers and shot the enemies instead of killing herself to escape?

“Elee, i know this gun is no use to you as an swordmaster. I also hope you will never face a situation where you need to use it.”

‘Because using it means you are in extreme danger.’

Eleanora didn’t spoke anything and kept silent, when another person came in.

“Duke Heartz is looking for you, Duke Dalton. It would be helpful if you can go right now...”

A young knight, who was wearing the imperial knight suit spoke to Alexander.

It was Charles, the knight who gave her a chance to talk with her father before escorting her to the trial ground.

Who said they believe in her.

Eleanora’s mind wondered in countless thoughts.

Does she want to be helpless again and watch everyone trying to protect her?

Alexander glanced at Eleanora and her expression told him that she understood what he meant.

“This is for the worst case. I can’t come with you this time. If you have the slightest bit of concern for me, then pick up the gun.”

Alexander spoke as he turned around to walk out from the training field to meet Duke Heartz after he picked up the gun she threw away before and placed it on her hands again.

‘Father is right...’

‘He is forcing me to have the biggest chance of survival in the worst scenario...’

Eleanora took a deep breath as she hold the gun again and faced the target mark.

‘I can’t rely on my memories all the time. Many things have changed.

I can’t say for sure that what i know will happen for sure now anymore.

I won’t bow down this time and save everyone...’

“With so much pressure on your tiny head... You will never be able to hit the target.”

Eleanora was stunned to hear a voice coming from behind of her and turned her head to look at that person.

“Your Majesty?”

Cathain was standing beside her with his usual cold face with no expression as he talked with Eleanora.

“You are too tensed because you want to hit the target at first try.”

Try to hit at the lowest target first and then gradually go for the higher target.”

“...”

‘His presence just made me more tensed. How can i relax if he stare at me like this?’

Bang!

Eleanora tried to hit the lowest target first as he instructed, but still failed.

.....

Cathain sighed as he saw this and decided to help.

He hold the gun in her hands from behind, which made Eleanora feel stuffy and embarrassed.

Before it was okay as it was her father, but now...

Their position seemed too intimate.

Cathain bent down a little to speak so that she can hear him and made her hand posture right.

“Hold the gun in your right hand and steady the gun with your left hand...

Then face the target and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.

Take a step forward with your left foot to stagger your stance.”

Cathain spoke as he fixed her posture and then he suddenly put his hands on her ears to cover it, so that she won’t be uncomfortable because of the loud noise of the gun.

“Huh?”

“You won’t be distracted anymore if you don’t hear the loud sound.

To aim, align the front sight with the rear sight until the target comes into focus and then... Pull the trigger slowly in one smooth, controlled motion.”

Cathain spoke before he loosened his hands over her ear a little so that she can hear it.

Eleanora recalled his words in her mind to focus and did as he instructed.

Bang!

Eleanora’s eyes lit up as she didn’t missed the target this time.

‘I did it!’

“Don’t be too happy, you still have to hit the bullseye. Continue.”

“YES!”

Eleanora become happy as she successfully hit the target she aimed for and seeing her like this, Cathain’s lips curved up a little.

He pressed his hands over ears again and used his mana to supress the surrounding sound to make her more comfortable.

Bang!

“Good job, keep going.”

Bang!

“It wasn’t good, try again.”

Bang!

“Move to the next target.”

Bang!

Bang!

…

“I DID IT!!!!”

Eleanora jumped in happiness as she finally hit the bullseye, Cathain was also happy to see her succeed.

Unconsciously, Eleanora hugged Cathain as she jumped in happiness.

She has been trying for total four hours and she has finally succeed.

“I did it!”

Eleanora smiled as she spoke and then she finally realised what was happening.

Cathain was also dumbfounded.

When she hugged him, before he could react, he found himself already holding her up high with his arms.

Both of them kept staring at each others eye in embarrassment as their smile froze and didn’t knew what to do.

‘Why is he staring?’

‘Why is she staring?’

Both of them looked away at the same time and Cathain put her down slowly too.

“A-Am sorry... I was, just to excited...”

Eleanora spoke as she looked away in embarrassment.

“I-It’s okay...”

Cathain spoke as his neck had turned red and felt burning because of their sudden intimacy before.

“K-Keep practicing... I have to go!”

Cathain spoke as he left the place hurriedly, not noticing the Eleanora who chuckled after seeing him red like that.

‘Is he embarrassed?’

‘But again... Thank you for helping me.’

Eleanora turned around to face the target again and started to shot again.

Where Cathain stood behind a nearby piller to hide away from her with his hands above his heart.

‘Why is my heart beating so fast?’