Apart from the combination of Renald and Derrick, it was almost unheard of in the game to meet both male leads at the same time.
While I was floundering at the unexpected turn of events, he murmured in an even lower voice.
"Penelope Eckhart."
A chilling coldness crept up my neck.
‘This is not good at all.’
No matter what, I had to break this situation quickly.
I hurriedly tried to slip out of Eclis's embrace.
However, the hot palm that held my wrist didn't budge.
"…Eclis?"
I called out to him and twisted my wrist again.
But the more I struggled, the tighter his grip seemed to become.
"Eclis, let go. It hurts."
I finally tilted my head back to look up at him.
His ashen eyes slowly moved to me.
After a moment of eye contact, he finally released his hold on me.
The touch of his hand as it left me was now cold.
I quickly slipped out of his embrace and bowed to Derrick.
"What are you doing?"
But all I got in return was a cold stare.
‘Why is he so angry?’
I had recently resolved the matter with the knights to the duke's satisfaction.
Derrick hadn't said much for days, and I hadn't done anything to provoke him since then.
I tilted my head, puzzled by Derrick's bad attitude, and obediently replied.
"I was practicing with the crossbow with my guard."
"Even though the family's archers are right there?"
His cold gaze extended past me to Eclis, who was behind me.
"I can't bother the soldiers who are in training."
I added, as if to protect Eclis.
"And my guard knows a lot about crossbows, so I thought I could learn from him."
"Learn?"
I could see a blue spark in Derrick's eyes, as if he was being mocked.
His head seemed to be flickering dangerously.
However, I found his increasingly fierce face more terrifying than the affection gauge.
Derrick alternated his gaze between me and Eclis, and sneered with a contemptuous tone.
"What can you possibly learn, lacking even the basic knowledge to aim a bow at young ladies of your own age?"
"Because I lack basic knowledge, I wanted to learn a little before attending the tournament, Young Duke."
I didn't feel particularly hurt by his words, but I couldn't help but sigh at his sharp reaction.
"If you find it unpleasant for me to use the training ground, I'll go somewhere else."
"…."
"Let's go, Eclis."
I tried to leave quickly with Eclis.
Just as I was about to pass Derrick.
Thud.
"Where to?"
My steps were halted by the hand that grabbed my arm.
Turning around with a startled look, I saw him scowl.
"If you need such instruction, I'll teach you myself."
"…What?"
"You."
He suddenly turned his gaze from me to Eclis.
"If there's no additional training, return to your quarters."
I couldn't say anything as Derrick, who was giving orders arrogantly, gestured with his chin.
Even though I had brought Eclis and wanted him to be my guard, it was only because of Derrick's implicit permission that Eclis could participate in the training.
Like any army, the Eckhart Knights were very strict about following orders.
So I thought he would obediently return to his quarters.
However, instead of leaving, Eclis gently grasped my other wrist, the one not held by Derrick, where I was holding the crossbow.
"…My lord wishes to learn from me."
He tilted his head and replied.
‘Why are they like this?’
With both wrists held, I could only look back and forth between them with a trembling gaze.
Derrick's expression turned fierce at Eclis's defiant stance.
"Who do you think you are to teach anyone, you slave?"
"The Imperial Army was also defeated by Delman's archery in the Livius battle."
Eclis's immediate retort left me speechless.
This was clearly a provocation.
At some point, I could feel a sharp killing intent, though I couldn't tell from whom.
‘I wish they would let go and talk…’
I tried to twist my wrists, but neither of them budged.
"…Delman?"
After a moment of silently glaring at Eclis, Derrick suddenly sneered, lifting one corner of his mouth.
"Ah."
"…."
"A petty nation of barbarians that was erased from the map without a chance to retaliate after being betrayed by the small countries they were plundering?"
Eclis's grip on my wrist tightened instantly.
‘Damn, this is going to turn into a fight!’
I couldn't even groan as I frantically looked back and forth between the two.
Honestly, I wished Eclis would just shut up.
After all, the status difference between him and Derrick in the empire was huge.
But despite my earnest wish, Eclis glared back at Derrick and spoke.
"Then why don't you watch today?"
"What?"
"How a lowly barbarian teaches the empire's only noble lady to handle a bow."
"Such insolence…"
Derrick's face twisted viciously at his mocking tone.
Their heads started to flicker dangerously.
Anxiety crept up my body.
If this turns into one of the episodes where they fight, I'll definitely be caught in the crossfire and die a miserable death.
I had been holding my breath, afraid of getting involved, but I couldn't just stand by anymore.
"Stop! Stop!"
I shouted, shaking off the wrists they were holding with all my might.
Thanks to their momentary lapse, I managed to free my wrists.
I brought my hands together in front of my chest, afraid they might grab me again.
"I'm done. I suddenly don't want to practice anymore."
I turned to Derrick first and hurriedly announced.
‘I need to leave here right now!’
I tried to slip out of the target range, leaving them behind.
Startled by my actions, the two immediately tried to grab me.
"Penelope."
"My lord."
Even Eclis, who I thought wouldn't, came close and clung to me as if in a race.
I narrowed my brows and coldly pushed him away.
"Don't follow me. I'm going back to my room alone."
Though it seemed directed at Eclis, it was also a message to Derrick.
He might follow me all the way back to the mansion, calling himself my brother.
‘Please, if you're going to fight, do it outside and just the two of you!’
"Then, I'll be going."
I hurriedly left the training ground, fearing they might chase after me.
I could feel their piercing gazes on the back of my head.
My quick steps gradually turned into a run as I moved farther away from them.
"Huff, huff…"
Just as I entered the forest path, I panted and kept glancing back.
Fortunately, no one was chasing me.
Only then did I slow down.
"Phew… I almost died getting involved in that."
Anxiety always hits the mark.
The chilling coldness I felt earlier returned, making me shiver.
Despite the chaos, I found it funny that I had firmly brought the crossbow with me, and I muttered in relief.
"At least I managed to escape…"
I didn't know if they would start fighting after I left.
Even if they did, it didn't matter anymore.
Since they were fighting each other, there was no reason for my affection gauge to drop for no reason.
‘I should ask the duke to assign a separate archery teacher and practice alone in the backyard.’
I resolved several times not to go near the training ground for a while and started walking again.