The 21st Century Grand Grand Duchess in the Royal Academy - Chapter 7

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A Twenty-First Century Grand Duchess in the Royal Academy
The Undefeated
On the day of the friendly competition, Sung Hee-joo woke without an alarm. Her excitement was as transparent as a child’s, impossible to hide. When preparations were perfect, I never felt nervousness—only anticipation.
The past few days had been almost like those of a professional athlete. I’d cut meal times short to practice live scenarios with Min Jung-woo, and I’d run shamelessly between lecture halls. All to build the stamina to draw the bowstring for an entire hour without tiring.
One day, Sung Tae-joo had witnessed this and mocked me, asking if I dreamed of becoming a national representative. But I expected no understanding from my older brother, who knew nothing of competitive spirit. Regardless, everyone who displeased me—Sung Tae-joo, Ryu Min-seok, and all the rest—belonged to Azure Dragon Palace. And Prince An, too.
As I clicked my tongue and pulled out a red jeogori, a knock sounded at the door. The one who greeted me in the hallway was none other than Han Da-young.
“What is it?”
“I came to cheer you on. I’m the cheerleading captain for Vermillion Phoenix Palace.”
Han Da-young spoke innocently, her cheeks painted with a phoenix design.
“Ah.”
“Do you think you’ll win?”
“Well, everyone’s pretty good except for Min Jung-woo….”
I muttered quietly and sighed. I’d heard rumors that he had talent for archery, but when I saw Min Jung-woo’s performance at the first joint practice, it was far from excellent.
‘Did they really select players for the twelfth-year class through a popularity vote?’
When I grew tired of correcting his posture, Min Jung-woo laughed it off with excuses. “The twelfth-year class has no time to practice because of entrance exam preparation,” he’d said.
At least his learning speed was fast. With each training session, his arrows moved closer to the center of the target.
“Why Min Jung-woo? He shoots well.”
Han Da-young asked with a puzzled expression. She seemed to believe that baseless rumor about Min Jung-woo being incompetent at everything.
“Well… he’s not bad.”
I answered honestly. I didn’t want to embarrass Vermillion Phoenix Palace’s pride.
Everything at the Royal Academy was connected to the royal family, but the friendly competition especially so. Every year, His Majesty the King visited the school to watch the competition directly, and the champion received the royal flower from his own hands. Moreover, it was tradition that students who received the royal flower were selected as scholarship recipients the following year.
For students who lacked nothing in wealth, the scholarship title was desired solely for its honor. A scholarship recipient chosen by the royal family. For that prestige alone.
Today was no exception. His Majesty the King, who had taken his seat in the upper stands of the Archery Range, slowly absorbed the sight of spirited students. The students, maintaining silence as if bearing the weight of that quiet gaze, only erupted in thunderous cheers once the flag bearers carrying the Four Sacred Beasts’ banners had run past the cheering section.
“The students’ enthusiasm is truly remarkable, is it not? How diligently they worked once they heard Your Majesty would attend….”
The School Principal, seated beside His Majesty the King, spoke with pride.
“I’ve heard as much. You opened the Archery Range twenty-four hours a day, I understand.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. It was a direct request from Prince An.”
….
Instead of answering, the King nodded and looked at his son standing below the upper stands. His bearing, dressed in a blue jeogori, was imposing. His son, who boasted an unusually tall frame and broad shoulders, drew all eyes even standing among the crowd.
Sensing that gaze, his son on the shooting line lifted his head. The King, meeting his son’s eyes, deliberately assumed a stern expression. A silent command: be neither too excellent nor too inadequate.
His son severed the gaze coldly and drew the bowstring. As the bow curved into a crescent and the wind stilled, his son held his breath—
“A direct hit!”
He struck the exact center of the target, earning ten points. The cheers of Azure Dragon Palace students engulfed the entire Archery Range.
“It seems Azure Dragon Palace will be victorious this year.”
“We’ll see.”
The King answered dryly, looking down at his son. Though his eyes held youthful fervor, the King knew he would not advance beyond that.
“It’s not over until it’s over.”
His son’s tender heart—burning like fire one moment, sinking like water the next—the father knew better than anyone.
The final competitors from Black Tortoise Palace and Baekho Palace recorded nine and eight points respectively and stepped down. Sung Hee-joo, the final competitor for Vermillion Phoenix Palace, steadied her breathing.
“You’re fine. Just do what you’ve been doing.”
Min Jung-woo gripped my wrist lightly as he spoke. The Azure Dragon Palace competitors were performing better than expected, making this a harder fight than anticipated.
I nodded and stepped up to the shooting line. Steadying my breath and reading the wind’s direction, I drew the bowstring and aimed at the target.
“That’s not a target. That’s Ryu Min-seok’s philtrum.”
I muttered the words under my breath and focused my mind. As I released the tension thrumming through my fingertips, the arrow flew swiftly and struck the target. The attendant standing in front of it waved a flag and shouted.
“Nine points!!!”
Disappointment settled across my face. We were tied with Azure Dragon Palace, and if their final archer scored a ten, we couldn’t win.
Hiding my frustration, I descended from the shooting line and watched Azure Dragon Palace’s final archer. It was Prince An, who had scored a perfect ten without a single mistake until now.
Prince An, his face serene despite holding the key to victory, quietly stepped up to the line. Holding his breath as he gazed at the azure dragon painted on the target, he drew the bowstring with the same flawless form he’d maintained throughout. I thought it would be another perfect ten—but in that instant, his fingers twisted ever so slightly.
The result was seven points.
“What….”
Everyone in the Archery Range stared at Prince An in disbelief. Yet the man at the center of the commotion descended from the line without the slightest change in expression.
“The Vermillion Phoenix of the South!!!”
And so, victory belonged to Vermillion Phoenix Palace. Even Min Jung-woo, who rarely showed excitement, beamed with joy—but my heart sank. Even as I stood on the platform receiving the royal flower award, that heaviness refused to lift.
“Sung Hee-joo, congratulations!”
Even when classmates who were usually distant patted my shoulder, it made no difference.
I returned to the Dormitory with a rigid expression, stripped off my sweat-soaked jeogori, and fell into thought. I couldn’t forget the moment Prince An’s long fingers bent, the trajectory the arrow traced through the air, the relief that crossed his face once he confirmed defeat.
Because of that, I couldn’t take pride in the royal flower award I’d received. It felt dishonorable. I didn’t feel the exhilaration that only comes from defeating an opponent who gave their all. If only he’d been someone who fought without regard for means or methods, someone I wanted to beat even if it meant getting my hands dirty—then my mood wouldn’t feel so filthy.
“How irritating….”
Unable to contain my rising anger, I finally burst out of my Dormitory room. I needed to run the Sports Field or punch Sung Tae-joo to satisfy this rage. Of course, it was a time when I shouldn’t leave the Dormitory, but it didn’t matter. Everyone would be too preoccupied with the friendly match’s after-party tonight.
After running several laps from the Dormitory building to the Lecture Hall, I finally reached the Archery Range and managed to steady my ragged breathing.
As I exhaled heavily and regulated my breath, I heard the sound of arrows cutting through the air at regular intervals. The sound was coming from inside the Archery Range.
“….”
I was drawn inside, and the sight before me left me speechless. Wan, dressed in a blue jeogori, was repeatedly shooting arrows in an upright stance. How long had he been shooting? He was drenched in sweat, and countless arrows were embedded in the target bearing the azure dragon.
Only then could I admit it. He hadn’t wanted to lose. Like everyone else, he’d wanted to win. Yet because he had to lose, he was deeply frustrated about it.
64th Friendly Match Results
October 2009
Archery — Vermillion Phoenix Palace representatives: Min Jung-woo, Kim Da-hye, Lee Dae-yong, Sung Hee-joo
Horseback Riding — Baekho Palace representative: Yoon Irang
Calligraphy — Vermillion Phoenix Palace representative: Han Da-young

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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