~Chapter 23~
The Duke’s estate buildings were built like villas using local stone.
Even the distant stable was a beige stone building.
Riden walked alone towards the stable, pausing every few steps because her gait felt awkward.
‘Walking feels a bit uncomfortable.’
The unfamiliar riding boots Corel brought were those of Duchess Kenwolf, who always enjoyed riding when visiting the villa.
They were brand new and clean, but far too large for Riden’s small feet.
As soon as she arrived at the stable, she ended up making Marick laugh.
He was still in his white shirt from the morning, having only changed into riding boots.
While brushing a horse, he turned at the sound of her limping steps and quickly looked away to suppress his laughter.
He thought laughing immediately after inviting her to ride would hurt her feelings.
“Count.”
“Ahem, yes.”
“You thought I wouldn’t notice? I saw you laughing.”
“I was laughing because the riding boots suit you so well.”
He shamelessly lied, but there are limits to shamelessness.
Riden’s feet were size 230, while the boots were size 260 – it was not a sight he could cover with mere shamelessness.
In the end, Marick winked playfully in apology.
“I noticed earlier your feet were small, but I forgot my mother’s are large. This is why they say sons are useless.”
“You seem like someone who takes good care of your mother.”
“Do I?”
She nodded quietly, genuinely believing so.
Marick chuckled deeply, pleased.
“Ah, I have another apology. I questioned your nanny for some information about you. Did she confess?”
Of course, Corel had already told her everything.
He had bribed her with sweet cake to extract every detail.
“She confessed everything in great detail.”
“Already confessed? You keep trustworthy people around… or perhaps my skills are lacking.”
He finished with his usual smile and paused.
Riden watched him brush the horse and asked,
“Your horse suits you.”
“Does it?”
The horse, with a honey-coloured body and golden mane, was called Golden Fray.
Perhaps because ‘prayer’ was part of its name, under Marick’s hand, it looked solemn and calm like someone praying.
“According to what I heard, you never learned to ride but like horses. Is that true?”
“Yes, I like them.”
As if understanding her, Golden Fray blinked its deep brown eyes and neighed softly.
“Liking isn’t enough, they say. You should show it.”
Marick handed her the brush and pointed at parts of the horse.
“Fray is gentle but shy. Don’t brush the rump or you’ll get a strong kick.”
He mimicked being kicked, stumbling jokingly.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Though slightly worried about being kicked, Riden began brushing with excitement.
The horse exhaled softly through its nose.
She brushed from the shoulders, moving slowly up to its neck and face.
Golden Fray leaned its huge body towards her, rubbing its long neck against her shoulder.
Its ears perked forward in pleasure whenever she brushed a good spot.
‘This feels nice.’
She was the one brushing, but her own anxious heart felt calmer.
Perhaps the morning stress had been too much.
No one was pressuring her or forcing choices now.
Brushing the horse calmed her turbulent mind.
“Brushing feels so pleasant.”
Murmuring softly, Riden suddenly exclaimed:
“Oh, I think I know!”
“What is it?”
“Which spot he likes most. Look, Count.”
Proudly, she brushed under Golden Fray’s chin down his neck.
His tail swayed lazily in contentment.
Marick quickly praised her.
“You clearly have a talent for brushing.”
“Hehe.”
“I’d hire you as my exclusive stable keeper if I could.”
‘Hm?’
“But my mother would scold me greatly, so that’s impossible.”
Sometimes, she struggled to keep up with her future brother-in-law’s jokes.
She smiled and continued brushing carefully.
“Eh?”
Suddenly, she was lifted high into the air.
From behind, Marick gently placed her onto the saddle.
“You’ve shown enough sincerity to Fray. It’s time to go, isn’t it, Fray?”
Marick put his foot in the stirrup, moving fluidly to sit behind her.
Riden straightened her back in nervousness.
“W-we’re riding together?”
She realised it was a two-person saddle with four stirrups.
“Yes.”
His tone was unusually curt, but then softened.
“I can’t teach you to ride alone right away and… hmm.”
“……?”
“You don’t seem like you’d have any talent for physical activities.”
Though his tone was gentle, his words stung.
Her back slumped in disappointment.
“Ah, I’ve been found out…”
Well, it was true.
In both her previous and current lives, she had zero athletic talent.
Marick, puzzled, asked:
“Did you ever try to hide it? Shall I say you did?”
“Yes, please. It would make me very happy if you say I tried hard to hide it.”
“Anything for you.”
He held the reins, moving with the horse like one being.
Then, Riden noticed another horse.
“That horse…”
She pointed.
Under slanted golden sunlight, a pure white horse gleamed.
“That’s my mother’s horse,” he said simply, then added,
“Beautiful but with a nasty temper. Unlike Fray, she wouldn’t let you ride just for a brush.”
After explaining, he whispered almost to himself,
“As expected of my mother’s horse.”
Haha.
Sometimes, her future brother-in-law made jokes hard to respond to.
“Shall we go?”
As if understanding, Fray’s steps grew lively.
Even at a slow walk leaving the stable, the saddle swayed gently.
‘We’re not even galloping yet, but it’s already swaying so much!’
Her heart pounded against her ribs.
“Lady.”
Marick spoke firmly, as if warning her.
“Do you see the saddle horn? Hold it.”
She gripped it tightly and asked:
“You’re not planning to run as soon as we leave the stable, are you? I’m already scared.”
“Ah.”
He paused.
“…….”
“I had no intention of running just now…”
“…….”
“Really, I didn’t.”
