~Chapter 24~
The rhythmic clatter of hooves gradually quieted.
As the dull thudding sounds softened, Riden peeked down at the path below.
The thick green grass swallowed the sound completely.
In its place, she heard the soft rustling of spring grass brushing against the horse’s legs.
‘How amazing… The sounds change depending on the path.’
It was obvious, but for first-time rider Riden, everything felt new and wondrous.
“Careful or you’ll fall.”
“Yessir.”
At Marick’s composed warning, Riden straightened immediately.
“Hold the saddle horn with both hands.”
“Yessir! Of course!”
Her loud, disciplined answer made Marick desperately suppress a laugh.
Even with a skilled rider, one must always be cautious on horseback.
Especially when the companion lacked all caution, he needed to remain alert.
Marick erased his smile and tightened the reins.
He had heard from her nanny that Riden had never learned to ride but enjoyed sitting with her father on his horse within the estate.
‘Is it really that fascinating?’
He glanced down at the small head bobbing busily under his chin.
Looking down, looking up, looking side to side – she was so captivated she seemed almost dazed.
‘I should tell Ethan she likes riding. That way my lacking brother can score some points.’
Her constant head turning made her thin neck look strained, but telling her to stop felt too cruel, so Marick held his tongue.
‘She seems happy.’
Following her gaze upwards, he too looked at the sky.
Sunlight streamed through the lush green trees.
It was indeed a bright and beautiful day.
“Even a newborn fawn wouldn’t find the world as fascinating as you do.”
“A baby deer?”
“……?”
“Maybe I’ll see one today!”
“…….”
“A baby deer!”
Flustered, she looked around even faster as if hearing hoofbeats from an invisible deer.
Marick wished he could facepalm but kept his hands firmly on the reins so she wouldn’t fall.
He found himself thinking with exasperation:
‘I want to hold that tiny spinning head still.’
“What are you looking at now? Birds in the sky?”
Finally, her gaze fixed on one spot.
She shook her head.
“No birds… The sky is just so beautiful.”
Marick looked up with her.
“Looks like an ordinary sky to me.”
“No, it’s different.”
To him, it was simply a clear blue sky, like any pleasant day.
“Wasn’t the sky the same yesterday when we rode the carriage here?”
“Yesterday too?”
Her tone was so genuinely puzzled that it sparked a rare competitive streak in him.
“Yes, it looks no different to me.”
“That’s not true.”
She stared at the sky, then softly added,
“Yesterday… it was like daisy petals. The clouds, I mean.”
“…….”
“Today is different, don’t you see?”
“…….”
“Count?”
When he didn’t respond, she turned to look at him.
“Ah, forgive me. I was trying to remember if it really looked like that.”
Riden felt her shoulders tighten.
She remembered their awkward first meeting yesterday.
While he read documents diligently in the carriage, she had stared at the sky endlessly, unable to bear the silence.
So she knew with certainty.
“Yes. The sky was full of daisy-petal clouds yesterday.”
For a while, only the gentle crunch of hooves on grass filled the quiet.
Marick said nothing, and she didn’t want to disturb his peace.
Instead, Riden savoured the forest’s stillness.
She knew returning to the villa meant facing things she didn’t want to, but for now, she was free.
“Ah.”
She asked suddenly.
“Is there a purpose to this walk?”
“A purpose?”
“Yes. Are we just wandering or going somewhere specific?”
After a moment of thought, Marick replied,
“There is a destination. We’re almost there.”
He pointed ahead while holding the reins.
The forest was ending.
“It’s been a while since I visited, so I’m not sure how it looks now. But if it’s like before, I think you’ll like it.”
His words made her heart flutter.
The dim forest path brightened.
Sunlight poured in wider and stronger.
When they passed the last trees guarding the forest, Riden had to squint against the sudden flood of light.
When she opened her eyes again, a completely different world spread out before her.
The breeze from the field carried the scent of countless flowers.
“……Wow.”
“Let me help you down.”
She looked to her side in surprise; Marick was already on the ground.
Following his nod, she placed her hands on his shoulders.
She felt herself lifted effortlessly and soon stood on the grass.
“It’s so beautiful…”
Even after dismounting, Riden was dazed.
Wildflowers covered the vast field, creating waves of colour as the wind blew.
“Does the Ducal family maintain this place too?”
Watching him tie the horse to a bench, she asked.
“Of course not. This is nature’s work.”
“Ah… I see.”
“Only the bench belongs to us.”
Riden’s heart leapt.
“Then it’s okay to go in?”
“As much as you like.”
She was about to step forward but turned back suddenly.
“Count, will Fray be hungry? Should I pick some leaves for him?”
“Only if you can identify poisonous plants.”
“Ah, never mind.”
She quickly gave up and turned back to the field.
‘It’s so beautiful!’
Bathed in sunlight, she walked into the field.
Grass brushed against her gently in the breeze, making her giggle softly.
Marick followed silently behind.
“My father always visited flower fields first whenever he travelled somewhere new. Mother and Ethan always looked so annoyed, but they still came along. I never understood why they frowned so much when it’s this lovely.”
“Right? It’s so beautiful here.”
Their light conversation continued until he suddenly called her.
“Lady Riden.”
“Hmm?”
“Were you uncomfortable today?”
“Ah…”
She immediately understood he meant the morning’s events.
She didn’t know how to respond, so she tried to brush it off with a smile.
She smiled awkwardly, but his returning gaze was firm.
“Forgive me, but I don’t consider smiles a valid answer.”
