~Chapter 42~
The only noblewoman in the duchy who enjoyed horseback riding was the duchess, so Riden must have borrowed her riding clothes.
Ethan’s mother, Samantha, was a large woman—nearly 178 cm tall, with big hands and feet.
So when Riden wore her clothes…
The top seemed pinned to fit somehow, but the pants and boots were a problem.
The oversized riding boots were clearly too big, and the long pants bunched up in folds above the boots.
Watching her walk like a newborn foal in that outfit, Ethan couldn’t help but laugh.
He had good eyesight, so he noticed her quickly.
Still, he held back, saving the teasing for when she got closer.
“I didn’t expect you to bring payment for your riding lesson, but I appreciate it.”
“Payment?”
Riden, who was smoothing the folds of her pants, looked confused.
“The folds on your pants above your boots—looks like you could play a bandoneon with them.”
“…”
“Watching you walk over here, your knees looked like they were dancing.”
Ugh…
It’s only natural for baggy pants to wrinkle!
‘Is it really that funny?’
Riden pulled on the extra fabric near her knees—it stretched long like a blanket. She tucked it neatly into her boots.
“The pants are just a bit big.”
“If you’re this entertaining at the start, how good do I need to be as a teacher? The pressure’s on.”
“Well, now that you’re feeling the pressure, go ahead and be a great teacher.”
If being teased meant she got high-quality lessons, so be it. She could take the jokes if it helped her ride.
“You’re smiling so much, I must’ve paid my lesson fee in full. You’re no longer my fiancé, just a duke. So shall we begin?”
Ethan found it amusing how casually she talked about their former political engagement.
He stood up from his seat near the stable wall.
“Let’s begin.”
He looked around the stable to choose a horse for the lesson.
Before he could pick a random one, Riden quickly said:
“I’m familiar with Frey.”
It was a horse she had ridden before—she spotted it among the others.
“Frey? My brother’s Golden Frey?”
“Yes!”
“How familiar are you?”
She wanted a horse she’d ridden before, so she answered confidently.
“I brushed him once. Rode him once.”
“And you call that familiarity?”
“Well…”
He let the pants slide, but now he was picking a fight again.
Riden raised her voice slightly.
“I didn’t even greet the others, but I brushed Frey and he gave me a pleasant ride. That counts! We each gave something to each other—it’s mutual. Isn’t that enough? I say we’re close!”
Ethan, arms crossed and smug, pointed at Frey with his chin.
“He looks tired today. Not a good choice.”
Tired? Where?
Riden walked over to Frey and looked into his big black eyes.
They were clear and calm.
She turned back with a confused look, but Ethan shook his head.
“I’m the horse expert here.”
“Fine. Then which one?”
No point arguing with the horse expert. She gave in.
Ethan scanned the stable again with serious eyes—he was clearly thinking through his options, and Riden started to trust his judgment.
“This one’s the right size, but the temper’s awful…”
He mumbled to himself, then handed her a bundle of hay.
“Feed this to that one.”
Riden turned to look at the horse he pointed to, disappointed.
“That one?”
“Yes.”
It was a pony.
Short, stubby, and lacking any elegance.
And with so many sleek, majestic horses around?!
Its unkempt mane even covered its eyes.
Riden stared at what she guessed were its eyes but couldn’t make contact.
“It’s a pony…”
Her voice clearly showed she wasn’t happy.
‘Didn’t he say he’d teach me well enough to impress other nobles?’
‘No romance heroine rides a pony in a ball gown!’
“Just feed it the hay. He’s waiting.”
How did Ethan know, when the pony’s eyes were covered?
Riden pointed to a carrot nearby.
“Wouldn’t a carrot be better?”
Carrots were treats. Wouldn’t they be more effective in building trust?
Ethan answered flatly, looking a little annoyed.
“You really don’t know anything about horses. I prefer my wife’s fingers stay intact.”
“…”
There was a heavy pause after that slip.
When she blinked slowly in surprise, Ethan quickly corrected himself.
“I meant the woman who almost became my wife should keep her fingers.”
Riden stepped toward the pony with the hay. Ethan advised calmly:
“Slowly.”
“…”
“From a distance.”
“…”
WAK!
There wasn’t a sound, but Riden felt like she heard it.
The pony lunged and yanked the hay from her hand.
She almost got dragged with it. She checked her hand—thankfully, all five fingers were intact.
The pony was strong—and devoured the hay like a beast.
Ethan sighed.
“That temper’s awful. Doesn’t look like he’ll let you ride him today.”
“…”
“You didn’t want the pony anyway, right? Perfect. He doesn’t want you either. Let’s pick another.”
Riden placed her hand over her chest, still recovering from the shock.
‘My heart and fingers feel like they’re dancing together right now.’
Ethan came over and lightly patted her shoulder.
“Getting this excited already? Beginners are cute.”
Riden closed her eyes and thought:
‘I want to shove this hay into your mouth.’
He walked to the side and picked a saddle that would fit her.
Placing it on the horse’s back, he nudged a stepstool toward her.
“I’ll hold you steady. Step up on this and mount the horse.”
Riden eyed the second horse.
It was much taller than the pony—climbing up looked harder.
“No snack for this one?”
“He’s gentle. No matter what you do, he won’t reject you.”
Riden pouted.
Ethan looked confused.
“Which part of that sentence bothered you?”
‘It’s the part where you treated me like a phone customer who pays every month and still gets no rewards!’
“The more gentle and loyal someone is, the better you should treat them.”
She picked up a carrot with tongs and fed it to the horse.
It calmly took the treat.
Pleased with that, Riden picked up another and gave it too.
Ethan, standing with one foot on the stool, watched closely.
He believed you could tell a person’s character by how they treated animals.
‘She’s clearly not the type to exploit others’ weaknesses. So why did she come to me that night?’
Riden’s voice broke his thoughts.
“I think I’m ready.”
He snapped out of it and stood by the saddle.
“Hold my hand, step onto the platform, and lift your left foot into the stirrup.”
Looking at his outstretched hand, Riden’s eyes sparkled like a child.
Seeing her excitement made Ethan smile without meaning to. He lowered his head to hide it.
“Shall I go?”
“Go ahead.”
Her small hand gripped his tightly—then pushed off, using his hand as leverage to lift herself up.
