Chapter 22
Young ladies clad in tight-fitting riding outfits were excitedly watching a horse. One of them let out a squeal and tried to reach out to touch the horse’s mane, but Countess Hyren quickly grabbed her hand to stop her.
“No, you mustn’t touch it carelessly. You might get kicked by its hind legs.”
The young lady flinched and withdrew her hand. Another girl, unable to take her eyes off the horse, said,
“I’m sure the gentlemen would also like to see Hashi up close. It’s a pity.”
Hashi, the horse with the cute name, gleamed with shiny black fur. It was a magnificent and proud steed, worthy of the famous Hyren family. Hashi blinked its black eyes, looking at the surrounding young ladies. Despite its calm behavior, it was actually quite fierce by nature.
“But what can we do? Hashi becomes even more aggressive when men approach…”
Countess Hyren smiled wryly. Hashi despised males. Even stallions, attracted by Hashi’s beauty, were often kicked away. Hashi would violently rear as if to say, “How dare you approach me?” and the stable master had a hard time controlling it.
Human males were no exception. If a man tried to touch Hashi, it would kick with its hind legs. When close by, Hashi would even buck in irritation.
The eldest son of the Hyren family had once tried to tame this arrogant horse by force, only to fall off and break his leg. Compared to him, Hashi was more tolerant toward Countess Hyren, occasionally letting her ride when in a good mood.
“Hashi only behaves somewhat calmly toward the stable master.”
The stable master was an elderly man who had raised Hashi carefully since it was a foal. He had tried to introduce a fine stallion for breeding, but Hashi ran like it was competing and lost interest once the stallion couldn’t keep up. The old man was heartbroken.
“It’s better to show the gentlemen separately. We don’t want Hashi to get excited and hurt the young ladies.”
Countess Hyren petted Hashi, which flicked its tail in annoyance. She sighed at her proud steed’s lack of manners. Today was not Hashi’s day.
One young lady spoke with anticipation.
“Maybe the Crown Prince can tame it?”
The Crown Prince was a war hero who ended the three-year war with Zacador and returned in glory. His heroic act of raising the Zacador military commander’s head high on the battlefield was legendary. Though Duke Howard now was the war hero winning every battle, Crown Prince Herace still held great fame.
“I’m looking forward to that day as well.”
Countess Hyren smiled and called a servant to ask if the guest of honor had arrived. She soon spotted the guest not far away.
“Oh, the princess is there…”
Next to Princess Rosana was someone else.
“Who is that?”
Countess Hyren narrowed her eyes, frowning.
Eliano arrived a little late to the riding event because of a banquet her father insisted she attend. Since she had asked Countess Hyren for permission in advance, she walked leisurely.
The riding ground, covered in lush green grass, showed clear signs of careful preparation for today’s guests. The riding ground belonged to the royal family and was often used for such gatherings. Hearing that the famous Hyren family horse would appear, the Crown Prince had expressed interest and readily lent it.
— Princess, I hope you bear a son. Congratulations on your marriage.
Eliano smiled faintly, recalling the Crown Prince’s words in her previous life, which felt like meddling in her domestic affairs… Sadly, she wasn’t tactful enough to deal with such things. Besides, she didn’t even have a son to pass the throne to.
“What a lovely day.”
The sunlight was warm. The breeze tickled her neck. Though she didn’t plan to ride, Eliano wore her riding outfit.
Instead of her usual bonnet, she wore a wide-brimmed kapelin hat. The large cream-colored ribbon tied to it fluttered in the wind.
A maid walking beside her asked,
“The sun is warm but the wind is strong. Miss, are you cold?”
“I’m fine. The wind isn’t chilly.”
The wind was strong but mild compared to the cold winds of Ringsgen in Zacador, where she had often watched sunsets with her husband. The scenery was beautiful. Eliano gazed up at the blue sky lost in thought.
“So quiet…”
The maid who was about to say something stopped. She had come in place of the sick Lavender and hoped to catch Eliano’s attention to become her personal maid.
At that moment, the ribbon on Eliano’s kapelin hat loosened and fluttered in the wind. Even the maid couldn’t help but notice Eliano’s thoughts break.
“Oh!”
“Leave it be. It looks nice.”
The red ribbon flew freely in the wind, drawing a bright curve against the blue sky. Eliano’s green eyes followed the ribbon until someone suddenly grabbed it with a swift, sharp movement. Eliano blinked twice.
Her green eyes lingered on the person holding the ribbon, then narrowed.
The sunlight blinded her view, but she saw black hair slightly different in hue from her own flowing. A tall, robust man shaded his eyes from the sun, coming into clearer view. His sharp eyes met Eliano’s green ones. Thick fingers were tying the red ribbon tightly.
They were close enough for her to clearly recognize the grayish color of his eyes. He approached at a steady pace. His low voice reached her ears.
“It belongs to the princess.”
The ribbon in his calloused hand was crumpled. The once smooth ribbon had lost its shape. Given who he was, it was surprising it wasn’t torn.
Eliano reached out, and the man handed her the ribbon with a straightforward gesture. The red threads entwined around his thick fingers spilled onto her palm. Their fingers briefly brushed, but neither moved.
The ribbon on Eliano’s palm fluttered again with the wind.
“You must hold it tightly or it will fly away.”
The man caught the ribbon again just as it was about to float away, his grip swift and strong like catching prey. His coarse fingers were rough, lacking delicacy.
Eliano frowned at the crumpled ribbon losing its shape. When she withdrew her hand, the man looked puzzled.
“Princess Eliano of Rosana expresses her gratitude to Duke Howard.”
He blinked at her formal thanks but did not take the ribbon.
“I will treasure Your Highness’s kindness in my heart again.”
“Again?”
It seemed he was recalling the time she returned a fallen hairpin. Eliano looked at the ruined ribbon in his hand and gently said,
“I would be honored if you keep it as a token of today’s event.”
Flint’s Adam’s apple moved. Normally, he would have simply taken the ribbon and left. But he couldn’t even consider that option. He was busy interpreting the meaning behind Eliano’s words.
She had boldly discarded a butterfly hairpin made of gold and jewels. The steward had lamented how such a precious item was ruined. Compared to that hairpin, this crumpled ribbon was just a piece of trash on the floor.
Calling such worthless rubbish a “token” confused Flint. What did she mean? What was her intention? Perhaps that was why Herace warned that the flowers of high society cloaked themselves in hypocrisy and artifice, so be careful. But it didn’t feel like pretense or falsehood.
Eliano’s fresh green eyes were pure. That green resembled the nature she took solace in as a child. Flint briefly indulged in the feeling.
He didn’t even notice he was walking slowly to match Eliano’s pace. The maid had already stepped back some distance.
“Sorry for damaging the princess’s belongings again.”
“I should be the one apologizing for showing Your Highness such a poor appearance.”
“I don’t think so.”
At Flint’s blunt reply, Eliano smiled softly.
“Then, what do you think?”
