Chapter 78
The cool breeze blew through Shanelika’s hair. Her pale pink strands fluttered beautifully against the now-yellowing grass.
On a day when autumn began knocking at the door, Shanelika was at the royal riding arena with Eleusis. But unlike the pleasant weather, everyone around looked grim.
“This is strange.”
“How come it only happens when the two of you try to ride together…?”
Both attendants and stablehands were flustered. Judging by the king’s growing irritation, they looked as if they wished they could turn into horses themselves to solve the problem.
In ten days, one of the Campton Kingdom’s annual events—the Hunting Tournament—would be held. It was a massive, historic event that lasted all day from morning until sundown, with nobles from all over the country participating.
Eleusis had suggested that Shanelika join him for the event as a change of pace. She gladly agreed.
“Then I’ll learn how to ride too.”
The Siret Mountain, where the tournament took place, had a narrow entrance path that made it hard for carriages to pass. Eleusis or the guards could simply carry Shanelika on horseback, but she insisted on learning to ride herself. When they told her it might be dangerous since she still hadn’t fully recovered, she replied,
“I’ve always thought it looked fun. Riding in a carriage all the time is boring.”
With sparkling eyes full of excitement, Eleusis found he couldn’t refuse her.
Even her escort knight, Glyn, took her side. Riding was a basic skill for nobles, and since she stayed at Eleusis’s side, she would need to learn eventually. It wouldn’t hurt to start now, he reasoned. Eleusis eventually nodded.
So that morning, Shanelika began her riding lessons. She was still physically weak, so the palace physicians warned her to stop immediately if she grew tired. Shanelika herself was quite tense. But horse riding wasn’t as difficult as she expected. The gentle horse she was assigned to followed her commands as if enchanted.
The stablehands were ecstatic. Royal horses were all rare breeds known for their difficult temperaments, yet they showed none of that before Shanelika.
But that was as far as their luck went. In the afternoon, everything changed.
After lunch, Eleusis came by the riding arena. He was impressed at how quickly Shanelika could now ride on her own.
“I want to go farther, faster!”
“That’s too much for now. You need to progress step by step.”
“But riding like this feels so mild—it’s torture!”
“Once you get better, you can.”
“Then how about riding together?”
“…That’s…”
“Please! Let’s just go out for some fresh air!”
Eleusis lost once again to her pleading. He quickly rearranged his schedule, deciding to take her to a small hill outside the palace for some fresh air.
But the horses acted strange.
The docile horses that behaved perfectly when Shanelika rode alone now blatantly avoided Eleusis the moment he tried to mount with her.
They tried swapping five different horses. Same reaction. Eleusis even brought his personal favorite horse—but no difference.
His expression hardened. This time, he mounted first. The horses stayed calm. But the moment Shanelika approached to ride with him, they backed away, refusing to carry them together.
Why do they only avoid us when we ride together?
Eleusis began to feel uneasy. He even had the absurd thought that the animals simply hated seeing the two of them together.
Maybe they just don’t like carrying two people?
He didn’t believe it himself, but he clung to the idea. Half out of stubbornness, half to grant Shanelika’s wish, he had his escort knight Glyn ride behind her instead.
“…It works for me, Your Majesty.”
Glyn looked like he’d just met the Grim Reaper. By successfully mounting behind Shanelika, he had plunged Eleusis’s mood straight into the underworld.
“Haha…”
“Hm, why is it like this? Hey, horsie, what’s wrong?”
Shanelika gently stroked the yellow mane of the white horse she was riding. But of course, the horse didn’t answer.
“…Glyn. You take Lady Shanel out.”
His voice, normally composed, was now cold. Even Shanelika could sense it. If this continued, Glyn would become the real victim. She waved her hands quickly.
“No, Your Majesty. I suddenly feel tired. I’ll go with you next time instead.”
“Didn’t you say you wanted fresh air?”
“I’ll get fresh air later! The breeze is nice even here. Ahh, refreshing.”
She held out her hand to Eleusis to help her down. He stepped forward—but the horse immediately backed up two steps.
“…”
The horse’s blatant rejection made the atmosphere heavy. Shanelika quickly turned to Glyn.
“Sir Glyn, help me down please.”
“Yes.”
Glyn quickly dismounted and helped her down. Shanelika then approached the stunned Eleusis.
“Your Majesty. I guess the horses sensed I was being unreasonable and decided to stop me. Don’t worry about it and return to your work.”
“…”
“Please cheer up, okay?”
Swoosh.
Wanting to lift his spirits, she grabbed Eleusis’s hand. That was when—
HIIIIIIIIH!
All five surrounding horses neighed loudly at the exact same time, as if rehearsed. The sudden thunderous cry startled everyone. But amidst the noise, Shanelika tightened her grip on Eleusis’s hand.
“Don’t mind what happened today. I’ll scold the horses later and tell them never to do it again.”
She smiled warmly. Eleusis stared at her quietly, then finally relaxed his stern expression.
“No one can beat you, Lady Shanel.”
“Right? I’ll pump you full of energy, so have a great day, okay?”
With his face finally at ease, Eleusis left the riding arena.
The stablehands still looked like ghosts. After all, the prized royal horses had caused such a scene—they probably wouldn’t be able to eat for days.
“I’m going to ride a bit more.”
Shanelika gently stroked the mane of the horse she had just dismounted. The stablehands’ eyes widened.
“Huh? But you said you were tired…”
“I’ll just circle around the palace pond once.”
“Lady Shanel, that’s still too far.”
“I’ll go slowly. Just give my guards horses too. That’s fine, right?”
Her expression wasn’t one they could argue with. She mounted right away, and the stablehands reluctantly handed horses over to the escort knights.
Shanelika’s horse began to walk slowly. Behind her, she heard steady hoofbeats—Sir Derwin and Sir Wills.
Frustrating. I want to run.
Once they were far enough that the stablehands couldn’t be seen, and no one else was around, the urge overwhelmed her. She knew it was dangerous, but she wanted to feel speed.
It’s my leisure. Why shouldn’t I do as I please?
Then she thought of the black-haired man faithfully following her.
The Lord who protects the hatchling is right behind me. What’s there to be afraid of?
“Hyah!”
The impulse she’d felt from her first lesson burst forth. Her horse accelerated. Derwin and Wills shouted in alarm and chased after her.
“Lady Shanel! It’s dangerous!”
Wills cried out, but Shanelika ignored him.
Yes! This feels amazing. So fun!
The faster she went, the better she felt. She knew it was risky, but she was strangely certain she wouldn’t fall. Even at such high speed, everything felt stable.
“Whew.”
After who knows how long, her backside began to ache. She finally stopped. The sudden sprint must have strained her muscles. She couldn’t go any faster now.
So this is what it feels like, looking down from horseback.
She decided to take in the scenery. She had reached the pond. It was smaller than the lake they had played in, but still large for a pond. She had often come here with Eleusis for walks.
“Ow!”
As she carefully dismounted to rest, her legs buckled and she fell forward. Her knees must have given out.
Ouch, ow…
She winced as sharp pain ran from her knees to her ankles. Unfortunately, she had fallen right onto jagged stones. The riding pants she wore were torn at the knees, and blood seeped through.
I didn’t even fall off the horse—this is ridiculous.
Grumbling, she leaned forward to check the wounds—when a large shadow suddenly blocked her view. Without looking, she knew who it was.
“Move. I can’t see.”
“Let me take a look.”
“It’s fine. It’s nothing.”
“Please show me.”
What’s with him? Why is he suddenly so humble?
She was baffled. He had spoken politely in front of others before, but never with such meekness. And they were alone now.
“I don’t want to show you. Call Sir Wills.”
“He is not here.”
“What do you mean?”
Derwin didn’t answer. Instead, he tore off a strip of his cape without hesitation.
“I’ll stop the bleeding first.”
“No.”
“If you lose too much blood, it’ll be dangerous. Please allow me.”
She was about to swat his hand away—but froze. Someone gentle flashed across her mind.
Derwin carefully placed the strip of cape over her wounds and began pressing to stop the bleeding.
“…”
Shanelika quietly watched his profile as he focused. Even from the side, she could see the softness in his pitch-black eyes. Inside them, she saw the person she longed for.
Human Derwin.
Not just his gaze. His expression, his tone earlier, and the gentle touch tending her wound—it wasn’t the Lord. It was the human Derwin.
Smack!
Shanelika sharply slapped his hand away. Her eyes trembled violently.
“I’ll do it. Don’t touch my body.”
