Chapter 16
Sebastian’s gaze returned to the horses tethered nearby.
Their glossy coats shimmered, and they all fixed their eyes on Erica like they were dogs, wagging their tails gently from side to side.
It was a sign that they were feeling very pleased.
“Huh, really.”
At the sight, Sebastian let out an involuntary chuckle.
“Are these beasts crazy or what?”
Only then did he understand what Milord was trying to say.
The defining feature of the Ackliff warhorses was their size.
Through several rounds of selective breeding since the previous generation, they had come to their current form.
Unlike other horses, they were tall with sleek and strong bodies.
Their muscles were well-developed, and their athletic abilities were superior. Therefore, the speed at which they kicked off the ground and ran was incomparably faster than other breeds.
Another characteristic of these horses was their temperament. Although raised by humans, they were anything but docile.
Ackliff warhorses were notorious for their fierceness, and many people had died trampled by their hooves.
It was so infamous that one of the most famous insults in the Duchy of Ackliff was, “You’re the kind of person who’d be lucky to be kicked by the hind legs of an Ackliff warhorse!”
This breed was intelligent and obeyed only the commands of those they recognized as their masters, accepting only their touch.
Because of this, lords from other regions often paid high prices to acquire Ackliff-bred equerries.
In any case, the Ackliff warhorses were bred strictly for military purposes, and it was impossible to even consider them for riding or breeding.
No matter how much one paid, these horses were very difficult to tame, making them dream steeds for knights and nobles.
Milord, standing beside Sebastian, added to the explanation.
“I’ve never seen Ackliff warhorses obey someone who isn’t their master this well. Honestly, those beasts have terrible tempers and don’t care if it’s a child or an adult—they just act out their rage however they want, right?”
“Exactly.”
“Does the young lady from the Blanche family have some special ability?”
“……”
No answer came from Sebastian.
Milord seemed not to expect a response either, briefly glanced at his lord’s face, and then fell silent.
Sebastian’s crimson eyes quietly watched the warhorses and Erica.
Before long, the girl’s hand had gathered a handful of treats given by the knights.
Erica didn’t eat them all herself but began sharing them with the nearby horses.
“Here. You have to eat one at a time. Then you can eat them all.”
The horses seemed to understand her words, cautiously accepting the treats from her small hand as if following her instructions.
‘If anyone else had tried that, they surely would have been bitten…’
Erica giggled, gently stroking the horses’ noses, saying they were pretty.
It was truly an unfamiliar sight.
A soft breath escaped Sebastian’s lips.
“Truly a peculiar one.”
His dark blue hair fluttered in the blowing wind.
Roughly brushing aside his tousled bangs with his hand, Sebastian turned away from them.
Tap-tap-tap.
It was a quiet night except for the crackling of sparks flying from the logs thrown into the campfire.
The guards took turns standing watch in pairs.
“All clear on this side.”
“Good. Then let’s check around the carriage one last time.”
As the two knights turned and took steps toward the carriage where Erica was sleeping, a faint sound came from behind.
Rustle.
Their footsteps stopped at the slight movement.
They quickly turned around, but since they had their backs to the campfire, they couldn’t immediately see the face of the person approaching.
As the figure slowly closed the distance, the knights tensely placed their hands on their sheaths and spoke in firm voices.
“Stop! Identify yourself!”
“State your identity.”
The figure approaching from the darkness soon appeared.
It was Sebastian.
The knights immediately removed their hands from their swords and bowed respectfully.
“Your Highness? Why aren’t you resting…?”
“Thank you for your efforts. I will take over here, so you two should go get some rest.”
The knights exchanged wide-eyed looks for a moment and then shook their heads firmly.
They seemed resolute that such a task was not something they could order someone of higher rank to do.
“No, Your Highness. We will finish the watch ourselves.”
However, Sebastian did not yield.
“I just can’t sleep. I’m only taking a short walk and checking around. You may go back now.”
Without any intention to argue further, Sebastian looked away and gestured them to leave.
After exchanging glances one more time, the knights nodded.
“If that is Your Highness’s will, understood.”
They bowed deeply and returned to their original posts.
Only after confirming the sound of their footsteps fading did Sebastian lightly shake his head and head toward the carriage where Erica was.
Along the way, he raised his head to look at the sky.
It seemed the clouds had cleared because the full moon brightly illuminated the dark night.
Sebastian, walking at a rather leisurely pace, stopped completely in front of Erica’s carriage.
His glance inside was brief.
As expected, the light was out, and all was quiet.
‘She’s asleep.’
He had no intention of waking her but didn’t leave.
Instead, he leaned gently against the carriage door.
After a while…
Clatter.
Sebastian felt a faint movement behind his back.
‘I thought it would be quiet tonight… Tch, looks like it’s starting.’
The young man sighed deeply and braced himself.
Just as he thought it would settle down, the door rattled again.
A few days after leaving the capital, Sebastian discovered that Erica had a strange sleeping habit.
And he was the only one in the party who knew about it.
“What are you doing? Not sleeping?”
“……”
The girl quietly opened the carriage door and stood outside, dazed.
Since the party was small, it was Sebastian who was on watch that night who noticed her.
He spoke to her again, but there was no reply.
Noticing something was wrong with the girl, Sebastian checked her face. Her pupils were unfocused, as if empty.
‘Sleepwalking…?’
He quickly looked around.
Fortunately, there was no one else but the horses.
He immediately picked Erica up and carried her back into the carriage.
Luckily, she didn’t resist or try to come out again.
The next morning.
Sebastian subtly questioned Erica.
“Did you sleep well last night?”
“Yes!”
“…Did you have any dreams?”
“What dreams?”
“…Nothing.”
But the girl seemed completely unaware that she had tried to leave the carriage and wander outside during the night.
Sebastian didn’t press the matter further and kept Erica’s sleepwalking a secret.
Not out of kindness, but because he himself hadn’t decided how to handle it yet.
‘If this is a weakness, then so be it.’
He let out a deep sigh, feeling quite frustrated.
The ideal solution would be to claim the sleepwalking as a ‘defect’ or ‘flaw’ and annul the marriage.
That way, there would be no need to become related to the Blanche family by marriage.
Since it was an undisclosed issue, he might even be able to demand compensation from Jonathan Blanche.
Crossing his arms, Sebastian tapped his forearm with his fingertips.
They would arrive at the duchy soon, but he still hadn’t come up with an answer.
Sebastian’s thoughts didn’t last long.
Just as the door’s rattling seemed to quiet down, a faint sobbing was heard.
“…Ma—”
A faint sob came from inside.
“…Ma—”
“Mom…”
It was Erica’s voice.
‘Is she calling for her deceased mother?’
Only then did he understand what Milord had told him when leaving the capital.
That it wouldn’t be easy for a child to be in a strange place.
‘She’s been so brave during the day.’
Sebastian bit his lip hard.
Sleep is the only time when one can let go of all consciousness and tension.
That meant Erica was shedding all the restraint she had been holding inside.
‘That means she’s showing the side she doesn’t want anyone to see.’
Well, there’s no choice.
I have to protect her.
‘Just for now. Just for now.’
Until he decided what to do with this kid.
Feeling another sob and the rattling door, Sebastian closed his eyes.
But why did the bright golden eyes of that red-haired little girl shining like sunlight keep vividly appearing in his mind? He couldn’t understand it at all.
