Chapter 43
The man’s expression had softened considerably.
Annel was rather taken aback by this unexpected reaction.
“Why?”
“…Because I have something to discuss with you. That’s why I asked Marquis Lars.”
Ah.
A small sigh escaped Johan’s lips.
“I see… So, that’s what it was.”
Johan let out a breath.
Annel felt the grip on her arm loosen slightly.
“Has your horse never heard the sound of a gunshot?”
“…She’s only been around the Grand Duke’s residence.”
Unlike you, she’s never even been near a hunting ground, was the implication.
Seeming to understand her meaning, Johan let out a small laugh.
“Even in that, she’s just like her owner.”
It was an openly sarcastic remark.
But even this was familiar now, and Annel merely let out a short sigh. She was tired of getting angry every time at this man’s infuriating way of speaking.
“…Your Majesty also rides a horse that resembles you.”
Annel glanced down at the horse she was riding.
It was clearly a magnificent steed, glossy and beautiful as a painting.
But…
“Is that how it seems?”
Its eyes held a look of arrogance.
Johan lightly lifted the reins towards Annel.
“Can you hold it?”
“…Yes.”
Fortunately, she had enough strength left for that.
Johan covered the back of her hand with his own, then placed the reins into her palm.
“Do you know how to handle a horse?”
“Of course…!”
“It’s just that you couldn’t even hold the reins and fell off.”
“That was just because Buttercup got excited.”
He wasn’t exactly treating her like a child, but…
Annel’s face flushed.
“Delphi.”
“Yes?”
“That’s this horse’s name.”
“Ah…”
“Try not to fall off this time.”
Saying this, Johan dismounted.
“And that one’s name?”
Johan pointed towards the white horse pacing restlessly, watching the two of them. Buttercup seemed to have realized she’d almost thrown her owner, and looked somewhat chastened.
“…It’s Buttercup.”
Huh.
Johan let out a short, incredulous laugh.
“You named her after a wildflower. And a very small one at that.”
“Is that a problem?”
“No. I meant it suits you, Empress.”
Johan strode decisively towards Buttercup.
“If you approach so suddenly…!”
Buttercup would be startled.
Annel leaned forward hastily to stop him, but Delphi paid no mind.
“Delphi, move a little…!”
Purr.
The black horse didn’t even deign to listen.
It was as if he was saying,
‘What are you talking about?’
…Just like his owner.
Annel felt a sense of resignation.
“Buttercup.”
Meanwhile, Johan approached Buttercup without the slightest hesitation.
Buttercup backed away slowly. She didn’t seem to like him.
“You. You’re quite skittish.”
Heeeee-hin!
Buttercup whinnied a timid protest, as if her pride was wounded.
“But does that mean you should throw your owner?”
Johan whispered the words to Buttercup, then seized the reins in one swift motion. It was a firm, clean movement.
Purrr.
Buttercup allowed herself to be caught but let out an uneasy snort.
“Good, that’s a good girl.”
Johan smiled with satisfaction.
Annel wanted to tell Buttercup it was okay, but she wasn’t sure herself if it really was.
“Is it alright if I rely on you for just today, Buttercup?”
Johan whispered to Buttercup in an exceedingly gentle voice.
As if soothed by the tone, the white horse slightly bent her front leg. A sign of permission.
Johan grinned and mounted Buttercup.
“I was mistaken.”
“Pardon?”
“This horse is definitely much better than its owner.”
“…!”
“I suppose I should apologize to Buttercup. For insulting her by comparing her to her owner. She’s so well-mannered, after all. Isn’t that right, Buttercup?”
He was teasing her again.
Annel’s face grew hot, but she smoothed down her skirt.
If Buttercup had gotten excited and kicked Johan with her front hooves…
She didn’t even want to imagine what would have happened next.
Fortunately, whether because she knew her own guilt or had taken a liking to Johan, Buttercup was being quite docile. Annel felt a strange sense of betrayal.
…Maybe a good kick wouldn’t have been so bad.
“Well then…”
Johan, having seemingly synced perfectly with Buttercup, had already drawn up beside Delphi.
The two of them stood side-by-side, having swapped horses.
Johan looked at Annel, who was gripping Delphi’s reins tightly with both hands, and laughed.
Infuriating man. Annel muttered internally.
Whether he knew her thoughts or not, Johan gestured with his chin towards the open fields.
“Shall we go for a ride, just us?”
It took quite a while longer for Annel to get used to Delphi.
Delphi was insanely stubborn, and as strong-willed as he was obstinate.
Annel gave up on trying to steer Delphi according to her own will.
The black horse had firm ideas about where he wanted to go.
He seemed to regard Annel merely as a companion. It was clear he didn’t consider her the rider guiding him.
“…”
She was too ashamed of her inability to control a single horse to even speak.
“You’re doing quite well, Empress.”
“What… do you mean, ‘quite well’?”
Annel frowned.
Was he mocking her again?
“You’re the first person, besides me, to last this long on Delphi’s back.”
“…Are you serious?”
“Do I have any reason to lie?”
He didn’t.
Though skeptical, Annel finally felt her heart soften towards this stubborn horse. So that’s how it was.
“So, what was it you wanted to tell me?”
Only after they had reached the edge of the fields did Johan bring up the main topic.
The two turned their horses back towards the imperial palace.
Delphi, seemingly accepting that it was time to return, turned without protest.
“Your Majesty’s birthday is approaching soon.”
“…Birthday?”
For a moment, Johan wore an expression as if he’d heard a very unfamiliar word.
Then, seeming to understand, he narrowed his eyes.
“Ah, right. The day I was born… is coming up.”
Annel was flabbergasted.
‘The day I was born’?
She had never heard anyone refer to their own birthday that way.
Annel, who was about to continue, hesitated. Ernst’s story came to mind.
Considering the environment Johan grew up in, it was unlikely the Grand Duke of Magnum had diligently celebrated his son’s birthday. Quite the opposite.
In a way, his birthday might have felt like a curse to him. The day his birth caused his mother to lose her mind…
…Of course he wouldn’t attach any meaning to it.
Annel was disappointed in herself for not having considered that.
She had come to ask this man, who had every reason to dislike his own birthday, to cooperate with holding a grand birthday celebration for the purpose of aiding the poor. Even she thought it was an inhumane thing to do.
“So, do you have some objection to the day I was born?”
…Of course, when it came to being inhumane, she was no match for this man.
“I have no ‘objection’.”
“Then why?”
She was at a loss for words.
Annel couldn’t bring herself to speak.
She had to broach the topic of a birthday with a man who hated birthdays.
What should she do?
After a moment’s thought, Annel carefully parted her lips.
“Is there… a type of gift you would like to receive? Please don’t be specific.”
This was a thoroughly strategic question.
If he disliked his birthday, perhaps she could make it somewhat more bearable by giving him something he’d like.
That was the strategic meaning.
Annel repeated it to herself.
“A gift?”
Johan looked at her with a gaze full of puzzlement.
“I didn’t know you were interested in such things.”
“…So, do you have some objection to that?”
Annel deliberately mimicked Johan’s tone.
When dealing with someone unreasonable, the only answer was to respond in kind.
A strange glint of amusement flashed in Johan’s eyes.
“I always think this, but you are truly… a contradictory person.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“Well, you’re one to talk, Your Majesty.”
Haha.
Johan burst out laughing.
“True, you’re not as contradictory as I am.”
“So you know you’re contradictory?”
As Annel retorted with a glare, Johan smiled, looking genuinely pleased.
That laugh, it really…
For a moment, it truly…
…Was a pleasant sight.
Annel hurriedly turned her head away.
“Frankly, I know your mention of my birthday isn’t just about a gift.”
“!”
“Even so, that talk of a gift… isn’t so bad.”
He leisurely stroked Buttercup’s mane.
“Yes, even I have to admit it’s truly contradictory.”
