“I heard that horseback riding was particularly enjoyable.”
“At first, I couldn’t even sit down. Now, I can just sit up properly.”
“With less than a week left, you’re doing really well.”
Well, it was hard to completely believe his compliments. People tend to give good reviews to those they are close to.
At least Veronica won't have to worry about horseback riding.
“It’s still a long way to go. Even if I run, I can’t even think about increasing my speed.”
“Since the hunting grounds are already prepared, you’ll probably be sitting on the horse more often than riding it... Horse this way.”
As he gestured, a servant came leading a large horse. I almost let out a long whistle out of habit.
“Oh my god, it’s so pretty!”
It was a very elegant white horse. It had a long mane and well-toned muscles that flowed smoothly. It was a little bigger than the horse I had been training with, but it looked soft and supple.
“Is it mine?”
“Yes. It is a horse of Central Continent bloodline and has a gentle personality, so it will be fine for Your Highness to ride it.”
“It’s really so pretty.”
I stroked the horse's mane as if I was possessed. It seemed to be very well trained, as it did not even yowl and accepted my touch obediently.
It seemed like the horse liked me because he was already rubbing the bridge of his nose against my palm.
I was excitedly stroking the blade when I suddenly looked up at Laskan. He asked with a faint smile.
“Do you like it?”
“I really like it. By the way, aren’t you giving me too many gifts? The earrings I received from the last Entremete, and a long time ago, you gave me a dress as well.”
“Don’t worry about such things.”
"But..."
“Your Highness, you can use it when you need it. I’m telling you now, but I had some selfish intentions with the earrings.”
“If it’s selfish...”
“That day, my cufflinks were like jewels to your earrings.”
Was it like that? I don't remember very well. I didn't really care about other people's clothes... Because it was an unfamiliar place and environment, I couldn't possibly notice such details.
“Why is that?”
“It’s a social custom.”
“...”
“In that case, it was a sign that I belonged to Your Highness.”
I opened my eyes wide in surprise. I never imagined that it had such a meaning. That's why people whispered about him and me like that!
The belated realization made my neck burn. I groped, completely red.
“That, that kind of thing...”
“Are you offended that I didn’t tell you?”
I shook my head. That was absolutely not the case. Rather, it would be a problem if the Duke got officially involved with someone like me and got into trouble later.
He said with a low laugh.
“Since you don’t deny it outright, I am reluctant to expect a positive answer.”
When will you understand my true feelings? He added in a whisper.
Is it just my imagination that the voice, which is no different from usual, feels somewhat heavy? Before I could say anything in embarrassment, he changed the mood.
“And unlike the other gifts, this one is not mine to give you.”
What the hell is this? I opened my eyes wide.
“His Majesty sent it.”
“His Majesty? Did Lady Veronica receive it too?”
"No."
“Then just for me?”
Why is someone who openly said that he favors Veronica suddenly asking me?
Even though he chose the topic of this competition as hunting, he only sent a message to me from his private stable? On the one hand, I felt good, but on the other hand, I felt a bit of a grumble inside.
“To be exact, he said, ‘The Princess won’t be able to speak, so just pick any horse from the stables.’”
“...”
Anything? I looked back at the white horse, which was quietly bowing its head while holding the reins in my hands.
I don't know how to read, but that's true, no matter how I look at it, this...
“Yes. This is Alexana, His Majesty’s favorite.”
...Wow. I almost opened my mouth and made the most stupid expression in the world. It was too much for me, who had just started walking and riding a horse.
“Whatever you say... Does that mean I can bring a kid like this?”
“You wouldn’t have known which one to choose. It’s such a famous horse.”
“...Then I guess I should send a letter later to say that I received it well.”
“Perhaps His Majesty would like you to come in person.”
I pretended not to hear, handed the reins to Cesare, and took off my leather gloves.
I have been deliberately avoiding seeing the Emperor since he became ill. Whenever he sees me, he will inevitably think of Anastasia.
When your body is weak, your mind also tends to become weak easily. If he had suddenly promised me the position of Princess like last time, I honestly didn't think I would be able to refuse it twice. Even I thought I was really materialistic.
“...Later. I’m not sure if I’ll have time since I’m busy with the competition.”
But I wasn't here to charm the Emperor. I had to remember that.
Laskan smiled as if he had read my mind. When I averted my gaze awkwardly, he asked.
“Are you ready to depart for Zarantello?”
“That’s probably true. The maids and servants had a hard time preparing it.”
The Emperor's hunting grounds, nestled in a remote resort at the southern tip, are a six-day journey away.
One day to recover from the travel, two days to start the real competition, and then a banquet to relieve the fatigue at the end. Even if you count one day generously, it was a total of ten days, so the luggage was not light.
I knew that if I was given the power to decide, I would only pack a few one-piece dresses, so I barely managed to catch my breath thanks to the maids not allowing me to go near the luggage.
“Where are you planning to depart from?”
“I plan to go straight from the territory. Your Highness, our directions will overlap in the middle.”
“Then let’s join.”
“As you commanded.”
He placed one hand on his chest and bowed his head slightly. His unusually low and deep voice and Laskan's golden eyes always made me feel uneasy.
I ran one hand through my messy hair. The wind began to smell like newly sprouted green grass.
It was already spring. It had been three months since I had entered the palace. Time had passed so quickly.
“We’re already leaving in a day or two. Nothing is ready yet. I don’t know how to handle a crossbow yet, how to shoot a gun yet, and how to ride a horse yet.”
“...”
“From the beginning, it was a fight I had no chance of winning.”
He spoke to me gently, as if soothing me.
“It might be for the better.”
“...Why?”
“If the topic had been about consideration for Your Highness from the beginning, the issue of victory or defeat would have been transformed into an evaluation of Your Highness’s qualities. Even if you had won, it would have been difficult to fully praise you.”
“...”
“Hunting is not completely disadvantageous, as luck plays a part to some extent.”
He continued, firmly holding my reddened hands. My hands were badly injured from holding the reins, even though I had protected them with leather gloves.
My hands, which were not pretty to begin with, are now so damaged, that says it all. He said this while gently pressing the soft part of my palm with his thumb.
“I will send you some skin-protecting medicine as soon as I return to the mansion.”
“You don’t have to do that. My hands aren’t that pretty to begin with.”
My hands were really ugly. Even though I had been treated with all sorts of honor in the past few months, the marks from doing odd jobs and scratches on them were not easily erased.
If you look closely, you can still see the cracked, watery shell at the tip of the finger.
That's why I always wore gloves to every social event... When I tried to pull my hand away because I was embarrassed by his staring, Laskan grabbed it again and held it tightly.
“It’s pretty.”
I don't know if it was those words that came first or if he kissed my palm first.
Anyway, he slowly kissed my palm. Of all the hands he had ever seen, mine was clearly the most humble.
“When I look at it, there is no place that isn’t pretty.”
“...”
“I think I have a serious case too.”
He said with a chuckle.
I looked at my palm and him in confusion. I realized belatedly what he had done.
I let out something that I couldn't tell if it was a sigh or a laugh.
I know. There are a hundred reasons why I shouldn't kiss him. But at this moment, I can't stand not kissing him.
I lifted my toes high and wrapped my arms around his neck. I saw his golden eyes frozen in confusion.
Because of the height difference, he had to move a little closer to me. Our noses brushed against each other, and in an instant, our lips were entangled.
My breath was tangled in a tangled mess. I grabbed onto his collar and hung on, and he held onto my waist and the back of my neck tightly to keep me from falling.
Our lips, which had been barely touching each other due to the height difference, eventually separated with a wet sound.
“Your Highness, this is...”
The voice calling me was fading and cracking.
“Please call me by my name.”
“...Sasha.”
I smiled broadly.
He was always right. Always. He lowered his head again and swallowed my lips as if biting them.
“Are you ready?”
“Almost everything. Enoch, what about the carriage?”
“The luggage is all loaded. We will depart as soon as Your Highness comes out.”
At Enoch’s urging, not urging, the maids’ hands, which were busy adjusting ny clothes, became a little busier. Peeking out the window, they saw knights in their liveries lined up at the main gate.
That dazzling grandeur. I suddenly remembered the time when I rode in the upper chariot with Enoch. At that time, I could not have dared imagine such a thing.
“It is done, Your Highness.”
I glanced at myself in the mirror and smiled. I was going hunting, so I really liked the simpler clothes I was wearing than usual.
It was a more familiar and welcome outfit to me than wearing a bunch of bulky and burdensome jewelry.
“At first, I couldn’t even sit down. Now, I can just sit up properly.”
“With less than a week left, you’re doing really well.”
Well, it was hard to completely believe his compliments. People tend to give good reviews to those they are close to.
At least Veronica won't have to worry about horseback riding.
“It’s still a long way to go. Even if I run, I can’t even think about increasing my speed.”
“Since the hunting grounds are already prepared, you’ll probably be sitting on the horse more often than riding it... Horse this way.”
As he gestured, a servant came leading a large horse. I almost let out a long whistle out of habit.
“Oh my god, it’s so pretty!”
It was a very elegant white horse. It had a long mane and well-toned muscles that flowed smoothly. It was a little bigger than the horse I had been training with, but it looked soft and supple.
“Is it mine?”
“Yes. It is a horse of Central Continent bloodline and has a gentle personality, so it will be fine for Your Highness to ride it.”
“It’s really so pretty.”
I stroked the horse's mane as if I was possessed. It seemed to be very well trained, as it did not even yowl and accepted my touch obediently.
It seemed like the horse liked me because he was already rubbing the bridge of his nose against my palm.
I was excitedly stroking the blade when I suddenly looked up at Laskan. He asked with a faint smile.
“Do you like it?”
“I really like it. By the way, aren’t you giving me too many gifts? The earrings I received from the last Entremete, and a long time ago, you gave me a dress as well.”
“Don’t worry about such things.”
"But..."
“Your Highness, you can use it when you need it. I’m telling you now, but I had some selfish intentions with the earrings.”
“If it’s selfish...”
“That day, my cufflinks were like jewels to your earrings.”
Was it like that? I don't remember very well. I didn't really care about other people's clothes... Because it was an unfamiliar place and environment, I couldn't possibly notice such details.
“Why is that?”
“It’s a social custom.”
“...”
“In that case, it was a sign that I belonged to Your Highness.”
I opened my eyes wide in surprise. I never imagined that it had such a meaning. That's why people whispered about him and me like that!
The belated realization made my neck burn. I groped, completely red.
“That, that kind of thing...”
“Are you offended that I didn’t tell you?”
I shook my head. That was absolutely not the case. Rather, it would be a problem if the Duke got officially involved with someone like me and got into trouble later.
He said with a low laugh.
“Since you don’t deny it outright, I am reluctant to expect a positive answer.”
When will you understand my true feelings? He added in a whisper.
Is it just my imagination that the voice, which is no different from usual, feels somewhat heavy? Before I could say anything in embarrassment, he changed the mood.
“And unlike the other gifts, this one is not mine to give you.”
What the hell is this? I opened my eyes wide.
“His Majesty sent it.”
“His Majesty? Did Lady Veronica receive it too?”
"No."
“Then just for me?”
Why is someone who openly said that he favors Veronica suddenly asking me?
Even though he chose the topic of this competition as hunting, he only sent a message to me from his private stable? On the one hand, I felt good, but on the other hand, I felt a bit of a grumble inside.
“To be exact, he said, ‘The Princess won’t be able to speak, so just pick any horse from the stables.’”
“...”
Anything? I looked back at the white horse, which was quietly bowing its head while holding the reins in my hands.
I don't know how to read, but that's true, no matter how I look at it, this...
“Yes. This is Alexana, His Majesty’s favorite.”
...Wow. I almost opened my mouth and made the most stupid expression in the world. It was too much for me, who had just started walking and riding a horse.
“Whatever you say... Does that mean I can bring a kid like this?”
“You wouldn’t have known which one to choose. It’s such a famous horse.”
“...Then I guess I should send a letter later to say that I received it well.”
“Perhaps His Majesty would like you to come in person.”
I pretended not to hear, handed the reins to Cesare, and took off my leather gloves.
I have been deliberately avoiding seeing the Emperor since he became ill. Whenever he sees me, he will inevitably think of Anastasia.
When your body is weak, your mind also tends to become weak easily. If he had suddenly promised me the position of Princess like last time, I honestly didn't think I would be able to refuse it twice. Even I thought I was really materialistic.
“...Later. I’m not sure if I’ll have time since I’m busy with the competition.”
But I wasn't here to charm the Emperor. I had to remember that.
Laskan smiled as if he had read my mind. When I averted my gaze awkwardly, he asked.
“Are you ready to depart for Zarantello?”
“That’s probably true. The maids and servants had a hard time preparing it.”
The Emperor's hunting grounds, nestled in a remote resort at the southern tip, are a six-day journey away.
One day to recover from the travel, two days to start the real competition, and then a banquet to relieve the fatigue at the end. Even if you count one day generously, it was a total of ten days, so the luggage was not light.
I knew that if I was given the power to decide, I would only pack a few one-piece dresses, so I barely managed to catch my breath thanks to the maids not allowing me to go near the luggage.
“Where are you planning to depart from?”
“I plan to go straight from the territory. Your Highness, our directions will overlap in the middle.”
“Then let’s join.”
“As you commanded.”
He placed one hand on his chest and bowed his head slightly. His unusually low and deep voice and Laskan's golden eyes always made me feel uneasy.
I ran one hand through my messy hair. The wind began to smell like newly sprouted green grass.
It was already spring. It had been three months since I had entered the palace. Time had passed so quickly.
“We’re already leaving in a day or two. Nothing is ready yet. I don’t know how to handle a crossbow yet, how to shoot a gun yet, and how to ride a horse yet.”
“...”
“From the beginning, it was a fight I had no chance of winning.”
He spoke to me gently, as if soothing me.
“It might be for the better.”
“...Why?”
“If the topic had been about consideration for Your Highness from the beginning, the issue of victory or defeat would have been transformed into an evaluation of Your Highness’s qualities. Even if you had won, it would have been difficult to fully praise you.”
“...”
“Hunting is not completely disadvantageous, as luck plays a part to some extent.”
He continued, firmly holding my reddened hands. My hands were badly injured from holding the reins, even though I had protected them with leather gloves.
My hands, which were not pretty to begin with, are now so damaged, that says it all. He said this while gently pressing the soft part of my palm with his thumb.
“I will send you some skin-protecting medicine as soon as I return to the mansion.”
“You don’t have to do that. My hands aren’t that pretty to begin with.”
My hands were really ugly. Even though I had been treated with all sorts of honor in the past few months, the marks from doing odd jobs and scratches on them were not easily erased.
If you look closely, you can still see the cracked, watery shell at the tip of the finger.
That's why I always wore gloves to every social event... When I tried to pull my hand away because I was embarrassed by his staring, Laskan grabbed it again and held it tightly.
“It’s pretty.”
I don't know if it was those words that came first or if he kissed my palm first.
Anyway, he slowly kissed my palm. Of all the hands he had ever seen, mine was clearly the most humble.
“When I look at it, there is no place that isn’t pretty.”
“...”
“I think I have a serious case too.”
He said with a chuckle.
I looked at my palm and him in confusion. I realized belatedly what he had done.
I let out something that I couldn't tell if it was a sigh or a laugh.
I know. There are a hundred reasons why I shouldn't kiss him. But at this moment, I can't stand not kissing him.
I lifted my toes high and wrapped my arms around his neck. I saw his golden eyes frozen in confusion.
Because of the height difference, he had to move a little closer to me. Our noses brushed against each other, and in an instant, our lips were entangled.
My breath was tangled in a tangled mess. I grabbed onto his collar and hung on, and he held onto my waist and the back of my neck tightly to keep me from falling.
Our lips, which had been barely touching each other due to the height difference, eventually separated with a wet sound.
“Your Highness, this is...”
The voice calling me was fading and cracking.
“Please call me by my name.”
“...Sasha.”
I smiled broadly.
He was always right. Always. He lowered his head again and swallowed my lips as if biting them.
***
“Are you ready?”
“Almost everything. Enoch, what about the carriage?”
“The luggage is all loaded. We will depart as soon as Your Highness comes out.”
At Enoch’s urging, not urging, the maids’ hands, which were busy adjusting ny clothes, became a little busier. Peeking out the window, they saw knights in their liveries lined up at the main gate.
That dazzling grandeur. I suddenly remembered the time when I rode in the upper chariot with Enoch. At that time, I could not have dared imagine such a thing.
“It is done, Your Highness.”
I glanced at myself in the mirror and smiled. I was going hunting, so I really liked the simpler clothes I was wearing than usual.
It was a more familiar and welcome outfit to me than wearing a bunch of bulky and burdensome jewelry.
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