Chapter 42

Seeing my shocked expression, my father interjected.

"Princess, this man has no choice. It's a loss to keep a horse that can't be sold."

"But, but…."

Did Daemon know? What happens to a racehorse that is resold after being injured.

'He must have known.'

I burst out with a hollow laugh.

In equestrianism, where communication with the owner is crucial, Zephir was a horse that had even won a competition.

He probably trusted and followed his owner, who had a bad temper, and ran with him.

'But just because he got a little injured, he’s being resold to die?'

"Dad, I want to take Zephir. He’s so pitiful."

I clung to my father’s trouser leg and said.

"You don’t have to go to a competition and win a prize, right? Right?"

"Of course."

My father smiled.

"Just take this horse. Our daughter only needs to learn how to ride; it’s not necessary for the horse to be useful as a racehorse."

"Ah, but Duke. That…."

The owner looked distressed.

"Zephir isn’t just a horse with an injury. Because of his deep bond with his previous owner, he doesn’t listen to anyone."

"He doesn’t listen?"

"As you can see, he’s very handsome, so a few people tried to take him, but he doesn’t let anyone on his back and becomes aggressive. It would be dangerous for you to ride him, so I’ll show you another good horse."

"Ah, I see."

My father hesitated at the mention of danger.

"Dad! I like Zephir. Right? Anyway, they cast a fall-prevention spell for children’s equestrian competitions. And when practicing, you can help me."

"That’s true. Do you really like this horse?"

"Yes. I like him. And if I don’t take him, he’ll die…. Please. Okay?"

Clasping my hands together and pleading, my father, unable to resist, stroked my head and smiled.

"Oh, our angel. Alright, then. Let’s take this horse."

* * *

As the owner said, Zephir was very aggressive and wary.

It was quite a struggle to bring him to our ducal stables.

"When riding, the most important thing is your posture. From your head to your waist and heels, you should be in a straight line with the ground. Ah, and don’t use too much force."

"Yes."

I sat pitifully on the ground, watching Cheshire receive private lessons from my father.

Cheshire, who brought a handsome black horse, naturally succeeded in riding it at once. Her posture was quite good.

"You’re doing well?"

My father, who had been smiling contentedly, suddenly flinched and turned around.

He must have felt my intense gaze.

"Princess, at first, someone needs to hold you. I’ll go around the yard with Cheshire and come back, okay?"

"Okay. Don’t worry about me. Be careful."

My father left the stables, holding Cheshire’s horse from the side.

"Hmm."

Left alone, I looked at Zephir in his stall.

He was so wary that it was hard to even pet him, let alone ride him.

"Zephir, don’t worry. I don’t want to ride you. You don’t have to let me. I didn’t bring you here to go to a competition. Cheshire will probably win anyway."

Zephir only looked at me with indifferent eyes.

"Do you miss your owner?"

Probably.

Since Zephir didn’t want anyone other than his owner to ride him.

I sighed deeply, feeling bitter.

* * *

Zephir seemed to have lost the will to live. He barely ate enough to avoid starving.

"Ugh. Ugh."

"Oh, Miss!"

"Hello, Rick! I’m here again!"

The duke’s stableman, Uncle Rick, hurried over and took the heavy basket of carrots from my hands.

"Why are you carrying this, Miss? You should call me or ask the servants."

"I came straight from the dining room, so I didn’t think about it. The chef said these carrots were just brought from the south yesterday, and they’re organic, first-grade, and completely fresh!"

Hee, Hee!

The horses in the stables, smelling the premium snack, all neighed excitedly.

"No! These are for Zephir!"

"Ah, he probably won’t eat them today…."

I took a carrot from the basket and extended it into Zephir’s stall.

"Let’s eat, Zephir."

Zephir only glanced at me with his green eyes.

"What if he doesn’t eat anything…."

I was so upset.

"Just one bite. Okay?"

When my arm felt like it was about to fall off, I gave up and sighed.

Uncle Rick, scratching his brown beard, approached with a sympathetic look.

"He’s not eating?"

"Yes. He must be hungry…."

"Zephir probably needs time to heal his emotional wounds."

"Does he know he was abandoned? I hope he doesn’t."

"He probably knows. Even though they can’t speak, animals have feelings. Especially since he won competitions, he must have had a deep bond with his previous owner."

"Daemon Martini is a bad guy."

"That brown-haired viscount, right? Honestly, I think so too. When he came to visit, he suddenly went to the stables and started evaluating our horses."

Rick, who had been angry, soon whispered to me.

"Please keep it a secret that I badmouthed a noble young master, Miss."

"You can say more. He’s really a bad guy."

"That’s what I mean."

I sighed deeply with Rick, looking at Zephir.

"How can I make Zephir open up to me? I want to pet him at least once."

"I’m not sure…. Just give it some more time. Sincerity always works, so don’t be too sad."

"Yes."

I looked at Zephir’s empty eyes.

I felt bad.

* * *

Since Zephir arrived, the Rubenstein ducal stables have been noisy every day.

"Zephir, let’s eat!"

"Rick, is Zephir here?"

A young lady came to see her horse every day.

"Valter, hello? You look handsome today, just like your owner?"

"Zephir, the weather is so nice today!"

The indifferent Zephir didn’t care about the owner who came to see him every day….

"Hey, you stole Zephir’s carrot, didn’t you? You’ll get in trouble! I gave you your own!"

"Zephir, what did you do today?"

Because of her persistent visits, the other horses began to welcome this little lady.

Hee, Hee!

One week and three days later.

Zephir, standing in a corner of the noisy stables, glanced outside.

It should be about time for her to come….

Hee.

Valter, the black horse in the stall next to Zephir, made a mocking sound.

He must have recognized that Zephir was secretly waiting for Lirris.

Zephir pretended not to care and put his head back in the stall.

"Zephir! I’m late, sorry!"

…She came again today.

"I was supposed to come earlier, but the tower master, I mean, Master, ended the class late today!"

Chattering.

"Do you want to listen? I’m so frustrated. I’m only seven, and they’re trying to teach me linear functions now?"

Chattering.

I don’t know when I started looking forward to this noisy voice.

Anyway, I now wait for this little girl every day, but Zephir still pretended not to.

* * *

It had been ten days since I started coming to the stables every day.

"Wow, Cheshire is doing so well…."

As usual, after leaving a mark on Zephir, I watched Valter and Cheshire.

Cheshire was riding the training ground skillfully.

"Princess, what are you doing here?"

I turned around at the familiar voice, sitting pitifully on the ground with my chin in my hand.

"Huh? Mr. James, what’s up? You look cool."

It was my father. He was wearing shiny full plate armor and a blue knight’s cloak.

I was surprised by his different outfit and then realized.

'…It must be the knight’s reappointment ceremony today.'

It seemed he was going to the palace.

The reappointment that couldn’t be avoided no matter what….

"Is your reappointment ceremony today, Dad?"

"Uh-huh. I’ve been telling you for a few days, didn’t you remember?"

"Ah, I see. Have a good trip."

"Wow, that’s it? Dad will be away for two days at the palace. Dad will miss you so much, not seeing you for two days."

"I’ll miss you too."

"…At least show a sad face."

My father pouted and sat down next to me.

"What’s our princess doing?"

"Watching Cheshire."

"Aha."

My father, trying to comfort me, poked my cheek.

"Zephir still doesn’t want to let you ride him?"

"Zephir needs time to heal his emotional wounds. I won’t force him to let me ride."

"Ha-ha, look at our angel. Don’t worry. Zephir will understand you soon."

"Dad."

"What?"

"Will you see His Majesty the Emperor today?"

"……"

There was no answer. I moved my gaze from watching Cheshire to my father.

"Uh, yeah, I guess."

My father seemed tense when I suddenly brought up the Emperor.

"Didn’t you say that in the past, when His Majesty the Emperor told you to go to war, you didn’t listen?"

"What? Who said that?"

"The tower master."

"Ha-ha-ha."

My father laughed awkwardly and muttered, "He says all sorts of things to kids."

"What if His Majesty the Emperor tells you to go to war again?"

"Of course, I’ll go. You know I’m very strong. If scary monsters invade, it would be dangerous for you, so I’ll go and take care of them…!"

"Not the war to fight monsters."

"Huh?"

I pretended to play with the dirt and added.

"There’s a war where you invade other countries. You take their land and kill people who are living happily."

"……"

"Would you do that, Dad?"

"……"