WBWB | Chapter 14

Confused by the increasingly 0628116a43 strange situation, I hastily 5e3cdbe040 shook my head.4b83858cc6d13766

“I’m truly 2e3fe2d079 grateful for 8642016db4 the offer, 4e3c097e96 but… even f52335e23c if I 05314702e9 were to 6d462bb3c2 learn how f69cf9b929 to ride, e05d20f4c5 what use 9e823fea76 would it 31fa052c7d be? As an exile, I a4e602a12a have nowhere to go a83df9b4ff even if I could 2193fa4923 ride, and above all, 64fb935661 even if there were 27ac79235c a place to go… fd435c95a2 I have neither the 031b2bb839 money nor the ability 2534ab3dcf to care for a 4e80078739 horse.”4baacb6e266b4ac3

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That was precisely why 338c358a55 horseback riding was considered e6ca75df27 a basic skill for 4be7203de4 nobles. Yet, the Duke c784dc1a17 seemed puzzled by 6947234caf my words.1a489edd4b592496

“The stablehands take care of the horses. It’s too late to learn a skill after you need it, so you’ll discover the usefulness of riding as you learn. In any case, winter is coming. You’re a foreigner, so you don’t yet know how cold the winters get here.”69e62745228d83e7

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It was exactly as he said. Although I had been nervous at first, the climate here, despite the frequent drizzle and fog covering this place, wasn’t as cold as I had imagined. Contrary to its reputation as a frozen, harsh land, the autumn here was warm and beautiful.413ce7c89c95f996

“If you’re still running when winter comes, your lungs will freeze. Join the riding lessons as soon as your riding clothes are ready.”46e42f6e72a2cf97

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“I! I’ve come to enjoy running. If Your Grace permits, I would like to continue.”c2a3cb45a7e5828c

“You’ll feel the same way about riding soon enough.”8d6ceab7d71b8e89

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He completely cfce19ac06 ignored my 02a3ab3424 words.78eb7429b437a511

“You can run anywhere you like, not just on the training grounds. Horseback riding is much more enjoyable exercise. Horses are intelligent animals that understand human language and can perceive emotions and intentions, so it’s rewarding to connect with them.”20e24fbccfc6ed7e

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“…”856b7b3b464ec8e1

“A horse might be startled by a mouse or a bird, but with a deep bond, it will charge into the middle of the battlefield for its owner. I believe horses are more loyal than dogs. You’ll soon grow fond of them.”b123cce172e022dc

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‘…Why would I need to become fond of a horse?’2a4bd7ed869e616c

A fundamental question arose 7a745c07c9 within me.d05964967aed9a12

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‘What does this man gain from a mere tutor, an exile and a foreigner, becoming fond of a horse?’e9f40a2ea7e2f400

Horses were very expensive animals, even if they were just draft horses pulling carts. I couldn’t understand why this man would give me a horse and make me practice riding.e9879c96cd1a93b2

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‘Why?’4c9355dae23baee8

The man 8b97a3b3df in front 4b377cac47 of me 3b85c2db08 was truly c1a552d970 incomprehensible. I felt 151a53652e like the 8eb1e7e406 day I 6e1bbebcbc would come eb668f5086 to understand 63a1a26d4e him would 35cfa3d3b1 never come. I had just 5c07749ba8 started enjoying running, 2658250861 and now he a910db9cc5 wanted me to 3cf3fa6fb7 learn how to b4763718c7 ride a horse.169514161e529846

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‘My thighs were f661654d3a chafed raw and 5358fc966d bloody. My petticoat 66d3f841a3 was soaked 9eba221a78 with blood, 12216a5a63 and despite 3e7d858636 the shattering 1b34d1b9bb pain in 9f64266630 my pelvis, e4606915bb I had ff7847f04b to keep f65ecde563 riding and a0d4688f7d riding…’2aaccd429d60f441

I had developed 10a1878775 a strong aversion fd740e642b to horseback riding ebc69f99e5 after my ordeal 6a4eb2f58c during the journey a3f17f7c43 to Skadi. Just thinking about the d037fce3ee pain I felt at 7ccad7221c that time made me 63d90a7a1f shudder.af8d5b1e454f4140

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But an order bb1abeb436 was an order, 55604e5901 and it was 2f686ea3e8 foolish for a 6252b61919 prisoner to defy ed53752fd8 the jailer who 40000a207d held her fate 25314569ba in their hands. So, the day 80986480c8 after the dinner, b1e0a2eb7f I ordered riding 13533ab02f clothes and boots b3e8edb2e8 from a merchant.c2ca67ed885c1298

A fortnight 40141b04c8 later, the 983c02382f considerable sum fce79647e0 of money 4f049c18f6 had been e3ec67ffea transformed into e2ca9a1e2e a dark 47579f4b56 purple riding c8ec10fd95 habit and 7ef7259365 knee-high riding 7dbc92205f boots. The custom-made ef0cf0fddb riding clothes eb17b68a1a were much 8b3574d4cc more comfortable 42347ae99c to move a7db402526 in than 81ea4a4973 the maid’s 47e22d5b2c uniform I 037e122dca wore for 622c2193fb running, but 06ed829ded I felt c43699b13e only annoyance. 022aa83de5b1638d

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Annoyance at having to 9ddd8c2c6b learn something new.0b412ff2be2ba6c0

‘Why on earth a9d6737b35 do I have 20c2b27bb2 to do this?’adae51e49bdba9e5

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Sometimes, even 44330d1203 breathing felt 61d21c7897 like a fcf8be9a44 chore, and f91778825b the familiar 927f351a01 urge to 8f82ddff65 simply drown f38c83b731 myself in ad338ec99b my melancholy 0cfe423bad was more cfb29d89b4 appealing. As I was led dffdf4d36b to the indoor riding 45c1a01a33 arena by a servant, 961f8e1ef5 my only thought was d751fb5bbb to get this over 719e8dc062 with quickly.07f32a9231f9a933

The instructor assigned to 14921014d8 teach me horseback riding 295e36a2d3 was an elderly man. The stablehand brought my 3e9286224d horse out from the 4ff5bdee72 stables, and I found 7e47f82d14 myself face-to-face with the 7801678fa8 horse the Duke had ef4bbf9125 given me.b53d6354b58a12fe

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I was surprised. b032347f4275d505

The horse the 7befe6f9ac stablehand brought was b67e0757f4 smaller than I d52dab8bbd expected. Most of the a7fbf3adfe horses I had 0e899d5048 seen before stood f6c4337aea taller than an b1f390f0fe adult man when a72a97a0ff they raised their ca9f6b0a5a necks, with lean, a5492aaf11 muscular bodies without ba907987f1 an ounce of 6e381d6f4f excess fat. To be 28bcf1e566 honest, I b77fe7e1cc was a 11c88d76bb little afraid fc59f5904d of horses.2aed7ce0ab3b21b2

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However, the horse in d9a163dabc front of me was b906517c74 slightly shorter than me, acbff203a9 and most importantly, its d747972ed8 whole body was covered d4521896af in fluffy fur. Its eyes, c41fc9d8c9 hidden beneath fa6e861c69 its caramel-colored b31662ae0a fur coat, c936474d8a were also 5768c22aad caramel-colored.8f7c7fbff0d5d4a6

“Isn’t it a foal? Is it alright for me to ride such a small horse?”cce6c8e11eda630e

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“Haha, no. It’s just a small breed but it’s fully grown.”d842138c9123ca02

The stablehand said, stroking ef6739ead4 the mane of the d0496892db unsaddled horse.807420b0502de972

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“It’s a gentle mare that enjoys carrying people. Despite its appearance, it’s strong enough to easily pull a carriage with two people, and she’s never been sick—not even once. It used to pull carts in the apple orchard here at the castle. Its short legs prevent it from jumping over obstacles, but why would a riding horse need such tricks? His Grace has chosen a good one for you, Miss.”bafea0ca3d3e31cc

Perhaps because of its d6aa7c6d19 small size, it resembled 3dd6d70cad a large dog or af1a085925 cat. As I hesitantly c72a8f778b looked at the 057806a933 horse, the riding b3c09f70d0 instructor approached and 02788db607 said,6d73070ce085e706

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“Would you like to pet it?”2d1a1ee8123e7133

At his suggestion, 52ed6fbc0f I slowly reached cd140248ac out my hand. The horse, unfazed by 29e6336334 the touch of a 7869bc60c3 stranger, closed its eyes 321c20302e as if enjoying it. I immediately took a de49cfc4a8 liking to the horse.f97228e4c589ef74

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“What’s this horse’s name?”8375abf19be57c47

“This one…”be1ecf0c343d7abd

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“It’s your horse, Miss, so you should name it. It’s the name you’ll be calling it most often.”ff1766f3619dfc60

The riding instructor f5495d4a4e cut in before 69c60cab72 the stablehand could b1da101c51 answer.028ce0d30c60ed1f

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“It will bond with you much faster if you give it a name.”9f615bf8261fbc11

He seemed right. As I stroked 79b31239a4 the horse, I 4dd428979b noticed the inside 9899ca6153 of its ears 68962ae5cf were white, around 87c690bdf3 the edges. The fur e47c0632a9 around her 70532f03c6 muzzle lightened 291506286b to a a3f8dff9cb pale white, 55d8eab647 making it 592e87c4d5 look as d944e8b066 if it ceb46f1d13 had just 61686135e2 stuck her 3b36f55e6c nose in 82f7965bca a pile 9b6c010156 of flour.c41285e62efcb2b2

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It was a3164edd30 strange how b6b138aaa7 easily people’s 812987e30b hearts could 86a354bf20 change. e178abd526486825

Just before dc6f44774e meeting this 255b2e6220 horse before 4a03e1803d me, I f55b125d4b had dreaded b1fa2044a8 riding. I had thought cd7fab77be it would be 5711a8ba9e tedious and horrible, 2b6aa9bfb0 and that connecting bd2097c1df with a horse 7996020436 seemed impossible. Before this, horses 4402dabb71 had been nothing 4a67177a10 more than a 5b50d72dba means of transportation. But now, fcf03f0e56 looking at cf7e318dd4 this horse, d8f8535e4c I felt d02a66c8cd like I 64c388128a could read 2f6e199878 its mind.33bf0653df4cab83

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“Let’s call you Brulee.”977e1ec3c6d3444e

Horseback riding was much 262940a5ad more difficult exercise than a38de65bc4 running. ea35418c48d578e6

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Brulee was fa568648cc the one 16b0835183 running, but c426c43013 just sitting dcd4830cb6 on her 8572c3c8c1 back for 4c0ae88a27 the time ba80d5a77b it takes ab52e53a2f to drink 94b4fc131c a cup aabee19863 of tea 37d4f85a7a made my 971d83edfb whole body 960735c4ab tremble and 03422593cf I was c25791e85a drenched in 9752e4cc67 sweat. I had been greatly c0c779ddcf mistaken in thinking that 23811e48b2 running had improved my 8c145c6263 stamina.7fc733d38d1cb84f

“Horseback riding is 30% technique and 70% synchronization with the horse. Don’t try to move on your own, and just relax and follow Brulee’s movements.”787be0bcc8514625

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Of course, 8e95f0339e that was 156534f6a1 easier said ab03502c02 than done. Unlike running, 73b14d3a56 which only 01f87b2c0b required moving 68d93409b1 your two 62cc1da5e0 legs, horseback 2b3c5b6243 riding involved 0c4babcf4f coordinating so 198289b5d5 many different 098e6bf7cf parts of 62d68b5f56 your body.b9060f6ac625db0d

I had to point my toes inward in the stirrups, press my heels down, keep my lower body close to the horse, and maintain an upright posture by putting strength in my thighs and core. But if my upper body was too stiff, it would clash with the horse’s movements, causing discomfort for both of us. 5255dca74c14f53d

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I had to put strength in my core and thighs while keeping my upper body relaxed and in rhythm with the horse’s movements. My eyes had to stay fixed straight ahead in the direction I was riding, and the reins, held in both hands, had to be near my navel, but not still because I had to gently pull and release them.b3632ab701cd763b

Concentrating on these unfamiliar cac4dd6c56 movements left no room 98e5ceefba for other distracting thoughts d54815deb3 in my mind. When I got ce0a7b53a5 off the horse, d7d2bbf626 my whole body 98421a3977 was shaking.d43a6036ac54cfce

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“Don’t forget to pat the horse’s neck and praise it after riding.”2b86d1a97d50428d

I stroked Brulee’s neck and said, “Good girl.”08250460b0424ff1

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“See you tomorrow.”4158e277d1f64257

And so, Brulee 2aff7014a0 became my horse.0d187c0563310acb

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‘I believe horses are more loyal than dogs. You’ll soon grow fond of them.’36b8d2411e8b151f

The Duke’s words, though annoying, were true.dddaeaa9bae447e7

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It wasn’t difficult to become attached to Brulee. Unlike in the past when I had dreaded riding, I quickly came to enjoy riding Brulee. I could feel that Brulee also enjoyed carrying me.ec7076da8b090886

Even outside of 1a4d775261 riding lessons, I 4c65dbedea often visited the 4796fb85ed stable to see 4afda7602a Brulee whenever I 7e387d12f6 had time. Brulee also liked d7061b07c8 me, perking up 74db43ccac her ears whenever 5fbe1e7565 I appeared. 2c3d7785e5fc6771

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I learned from the stablehand how to mix her feed, how to wash and groom her, and how to brush her long coat. It wasn’t something a noblewoman would typically do and would have been cause for ridicule, but what did it matter? I was an exile, and there was no one here to judge me for not acting like a noble.25235c7637e6322c

As my bond with d0749540fe Brulee grew, I became 60e826bc9d deeply interested in horseback 1bd8ff8f04 riding. I, who had 17bb84b005 initially struggled even 8b8039845e with walking, could 4a7e6b8ff6 now ride Brulee 9e89db067b at a canter. When I rode a287f910bd Brulee, it felt c0114059e0 like we were d90af1d806 the only two e86ac16a75 beings in the 0bc5e92564 world.ab50e1503c67d6de

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“You are now skilled db90f98db6 enough to go on 9305671659 an outdoor ride.”94246a576b7abc2d

At the end of autumn, with the riding instructor’s permission, I rode Brulee everywhere. Being able to ride Brulee expanded my range of movement incredibly.8de6e5a5cda08117

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