59: [The Horse Riding Event]
The day of the [Horse Riding Event] had arrived.
Wearing my riding outfit, matching Leticia’s but in a different color, I felt a sense of resolve.
Mine was blue, Leticia’s red. We both wore white breeches, and our vests were light blue and peach, respectively. The riding outfits, courtesy of “Tailor,” didn’t restrict movement at all—perfect for a day like today.
We had changed in a room at the inn, which we were using mainly as a changing room.
After exchanging brief greetings with the innkeeper, pretending my visit yesterday had never happened, Leticia and I headed to the riding grounds.
“Perfect weather for riding!”
Felix, who had arrived the day before and been admiring the horses until we arrived, exclaimed. I understood how he felt.
I paused and looked up at the sky, the early summer sun so bright I had to squint.
However, this was Eustasia, a northern country. The deep blue sky was dotted with clouds, and a cool breeze made the long-sleeved riding outfits just right.
I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the scent of grass—and perhaps a faint hint of horse and cow manure, but it was a ranch.
“Yes, the weather’s wonderful. …Isn’t it, Elder Sister?”
“Yes, it is.”
The weather was so perfect that I was worried it might ruin my ‘preparations’ from the day before.
“Lady Leticia, please be careful in the sun. You brought a water bottle, right? Stay hydrated.”
“Yes, Dr. Louis.”
Including Louis, concerned for her well-being like a good Chief Physician, everyone except Felix had arrived today.
They had come to the ranch by carriage and would now be riding… it felt a bit strange, but perhaps that was how nobles amused themselves.
I, too, had ridden at full speed to the ranch and back on my beloved Lillie.
“I’m so glad to be riding with Lady Leticia.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Your Highness. I’m happy to be riding with Elder Sister and everyone.”
Leticia smiled at Konrad. Her response was… passable.
…Perhaps she shouldn’t have mentioned my name first.
As the horses were led out of the stables, Felix was the first to rush over, patting his horse’s neck and stroking its mane before leaping onto its back. The large black horse, proportionate to his size, was his favorite, its name often mentioned among those discussing fine steeds.
Though our white mare, Lillie, was arguably the finest horse of our time.
…I wouldn’t brag about it. There was no objective standard, and many people likely felt the same way about their own horses, so it was a pointless argument.
Konrad rode a white horse like mine, and Louis rode a brown one.
Only Chief Physician Louis was on a rented horse, and that chestnut mare was a gentle, well-trained horse.
While he had acquired riding skills during his time with the nomadic people, it was a suitable mount for the Chief Physician, who didn’t usually ride.
I, of course, rode Lillie. Since I was on official fate-serving duty today, this white mare was my only source of comfort.
On a day like this, with its mean-spirited event, my sister’s cuteness was more of a stressor.
I reached out and stroked Lillie’s neck, and she happily flicked her ears.
Lillie’s large eyes gazed at me, and when I obliged her silent request for more petting, she swished her tail.
Horses were good. They didn’t betray you.
Humans—humans did betray you.
A stable hand led the last horse, my sister’s mount, out of the stables.
“Um… Elder Sister…?”
At my sister’s bewildered tone, the men, who had been preparing their horses, turned to look at her.
“What is it, Leticia?”
I responded with a neutral expression to my sister’s confused face.
My sister was cute even when confused.
“We’re… going horseback riding… today, right…?”
“Yes. What’s wrong? Do you have some complaint about the horse I prepared for you?”
My sister had every right to be angry.
The horse I had prepared for her was a pony.
While my sister was petite and could ride it… it was still quite small.
Completely different from the elegant riding horses we were on.
“…No. Thank you, Elder Sister. You prepared a smaller horse for me so it would be easier to ride.”
My sister was incredibly sweet.
“Adelheid, even for you, this childish prank is…”
Knight Commander Felix chimed in.
While he had a point, it wasn’t necessary.
What was necessary was to follow the scenario while ensuring a safe outcome.
…The problem was that I didn’t know which of these three my sister would choose.
I didn’t know how she had been spending her free time with them.
“Now, now, Knight Commander, there’s no need for such comments. This is simply an older sister’s consideration for her younger sister… that’s all. —Isn’t it?”
I added a sarcastic lilt to my voice.
And, actually, there was no lie in my words.
Falling from a large horse was dangerous. Absolutely not.
“But…”
“――This is a Vanderwaals family matter. Refrain from interfering.”
I dismissed him sharply, took the reins, and offered them to my sister.
“Well, Leticia? You can ride by yourself, can’t you?”
“…Y-yes, Elder Sister.”
Prince Konrad glared at me.
“Lady Adelheid! …Even as the head of the Vanderwaals family, this behavior is…!”
“It’s alright, Your Highness. This is… Elder Sister’s… consideration…”
My sister’s shoulders trembled as she looked down.
A sharp pain, like being torn apart, shot through my chest.
I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…!
I suppressed the words I couldn’t utter, hiding them behind an impassive mask.
When I was finally beheaded, would that appease her resentment…?
Chief Physician Louis stared at me intently, his expression grim.
“…Lady Adelheid, considering your own beliefs, do you… find nothing shameful in your actions?”
“No. Nothing at all.”
I answered immediately and definitively.
I wish I could say, Direct your complaints to whoever wrote this script.
Well, I didn’t expect them to understand.
“Now, get on. —Oh, it suits you quite well, doesn’t it?”
I smiled faintly at my sister, now atop—well, on—the pony, trying to appear as mean-spirited as possible.
It did suit her. While small and perhaps lacking in elegance, a pony was still a horse.
And its small size actually emphasized Leticia’s petite frame, her delicate features, her adorableness.
Felix, perhaps wanting to show off, had arranged for one of the Knights’ horses, but it was too large.
And it was a stallion, which seemed to have a rather spirited temperament.
For her first riding lesson, I had made sure to provide a small, gentle mare.
Surely he didn’t think bigger was better, did he?
While the stallion part was debatable, the large size and spirited temperament were desirable traits for a knight’s warhorse… and, needless to say, unsuitable for a young, inexperienced noble lady.
Besides, Felix loved horses too much and was too skilled a rider; I suspected he was blind to a horse’s flaws.
“Well then, let’s begin, everyone.”
I declared the start of the [Horse Riding Event] with a bright smile.
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