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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Zephyr
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“…? Excuse me, what did you just say….”
“Agh. The way this kid talks, really!”
“Ah. Yes, well.”
Chessier grabbed my and Leon’s arms, stopping us from flaring up.
Putting silent pressure on me not to interfere, he whispered in my ear.
“I have to go to the training grounds anyway. See you later.”
“Wait, Chessi—!”
But he was gone before I could catch him.
“Well, shall we get going?”
Hearing Damon’s voice from behind, I clenched my small fists and ground my teeth.
‘Wow, this little punk is the absolute worst….’
* * *
In the lavish reception room, an elegant tea table was set, looking quite out of place with the young children.
I greeted the other children who arrived late, but there was no one particularly noteworthy.
They were what you’d call typical third-generation heirs, spoiled rotten.
And.
“...and so, I took home the first-place trophy in last year’s equestrian competition.”
Damon Martini, the most insufferable character imaginable, had been bragging for a solid thirty minutes.
‘No one seems to be listening, but he’s sure talking his head off.’
All the children sitting around the table looked bored.
“By the way, are the two young lords of Antracse planning to enter the equestrian competition again this year?”
“Nah. We’re going hunting this time,” Theo answered, stuffing a dessert Erica had offered into his mouth.
“Pfft. Why? Don’t tell me you both switched to hunting because you don’t think you can beat me? Well, I suppose it’s a wise choice.”
Leon, who was sitting slouched, muttered quietly, “Arrogant bastard….”
“When it comes to horse riding, no one can match Young Lord Martini.”
“I’m sure Young Lord Martini will win again this year. I’m just going to do the poetry recitation myself.”
Jean Weber and Bruno Pensler each added a comment.
‘Hmm, so it’s not just an empty boast, then?’
The equestrian competition Damon had been bragging about was one of the noble events held during the festival.
During this time, young nobles from ages six to fifteen would participate in all sorts of refined contests.
Horse riding, hunting, musical performances, poetry recitation, and so on….
Parents would spare no expense to invest in and enter their children in any category where they showed even a sliver of talent.
In truth, for the nobility, it wasn't just a festival to be enjoyed, but an annual battleground of competition.
“Will you be participating as well, my lady? Which event are you thinking of?” Charlotte Meyer, a cute girl with a pink bob, asked me.
“Um… I haven’t really thought about it yet.”
“Lilis, haven’t you learned an instrument? The performance competition is the easiest. Let’s enter together,” Erica kindly suggested.
‘Come to think of it, I guess I have to do something. Ugh, but I have no talent…’
It was an event that had a significant impact on a family’s reputation, so I couldn’t avoid it.
“My lady, you must come and watch the equestrian competition, if nothing else. Not that there’ll be much suspense, since the winner is already decided.”
“Not that there’ll be much shushpensh~~”
As Leon openly mocked him, having heard enough, Erica burst out laughing.
“Oh my, what’s gotten into Theo today? He’s acting just as cute as Leon, isn’t he?”
It was Leon, though….
Regardless of the mockery, Damon continued to boast.
“I acquired a new steed recently. You could say I’ve finally found a horse that matches my level.”
“Hm? Damon, you changed horses?” Theo asked.
“Why’d you get rid of it? Your victory last year was all thanks to that white horse.”
“No, it wasn’t. It was my skill.”
Damon, for once, bristled at Leon’s words.
“That horse was weak. It couldn’t even keep up with the training regimen. …Anyway, my lady. You’ll be sure to come and watch, right? Hahahaha!”
Watching Damon’s upturned nose, my own twisted sense of rivalry began to burn.
Yes, I wanted to see it.
I desperately wanted to see it.
The sight of that villainous extra grinding his teeth and storming off, muttering, “Ugh, how humiliating! To think I lost!”
‘Yep, I’m entering the equestrian competition with Chessier.’
I nodded to myself, my mind made up.
* * *
“Dad, Dad, Daaad!”
“Oh! Princess!”
The moment I saw my father’s returning carriage, I ran out to meet him.
His smile stretched from ear to ear as he swept me up into his arms.
“What is it, Princess? Did you miss your dad that much? I’m so touched you couldn’t wait and came all the way out here.”
“That’s not it, I have something to tell you….”
“My princess doesn't look hurt, thank goodness. Are you feeling okay? You must have been surprised to wake up and find Dad gone, weren't you? Phew, that uncle, the Commander of the Knights, called me in first thing this morning about yesterday's incident.”
“Ah, is that so? But I have something to tell you….”
*Muah muah muah muah.*
Dad peppered my cheeks with relentless kisses as he strode across the garden.
“Haaah.”
“But why does my princess look so pretty today? Who dressed you up like this, huh? What if someone tries to kidnap you again?”
I pushed away my dad’s chin as he looked ready to suck my cheek off.
“Ah, I have something to tell you!”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Buy me a horse! A pony for kids!”
“A horse? Why a horse all of a sudden?”
“I have to enter a competition at the festival, right? I’m going to do horse riding. With Chessier.”
Dad frowned.
“Horse riding?”
“Yep!”
“Why horse riding? It’s harder than it looks. Do something else. No, you don’t even have to participate.”
“What are you talking about? Everyone else is dying to win a prize. What kind of family head are you, not even thinking about the family’s honor?!”
“…Haha. Your grandfather would be pleased to hear that.”
“Exactly! Anyway, I’m doing horse riding. Chessier can do it with me, right?”
“That’s fine, but, hmm.”
Dad looked reluctant, but seeing my eyes sparkle with determination, he finally surrendered.
“Alright, then.”
* * *
Just like that, Dad took me and Chessier to the most famous stable in the capital.
Chessier, who had been dragged along unexpectedly, hesitated when told to pick a horse.
“But is it okay for me to participate in the competition?”
“Of course. Since I’m your guardian, any prize you win will be credited to our family, though.”
“Ah, then I’ll do my best.”
Just as I expected, an unmistakable competitive fire lit up in Chessier’s eyes.
‘Heh heh. I knew it.’
The protagonist never holds back.
Due to his quiet nature, Chessier never put down petty villains with words, but instead, he brought them to their knees with his superior abilities in every field.
“Pick any horse you like.”
“Yes, sir.”
I grinned as I watched Chessier’s back while he went to choose a horse.
‘The first immutable law of the original story: The word ‘second place’ does not exist in the protagonist’s dictionary!’
Chessier had never ridden a horse before, but in the end, victory would be his.
This equestrian competition would be an opportunity to knock the arrogant Damon down a peg and make Chessier’s talent and name known.
It was a grand, kill-two-birds-with-one-stone kind of plan!
“You have to pick one too, Princess.”
“Ah. Me? Well, I’ll just take whatever….”
Of course, my plan was to sit back, enjoy the show, and reap the benefits alongside Chessier.
I had never ridden a horse before, so there was no hope of me getting any good with only two weeks of practice.
“Hmm.”
I casually looked around the stable.
There were plenty of smaller breeds suitable for children.
“Huh?”
Just then.
A light seemed to shine from one particular corner.
“Wow…! Dad, look at that one!”
I ran, mesmerized, toward a horse with a uniquely striking appearance standing by itself.
“Oh my gosh!”
“Oh, she’s beautiful.”
It was a beautiful white horse.
Its pure white coat was well-groomed and glossy, and its mane had a subtle blue tint.
But the crucial feature, beneath long, fluttering eyelashes… were its eyes!
Those eyes were the killing point!
“This one, its eyes are blue!”
If it were a person, it would have the air of a noble aristocrat. The blue eyes that met mine were haughty yet filled with melancholy.
I pointed at the white horse.
“I’ll take this one!”
“Ah, my lady.”
Just then, the owner, who had been hovering behind me and my dad, spoke with an apologetic smile.
“You’re looking for a horse for the Spring Festival’s equestrian competition, correct? If so, I’m afraid this one is not available.”
“Why not? Is there a problem with it?”
When my dad asked, the owner scratched his cheek.
“This fellow is Zephyr. He’s the horse that won last year’s equestrian competition with the young lord of Count Martini.”
“Oh? Yes, I heard about him. This was Young Lord Martini’s horse? Then why is a horse with an owner here?”
“He suffered a leg injury during practice. Well, he’s mostly recovered now, but he’ll never perform like he used to.”
“What? Don’t tell me Young Lord Martini abandoned him?”
At my question, the owner gave an awkward laugh.
“Um… well, for horses bred for racing, an injury usually means their career is over.”
“So, you’re saying he did abandon him…. No, how could he, after they must have bonded…? Even if he can’t compete, shouldn’t he still take responsibility for him…?”
“Haha. I’m sure he had his reasons.”
Reasons, my foot.
Considering the villainous extra Damon’s personality, it was obvious.
He’d abandoned him. A friend he had spent over a year with.
A creature that had even won him a first-place trophy last year.
“What a horrible person…”
“Pardon?”
“Mister, what about Zephyr, then? If he doesn’t get sold, will he keep living here?”
“No. He was raised as a racehorse, so he won’t be sold. Horses with no commercial value are, as a rule, disposed of….”
“……?”
“They’re usually sent to the slaughterhouse.”
What? For a moment, my mind went blank with shock.
‘K-kill him? When he looks perfectly fine?’
I was at a loss for words, my mouth agape as I looked up at Zephyr again.
The eyes I had thought were melancholic, almost human-like, now looked truly sad once I knew the story.
As if he’d been hurt.
“No way…”
