Chapter 42

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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: A Horse's Heart
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“……”

My dad, who had been silent, called out to me.

“You know, Lilis.”

“You have to tell His Majesty the Emperor that you don't want a war like that, just like you said before. Because that’s a bad war…”

“……”

“Mr. James, why aren't you answering?”

I dusted the dirt from my palms and looked back at my dad.

Dad stared at me for a moment, then grinned.

“Alright, I will.”

“Dad.”

“Yes, Princess.”

I stood up and hugged my dad.

“I’m okay.”

“What do you mean?”

Dad held me as I burrowed into his chest, gently stroking my hair as he asked.

“I don't want you to go off to some bad war because of me.”

“……”

“Promise me. Okay?”

Dad’s arms, holding me tight, trembled slightly.

“Pwomise.”

“…Yes, alright. I promise.”

The lie in his voice was bitter.

* * *

In the deep predawn, when even the moon was asleep.

The stables of the Rubinstein ducal estate.

Only Chessier's black stallion, Walter, and Lilis's white steed, Zephyr, were awake.

[Hey, Prince.]

Walter called to Zephyr.

Prince… a nickname the other horses from their old stable had given Zephyr to tease him for his beautiful appearance and haughty demeanor.

As always, Zephyr didn't deign to reply.

[Haven't you had enough? Why don't you just let the Princess ride you?]

[…….]

Princess was Lilis's nickname.

It was because Lilis's father, the human master of this house, always called his daughter Princess.

[Are you even listening?!]

[…You're noisy. Shut up.]

[So you are listening. Hey, don't you feel sorry for the Princess? She sits in the stables every day, just watching our master ride me with envious eyes.]

[…….]

[My master's been so worried about the Princess he couldn't even focus yesterday or today.]

Zephyr had eyes and ears; he knew everything.

He knew that Lilis watched Chessier expertly ride Walter with eyes full of envy.

Just then.

A small presence stirred in the darkness.

Both horses' ears perked up.

“Oh, what's this? You two are awake?”

[Huh, Princess? What are you doing here at this hour!]

It was Lilis, holding a lantern in one hand and a small basket tucked under her arm.

“Shh, shh. Walter, be quiet. You'll wake up all your friends.”

[Give me a carrot!]

“I told you to be quiet, didn't I?”

Though to Lilis it must have sounded like nothing more than a whinny, Walter repeatedly demanded a carrot.

Lilis peered into the basket she’d brought and hesitated.

“Do you want one of these? They were heavy, so I could only bring four. They're all for Zephyr, though…”

[Don't play favorites!]

“What should I do… Alright, just one, okay?”

Lilis set the lantern down in a corner of the stable and fed Walter a carrot.

“Heehee, you eat so well. You're so pretty.”

[The Princess is prettier.]

Having devoured the carrot in an instant, Walter snorted and affectionately nuzzled Lilis's hand.

After patting Walter a few times, Lilis poured all the remaining carrots into Zephyr's feed trough.

[Lucky bastard….]

Walter muttered.

“Zephyr, I thought you'd be asleep, but you're awake. I was only able to sneak out at dawn today because Dad's not here… Oh, my dad went to the imperial palace. He said he'll be back after two nights.”

Chattering away as if she were talking directly to Zephyr, as always, Lilis carefully got down on her hands and knees.

Zephyr flinched in surprise.

He wondered what she was doing, only to see her push her small body into his stall.

Fearlessly.

“This, Zephyr, is some really good medicine left over from what I sent to Rico yesterday. I mixed it with water and warmed it up. Oh, Rico is my friend.”

Lilis pulled a damp cloth from the folds of her dress.

Then, as if fear was only just setting in, she stood at a slight distance and hesitated.

“I'm going to tie this around your sore foot. I was originally going to do it secretly while you were asleep… You have to keep your foot still, okay? It'll hurt me if you kick.”

Zephyr's gaze remained indifferent. Cautiously, Lilis wrapped the cloth around Zephyr's right foreleg.

“Good boy… You know, I asked Flynn about it. Oh, Flynn is our family doctor. He said this is really good medicine, but it only works on people, not animals. So it probably won't do any good, but you never know…”

Lilis added with a sigh.

“Mr. Rick said you might not be moving because your foot still hurts.”

[That's not it, Princess. This Prince bastard's leg healed a long time ago.]

“Walter, I told you to be quiet, didn't I? Anyway, I saw a newspaper article about when you won the equestrian competition last year. It said you practiced for ten hours a day without even a ten-minute break.”

Muttering to herself, Lilis added in a tiny voice, “That rotten Damon Martini…”

“I hope you get better soon.”

Then she let out a small gasp.

“Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not doing this so you'll let me ride you. You don't have to.”

[Ditch that Prince! I'll give you a ride, Princess!]

“Walter, no. You've had all your carrots for today. I'll give you more tomorrow.”

After placating Walter, Lilis gently stroked Zephyr's leg.

“Like I said before, I don't have to enter the competition. Chessier will win anyway, so it doesn't matter.”

[That's right, my master and I are going to win!]

Her clumsy treatment finished, Lilis plopped down in a corner, oblivious to the dirt, and hugged her knees.

Zephyr quietly looked down at her.

“So if you don't want to run, you don't have to. You can run when you feel like it.”

Lilis said with a smile.

For some reason, the face of his former master superimposed itself on hers, and Zephyr couldn't take his eyes off Lilis.

“Stop resting! Don't sleep, just run! The competition is right around the corner!”

“Why are you getting slower? Run faster! Faster! What am I supposed to do with this pathetic speed?!”

“It might be upsetting that you're not as fast as you used to be because of your leg injury… but being fast isn't always the best thing. There are some things you can only see when you're slow.”

“You were born to run. There's only one way to prove your worth as a racehorse. Competitions! Victory! The best!”

“The term ‘racehorse’ is a little strange, isn't it? A horse born to run… Hmm, but there are so many other fun things and delicious foods in the world.”

“Ah, this horse? I got a new one. Seeing the state you're in, you look hopeless. If you want to carry me and run again, get back to your old form. I have no use for a slow horse.”

“It’s not like you’re only loved if you run well, or cherished only if you win a competition. So really, it’s okay if you can’t run as fast as you used to.”

[…….]

“I just want you to get better soon… both your leg, and your heart…”

Muttering, Lilis let out a small yawn and, forgetting to go back, began to doze off right where she was.

Zephyr watched her for a long while before carefully closing the distance, bending his legs, and sitting down.

Soon, the child's small body was nestled deep against the soft white horse's neck.

* * *

“What in the world are you doing here?”

Blink, blink.

A stern voice, making it hard to tell if I was dreaming or awake, struck my ears.

When I rubbed my eyes and sat up, I saw a hazy, bright sky that signaled the dawn.

I jolted in surprise.

‘W-what! Did I sleep here?’

Zephyr was lying next to me. It seemed I had fearlessly fallen asleep leaning against him.

And the one who woke me was…

“G-g-grandfather?”

It was my grandfather, exuding an aura of imposing dignity in his black uniform.

I scrambled to my feet.

‘Grandfather definitely said he was going to the return ceremony with Dad yesterday, didn't he?’

Why is he at home? And in the stables, of all places?

My head was spinning, but I knew I had to apologize first.

To sit on the dirty stable floor and sleep so peacefully… It was an act utterly devoid of a noble's dignity.

“Grandfather, um… I came out for a moment yesterday to feed the horses and accidentally fell asleep. I'm sorry.”

“……”

Grandfather said nothing. Flustered and unsure what to do inside the stall, I had no choice but to get on my hands and knees and crawl out the way I came in.

…I was done for. I had done the very thing my grandfather hated most.

“I-I'm sorry…”

I shuffled backward, trying to hide my dirt-stained hem and shoes.

“Is this the horse you brought here to ride in the equestrian competition?”

“Oh, Zephyr? Yes.”

“I heard he won't even let you on his back.”

How did Grandfather know that? It was strange, but I nodded.

“Then you should get a different horse.”

“No!”

I waved my hands in surprise.

“Zephyr is a horse with… with a wounded heart. If I give up on him and find another horse just because he won't let me ride him, he might be so disappointed that he closes his heart off completely… That's why I want to wait for him…”

“……”

“Grandfather, so… I don't think I'll be able to enter the equestrian competition. I'm sorry I can't go and win a prize.”

“When did I ever tell you to enter a competition and win a prize?”

“You didn't, but…”

“So you've never once ridden a horse.”

“No.”

I hesitated, then peeked up to gauge my grandfather's expression.

Grandfather, who had been gazing down at me, suddenly bent his knees and personally brushed the dirt from my skirt and shoes.

“Huh, Grandfather…?”

Then he stood up and opened the stall opposite Zephyr's.

Grandfather led out a muscular brown horse by the reins and, in the next moment, lifted me onto its back.

“……?”

Then he swung himself up behind me and began to slowly guide the horse forward.