“Yes, Cecilia.”
“Mm!”
My conscience pricked me.
‘I promised myself I’d keep some distance, but now that I’m finally back…’
I felt frustrated with myself, but I also thought there was nothing I could do about it for now.
Ah! If only I could just get into an accident and lose all my memories.
As I chased away such pointless thoughts, I squeezed Cecilia’s hand tight, then let go. She seemed awkward with empty hands and shyly opened and closed her fingers as she smiled.
“Um, so… are you all right now?”
Paul glanced awkwardly between me and Cecilia.
“Yes, I’m fine. Sorry for worrying you…”
“No, no! I’m only sorry I couldn’t step in!”
Paul waved his hands frantically, denying Cecilia’s words with all his might.
“Then, would you like a tour of this place? Hehe.”
Paul gestured toward the riding arena.
“Yes! Thank you, Paul.”
“Ah, um, you two should come along as well.”
“Okay.”
Paul hesitated as he invited us. It was obvious he was only doing it out of obligation. Daisy immediately replied to Paul and looked over at me.
‘I’m tired.’
But I’d just said we should all go together, so I couldn’t refuse now.
“Alright.”
“Great, let’s go then! This is my first time at a riding arena.”
“…Really?”
Daisy’s eyes went wide at Cecilia’s words.
“Yes. The Seran Domain is a small, quiet place… We had horses, but we couldn’t afford to maintain a riding arena.”
“I see. It’s my first time, too.”
Daisy answered hesitantly. There was a hint of relief and kinship in her voice.
“Oh! Then let me give you a proper tour today! Actually, there’s not much to a riding arena. It’s just some wide, even ground, a stable, a stable keeper, and the horses!”
Paul spoke with a swelling chest, introducing the place as if it were his own. The bright expression on his face showed just how much he loved this job.
“Actually, I’m a little afraid of large animals.”
Cecilia looked at the distant horses with a slightly fearful expression.
“Oh my, then you came here for Liana, didn’t you?”
Daisy looked surprised, glancing back and forth between us.
“You two must be really close.”
“Of course! And we’re going to become close, too.”
Sensing Daisy’s faint disappointment, Cecilia grabbed her hand and laughed playfully.
“I see. You could have gone to another class.”
I said,
“Your hands are really soft.”
Daisy’s compliment drowned out my words.
‘Phew. Let’s not overthink every little thing.’
“Well then, please lead the way.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Momentarily forgotten in the warmth of their friendship, Paul nodded at my request and took the lead.
Following behind Paul, we started to walk slowly. The soft earth sent up dust clouds at the slightest breeze. When Cecilia coughed, Daisy pulled out a worn handkerchief and dusted the air for her.
“Thank you, Daisy.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Um, Lady Liana, are you all right?”
Paul, who had been offering the blue handkerchief to Cecilia, met my eyes and smiled sheepishly.
“I’m fine. In fact, I like the smell of earth.”
It was a comfort I hadn’t felt while tending plants.
If I could gather all the sweat I’d shed while repotting, I could fill a dry dam with water.
“Really?”
Paul asked again, his face doubtful, suspicion written all over him.
“It’s rare for a young lady to like riding, you know.”
Cecilia covered her mouth and nose with the blue handkerchief. The dust in the air seemed to bother her.
Seeing Cecilia’s unimpressed face, Paul seemed certain I was lying.
“Riding darkens your face, hurts your thighs, and in the end your face will get completely tanned!”
“Well, my face…”
Daisy absentmindedly touched her own cheek.
But do you still like riding? You must be lying!
Paul seemed to be asking that with his eyes. His already tanned face was flushed even darker.
‘Is he angry? Does he dislike that girls like riding?’
That sort of thing was common.
There were separate virtues expected of young ladies, regardless of whether they were commoners or nobles.
Paul even clenched his fists and looked at me.
But he didn’t seem like he wanted to exclude me.
Watching him carefully, it almost felt like Paul was just as excited as I was.
‘Hmm? Not angry… excited?’
“I like it because this place is so lively. It really appeals to me.”
That was how I honestly felt. It was something I’d never experienced in the glass conservatory where our botany classes took place.
‘I’m thrilled!’
Ever since I arrived at the main building, I felt as if something wonderful was waiting here. How should I put it—an unexplainable pull? I felt like I simply had to come here.
Now that I had, it was clear!
Maybe it was the atmosphere of the riding arena, or something else, but I felt a refreshing energy fill my body.
‘It sounds ridiculous, but it’s like even the earth is trembling with excitement!’
“…Alright! I, Paul, will give you a proper tour! I’ll even show you the smartest horse! Normally, I shouldn’t show you without the professor here, but just this once, I will!”
Paul paused, then delivered his speech as if he’d been dreaming of this moment. Like a knight before a decisive battle, his face was so solemn he even bared his crooked tooth in a shining smile.
His innocent smile made me laugh, too. As I chuckled quietly, Paul cleared his throat, embarrassed.
“Let’s go, let’s go!”
“Alright.”
“This riding arena has been here since before the Academy was founded. It has a very long history. During the Hundred Years’ War, this place was a training ground for war horses. The whole area used to be mountain forest, but after the war ended, the Academy was built. The war horses were taken by the Margrave and are now living out their days in peace. Ah, war horses have different muscles from normal horses. Their big, powerful muscles are as majestic and impressive as the war gods of myth.”
Paul quickened his pace as he poured out stories about the riding arena. He explained eagerly, as if he’d been waiting for someone to ask. His body quivered with excitement as he gestured and pointed everywhere.
Walking backward should have been awkward, but he showed no sign, instead pointing out corners of the arena and reciting its history. He even chatted about the horses strolling in the distance.
Daisy seemed a bit bored, but I found it entertaining. Paul’s passion for his work made him seem like a different person.
“They look dignified, even from afar.”
Cecilia chimed in, and Paul, blushing, stammered his next words.
“You really love horses, don’t you?”
“Yes! That’s right!”
Paul stopped dead in his tracks. Some students walking around stared at us in surprise.
Seemingly oblivious to the attention, Paul launched into a speech about horses’ greatness.
“Ahem. Ah! Would you like to see a little equestrian display?!”
“Equestrian?”
“Yes, Lady Cecilia. If you’re just watching, your face won’t get tanned. Haha.”
Paul said this while sneaking glances at me.
“Anyway, seeing several riders galloping all at once is quite a sight. There’ll be a bit of dust though…”
“Is it alright to do this without the professor?”
I remembered how worried Natalie had been about safety.
Is it really okay to do this without the professor?
Paul seemed to hesitate for a moment, then lifted his chin.
“Just trust me! I, Paul, was born and raised right here at this riding arena! There won’t be any accidents.”
He was so confident, it made me even more nervous.
But I still wanted to see!
“I’m sure Paul will do great! Liana, since you like it so much, let’s watch! Paul, can you really show us?”
“Of course! Of course! Please wait just a moment!”
Paul dashed off toward the stable on his long legs. He ran so fast that a cloud of dust trailed behind him.
“He’s a good runner.”
Daisy waved her handkerchief, coughing.
“Liana.”
Cecilia gazed quietly at me.
“Did you always like horses?”
“Why?”
“You never used to care.”
She asked gently, but for some reason, it sounded like she was sulking.
Well, before I came back, I really had no interest.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Then why are you suddenly interested now?”
“Cecilia, if you’re scared of horses, you don’t have to take riding classes with me.”
Cecilia’s face seemed a bit downcast.
“Do you want to go somewhere else? Daisy, if you don’t mind, would you go with Cecilia?”
“I, um…”
“No! I’m staying with you. We agreed, didn’t we?”
“Huh?”
“I’m just curious. Why did you suddenly get interested in horses?”
She looked quite serious.
‘Is she really that curious?’
I can’t really explain. I just looked out the window, and suddenly, I felt drawn to it!
My heart was still pounding. I could feel my blood racing all the way from my fingertips to my toes.
Energy! I could feel a kind of vitality I thought I’d forgotten, all bound up before by old manners.
“It just seems cool.”
But I decided to keep my answer simple. I gently put my hand on Cecilia’s shoulder, looking her in the eye.
“That’s it?”
“Yeah.”
I stared wide-eyed and nodded. There wasn’t a single lie in my answer.
“And Ollie, too.”
“Ollie?”
Cecilia frowned slightly.
“Ollie told me, ‘Milady, you think too much, you should do something active! You can give up on embroidery!’ And now that I’m here, I really think she was right.”
Suddenly, Ollie’s words flashed through my mind.
Right, I remembered how when I started embroidery with Cecilia, Ollie pounded her chest in frustration.
Ollie! How can you be so smart?! She really is an amazing maid.
If I hadn’t come back, I never would have even come near a place like this—how strange.
Paul and some boys about his age began leading horses out from the stable. Paul was holding a device that looked like a square-shaped machine.
“What is that…”
Cecilia drooped her shoulders and managed a weak smile.
“You’re so odd, Liana.”
“They’re coming.”
“I really am afraid of big animals.”
No, Cecilia. You were actually really good at riding! I only pretended to hate riding because I didn’t want to be compared to you. Why is Cecilia acting like she doesn’t like it this time?
“It’ll be fine from a distance.”
“Even small animals scare me.”
I laughed at Cecilia’s grumbling.
“Why are you scared? You don’t usually dislike things.”
Whether it was people or animals, Cecilia generally liked everything. The list of people who’d fallen for her open friendliness could fill ten sheets of parchment.
“Their eyes are scary.”
“Their eyes?”
“They’re coming.”
Cecilia cut me off and pointed at Paul.
He flashed a big, crooked smile, holding the reins in one hand and fiddling with the square device in the other. As the riders brought their horses up behind Paul, a thick, fog-like cloud of dust rose around their feet.
“Ah, ah. Students requesting to observe the riding class, a demonstration will be held shortly. Please gather at the entrance to the arena where the grass is laid. Ah, once again, students wishing to observe…”
Paul’s announcement echoed throughout the riding arena. We turned back the way we’d come and headed for the arena entrance.
There stood Natalie, her bright yellow hair aglow, looking extremely dissatisfied.