Chapter 30: 29.2

03. House Blacke of the Black Stallions

 

 

She did say that she’s not bored here, but by no means did that mean Grace was busy at Lucas’s residence.

The only things she did was eat the food that’s prepared for her, take strolls at the sunny garden, or have brief teatimes with Julie or Gabriel.

Still, she truly wasn’t bored. It was a familiar routine for her as she grew up with a weak constitution and often just stayed at home.

Back then, she would just look out the window blankly, and she used to feel like she was just wasting time.

Perhaps, did he read her mind?

As she was walking along the rear garden’s path, Lucas asked Grace.

—Have you ever ridden a horse before, Grace?

What was he asking all of a sudden?

Grace looked around curiously, wondering if she had been voicing her thoughts out loud all this time.

—Horseback riding, I mean.

“I was taught the basics so I know how to do it a little, but I’m not very good at it.”

—Still, do you enjoy it?

“I’m not quite sure. I’ve only gone horseback riding a few times, so I can’t say for sure whether I like it or not.”

—I see.

He sounded like he was thinking about something.

What’s wrong? Maybe he’s disappointed because she didn’t like the activity?

Indeed, she once heard that House Blacke excelled in horseback riding.

Was it because of that?

—By any chance, are you afraid of riding horses?

“Not at all. Actually, I’ve never tried going on a ride that’s fast enough to frighten me.”

—That’s a relief.

What’s a relief?

Before Grace could shake her head, Lucas asked again.

—Then, a fast horse. Would you be interested in riding one?

“…Pardon?”

Along with her question, she could already hear a horse’s hooves fast approaching from afar.

The heavy, rhythmic sound against the ground was familiar to her. With disbelief painting her features, Grace turned towards the direction where the sound was coming from.

‘H-He’s saying I should ride this horse?’

It was the same horse that she had met at the center of the mansion’s entrance hall.

Considering its long mane, hard muscles and glistening coat that’s shining smoothly like satin, this stallion must truly be of the best breed. On top of that, its blue eyes were shining more beautifully than even the azure sky above.

“Y-You mean to say that I should ride this child now?”

—He’s the one and only excellent steed in the whole world. He’s mild-mannered, gentle and quite strong. You have nothing to be scared of at all.

Obviously enough, everything he listed down was incredibly good to hear, but…

“But he’s too big.”

—Being big is a good trait, too.

“W-What’s so good about that?”

—…Hmm, it’s good in various aspects?

No, but, what in the world were those aspects?

Slightly spooked, Grace shook her head. However, the horse continued to come closer to her with an elegant gait. The way its eyes were looking at her made it seem like it truly believed in her.

No matter how much of an excellent steed it was, it couldn’t possibly understand a person’s feelings as though it was a human being as well.

—Don’t worry, Grace. Imagine that I’m there with you, just as I am right now.

“You’re not here with me, that’s a lie!”

Her urgent outburst made him chuckle.

In the meantime, the horse approached her, and it nudged its head towards her as if it wanted to be patted.

No, but, just what was going on with this animal…

A little frightened, Grace observed the black horse, which was staring back at her with a gentle countenance. It looked almost as if it was presenting itself as completely harmless, what with the way its blue eyes were twinkling beneath the sun.

—I don’t intend to force you. If you’re scared, you don’t have to ride him. Of course, there’s really nothing for you to be frightened of.

“But in the first place, how could you be so sure that it’s frightening or not frightening?”

This made Lucas let out a soft burst of laughter, and the way he did so made it sound like he really was taken aback. In a way, hearing his low chuckle sent electricity down her body.

It felt strange.

He didn’t seem as terrifying as he used to be in her eyes, only because they’d been talking like this without having to face each other.

—It’s alright, Grace. You can decide. Follow your heart and do whatever you wish.

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Rather, his polite and gentle voice towards her just kept sending such electrifying yet unknown sensations through her.

 

“Follow your heart and do whatever you wish.”

 

Lucas’s tender voice quietly knocked at her heart.

All this time, she had been secretly keeping a wall between the two of them, but she could feel a crack starting to form. It was so very small and so very trivial, but it was nonetheless a decisive fissure…

Taking a short but deep breath, Grace moistened her dry lips.

“…Huu.”

Though she was unable to hide her apprehension, Grace reached towards the black horse’s mane and stroked it gently.

“Y-You can’t drop me, okay?”

Bhrr—

As though it really could understand her, the black horse nodded energetically and leaned its head against her cheek.

The tickling sensation made Grace burst out into a peal of laughter.

 

 

* * *

 

“Kyaaaah!!! Ahhh!”

The sharp wind grazed both of her soft cheeks.

Her neatly tied up hair was now a mess, flowing freely behind her. And the skirt that Julie had painstakingly arranged had long been out of control, just fluttering in the breeze now.

‘This is crazy!’

Grace held the reins of the horse so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. Quite literally, the speed at which they ran was crazy.

With her teeth clenched, the howling wind brushed against her ears, and her voice as it was coming from her lips sounded like nothing she had ever heard before.

“Uh, aaack! Hiiiek!”

Every time the black steed jumped, her body faltered and jolted. It wasn’t to the point that she couldn’t handle, but her whole body trembled as she could feel the horse’s tremendous power beneath her.

Her heart wasn’t just pounding heavily now, it truly felt as if it was about to explode.

—It’s alright, Grace. Trust me and open your eyes.

Perhaps because her heart was beating so wildly, or perhaps because she was screaming so much, but she felt completely out of breath.

Obviously enough, she was frightened, but there was another emotion she could vaguely feel. Still with her teeth gritted together, Grace slowly opened her tightly closed eyes.

The wind was strong against her face so it was not so easy to open her eyes, but still, she didn’t close her eyes again after that.

“It’s, hck, it’s too fast!”

—Try to lean forward and breathe through your nose, Grace.

As though he could see her from somewhere, Lucas gave her advice on how to correct her posture. So, Grace leaned forward as he said while keeping her head up, then she tightened her legs around the horse’s body.

“……!”

An endless plain could be seen stretching before her. The verdant expanse filled her view entirely, overflowing like a river. When she took a peek at first, she kept them only squinted. However, they soon opened wider and wider, and her lips that previously only let out screams soon let out delighted giggles.

As if the floodgates had been opened, laughter freely came from the bottom of Grace’s heart.

“…No way. No way! No way!!”

It’s not as if she truly thought it was an impossible sight. She just couldn’t believe this situation, this feeling.

Any thoughts or fears against the unknown dangers that might befall her were all blown away by the wind, and all that’s left was an unfamiliar sense of freedom within her. She felt as free as a bird.

She was out of breath, but unexpected emotions rushed into her heart.

—See, I told you. You can do it. You’re not scared at all.

“It’s not that I’m not scared one bit! But, but this is so fun!”

Holding tightly onto the horse’s reins, she urged it to continue galloping briskly.

It felt to her as if her heart was definitely going to explode if this kept up. Nevertheless, all she wanted to do was run endlessly over the horizon, just as she already was. With much strength, like she didn’t need to come back!

—Go ahead and let out your voice, Grace. No matter how much you let it out, this is a place where no one can say anything to you.

“Kyaaah! Waaaaaah!”

And so, listening to what he said like an obedient student, Grace screamed and shouted with all her might.

A well-educated young lady hailing from a noble household should not do this, but at this very moment, she just wanted to throw all that away. In this place, there was no such thing as nobility or refinement.

No one was here to listen to her, no one was here to admonish her—just as Lucas said.

—You’re doing great. Really great.

Like a skilled peer who had experienced this before her, he praised her well. She laughed freely and urged the stallion to go faster.

And, as if this speed had been nothing for him until now, the horse ran faster and so much more powerfully.

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