A scent that seemed to make her happy just by smelling it.

“Do you know how to hold the reins?”

Casus, sitting in front of Atia, put the reins into her small hands.

“Is he tame?”

“It’s because I’m riding with you. Horus doesn’t open his heart to anyone but his owner….”

“Still, I want to try riding alone.”

“Are you sure?”

Casus raised his thick eyebrows as if warning her.

“Yes, I think it will be fine.”

“He’s harder to handle than he looks.”

“There’s a thrill in taming a wild horse.”

Twisting his lips, Casus dismounted.

“Speak up if you can’t handle it.”

“Okay.”

In case Horus acted up and Atia got hurt, Casus prepared himself by standing next to her.

“Hihihiing!”

Realizing that his owner was not on his back, Horus started to act up violently.

“Hihihiing!”

As a result, Atia was also shaken back and forth.

She felt as if her mind would go blank due to the violent shaking, as if an earthquake had occurred.

“This won’t do.”

Casus was about to reach out to control Horus when…

Suddenly, the horse dashed somewhere, carrying Atia.

“Hihiing!”

The sound of hooves echoed on the ground.

“Horus!”

Casus shouted.

“Horus! Come back!”

But Horus did not look back and continued to gallop.

“Hihiing!”

Astounded by the incredible speed, Atia blinked her eyes rapidly.

The wind slapped her face refreshingly.

Gripping the reins of the wildly galloping Horus, Atia felt a thrill throughout her body.

‘What’s this? It’s electrifying! A handsome horse is the best!’

Clipclop.

Horus raced across the field at the speed of light.

The view from atop the galloping horse was truly spectacular.

Atia felt as if a heavy burden had lifted from her chest.

Extreme sports were one of the activities the original Kang Jiha enjoyed the most.

‘You’re breaking through my stifled heart!’

Rather than falling off, Atia rode with an astonishing sense of balance, as if she were balancing on a gym ball, and galloped along with Horus.
But Casus felt a strong anger towards Horus, who had refused his order.

‘I shouldn’t have let her ride alone.’

Horus had never refused Casus’ orders before.

Of course, he could refuse orders from others who weren’t his master.

He was a prideful horse, after all.

But even when Atia had mounted, Horus had remained perfectly calm, as if he were the most wellbehaved and goodnatured horse in the world.

So, he had thought it would be safe.

It was a careless thought.

If she fell off, the already frail Atia could get seriously injured.

“Heeeyah!”

After circling the arena quickly, Horus lifted his front hooves high in the air.

And then became calm again, as if nothing had happened.

Right in front of Casus.

And Atia was gripping the reins tightly, clinging to his back.

Casus opened his mouth in astonishment.

It was like watching his father, Haideger, charging alone into enemy lines.

“No, that horse…”

Casus approached Atia and reached out his hand.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, it was wonderful. Thanks to you. Can I continue to ride for a little longer?”

“Sure.”

“You’ve done well, was it Horus?”

“Neeigh.”

“Let’s get along, you and I.”

Atia remained seated and stroked the horse’s head.

She then put her hand into Horus’ soft mane and gently rolled her fingers, massaging it.

“Heeyah.”

Horus neighed as if pleased.

Both Casus and Kesha lost their words and observed the scene.

Fine horses are naturally wild.

Casus had spent a long time and a lot of effort to win over Horus.

Yet, in less than ten minutes, Atia had tamed him.

Although Casus was angered by Horus’ disobedience, he was relieved to see that Atia was unharmed.

Atia’s face was more lively than before.

Come to think of it.

Atia seemed more vibrant outdoors, just like when she was hiking or exercising at the training ground.

Like a bird that had escaped its cage.

She, who usually seemed uneasy or awkward around him, was now smiling brightly at him.

Casus felt unexplainably happy.

Complex and headacheinducing matters.

Conflicts with the royal family and other nobles.

He set aside such complicated matters and wished to converse with her more.

Even after being married for more than a year, they hadn’t had many conversations, which made him feel regretful.

Before, he wouldn’t have cared what Atia did.

But now it was different.

Especially as she became more and more fascinating the more he knew her.

Perhaps it’s because he was tired from various issues.

If Atia smiled, he found himself smiling back without realizing.

“Good, well done.”

In a soft voice, as if soothing a child, Atia spoke to Horus while stroking his head.

“It seems like you can change your master now.”

Casus said, smiling wryly.

He then reached out his hand toward her, who was still seated on the saddle.

“You should probably come down now.”

“Ah.”

Taking Casus’ hand, Atia gently dismounted from the horse.

Casus called for Zen to take Horus away.

“The festival is soon, isn’t it?”

“Yes, I heard.”

Atia responded.

“Hmm.”

Awkwardly clearing his throat, Casus moved closer to Atia and whispered in her ear.

“How about having dinner with me tonight?”

“Dinner?”

“Yes.”

A bird in a cage.

To her, even the vast Duke of Wellington’s mansion might seem like just another cage.

So then,

What kind of expression would she wear if she went outside the mansion?

Casus was curious.

“Not in the mansion, but in the night market.”

“The night market? Outside the mansion?”

Atia looked at Casus in surprise.

It was also startling because they had never dined together before.
“Hey, want to eat at the night market?”

Night market?

From this arrogant and cold Duke of the North?

“Don’t you want to?”

Casus twisted one corner of his mouth and asked.