Whispering softly as if trying not to be heard, but Ariante knew that Cedrois must have heard those words.
Ariante, turning her gaze slightly, tilted her head and said, “Then, is it not allowed?”
Cedrois’s lips twitched for a moment. As the hand holding the reins unconsciously tightened, he shook his head disapprovingly as if annoyed. He pulled Ariante even more securely to prevent her from slipping and then cleared his throat.
“…Is it because Father wants to marry Meiana?”
“Yes. Then Meiana can stay with us without leaving, right?”
“Meiana might dislike Father.”
Ariante’s eyes widened. It was a look that said, “Could that really happen?”
“That won’t happen! Father is really cool, and, uh, he’s a duke. Meiana will like him.”
Cedrois remained silent, quietly watching Ariante. His mind was somewhat complicated. It felt awkward, as if he were sitting in front of a seven-year-old, revealing all his secrets while feeling embarrassed.
“Well, Ariante. I don’t know if it will work as you say.”
Cedrois mumbled. Ariante was staring at him intently. It felt like she knew everything, and at the same time—naturally—felt like she harbored innocent and pure wishes without knowing anything.
However, Cedrois, holding the reins tight, changed the direction of the conversation while thinking. Now he could face Meiana, who was in the distance, head-on.
The horse’s spirited steps became more cheerful, and Ariante, holding the horse’s neck tightly, screamed with joy as she shook up and down.
But if only I could do that too…
After Cedrois circled the garden with Ariante riding, Meiana personally lifted Ariante down.
“Did you have fun, my lady?”
“It was so much fun! You know, this horse is really nice. It answered that it feels good when I pet it.”
At that moment, the black horse again gave a spirited neigh. Ariante said, “Meiana, try riding once!”
“How can I ride a horse? I’ve never ridden a horse before, my lady.”
In response to Meiana’s words, Ariante, looking frustrated, rolled her feet alternately.
“You can ride with Father. It’s okay because Father rides well!”
“That’s not possible.”
Meiana replied with a smile.
“How difficult would it be for two adults to ride a horse?”
Then, still sitting in the saddle, Cedrois, who was listening to the conversation, interjected.
“You don’t have to worry about that. This guy is strong enough to easily carry two adults.”
When he gestured, the stable boy, who was standing there to take the horse, seemed momentarily confused but then took Meiana to the front of the horse. At the same time, Cedrois reached out his hand towards Meiana.
When things turned out this way, it was Meiana who felt embarrassed. She alternately looked at the stable boy standing behind her, and Cedrois, who was looking down at her, and said, “No, wait. Just… You’re not serious, right?”
Cedrois responded, “Put your foot firmly in the stirrup, like this… Good, and lift yourself up.”
Meiana’s body, held tightly in his hands, soared as if flying. It rose so lightly that there was no chance to scream. When she regained her senses, she was sitting in front of Cedrois, just like Ariante did earlier.
The saddle was spacious, so it wasn’t uncomfortable, but the sensation of his presence directly behind her made the back of her neck stiffen involuntarily.
Meiana said, “Duke, this is problematic. If others see, it will be chaotic.”
“Others? Who? The head housekeeper Jocelyn?”
Cedrois replied teasingly, and Meiana’s lips twitched.
“It’s not only the head housekeeper… I mean…”
“It seems like you’re being timid today. Is it because words are scary? Or is it because I’m scary?”
“No, what are you talking about…”
Meiana tried to argue, but she couldn’t move properly.
Once on the horse, the view was unexpectedly high, and with only a leather rein to hold onto, she felt like she would wobble and fall down with the slightest movement.
Cedrois said, “Ariante, would it be okay if Father takes Meiana for a ride and comes back? Can you wait here?”
With both hands covering her mouth, Ariante seemed to be in high spirits. Ariante nodded as she rolled her feet.
“Fun! You know, this horse is really nice. It answered that it feels good when I pet it.”
At that moment, the black horse neighed again. Ariante said, “Meiana, try riding once!”
“How can I ride a horse? I’ve never ridden a horse before, my lady.”
Cedrois intervened, still sitting in the saddle, “It’s more than enough for two adults to ride easily. Don’t worry.”
As he gestured, the stable boy, who was there to take the horse, seemed momentarily confused but then took Meiana to the front of the horse. At the same time, Cedrois reached out his hand towards Meiana.
“How can I let go of the reins… Oh my goodness!”
Meiana’s body, leaning backward, couldn’t match the speed and was thrust backward. However, the swaying sensation didn’t last very long.
She could feel Cedrois’ arms holding her waist like an embrace. At the same time, she realized that her body was completely leaning against his chest.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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