As soon as his permission was granted, Asha quickly rose from her seat, grabbed the hem of her dress, and quickly descended the stairs.

It was a moment of joyous reunion.

To Jackal, the sight of her running towards him felt as slow as an eternal moment.

The face he had so longed to see, the face that haunted him even when he closed his eyes, was now right before him.

Soon Asha, who had reached him, lovingly stroked his nose and mane with trembling hands and whispered in his ear,

“Shayfi… Did you come here to see me?”

“Neigh.”

Jackal flapped his ears and made a loud snorting noise.

He wanted to embrace her tightly at that moment, but his current way of expressing his emotions was limited to just this.

“I’m so happy you came.”

Asha hugged the horse’s neck and rubbed her face against it.

The horse seemed surprised for a moment but then closed its eyes and accepted her.

He had been fierce, but with just one touch of her hand, he had become a gentle horse.

Karaf blinked from behind at their affectionate appearance.

It was the first time he’d seen her yearn for and care for someone when she seemed to desire nothing else.

The sight seemed to feel as if she had dramatically reunited with a precious person rather than a horse.

Watching that, jealousy suddenly poked its head from within, and he was taken aback.

‘Have I gone mad… now I’m even feeling jealous of a horse.’

He chuckled softly and looked at the horse again.

The horse, who had locked eyes with him while cuddling with Asha, seemed to sneer with a soft ‘neigh.’

Karaf’s eyebrows shot up.

Somehow, the way it looked at him seemed very wild and arrogant.

Jackal suddenly caught sight of her slender arm that was embracing his face.

Suddenly, Shayfi lowered his eyelids and focused on the bandage, nudging it with his nose, and Asha noticed it and gently said,

“It’s okay. I’m all better now.”

She tried to reassure him by saying that, but Jackal, who had become more sensitive to smell after turning into a horse, could smell the blood seeping through the bandage.

No matter how much he hated the minority tribe, he couldn’t tolerate leaving the only being that could break his curse so defenseless.

He felt like he knew how Asha had been treated in the palace without even seeing it.

The blue eyes looking up at him sitting on the throne were more fierce and wild than the cold winds of winter.
But without knowing his feelings, Karaf quickly instructed the chief steward, thinking it was a chance to score points with Asha.

“Give that horse the best stable and make sure Vanessa can visit whenever she wants.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Asha looked back at him with bright, youthful eyes and said,

“Your Majesty, thank you so much!”

Karaf, seeing such a bright expression for the first time, asked a little nervously,

“Is it that good?”

“Yes! It’s the best thing I’ve ever received.”

As Asha was so delighted, Karaf looked at Duke Iris and said contentedly,

“Duke is the only one who brought a gift that fits Vanessa’s taste. I have high expectations for you in the future.”

At those words, the duke was greatly moved but managed to clear his throat and say, puffing out his chest,

“It is an honor, Your Majesty. Please trust and entrust me in the future.”

As Karaf nodded, the surrounding nobles looked at him with envious and jealous glances.

The tribute ceremony ended without anyone knowing how, and Asha left the banquet hall leisurely with the horse.

In the corner of the banquet hall, precious tribute gifts that she hadn’t even glanced at were piled up like a mountain.

Karaf sat hunched over, looking at them with a troubled face, while Duran silently watched from behind.

Despite having everything, the master seemed to have lost everything to the horse, and Duran was at a loss for words.

(This is a time divider.)

Asha followed the chief steward to the stable.

With Karaf’s instruction to prepare the best stable, a large room that didn’t look like a place for a horse was presented.

Asha blinked her eyes. Apparently, her idea of ‘best’ was different from his.

Instead of straw, there were carpets on the floor, and large, soft cushions were placed on top. It was a cozy and pleasant room suitable for people to live in.

It was a world apart from the dank and gloomy stable where he had been living, and Jackal, the horse, was relieved.

‘…I like it.’

Having gone through all sorts of hardships to infiltrate the palace, Jackal was in a tired state.

When Asha took him to the cushion, Jackal lay down comfortably on it.

Her petting of his mane was so tender that Jackal closed his eyes slightly and blushed.

If there was a heaven, it must be this place….

The silky, shining gray tail spread beautifully and swayed gently on the floor.

Seeing that, Sonya laughed innocently from behind.

“That horse really seems to like Vanessa!”

Asha said gently,

“Yes. He followed me a lot. He was not my horse but that man’s horse….”

At that, Jackal looked at her stroking his fur with a wistful look.

Sonya tilted her head and asked,

“That man?”

Asha hurriedly answered,

“There was a separate owner in the ethnic minority village. This is a secret from His Majesty.”

“Yes! Don’t worry! I am very tightlipped!”

Although Sonya spoke confidently, Asha gave a bitter smile. It was a fact that she knew better than anyone else.

Sonya admired the horse,

“It’s really smooth! And how firm the muscles are! I see why women talk about horse muscles, horse muscles.”

Sonya almost perversely breathed heavily and covertly tried to touch his leg.

Jackal sweated bullets at the ominous shadow falling before his eyes.