Every time everyone knelt in respect, he deluded himself into thinking he had become something. But standing in front of Revianna, he realized how meaningless the things he had built up were.

While others may chatter about how great people are, for him, Revianna was more special than anyone else. Even if a knife was at his throat, Cheshire could assert that he wouldn’t be enough for Revianna, even if he were an emperor. That’s why it didn’t matter who came; he would not be swayed.

In contrast, he was just a mercenary known by name. He couldn’t grant her the enormous wealth as Baker did, nor could he bestow the honor that no one else could, like Kalix.

Even the two men, regarded as exceptional by people, were not comparable. He couldn’t dare to place himself on the same level.

Revianna should be happy. She deserved the best, should have everything she wanted, and receive better treatment than anyone else. She was entitled to be that person.

Even if he didn’t know about other things, this fact hadn’t changed, neither then nor now.
The names and genders of the characters have been translated accurately and consistently.

Now, here is the English translation of the provided Korean paragraph:

In this world, Cheshire had known very well from a young age that there were people daring enough to feel guilty about cherishing things in their hearts.

Children who knew nothing were quick to follow their instincts. Despite laughing, playing, picking flowers, and making crowns with Revianna, he always knew that there would be parting in the end.

The noble young lady always returned to her mansion after all the play. And the young boy waited endlessly.

As the promised day she would come approached, and waiting became a natural thing, the boy grew mature.

He knew he was not the one who could make Revianna happy. He was not worthy.

Therefore, swallowing the question lingering in his throat was inevitable, as it always had been.

“Do we ride together?”

“There are only two horses, after all.”

For a moment, I lost my thoughts at the expression that seemed to ask why I was even asking such an obvious question. Unlike me, who felt awkward facing each other, Duke Pyern casually extended his hand to me.

“Then, I’ll take Cheshire’s word.”

“No. Your Grace would be better than me.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Cheshire quickly spoke. It was a hasty attitude, enough for even the dull to notice. Whether Cheshire knew that fact or not, he soon flashed a charming smile and extended his left arm.

“In fact, my arm is a bit twisted.”

“Is it badly injured?”

“It’s not something to worry about. It’s not a severe injury, so as long as you don’t overdo it, it should be fine.”

With Cheshire speaking so confidently, there was no room to insist further.

I turned my head cautiously. On the opposite side, Duke Pyern stood holding the reins.

“Do you need help getting up?”

“No, I’m fine.”

I answered easily, but when it came to actually mounting the horse, it wasn’t that easy. Although I wasn’t proud of my equestrian skills, having learned them since childhood, mounting a horse without using a mounting block was still feasible for me. However, Duke Pyern’s horse made even that task not so simple.

The horse, as massive as its owner, was a struggle to mount. It felt like facing a towering mountain that I couldn’t muster the courage to climb.

“Hold on.”

“It’s fine.”

“If you want to waste time unnecessarily, it’s okay to say so.”

“……. ”

There was nothing more to say. I took Duke Pyern’s offered hand. The leather gloves, worn for quite some time, had a surface that was oddly worn, making it impossible to determine whether it was made of the skin of some animal. However, the sensation against the skin was incredibly soft.

But the hand hidden inside was as firm as iron.

I held Duke Pyern’s hand with caution throughout the time I mounted the horse. Even though it was just a slight effort, the firm hand felt piercingly sharp. However, that sensation was soon forgotten. The man’s body, mounted on the horse immediately afterward, was not comparable to the hand in terms of firmness and radiated a warmth due to its high body temperature.

“It’s demanding.”

“It’s just unfamiliar.”
The names and genders of the characters have been translated accurately and consistently.

Now, here is the English translation of the provided Korean paragraph:

I’ve seen many breeds of horses, but this was the first time I encountered a horse this large. Not only that, but the fierce gaze of the horse was also unfamiliar.

Though not explicitly stated, honestly, Duke Pyern’s horse felt more like a beast than a horse. It wouldn’t be surprising if it tore and ate meat instead of grazing on grass.

“It’s a horse from beyond the border. Nobles over there raise horses that the locals consider barbaric.”

“Horses of barbarians?”

“Why? Just because you heard that, can’t you ride it?”

A sound of wind escaping above my head. I didn’t turn around, but I thought the man behind me would be sneering.

Duke Pyern was a hero who cleared the empire’s long-standing problem, but separately, he was treated like a barbarian.

After winning the war against the indigenous people, he brought them under his rule. The rumors surrounding him were not just about him fighting barbarians; there were also stories about shady deals.

However, I wasn’t particularly surprised. The rumors surrounding him were always like that. While Duke Pyern achieved unbelievable feats, the rumors surrounding him also grew like a snowball. Although he hadn’t said anything himself, the taciturn man remained silent amid the rumors circulating around him.

“Still, endure it. There’s no horse as fast as this one.”

Whether he misunderstood my silence or not, the man added briefly. I thought about refuting it but decided to keep my mouth shut.

What’s the point of clarifying a misunderstanding? Moreover, if I keep talking, it might turn into a conversation. There was no reason to chit-chat while not on a picnic or a joyous occasion.

I deliberately ran my hand over the horse’s mane. Thanks to Duke Pyern’s skillful grooming, I didn’t have much to do. I didn’t need to straighten my back, thanks to the robust body supporting me from behind.

However, the tense and rigid body made it difficult for me to entrust myself easily to the
The names and genders of the characters have been translated accurately and consistently.

Now, here is the English translation of the provided Korean paragraph:

I now knew how to manipulate the man to my liking. However, I couldn’t be sure if that would yield favorable results.

Things that came into my hands always ended up broken. I couldn’t guarantee that it wouldn’t be the same this time.

“Will it continue like this?”

“Like this?”

I released the tension in the hand raised to my chest at the voice suddenly heard. Thinking I might have misheard, I realized it wasn’t the case with Duke Pyern’s immediate words that followed.

“If we’re just wasting time, isn’t it a pity?”

“But there’s nothing we can do here, right?”

“At least we can have a conversation.”

“……. ”

“Anything is fine. Speak up.”

Suddenly suggesting a conversation, I wondered if there was a change in his attitude, but Duke Pyern urged me again, and it seemed sincere. Nevertheless, I couldn’t easily open my mouth.

I didn’t want to engage in a conversation with him. To be more precise, I didn’t want to foster camaraderie. That was something for a longer acquaintance.

Once everything was over, I had no intention of seeing Duke Pyern again.