Warm sunlight filled the open window. It was a day when the gentle spring air could be felt.

“Your Grace. Today is a holiday.”

Marlin blocked Aidel with her whole body as she was about to enter the Grand Duchess’s office.

“Hmm, I know that. But I thought it would be good to review the budget proposal for the water management project in advance.”

Aidel explained her circumstances with a troubled expression, but nonetheless, Marlin shook her head and said firmly.

“Actually, there is something Your Grace needs to do today.”

“Something to do?”

Marlin guided Aidel, who had a puzzled expression, with an enigmatic smile. Where Marlin’s footsteps stopped was the Grand Duchess’s dressing room.

“Why suddenly to the dressing room…?”

“Please wear this.”

As they entered the dressing room, Marlin took out the outfit she had prepared.

“This is…”

“It’s riding attire. Madame Pomfenu tailored it to Your Grace’s measurements.”

“…It’s befitting of Madame Pomfenu’s work.”

It wasn’t a simple riding skirt dress. Aidel smiled faintly as she looked at the riding outfit consisting of pants instead of a skirt, a white shirt, and a leather vest. This women’s riding outfit was probably another first design attempt by Madame Pomfenu.

“But why am I suddenly wearing riding clothes?”

“You are scheduled to go horseback riding with His Grace today.”

“What? Horseback riding…?”

“His Grace requested a date with Your Grace.”

“A… date?”

“Yes, a date!”

When Aidel asked again with an incredulous look, Marlin nodded her head up and down emphatically as if to emphasize.

Aidel’s face, which had been wearing a dazed expression for a moment, suddenly turned red. A date… It was an unfamiliar word she had never heard before in her life.

“I… see.”

Aidel murmured absently. Her hand fumbled as she was buttoning the vest. Marlin smiled broadly as if finding the Grand Duchess adorable.

“But… isn’t His Grace busy even on holidays?”

The Grand Duke was busy with external social activities even on holidays when there were no official duties. There were overflowing numbers of people in the Empire who wanted to meet the Grand Duke, and invitations piled up every day.

“That was the case before.”

Marlin admitted readily. However, she soon shook her head.

“But not anymore. Because Your Grace has arrived.”

“Ah…”

“I heard from Sir Gregory that His Grace ordered all holiday schedules to be cleared.”

Marlin added in a voice full of emotion.

“From now on, he intends to spend time like this, dating with Your Grace.”

Aidel still had an expression of disbelief, but Marlin was certain. The Grand Duke had instructed to clear even the Grand Duchess’s holiday schedule.

The two usually didn’t get to face each other for long due to their busy work. If they spent time together like this every holiday, the relationship between them would surely become closer.

“The riding outfit suits you well.”

Aidel finished dressing, wearing a vest over her shirt, white pants, and boots. The pants suited her well thanks to her long, well-proportioned legs.

‘Madame Pomfenu should have seen this.’

Marlin could vividly imagine Madame Pomfenu’s eyes sparkling in admiration. Marlin wore a proud expression as she looked at the Grand Duchess effortlessly pulling off the new form of riding outfit.

“Now, shall we go?”

“Where is the riding ground?”

“It’s Greenwich Meadow. The royal exclusive riding ground.”

Marlin recalled the image of a woman riding a horse at Greenwich Meadow. The memory that came to mind after a long time filled her with emotion.

“I’m sure it will be an enjoyable time.”

Marlin smiled brightly with a face full of confidence.

Through the car window, a vast field lush with greenery came into view. In Aidel’s light green eyes gazing at that scenery, there was undisguisable expectation and excitement.

“Have you ever ridden a horse before?”

“I’ve learned how to ride a horse… but I’ve never galloped on one.”

Aidel shook her head as if lacking confidence in response to Caeron’s question. For her, horseback riding was just something she had learned as a basic accomplishment at home. She had never freely ridden a horse outdoors.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be by your side.”

The meaning contained in his gentle tone was kind. Aidel nodded with a slightly flushed face.

Upon arriving at the riding ground, the two headed to the royal exclusive stable. It was to choose a suitable horse for Aidel to ride.

“Welcome, Your Grace. Your Grace.”

“It’s been a while.”

“I am deeply moved that you remember me.”

Victor, the manager in charge of the royal stables, bowed deeply. He had been managing all the horses and carriages of the royal family since Caeron was a prince.

“Show me a horse suitable for the Grand Duchess to ride.”

“This way, please.”

Inside the stable Victor guided them to, there were horses of various breeds.

“If you’re not familiar with horseback riding, a gentle one would be good.”

Just as they were about to head towards the stall of a white mare with a gentle temperament suitable for the Grand Duchess to ride, it happened.

“Neigh!”

A horse tied near Aidel suddenly let out a cry. It was a black horse that was clearly enormous in size. Not only its muscular body, but also its glossy mane and shining eyes were all jet black.

“Why is Caden suddenly…”

Victor tilted his head with a bewildered expression. The horse, which was usually aloof and didn’t even glance at people, was now looking at the Grand Duchess with pleading eyes.

“Is this horse’s name Caden?”

Aidel asked, looking at the black horse staring intently at her. Not only did it have a handsome appearance, but its eyes, sparkling like obsidian, caught her attention.

“Yes, it is. But this fellow is a bit wild, so…”

Despite that being clearly the case, Victor scratched the back of his head at the sight of the horse looking at the Grand Duchess with the gentlest eyes in the world.

“It looks gentle to me.”

“It seems to have taken a liking to you.”

Caeron chuckled and continued.

“The smart ones choose their own masters.”

At his words, as Aidel approached with a curious expression, Caden lowered his head, stretched out his neck, and narrowed his eyes. It was a clear sign of affection.

Aidel carefully brought the back of her hand to Caden. The shiny black nose sniffed, as if trying to remember her scent. Then it rubbed its nose bridge against her hand on its own.

“Ho ho, this is truly amazing.”

Watching this scene in admiration, Victor politely asked Caeron.

“Your Grace, do you perhaps remember Ayla?”

“Ayla…”

“The late Empress’s horse.”

Ayla was the famous horse that the late Empress Meriel used to ride. Just like her black hair, Ayla too used to gallop with her black mane flying, as if the two had become one.

Caeron briefly fell into reminiscence, recalling memories of horseback riding with his mother Meriel during his time as a prince.

“Caden is Ayla’s offspring. Although Ayla has passed away, Caden has inherited that famous horse’s bloodline.”

Victor’s words broke through his reverie.

“As you know, Ayla never allowed anyone near her except for the late Empress. Inheriting that proud nature, Caden too has never allowed anyone on his back until now.”

His gaze fell on Aidel, who was smiling while gently stroking the black horse’s neck. They seemed to be in perfect communion.

“It looks like the fellow has finally found his true master.”

At Victor’s words, Caeron was seized by a strange feeling.

.

.

.

Perhaps because Aidel was nearby, Caden was very docile unlike usual, even when fitted with a bridle and bit. Seeing this, Victor once again exclaimed in admiration.

“Caden must really like Your Grace, the Grand Duchess.”

Aidel, holding the reins of the sturdy black horse while dressed in riding attire, presented an elegant sight like a painting. Caeron took in that image carefully. His lips curved gently.

“Get on the horse.”

At Caeron’s words, Aidel recalled the mounting method she had learned previously in her mind. She stepped on the mounting block and slowly sat on the saddle. Madame Pomfenu’s riding outfit, being in pants form, was indeed much freer and more comfortable to move in.

“Your riding posture is correct.”

Victor did not spare his praise as he observed the stable posture with shoulders, hips, and ankles aligned in a vertical line.

“What should I do next?”

However, for Aidel, anything beyond mounting the horse was beyond her ability. She held the reins with a troubled expression. Moreover, Caden’s back was higher than she thought, and sitting alone was a bit scary.

“I’ll ride with you.”

Caeron skillfully and lightly mounted the horse, sitting behind her. Feeling Caeron on its back, Caden perked up its ears for a moment but behaved docilely.

Feeling Caeron’s presence right behind her back, Aidel clenched her fists holding the reins with a tense expression.

“You’re too tense.”

Caeron whispered with a slight smile, seeming to have detected her subtle change. His hands enveloped hers, which were gripping the reins.

“Relax your shoulders and arms, and hold the reins naturally.”

“…Like this?”

“Yes. Keep your back straight, but lean back slightly. Let your shoulders go a bit backward.”

They were already close enough to touch. As Aidel hesitated, not knowing what to do, Caeron’s low voice was heard.

“You can lean on me.”

At his words, Aidel’s face immediately turned red. Feeling both a flutter and a sense of relief, Aidel slowly leaned back.

His firm body touched her back. The tension was still there, but she was no longer afraid of being on horseback.

Meanwhile, Caeron felt the feminine body that had completely entered his embrace and involuntarily clenched his jaw.

Due to her neatly tied hair, Aidel’s white and delicate nape was fully visible. From around that area where her pulse was beating, a scent that provoked him rose even more strongly.

“Ha…!”

“Caeron…?”

Caeron exhaled lowly. Feeling puzzled, Aidel tried to turn her head to look at him, but Caeron turned the horse along with her gaze.

“Look ahead and focus.”

In fact, his words were directed at himself. He fixed his gaze forward, hiding his desire for her under a calm expression.

“Now we’ll start moving the horse.”

As he pulled the reins, Caden began to walk. The intelligent horse, seeming to know that Aidel was not accustomed to horseback riding, moved slowly without rushing.

“Shall we go a little faster?”

“Alright.”

Seeing that Aidel had become accustomed to the rhythm of the horse’s walk, Caeron increased the speed. As they moved at a slightly faster trot, Aidel’s frail body bounced.

Caeron firmly supported her body with both arms as if embracing her. Under the stability provided by his presence, a faint smile spread across Aidel’s lips.

The meadow, lush with greenery from the spring air, was beautiful. Galloping through the landscape of wide fields, Aidel felt as if her heart was opening up.

“So this is what it feels like to ride a horse.”

Aidel’s face shone brightly as if all tension had left her. The gentle wind brushing her cheeks, every vivid and living detail of the scenery was moving.

Aidel, smiling with crinkled eyes, looked as excited as a child. Laughter also filled Caeron’s eyes as he looked at her. He gently loosened his grip on the hands that had been embracing her.

“Now try moving the reins yourself to go in the direction you want.”

“Can I do it alone?”

“You can. From now on, move forward in the direction you want to go like this.”

Was it just her imagination? His words seemed to have a double meaning.

As if it were encouragement that she could steadily advance on the path of life she had chosen under her own beliefs.

“And you’re wrong.”

“…Pardon?”

“You’re not alone. I’ll be right behind you like this. Go wherever you want. Wherever that may be.”

“…!”

His low and profound words reached her ears.

The emotions she had tried to ignore and empty out were now seeping back into her heart, filling it once again.

At his words, which mended the wounds of her heart and made it beat again, Aidel’s hands holding the reins and her eyes trembled helplessly.