All of this is because of someone. Until the day of departure, is it someone else who tormented people?

I pouted and pinched Hadel’s side.

“Do you know who bothered people so sweetly?”

“I couldn’t help it.”

I noticed Hadel’s ear turning red. Despite that, his voice was calm, making the awkwardness even cuter.

“I can’t control myself when you’re around.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Except during horseback riding, I would pat Hadel’s head. I buried my face in his broad back. Blaming only Hadel wasn’t entirely fair, as I was not innocent either.

“Well, I was the one who provoked first. Honestly, a little… No, quite liked it.”

Thinking of last night, my face turned red again. We rode in silence for a while. How much time had passed? When my cheeks cooled, and the tips of my ears tingled, I cautiously called his name.

“Hadel.”

“Yeah?”

Even though it was a small voice, Hadel responded promptly. It also meant he kept listening to my voice.

Affectionate and gentle Hadel.

Those who were going to meet us were the ones who isolated and tormented such Hadel in the North. I earnestly pleaded.

“Just think about your safety in the capital. If it seems dangerous, run away quickly. Got it?”

After a while, Hadel chuckled, not believing me. I opened the carriage window, unable to hold back the words I couldn’t say.

“Marian? Why?”

Hadel, who was leading the carriage, came alongside. Usually, the leader would be at the front.

“I want to feel the breeze. I want to ride a horse.”

“Is it uncomfortable inside the carriage?”

I shook my head.

“No, I just really want to feel the wind.”

After my response, Hadel stopped the procession by raising his hand. Then he patted the saddle and replied.

“Then, let’s ride together.”

After getting off the carriage, I mounted the horse. Honestly, except for horseback riding, I had no particular thoughts. However, there was an unexpected problem.

“Ugh.”

Proper posture is crucial for horseback riding. Some people learn horseback riding to straighten their backs.

However, today, I found it difficult to even sit comfortably, whether sitting sideways or straight. “Ah, this is another unfamiliar pain.”

My back stung. Whether sitting sideways or sitting properly, the pain was the same.

“Well, I’m not the one holding the reins; it’s Hadel.”

Desperately trying to find the most comfortable posture, I ended up behind Hadel.

But the real challenge began after the horse started moving.

“Ouch! It hurts.”
Hadel bit his lip and didn’t answer. I rested my forehead on his back.

Yes, if Espen doesn’t stop.

“I’ve already tried to kill Espen once.”

At my confession, Hadel’s back twitched. I continued speaking, and unavoidably, the gaze became colder.

“It’s the same this time. If he does something wrong, I won’t forgive him.”

It might even be more ruthless than that day in the past. Back then, he was my comrade, but now he’s an enemy.

However, it wasn’t pleasant to see my comrade from the past returning like this. I added a word with an awkward tone.

“I just hope he’s not such a bad person.”

He was cold and sarcastic in the past, but he wasn’t the type to do cruel experiments.

‘But it’s been too long to rely on the past.’

I stared blankly at the passing scenery.

A lot has changed, and much time has passed.

Feeling it through someone else was a poignant experience.

Meeting Nella again happened briefly when we stopped to have lunch.

I familiarly set up the fire and poured the ingredients obtained from the inn into the pot to make stew. It tasted irresistibly good.

‘Ah, it’s nice to be warm.’

Due to the wind while riding without any preparations, my frozen fingertips and ear tips felt like they were melting. Sipping the hot broth, I glanced at Nella, who was sitting across from me. She raised her eyes sharply and asked.

“What’s the secret?”

Blinking, I frowned at the bowl of stew.

“Isn’t the secret big chunks of beef? But I’m not good at cooking, so I can’t really answer…”

“I’m not interested in that! I mean, other than that secret!”

“Then what?”

“How did you capture Prince Hadel!”

At her words, I burst into laughter.

“Are you still talking about that?”

Capture? What nonsense. Proficient in offensive magic, swordsmanship, and horse riding but a complete failure in love.

‘Besides, I feel like I’m the one who got captured.’

If Hadel was just wagging his tail like a wet puppy, I wanted to hear anything he said. That was what I felt.

‘On the contrary, Hadel seems to be increasing his nagging.’

Thinking about our usual appearance, I chuckled, and in response, Nella, who was hugging her knees, spoke in a spirited tone.

“I am a fallen aristocrat. You said the position of the Northern Grand Duchess is just a facade, but I yearn for even that. At least I won’t do any work.”

Work?

Smirking, I replied in a casual tone.

“Are you working? Very diligently.”

“Ugh.”

Nella seemed genuinely surprised, her eyes widened. Sipping the remaining stew broth, I thought to myself.