Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Morning Ride and Muscle Soreness
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I left the townhouse early in the morning and arrived at a field about 5 km north of the imperial capital, roughly 2 km square.
"Such a fresh... grassland."
"It used to be a pasture once."
It was a place where the grass grew incredibly well, used as grazing land before the conquest of the north—and now it had become a playground for nobles.
The reason someone like me, who had no interest in outdoor activities, came here was obvious: to go horseback riding.
As expected of the capital teeming with nobles, there were plenty of places to ride horses. But this was the only spot where you could really let them gallop freely, so I headed out at dawn to get it done before the crowds arrived.
"It's been a while since I've been here."
As Emily and I stood by the carriage gazing at the field, Lady Rachel approached with a wistful expression.
"Did you used to come here often?"
"Before I became a knight, I came riding with my father quite frequently."
"Good memories, then."
"Yes. Thanks to them, I dreamed of becoming a knight."
Lady Rachel's lips curved into a soft smile.
After gazing at the field for a while, lost in reminiscence, she wiped the smile from her face and turned to me.
"This might be a silly question, but what brings you here?"
"To ride a horse."
"You, Young Master?"
"Yes."
Lady Rachel eyed me skeptically from head to toe.
Then, with a look of certainty, she spoke.
"I recommend against it."
"Don't worry too much. Despite appearances, I've been trained in horsemanship."
The reason I hadn't been kicked out despite hating social interactions and holing up indoors was that I'd done what needed doing.
I could ride, hunt, speak foreign languages—basics befitting a noble, on par with anyone else.
If I'd neglected even that and just fooled around, Mother probably would've torn me limb from limb.
Appearances aside, I made for a pretty decent marriage prospect—aside from being a total shut-in.
No rumors in high society, barely any presence at all, thanks to my hermit ways.
"That's not what I meant... Well, any regrets are on you, so it's none of my business."
I shot Lady Rachel a triumphant look, but she narrowed her eyes and shook her head.
She then adopted a blank expression, lips pressed tight, and turned to watch Charles, the coachman, leading a horse over.
"Young Master, the horse is ready."
"Thanks, Charles."
Charles positioned the horse in front of me and set down a mounting block.
I patted his shoulder and stepped to the horse's side, gently taking the reins.
"A two-person saddle?"
As I cautiously stroked the horse to gauge its temperament, Lady Rachel glanced at the saddle with its two depressions and voiced her surprise in a tone laced with dismay.
"Yes, we're riding together."
"One side's a sidesaddle. Are you sure that's okay?"
"Yes, it's fine."
I waved off Lady Rachel, who pointed at the saddle with evident unease, smiling reassuringly.
Then, looking at Emily, who had sidled up beside me, I knelt by the mounting block, stacking my hands palm-up toward the sky.
"Emily."
"Yes."
I called to her, looking up as if ready, and she nodded, stepping onto the block and placing her foot in my hands.
She sprang up using my hands and the block, settled her hips on the saddle, draped both legs over the horse's left side, hooked her left foot in the stirrup, and rested her right leg against the saddle's protruding pommel.
Confirming Emily was stably seated, I followed suit, stepping onto the block, slipping my left foot into the stirrup, and mounting the saddle.
I hooked my other foot in its stirrup, grasped the reins with both hands, and drew Emily into my embrace.
She leaned her back against me and gripped the saddle's handle.
"Good..."
"Oh—"
As we mounted perfectly, an exclamation escaped Lady Rachel.
I glanced sideways with a smirk and caught her wide-eyed with surprise.
"Your postures are flawless."
"I told you there was no need to worry."
"True, it looks fine so far."
"It'll be fine later too."
"I hope so."
With that, Lady Rachel stepped back with Charles, who had removed the block, and huddled near the carriage.
"I'll take a light lap around."
"Yes."
"I'll gradually increase speed as we go. Tell me if it hurts."
"Yes."
Seeing Emily nod, I gave the horse's flank a light nudge with my heels.
That was the signal; the horse lifted its slightly lowered head and stepped forward gracefully.
Our bodies rocked gently up and down with its gait.
"How's this?"
"I've handled this much on walks before. You can go faster."
"Got it."
I nudged the horse's flanks again with my heels.
Its pace quickened to a brisk trot, the shaking intensifying.
"How about now? Okay?"
Without a properly fitted corset, Emily would've struggled even at this speed normally, so I kept an eye on her, reins ready to stop anytime.
"I'm fine. You can go faster."
"Really okay?"
"Yes."
"Then I'm really speeding up?"
"Yes."
"..."
I'd never pushed speeds like this tandem before, and tension knotted my gut.
I swallowed hard and spurred the horse once more.
A bit faster than a human sprint.
The shaking grew fierce, hooves thundering, wind whipping cheeks and hair, landscapes blurring.
"Wheee~!"
As speed built, Emily clutched her flying hair with one hand and let out an exhilarated whoop—the thrill of her first real gallop.
"How is it?"
"So... so exciting!"
I'd wanted her physical feedback, but her beaming grin over her shoulder told me everything.
"Then we'll loop all the way!"
"Yes!"
Realizing no need to hold back, we galloped the field relentlessly.
One lap, then another.
Shouting "one more" amid the thrill, we rode until the sun hit midday and Charles begged us to stop.
"Young Master, can we ride again sometime?"
"Whenever you want."
"Hee hee..."
With lingering regret and a promise for next time.
...
> ...
>
...
Was I just that excited from riding after so long?
Or did Emily's beaming joy unconsciously hype me up?
No issues technically, but physically out of shape, I forgot and went all out.
"Urgh..."
Every muscle screamed.
Lying still, my back and thighs throbbed; any movement felt like wrenching knotted fibers.
"Hngh..."
"Young Master, I brought food."
"Today's Young Master doesn't look so well."
Writhing in agony amid the vicious cycle, Emily and Lady Rachel entered without knocking.
"Tha... ngh... nks."
"Good grief..."
As I raised a hand in thanks only to writhe in pain, Emily gave me a pitying look and set the food-laden tray on the bedside table.
Lady Rachel, watching, grimaced as if at something unsightly and shook her head.
"Worse than I heard."
"You seemed kinda cool yesterday, but turning pathetic again in a day is impressive."
"I warned you—everyone overdoes it first ride back. And sure enough..."
"I rode with you and I'm fine. Why are you half-dead?"
"Probably from zero regular exercise..."
I hadn't expected such brutal soreness from a couple hours, weakling or not.
"Even so... I didn't expect... thiiiis..."
"If you're bedridden, just stay put."
"Hng..."
My indignant self-defense earned only Emily's curt shutdown.
"You can't eat properly like this."
"Bread... one piece is enough..."
"Ugh, fine. I'll handle it."
Emily shot me a glare like I'd spouted nonsense, scoffing, and picked up a fork to prod the tray.
"...?"
Unsure what she was up to, I ignored her and turned sheepishly to Lady Rachel.
"Lady Rachel, as you see, I can't do much today... so you should head back."
"Seems best."
"Yes..."
"Get well."
She bowed politely and turned for the door.
"Oh, almost forgot."
Hand on the knob, she paused, shuddered briefly, then returned to the bedside.
She rummaged in her pocket, produced a small glass vial fitting neatly in her palm, and placed it on the table by the tray.
"From His Highness the Crown Prince. He said you absolutely need this and ordered me to deliver it."
"For me...?"
I hadn't requested anything, so I furrowed my brow, craning my neck painfully to eye the vial.
Blackish, viscous—definitely medicine, whatever it was.
"Medicine...?"
"Yes, good for pain and inflammation."
"Ha..."
A hollow laugh escaped.
She'd heard about me through channels and prepared this.
Medicine personally from the Crown Prince.
Tears of gratitude welled.
"... Tell His Highness I'm deeply touched by his grace."
"Understood. Now I'll really go."
"Yes, safe travels."
We exchanged farewells again; this time she truly left.
"She's gone."
Emily, quietly slicing food, confirmed it, sat on the bed's edge, and set the tray on her lap.
"Time to eat, right?"
"Huh?"
"Open up."
"Wait, I can feed myse... urgh..."
No way I wanted to be babied like a nestling at my age, so I desperately tried sitting up—only for my waist to scream, slumping me back unable even to lift my head.
"Need more watching?"
"...Sorry."
"Ah~"
"Ah..."
Eyes squeezed shut, mouth agape—a neatly cut piece of meat slipped in.
That clinking earlier was her slicing...
"......"
I chewed slowly.
Embarrassment flooded—not a knight, yet weaker than a maid, needing nursing.
Ah... so mortifying I wanted to die.