Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: White Horse (1)
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“Pomegranate tree... fertility...”
After leaving the alchemist’s workshop, Irina was utterly dejected.
Her already pale face looked even more ashen.
“Was it a bad fortune?”
Irina glanced up briefly.
Then, forcing a smile, she denied it.
“That’s not it...”
Irina chewed on her lip.
After a moment, in a quieter voice, she ventured.
“Veil, out of a lion, a wolf, and a leopard—which animal do you like best?”
“Animals...? Well, none in particular.”
Hearing my response, Irina let out a deep sigh, as if regretting her foolish question.
Then, in a brighter tone, she said.
“No, forget it. Let’s head to the riding grounds.”
The princess pressed down her fluttering dress with one hand and pointed toward the vast grassland.
I followed her lead, and we soon reached the entrance to the riding grounds.
Fine horses were typically kept here, not in regular stables.
It was an essential stop when purchasing steeds for the upper class.
Irina had planned to select a sturdy white horse here for her cousin’s groom.
But.
The riding grounds were filled only with black and red horses.
Not a single white horse in sight.
“Oh dear... my apologies, Your Highness.”
The stable master greeted us with a deeply apologetic expression.
“All the white horses were sold out today...”
The middle-aged man clasped his hands together and bowed low.
“All of them today?”
When Irina asked again, the stable master pointed to the grassland.
There, a brown-haired woman was leisurely letting five white horses graze in the breeze.
“Yes, the Western Archduchess Antreya bought every last one...”
A woman in her early twenties, dressed in white leggings and a simple Radiant Knight Order jacket.
Her short bob haircut marked her as a knight.
‘Her mana feels average, so she’s likely an administrative soldier.’
Her sharp blue eyes gave off a stubborn impression.
The subordinates under her would have a tough time during inspections.
“Could you ask her to spare just one white horse?”
Irina requested of the stable master.
He bowed and accepted the order but muttered that it wouldn’t be easy.
And sure enough, his prediction proved correct.
“She says no...”
Whose faction was the Western Archduke’s?
The 1st Imperial Princess Lea’s, no less.
“...”
I looked at the 2nd Imperial Princess with concern.
Irina, strong-willed like Lea.
Her eyes sharpened like a wolf’s as she strode confidently onto the grassland.
“I greet Your Highness.”
The brown-haired female knight, who had been leisurely feeding the grass.
She bowed her head at the sight of Irina approaching in her flowing white dress.
“Pleased to meet you, Lady Antre.”
The princess smiled at the knight.
Then, hands clasped behind her back, she casually asked.
“I need a white horse too. Could you spare just one?”
Irina asked politely.
However, Antre stared at her silently for a moment before refusing firmly.
“I’m sorry, but I’ve been ordered to prepare for the mounted tournament, so I must secure as many white horses as possible.”
The grandest festival in the capital’s western district: the mounted tournament.
Sponsored directly by the 1st Imperial Princess, she could refuse even royalty with justification.
“This is for my cousin’s ducal house as well.”
The 2nd Imperial Princess didn’t back down.
Removing her hat, her silver hair fluttered as she gently persuaded.
“Tournaments happen every year, but weddings only once. Wouldn’t you help make them happy, even if just with one horse?”
A stalemate where neither could yield.
The archduchess spoke first.
“Well, using a prized steed for a wedding might be a national loss.”
The Western Archduchess politely deflected.
But Irina knew better.
“You think you can treat me lightly because the 1st Imperial Princess has your back?”
That Antre’s words were mere wordplay using the military as an excuse.
“Horses from the tournament end up as trophies for the riders—ornaments. I know that full well.”
Irina smiled faintly at Antre’s words.
Then, with cold eyes, she warned.
“Whereas a horse from a wedding can return here. You’re the ones wasting resources.”
Antre faltered at Irina’s evident expertise with horses.
She covered her mouth with her fist and cleared her throat.
“I’d love to grant Your Highness’s request, but poor care could ruin the horse’s quality.”
I glanced down at the princess.
Arms crossed, standing alone.
I quietly watched how she would judge this.
“Very well. So you’re worried I’d mismanage such a precious steed?”
The princess placed a hand on her chest.
Her green eyes sparkled as she said.
“The groom who receives it will care for it perfectly, with my thorough guidance.”
“You’ll handle the horse yourself, Your Highness...?”
Antre’s eyebrows twitched.
A delicate, slender woman like her managing a prized horse?
“May I humbly ask if Your Highness knows riding?”
The knight asked with concern.
If she accepted the bet and the princess fell, she’d be in trouble too.
“Of course.”
The princess brushed her fluttering hair behind her ear.
It accentuated her feminine features.
The archduchess knight shook her head at the sight.
“Words alone won’t convince me.”
Antre spoke firmly.
But seeing that, Irina’s lips curved up.
As if she’d been waiting for those exact words.
“If you can’t believe me, I’ll have to show you.”
The princess removed the platinum robe draped over her shoulders.
Dressed in just her white shirt, she declared confidently.
“Here’s the deal, Lady Antre. A riding race between us.”
“You and I, Your Highness?”
“Yes. If I win, you’ll know I understand horses and can trust me with it, right?”
Irina had treated Antre gently all this time just to lead to this.
The western upper class valued dignity and had high pride.
“It’s solid proof.”
They couldn’t easily refuse a fair challenge with justification.
Yet, it was also consideration for Antre.
If Irina won after going this far, even Lea wouldn’t harshly reprimand her knight.
It gave Antre reason to accept while offering an out.
“I’m a knight of the order. It won’t be easy.”
The archduchess smiled leisurely and glanced my way.
As if asking why I wasn’t stopping my princess.
But.
I wanted to warn this young female knight instead.
From my past life memories, Irina...
Rode horses exceptionally well.
The Conqueror King’s daughters could all tame steeds.
Except the fierce-tempered 3rd Imperial Princess, the 1st and 2nd both excelled at it.
‘But the Western Archduchess wouldn’t know that.’
“Very well. Pick any from the ones I own.”
With even me not intervening, the knight silently accepted.
She spread her palm, presenting the five white horses she’d bought.
We approached them.
And stopped before the same horse at the same time.
Sturdy legs, glossy coat shimmering.
Even grazing elegantly, aware of its value, exuding graceful poise.
“Veil, what do you think?”
She asked my opinion.
Her eye for horses was impeccable.
“Definitely a fine steed.”
Irina placed her hand on the white horse’s back.
Then, confidently to Antre.
“This one.”
The Western Archduchess glanced at the white horse with black eyes that Irina chose.
A smile tugged at her lips as she chuckled leisurely.
“Of all choices, you picked the most vicious-tempered one. How unfortunate.”
But Irina didn’t take offense at her smile.
Instead, she mirrored it and proposed.
“Is that so? If you feel that bad, how about a handicap?”
“Fine. I won’t use mana at all during the ride.”
No mana.
A purely fair contest of raw riding skill.
I gazed fondly at her, more grown since forming her faction.
She’d turned the provocation against her opponent.
“Good. I’ll just change and we can start.”
Irina gently took the horse’s reins.
She led it softly toward the riding grounds.
The white horse snorted and swished its tail.
Docile for now, but clearly ill-tempered.
“Are you sure?”
When I asked, Irina stared steadily at the white horse.
“Veil, I know what you’re thinking. Worried it might hurt me?”
“Yes.”
I answered honestly.
The princess then approached the horse gracefully.
“Don’t worry. I know these types well.”
She stroked its body softly.
“Looks beautiful, muscles strong. But...”
Her gentle hand trailed from sturdy thighs to its hindquarters.
Then, she parted the fur carefully.
“This...”
Whip scars emerged.
Healed now, but the pain they once caused was vivid.
“Traces of harsh breaking.”
The princess carefully met the horse’s face.
Slowly locking eyes to show no hostility.
“With these kinds, you approach with persuasion, not force.”
The white horse, ignoring all humans before.
Now gazed blankly at the silver-haired princess matching its gaze slowly.
Its excitedly thrashing tail calmed somewhat.
Irina drew closer, pressing foreheads together.
As if resonating.
“Good boy...”
Looking down at the horse with feminine eyes.
The white horse’s snorts softened.
It breathed quietly, as if feeling her warmth.
Soon, its eyes grew docile.
“I’m confident handling them.”
Pressing her cheek to the horse, Irina smiled at me with her eyes.
More mature than in the past.
I stared at her mystical sight.
Then realized.
She was royalty through and through.
The 1st Imperial Princess Lea led with ability and charisma, making subordinates follow for wealth and honor.
The 3rd Imperial Princess Lydia ruled with fair rewards and deep trust.
Her eastern knights felt secure belonging to her.
Finally, the 2nd Imperial Princess Irina.
She focused on each person’s heart.
Persuading them to follow willingly, not by force.
Her knights shared familial trust and high loyalty.
‘Truly the Conqueror King’s daughters.’
Each inherited the emperor’s strengths evenly.
I watched Irina head to the changing room, thinking that.
And when she returned...
I realized she wasn’t just blessed with character.
“Veil, sorry to keep you waiting...?”
Back in leggings and white shirt.
White instead of black made her thighs stand out more.
Like the Conqueror King, her sturdy build.
Taut skin caught the eye.
“Let’s go. Been a while—I’m excited.”
The princess gripped the white horse’s reins.
She strode to the grassland with it.
“...”
The Western Archduchess silently watched Irina arrive with the steed.
Then, puzzled, she said.
“Impressive. My horse wouldn’t listen even on pain of death.”
The muscular white horse obeyed Irina’s touch.
It offered its back willingly.
In return, the princess mounted the saddle with expert skill alone.
“You really can ride.”
Antre mounted her chosen white horse.
Riding alongside the princess, she proposed.
“Rules as in official matches?”
“Yes. First around the grassland wins.”
The princess smiled and took her position at the start.
Seeing it, Antre leisurely curved her lips.
“As expected of Your Highness. Such confidence.”
The knight regarded the princess approvingly.
She vowed to compete with proper respect.
They lined up side by side on the track.
They waited for the referee’s whistle.
￣￣￣.
A majestic sound rang out, and Antre’s white horse surged first.
Riding with military precision.
Maintaining speed out of consideration for Irina.
She glanced my way, smiling as if to say, why didn’t you stop her?
But her smile soon vanished.
I wasn’t flustered—instead, I replied with a sly, fawning grin.
Sensing something off, the knight looked back.
At that moment.
A sharp whoosh cutting the air, and Irina closing in fiercely.
Lifting slightly off the saddle, thighs taut supporting her.
Her sensual figure, hidden under white dress, now on display as she matched Antre.
‘Careless, Western Archduchess.’
Whose daughter was Irina?
Child of the Conqueror King who roamed continents on horseback and his 2nd Imperial Consort.
‘A rough horse like this? Child’s play for her.’