The Unruly Rush
Are you serious?
I tried to find other words, but all that remained were flawed ones. I glared resentfully at the Ice woman. Wasn’t this too unfair, taking the horse like that? If they had at least flipped a coin, I might have accepted it. But now that it was already taken, approaching her again to argue the point would feel far too petty. A Freister had to endure. Among the remaining horses, I chose the black one with the best muscle quality and the most striking appearance. And just as I had predicted, it had a flaw in its temperament. The moment I mounted, it began acting out, turning me into a spectacle.
“Whoa! Whoa… easy, easy.”
No matter how much I stroked its mane and patted it, the black horse spun in place, froze as if time had stopped, spat everywhere, and generally misbehaved. At first it was tolerable, but as it went on endlessly, I felt the urge to just rip out its mane. On the swaying saddle, I forced down my anger. I only had to endure this one class. But the heavens were not so kind… Lord Hoslo spoke.
“The horses you chose are now yours.”
“…Pardon?”
I couldn’t help but question it. But perhaps my voice was too quiet, because he continued.
“The Academy is providing them. Every horse you mounted is still young. Give them names. Pour your affection into them. They must become one with you.”
Without thinking, I looked down at the horse I had mounted. This one was far too violent… I had to keep it with me from now on?
“Now, I’ll give you some time. Get acquainted with your horses.”
Murmurs rose from all around. Everyone was talking to the horse they had been given, the one they had chosen. I turned my gaze to the Ice woman who had stolen the horse I had picked first. Unlike the expression she had shown me, she was now stroking the horse with an affectionate look, murmuring something to it.
“…Haa.”
I let out a sigh. At the sound, my black horse snorted and shook me again.
“Whoa, whoa… let’s calm down.”
This was still the better option. I couldn’t switch it for another. I would have to adapt.
“…Rush. From now on, your name is Rush.”
Rush responded with a buck. I couldn’t tell if it was approval or refusal.
“…Listen well and I’ll give you something tasty. Let’s get along.”
****
After the time to bond with the horses, Lord Hoslo checked our riding skills. Many students still looked clumsy. …Including me. It wasn’t that my riding was lacking so much as Rush simply wouldn’t listen. Fortunately, the other students were also clumsy, so I wasn’t the only one. If it had been just me, I would have wanted to crawl into a mouse hole. The only one displaying masterful horsemanship was the woman from the Ice family. Not only her skill, but her horse was perfect—completely unlike Rush. It already followed its master’s commands obediently.
“…Hey. You should try to be like that too.”
I spoke to Rush, but the horse only spat. Fortunately, during the subsequent training, Rush showed promise. It must have been a whim, but its potential was boundless. Its muscle quality was certainly excellent—fast and explosive. If only it would listen, it would be a perfect horse. The problem was that it didn’t.
Carrying me in the short-distance race evaluation, Rush displayed overwhelming speed. It was a sprint that seemed to ignore the rider on its back, but since I managed to stay on, it wasn’t an issue. Lord Hoslo must have noticed as well, because he praised my riding first.
“…Your sense of balance is good. If you get a little closer to your horse, you’ll be fine.”
“…Haha… thank you.”
****
After class, we headed to the stables. Lord Hoslo said that from now on, caring for the horses would be our responsibility. He told us that to grow close to them, we needed to know how to manage them, and that visiting often would be best.
“I trust you’ve all confirmed your horses’ capabilities. You may not be in sync yet, and it might feel awkward. That’s precisely why you must care for them with sincerity. If war breaks out, you will ride into battle on the very horses you’re mounted on now. To entrust your lives to each other, there must be some affection between you.”
Rush suddenly began grinding its teeth and chewing on something. Lord Hoslo was speaking passionately, so I couldn’t stop it. To think I would have to go to war with this thing… Was this really right?
“Becoming close depends on your effort. Remember this: if you pour your heart into it, a horse can become a more precious friend than anyone else. It will always stand by your side.”
The cadets on horseback one by one stroked their horses’ necks. They seemed to be taking Lord Hoslo’s words to heart. Meanwhile, I was wondering what to do with this one.
“Morning classes are over. Finish your meal and gather again in an hour.”
He announced the end of class. The other students led their horses into the stables one by one. Everyone except me. Rush wouldn’t listen, making it difficult to get it inside. After finally managing to put Rush away, I looked at my horse. Rush bared its teeth at me with a clack.
“…What am I supposed to do with you, really.”
I gave its nose a light tap, as if knocking. It really was an ugly thing. Maybe the way it kept rolling its eyes made it look even worse. Everyone had left. Too much time had passed. Just as I was about to leave the stables for my meal, I spotted the only other person still there—the Ice woman. Her hair was a deep gray, her eyes sharp like Asena’s, her tall frame and solid build befitting a knight. She was already stroking her horse with loving eyes, as if she had fallen for it.
“…Aren’t you going to eat?”
“……”
She didn’t answer. She had clearly heard me—her gently relaxed face had hardened again. For a moment, I grew tired of this emotional tug-of-war. Grandmother Liana had warned me to be wary of the Ice family and never yield to them, but neither she nor I had done anything to warrant such hostility. So I wanted to smooth over this uncomfortable relationship.
“…Haa… let’s not do this.”
“……”
“I know our families don’t get along, but there’s no reason we have to be like this too.”
For the briefest moment, her expression flickered and cracked. She looked at me.
“Let’s get along. Really. Do we have to keep doing this?”
“……”
“I haven’t even done anything yet, so why hate me? If anything, I should be the one hating you, right? You stole my horse.”
“…I’ve heard a lot of bad things about your family.”
“You didn’t hear bad things about me, though. If we’re going by that logic, I’ve heard plenty of bad things about the Ice family too.”
“…!”
She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists. That wasn’t what I meant.
“Ah, fine! Fine! Stop!”
“……”
She was breathing unevenly. Was it because of her expression? I knew I shouldn’t be thinking this in this situation, but her intense reaction was oddly amusing.
“First, let’s introduce ourselves. You never told me your name.”
“……”
“…You know this isn’t right. Even enemies tell each other their names.”
“…Judy Ice.”
“As I said earlier, I’m Caiden Freister.”
I held out my hand confidently. She alternated her gaze between my hand and my face before slowly extending her own. I took the approaching hand and shook it as I pleased.
“Nice to meet you.”
Judy Ice… She hadn’t appeared in the novel. But I had heard the name. As the rival family, I had studied the Ice family thoroughly through conversations with the twins. If my memory was correct, Judy Ice was the illegitimate daughter of Duke Ice. I nodded. That made sense. Being a concubine’s daughter, she had come to the Knight Department. Unable to participate in politics like me, she had chosen the path of martial prowess.
“Duke Ice’s illegitimate daughter… right?”
Judy Ice’s body trembled as if startled. Then she looked at me with a face flushing red and blue. I quickly tried to calm her.
“No… why such an intense reaction…”
“…So this is what the Freisters are like.”
“What’s wrong with being illegitimate? It’s not like it’s untrue.”
“…Do you enjoy digging into other people’s weaknesses?”
“What?”
“Why bring up ‘illegitimate’ on purpose to provoke me?”
Words poured out of her previously frozen mouth. I blinked. Did she not know who I was?
“You don’t know me?”
“You said you’re Caiden Freister!”
“That’s true, but… hmm…”
I hesitated, wondering if I should say it myself, but she really seemed to have no idea, so I spoke.
“…I’m an adopted child of the Freister family.”
“…Huh?”
“I didn’t say it to dig at your weakness. I said it because I felt a sense of kinship.”
Suddenly, Asena’s words that I had tried not to think about echoed in my head. As if a gust of wind had blown through, the buried memory flashed.
‘When you graduate, return Freister Castle.’
I forced the painful memory back down again.
“…An… adopted child? The Freister family has someone like that…”
“…You really didn’t know. If you had, I wouldn’t have come to the Knight Department—I would have gone to Political Science.”
“……”
A laugh escaped me at the absurdity. Judy Ice’s face flushed with embarrassment. After all, once a thought takes root, it’s hard to break that mold. She must have heard too many bad rumors about our family from a young age.
“Judy, let’s just be friendly with each other. We’re both… the bottom rung of our families. If we don’t stick together, who are we supposed to complain to about this misery?”
“……”
“Whether we like it or not, we have to spend the next two years together. Fighting every day is exhausting.”
“……”
“Isn’t it?”
She pondered for a long while before giving a slight nod. Fortunately, she had thought reasonably. She seemed to understand what I was trying to say.
“I’m not asking us to force conversations or act. At the very least, let’s not hate each other.”
“……”
“Here. As a gesture of friendship.”
I approached her horse—the mare I had originally wanted to claim first.
“…Ah…!”
Judy hesitated, trying to stop me, but I reached the horse faster. It was certainly a well-behaved horse. If I had approached Rush like this, it would have bitten me… This one stood still. I envied her.
“What’s its name?”
“……”
When she didn’t answer, I looked into her eyes and asked again.
“…Yes?”
“………Goldie.”
She answered in a crawling voice. I had tried to hold it in, but a laugh slipped out. For someone who had been so prickly toward me, the naming sense was rather cute. She seemed to know it was embarrassing too—her cheeks turned as red as ripe persimmons. Perhaps because she had lived in a cold region, her pale skin made it stand out even more. I tried to stop laughing, but forcing it back only made it come out more. I turned around and adjusted Goldie’s stirrups. I had been watching earlier—they were a bit long for Judy Ice’s build.
“It’s a bit… hmm… long. It’s better to shorten them a little. You should be able to ride as if gripping the horse with your legs. Ahem.”
Trying to speak while suppressing laughter made my voice tremble. If I turned around, I would have to see Judy’s flushed face, so I leaned my head against Goldie until the laughter subsided. Finally managing to calm myself, I looked at Judy.
“Got it?”
But contrary to my expectations, Judy was also holding back laughter.
****
Leaving the stables, I returned to the training grounds. I had been planning to head to the dining hall. But from afar, someone with a familiar build was waving and running toward me. Silver hair reaching the shoulders. A cute woman with an atmosphere just like a puppy. Dimples that matched her bright smile perfectly. It was Kirsi.
“Oppa!!”
I smiled and waved back. She grinned with her eyes. Then she ran straight into my arms. I slipped my arm under her armpit and lifted her, and she melted into me, entrusting her entire body.
“Ugh… I’m tired, Oppa… haa… haa…”
“Then who told you to run like that?”
“No… it’s not that, the class was…”
“Hup…!”
I lifted Kirsi slightly so she could stand on her own. She naturally stood up, spun around my arm, and linked hers with mine.
“You were looking forward to it so much. How can you be this exhausted after just one class?”
We headed toward the dining hall.
“I don’t know… I just liked it better when I could hang out with you all the time.”
“Well… of course playing is fun.”
Kirsi looked up at me with a blank stare at my answer. Had I been too cold? Should I have cooed over her instead?
“Haa… I don’t know. Maybe it’s just because you’re not by my side…”
But contrary to my worry, Kirsi gave a cute reply. I chuckled and playfully pushed her forehead with the back of my hand. Kirsi giggled and rested her head on my arm.
****
Seated in the dining hall with food in front of us, we began to talk in earnest.
“So, where’s Asena?”
“Ah, she joined the student council.”
“The student council?”
Right. I had forgotten. Asena was joining the student council.
“Yeah. So she’s eating with the student council members.”
Thinking about it, there was no one in the Academy with as much power as Asena. Even setting aside her family’s influence, she was practically the only head of a ducal house here. She was exactly the kind of person who belonged in the student council.
“She’s already living a busy life, Asena.”
“Right. I could never do that.”
“So Kirsi, have you made any friends?”
“Ah, right!”
She exclaimed, her smile blooming like a flower.
“I made so many friends! Like, ten? Just like you said, they’re all really nice.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Maybe because they’re new friends, there’s so much to talk about. Everyone has such strong personalities, and I don’t know why that’s so fun.”
Kirsi seemed to be adapting well. I felt proud. When I first met them as children, I had hoped these twins wouldn’t have to live through that bleak, emotionless future—and now it was unfolding right before my eyes.
“Actually, my friends asked me to eat with them today too, but I came out saying I had to meet you.”
“Huh? No, next time you should eat with your friends too.”
I didn’t want to become an obstacle in Kirsi’s Academy life now that it was starting to go well.
“Hmm… no. I just want to eat with you.”
Kirsi thought for a moment, then opened her mouth cutely.
“Ah~”
I naturally picked up food with my fork and fed it to her.
“You can’t eat with just me for the rest of your life, you know.”
I said worriedly. In any group, if someone keeps skipping out, they end up on the sidelines. The bonds formed over meals are the fastest… That’s why there’s even a drinking culture. It’s not that skipping meals makes you drift apart, but that the others grow closer without you and form their own circle. Kirsi needed to belong to some group to enjoy herself. But Kirsi ignored my words, humming as if she hadn’t heard. I felt like I needed to cut this off cleanly.
“Kirsi, I can’t always eat with just you either.”
“………………Huh?”
Kirsi’s face stiffened, her smile vanishing.
“I made a friend too. I should eat with them sometimes.”
“……………A friend…?”
Kirsi tilted her head, then patted her chest.
“…Ah, why is this happening again.”
“…Kirsi? Are you okay?”
“Ah, no. The food must have gone down the wrong way… Yeah, right… Of course you’d make friends too. Why didn’t I think of that…?”
“How little do you think of me?”
I asked with a laugh, but Kirsi’s expression remained seriously stiff.
“…So… how many?”
“Huh?”
“How many new friends do you have?”
“Hmm……”
Honestly, I didn’t have anyone I could call a new friend. Lord Hoslo had only drilled us mercilessly. I had talked with Judy Ice, but she wasn’t exactly a friend. It had been a lie meant to encourage Kirsi to eat with her own friends, but I hadn’t expected her to interrogate me like this. Then suddenly, a new “friend” came to mind.
“…One. Well, one horse, actually.”
“Huh?”
“I got a new horse. Named Rush…”
“…A horse is your new friend?”
“That… yeah.”
Kirsi’s stiff face broke with a “pfft” and laughter, then she began laughing far too loudly. It was cute, so it didn’t matter, but the sound was a bit loud. People around us were starting to look. I moved closer and patted her shoulder.
“Th-that’s enough. Everyone’s looking.”
Kirsi lifted her head and hugged me. In that position, she laughed for a long time without stopping. Had it really been that funny?
“Ahahaha… ah… Oppa, really. Hehe.”
Kirsi, seemingly overjoyed, even acted cute by hitting my arm. I didn’t fully understand the situation. After shaking off the remaining laughter, Kirsi opened her mouth prettily, shamelessly showing me her red tongue and white teeth. I quickly picked up more food and fed her again.
“Can you introduce me later, Oppa?”
Kirsi asked while chewing.
“What?”
“Rush.”
“Ah…”
Rush’s willful image came to mind. Would it be okay? What if it bit her hand or hair if she got too close? I didn’t want to ruin Kirsi’s cute face.
“Hmm… I’ll think about it.”
“Ah, why…!”
“It’s a bit strange.”
“It’s fine. We can get along.”
“……”
“Right? Oppa.”
Kirsi acted cute. I really was weak to this. Kirsi seemed to know it too.
“Haa… fine. Next time we have time, you know the training grounds where you came to find me today? If you cross that and walk a little further, you’ll see the stables. If you don’t see me after class, I’ll be there, so come by.”
“Yeah, got it.”
“I don’t know if it’ll be okay.”
“It’s your friend, so I should get along too. Just like you said, I’ll try eating with your friend. Does it like carrots?”
“…I’ll check.”
“Thanks, Oppa. Even if you make other friends, you have to introduce them too?”
Kirsi’s face was full of smiles as she spoke.