Chapter 4 (Part 6)

After explaining that there was no specific date or time arranged with the servants, Theodore spoke to her.  

“Lady, I’d like to take responsibility for your day today. Would you allow me to?”  

Extending his hand toward Reinis with care, she looked at it quietly before shyly nodding and taking it.  

“I’ll instruct them to prepare for an outing. Though we won’t be able to leave the Duke’s manor to avoid straining your legs, I’m sure it will still be an enjoyable time.”  

Theodore mounted Ken first and extended his hand toward Reinis, who stared at it with a somewhat stiff expression. Remembering that she had never learned to ride a horse, he dismounted and asked,  

“Are you afraid?”  

“Well… just… a little.”  

Seeing her shyly admit her fear, Theodore smiled and reassured her.  

“Don’t worry. Even if I have to get hurt, I will protect you, lady.”  

“What?! You could get hurt?!”  

Startled by his words, Reinis cried out in alarm.  

To this, Theodore replied with a serious expression,  

“Ah… that was a joke.”  

“What?”  

Reinis, who had been wide-eyed in surprise, soon burst into laughter.  

“Who makes a joke with such a serious face and tone?”  

“I’ve never really made jokes before. But I’m glad it made you laugh, lady.”  

Was it thanks to Theodore’s calm joke? Reinis’s stiff expression had softened considerably.  

“Shall we go now?”  

Continuing the mood, Theodore extended his hand to her as he spoke. With a slightly nervous face, Reinis nodded and took Theodore’s hand.  

Ken patiently waited as the two climbed onto his back.  

“Ken is staying so still…”  

“Is this really the same horse we know? He used to kick his hind legs furiously if anyone else even tried to touch him.”  

“It’s because it’s the lady. She’s the one who’s captured the heart of his master, after all.”  

The stable hands, who were watching, were amazed to see Ken calmly allowing someone other than his master, Theodore, to ride him without causing trouble.  

Despite the murmurs coming from behind her, Reinis, who was riding a horse for the first time, was so tense that she couldn’t hear a single word.  

“I’ll start moving now. If you’re scared, let me know right away.”  

Theodore spoke in a gentle voice, but once she was on the horse, the considerable height left Reinis frozen stiff, unable to even respond.  

Finding her reaction adorable, Theodore chuckled and slowly started moving the horse. He gave her time to adjust, careful not to increase the speed suddenly, worried it might frighten her. Seeing that her body was still rigid, Theodore asked,  

“Are you scared?”  

Reinis answered his question with a nod.  

‘I’ll have to help the her relax a bit.’ 

With that thought, he slowed the pace even more.  

“Lady, do you know what this fellow likes the most?”  

“I don’t know.”  

“Running.”  

“Ah…”  

Hearing her short sigh, Theodore continued speaking.  

“But the funny thing is, do you know what this fellow hates the most?”  

“What is it?”  

“It’s also running.”  

At those words, Reinis tilted her head in confusion.  

“How can what he likes the most and what he hates the most be the same?”  

Hearing her puzzled tone, Theodore laughed and explained.  

“This fellow wasn’t originally a horse of the Duke’s manor. He was a racehorse.”  

“A racehorse?”  

“Yes. He was such a fast runner that he won several races. But this horse has a stubborn personality. He wouldn’t listen to his jockey and would act on his own, even running in the opposite direction during a race.”  

“Running in the opposite direction? But he seems so gentle…”  

Reinis, astonished as if she couldn’t believe it, reached out her hand and stroked Ken’s head.  

Though Ken was showing an endlessly gentle demeanor toward her, if she were to ask the stable hands about Ken’s personality, they would all have said the same thing:  

‘A nasty temper.’  

Unaware of this fact, Reinis couldn’t believe what Theodore was saying.  

“It seems this fellow has taken a liking to you, Lady, and is putting on an act. He’s not gentle at all. The reason he ended up at the Duke’s manor in the first place is because of his nasty… no, his unruly personality.”  

“May I ask what happened?”  

“During a race, when he refused to listen, the jockey whipped him hard. It seems the horse got angry and stubbornly reared up, causing the jockey to fall to the ground. Unfortunately, the jockey was hit by another horse that was running properly. With the reputation of being a horse that injured a person, not only was he banned from racing, but he was also on the verge of being slaughtered. That’s when I brought him here.”  

“So, that’s why he came to hate running. But I still don’t understand how it can also be the thing he loves the most.”  

Nodding at Reinis’s words, Theodore replied,  

“Running in a racetrack and running in a place like this are completely different. Would you look ahead?”  

Before he even finished speaking, a vast meadow stretched out before them.  

“Wow…”  

A gasp escaped her lips involuntarily. It was truly a breathtaking sight.  

The green meadow was dotted with wildflowers here and there, and the blue sky stretched out like a vast ocean.  

“Lady, would you allow this fellow to do what he loves the most?”  

As the two galloped across the meadow, the servants arrived with tea and snacks, and only then could they dismount.  

Reinis’s face was full of a radiant smile as she got off the horse.  

‘I didn’t expect it to be this fun! It was a little scary at first, but it must be because the Commander was with me, right?’  

Seeing Reinis’s joyful expression, smiles also spread across the faces of the servants.  

“Young Lady, are you tired? You weren’t scared, were you?”  

Yuria, who had been helping the servants prepare the tea, asked her.  

“No! It was so much fun!”  

With a bright smile and no hesitation, Reinis answered.  

‘Thank goodness. The lady seems so happy. I think this is the first time I’ve seen her enjoy something so much.’  

Though Yuria was glad, she also felt a bittersweet emotion tugging at her heart, and her eyes glistened as she gazed at Reinis. Yuria, who had always wished for her happiness, was overcome with emotion.  

While Yuria was moved, Theodore, having finished settling Ken so he could rest, returned to his seat.  

“Were you not tired?”  

“No, it was so much fun.”  

As soon as he returned, he checked on Reinis’s condition, and seeing this, Yuria once again stepped back with a face full of emotion.  

“You two truly look so good together.”  

“Exactly. How can they suit each other so well? They’re a match made in heaven.”  

“I hope the lady becomes our Madam soon.”  

“Me too! I hope the lady really becomes our Madam! If it’s someone like her, I could serve her ten times over!”  

As Yuria arrived at the place where the maids were gathered, she overheard them praising the two. Feeling oddly proud, she nodded along to their conversation and resolved to ensure the two would get married.  

Meanwhile, a pleasant breeze flowed between Reinis and Theodore as they enjoyed tea together.  

“I never knew horseback riding could be so fun. I want to recover quickly so I can learn to ride.”  

“I didn’t expect you to enjoy it this much, Lady. I’m glad.”  

“Thank you.”  

Though their conversation wasn’t particularly special, even those watching felt a ticklish warmth in their hearts.  

While Reinis and Theodore were enjoying their date, Rio, who had returned to the imperial palace, sought the Emperor with the couple’s marriage contract in hand.  

Rio, concerned that the Emperor might learn about Earl Plarad or the Martin family and oppose the marriage, kept his explanation brief.  

“So, you’re saying that even in your eyes, they seemed like a pair of lovers truly in love?”  

“Yes, Your Majesty. The two seemed to love each other sincerely. Therefore, I believe there’s no need for you to worry, Your Majesty.”  

Nodding at Rio’s words, the Emperor engraved the names of the two on the marriage consent form.  

Reinis Martin.  

Though she wasn’t a lady from a renowned family, curiosity about the woman who had captured the Duke’s heart began to stir.  

“It seems the Duke has finally found a proper match.”  

The Emperor finished speaking and stamped the marriage consent form.  

“Your Majesty, isn’t he my one and only friend? I want to deliver this news to the Duke and Lady Martin immediately. May I take the marriage consent form to the Duke’s manor right away?”  

Seeing this, Rio let out a sigh of relief and said, 

“Yes, go ahead.”  

As soon as the Emperor gave his permission, Rio took the marriage consent form and headed straight to his room.  

For the marriage consent form submitted by the Martin Baronet’s family and the Plarad Earl’s family to reach the Emperor, it had to go through quite a few procedures. As a result, it was uncertain how many days it would take.  

Having seen the marriage consent form belatedly submitted by the Martin family, Rio chose to act quickly to prevent the Emperor from delaying the marriage between the Duke and Reinis.  

Rio once again confirmed the Emperor’s seal on the marriage consent form for the two and immediately sent someone to the Duke’s manor. Then, he set out to retrieve the marriage consent form for Earl Plarad and Reinis.