Now, Go Ahead and Stamp It - Chapter 30

The men’s competition ended, and the winner of the event was decided.

A nervous rider negatively affects the horse as well.

It was Gillian’s turn.

As he rode, he inadvertently caught sight of Ellen, and the moment he recognized her, he lost his pace.

Gillian hastily picked up speed, which disrupted his rhythm with the horse, ultimately causing him to lose the flow at the end.

Thus, the honor of winning the men’s obstacle jumping went to the Coenheim family.

Spaniel was unusually delighted, celebrating Morris’s victory with a bright face.

Beside him, Elsier was chattering excitedly with a heightened voice.

“Miller Periwinkle was eliminated in the group preliminaries!”

“Hoho, serves him right. You did well, Elsier!”

For his first competition, Elsier achieved a rather high ranking and mocked Periwinkle’s lack of athleticism.

With Spaniel’s agreement, Elsier chattered even more excitedly.

“When I see him at the academy, I’ll definitely call him the preliminaries dropout!”

“Yes, yes.”

Ellen gave a suitable response to the endless chatter of the seventeen-year-old and looked around.

She saw baskets of lunch being brought in.

“It seems it’s already time for a meal. Hold onto it for now. I’m going out for a short walk to calm my heart.”

“Sister, where are you going?”

“Just a quick walk to calm myself.”

“Yes, sister. Please hurry back.”

“Hey, Elsier! That one is Ellen’s!”

Leaving the noisy tent behind, Ellen headed to where her horse was tied.

The dressage competition was about to begin.

This meant that the time for the planned event was also drawing near.

Fortunately, there was no riding outfit as strikingly red as hers.

But just in case, she checked the ornaments attached to the harness tied to her horse.

The reflective light was dazzling.

‘It should be fine.’

It was a musket with not very high accuracy yet.

She knew that aiming from a distance was risky.

But she would be alone in the wide arena, and there would be no chance of confusing her with someone else.

Ellen stroked her horse, with whom she had spent several years, with a heavy heart.

‘…I’m sorry. I hope both you and I get through this without any trouble.’

She hugged her horse’s neck tightly once, composed herself, and returned to her tent.

“Mmmster, Mmm where are you mmgoing?”

Elsier mumbled with a mouth full of smoked salmon sandwich.

Ellen glanced at her silly brother with narrow eyes.

Hearing chuckles from the side, she turned her head to see Kaiden, who had arrived at some point, holding lunch in their tent.

He picked up a sandwich and handed it to Ellen, saying,

“Elsier seems to like Morris a lot.”

“They are such outstanding individuals. It’s hard not to admire them.”

Ellen took a bite of the sandwich she received.

“But calling him Elsier, you must have gotten quite close.”

“He resembles someone I know. You look very familiar, my lady.”

“We must really look alike.”

Ellen laughed softly, and Kaiden replied as if stating the obvious.

It was during this casual conversation that she hinted at the event that would occur today.

“It’s soon. Please don’t be too surprised, whatever happens.”

“What… Ah.”

The incident she had previously mentioned planning.

Kaiden fell silent with a low exclamation.

A horn sounded from outside.

It was the signal for the start of the dressage competition.

* * *

Bwoo—

With the sound of the horn, the announcer’s voice echoed.

“Now, the women’s dressage competition…”

People moved at the distant sound of the announcer’s guidance.

Participants began to gather around the white fence set up for the competition.

Gillian led his horse, trying hard to control his anxious mind.

‘It’s troubling to lose composure again. Don’t let yourself be swayed by that woman, Gillian…’

He stroked his horse’s nose, reminding himself, and firmly gripped the reins, checking his horse’s harness.

As he lifted his head, someone entered his line of sight among the gathered crowd.

A woman who stood out even among the countless people.

Gillian felt a surge of heat rising within him, despite his recent determination.

The woman who dared to speak of divorce now seemed to be enjoying herself beside the Crown Prince.

His jaw clenched.

‘You’ve really decided to oppose me, haven’t you?’

The Crown Prince is a sinking ship.

Does she truly not know that?

His mind was a tangled mess of thoughts.

What was driving him now was something even he couldn’t define.

He should be the one occupying her thoughts.

She should be the one standing by his side, and he shouldn’t let that foolish man take what’s his anymore.

The sound signaling the start of the competition faintly reached his ears.

Names were called, and horses entered and exited the arena repeatedly.

Several women passed by, but he couldn’t even register who they were.

His focus returned when a familiar face stood in the arena.

As the announcer called Ellen’s name, she entered with her red horse.

The horse walked in very slowly.

A woman shining brightly under the sunlight, smiling.

Seeing her, Gillian felt a twisting pain inside.

While he was burning with frustration.

The smile on her lips, her confident face—it all felt unfamiliar and displeasing.

‘It’s fine. Don’t be swayed. Anyway, she won’t be able to leave the mansion without my permission again…’

Gillian clenched his fist tightly.

Ellen, having greeted with a natural stop, began to ride slowly.

Step by step, she walked with a very light pace.

Her horse bounced with large steps, almost playfully, and she held the reins with a faint smile.

With a small gesture, the steps changed.

The horse’s pace quickened slightly, and it obediently changed direction as she commanded.

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

The lively sound of hooves striking the ground was quite cheerful.

Ellen smiled as though she found her obedient horse adorable.

It felt like her insides were being torn apart.

The horse’s steps quickened again.

It reached a speed that was neither running nor walking.

Clop, clop, clop, clop.

The sound grew more lively.

People focused on her and her red horse, and Ellen’s eyes sparkled with enjoyment.

Gillian, fixated on Ellen’s appearance, was consumed by his boiling emotions, unable to do anything but clench his fist.

Ellen was now running to allow the horse to turn around the narrow fence.

Then it happened.

Bang—!

A gunshot rang out.

The slowly running horse gradually collapsed.

Ellen’s body tilted.

Her eyes widened in surprise, her shoulder tilted, her hips slid down, and her back fell.

It was a brief moment, yet it felt as long as several seconds.

“Kyaaa!”

A piercing scream erupted from the audience.

“Neighhhh!”

The horse cried out, startled by the unexpected stimuli,

“Everyone, check your surroundings! See if anyone’s been hit!”

The crowd began to buzz with the mysterious gunshot.

Amidst the chaos, Gillian stared quietly ahead, as though he heard nothing.

The woman, clutching her twisted left leg, hunched over with a face contorted in pain.

Underneath her, dark red liquid…

‘No way.’

Gillian sprang up from his seat.

Gunshot.

Blood.

What those mean…

“Ellen…!”

Just as he was about to rush in,

“Miss!”

“Sister!”

He saw someone running ahead from the corner of his vision.

Crown Prince Kaiden Istazio and her brother, Elsier Crient.

“Miss, are you alright? Miss!”

The Crown Prince shouted as he held Ellen.

As Kaiden fearlessly rushed into the center of the arena, Sir Coenheim Morris shouted in alarm.

“Your Highness! It’s dangerous!”

Morris, along with Terriard and Kaiden’s guards, all rushed to where he was.

The security personnel and others who rushed in calmed the agitated horse and checked on Ellen, while some brought a stretcher to safely transport the injured, and others surrounded the Crown Prince to ensure he wasn’t exposed.

“Search the area immediately! Look for where the smoke is rising! It can’t be more than a few hundred meters away!”

Kaiden shouted in a voice filled with anger.

At his resonating command, some of those surrounding him like a barricade moved to carry out his orders.

Those checking the surroundings and the horse approached the Crown Prince and conveyed something.

The Crown Prince’s face hardened ominously upon hearing the report.

However, the conversation was inaudible.

‘So what’s Ellen’s condition? Is she okay? I can’t hear.’

Frustrated, Gillian leaped up and jumped over the fence.

The Crown Prince’s gaze turned as he sensed someone approaching.

Their eyes met.

The Crown Prince, meeting his gaze, spoke.

“…Gill.”

“Your Highness, how is my wife? Just for a moment…”

But instead of answering, the Crown Prince shouted in a resonating voice.

“…Everyone, listen!”

The Crown Prince’s voice echoed throughout the arena. The previously noisy crowd fell silent.

“Today’s event was organized by me, Kaiden Istazio, under the command of His Majesty, to foster camaraderie between the imperial family and the nobles. Yet, someone attempted to disgrace the intentions of the imperial family, and I express my deepest regret.”

Fire flickered in the Crown Prince’s eyes.

“The one shot is said to be this horse. However, even if it was moving slowly, hitting a moving target from a few hundred meters away is a terrifying feat.”

Kaiden’s face, filled with anger, scanned the arena.

“Whoever it may be, a thorough investigation will be conducted, so everyone… can look forward to it.”

Leaving such a declaration, Kaiden laid Ellen on a stretcher and entrusted her to the medical team.

“Hurry and go.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Seeing Ellen being carried out on a stretcher, Gillian urgently shouted.

“Your Highness!”