Evelyn had never ridden a horse before. Horses were one of the more expensive means of transportation.

Not only was she instinctively afraid of animals, but more importantly, as someone of maid status, she had never had any occasion to ride one.

“Perhaps a wagon, or something like that…”

“A wagon?”

At Evelyn’s suggestion, Reynard let out a quiet laugh.

“Evelyn, it seems you’ve forgotten that you’re borrowing the name of Princess Ophelia right now.”

Evelyn opened her mouth to speak, then gave up. She was always aware of the reality that she was wearing the mask of Princess Ophelia. Still, she had asked out of a sliver of hope.

“Even if you’re not the real Princess Ophelia, even if it’s all just a pretense, from our standpoint, we can’t very well have someone bearing the title of princess ride in a supply wagon, can we?”

“Then what should I do if I don’t know how to ride a horse?”

“Well.”

Reynard paused for a moment, then tore off a piece of bread and dipped it into his soup.

“If you don’t know how, then you can ride with me.”

“No! That’s not necessary at all!”

Startled by Reynard’s unexpected remark, Evelyn frantically waved her hands. Reynard, momentarily pausing his meal, raised his head and looked at Evelyn squarely.

“Do you have another plan, then?”

“That is…”

“I’ll try to get a carriage from the nearest village, so until then, I’d like you to endure it.”

Reynard returned his focus to his meal, signaling that he wouldn’t entertain any further objections. Unable to find an excuse to refuse, Evelyn bit her lip in frustration.

***

It was only a couple of hours after finishing their meal that the tent was fully dismantled.

Evelyn had been sitting outside even before the tent came down, watching the Bait troops busily moving about.

Until now, she hadn’t noticed at all since she had only been staying inside the tent, but the soldiers of Bait were far greater in number than the soldiers who had accompanied her from Hesta.

Not just more—many times more.

How many soldiers were stationed here? Having never commanded such a large number, she couldn’t even begin to estimate. At that thought, Evelyn suddenly recalled what Heinrich had said and shrank slightly.

Bait had originally been stationed here with the intention of conquering Hesta. According to plan, they were supposed to launch an attack on Hesta immediately. That meant Bait’s soldiers had never intended to accept Hesta’s gesture of goodwill from the start.

“Is your leg feeling any better?”

At that moment, Heinrich approached and asked.

Over the past few days of receiving treatment from Heinrich, Evelyn had grown somewhat fond of her.

“Yes, it’s fine. As long as I’m not walking, it doesn’t even hurt.”

It seemed Heinrich had come to check on Evelyn’s leg one last time before departure.

When a maid pulled a cloth nearby to create some privacy, Evelyn entrusted her leg to Heinrich. Heinrich briefly knelt down and adjusted the knot in the bandage wrapped around Evelyn’s leg.

“Your leg is healing well, just as I saw this morning. But still, you mustn’t overdo it.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Evelyn smiled softly. Even so, the concern in Heinrich’s voice, clearly directed at Ophelia, made Evelyn feel uncomfortable.

“There you are.”

Almost as soon as Heinrich rose to her feet, Reynard appeared. Heinrich and the maids gave him a polite bow. Reynard acknowledged their greeting with a nod.

“Then, Your Highness, if you feel the slightest discomfort during the journey, please call for me. Your Majesty, I’ll take my leave now.”

With a bow to both Evelyn and Reynard, Heinrich returned to where she was supposed to be.

As Evelyn watched the group disappear into the distance, she shifted her gaze to Reynard. Behind him stood a horse with dark brown fur.

“We’ll be departing soon.”

“Yes, I heard.”

Evelyn replied, her voice tense. Her eyes kept darting toward the horse behind Reynard.

“You said you’ve never ridden before—have you even seen one before?”

“I’ve seen one from afar, but never this close.”

The only time Evelyn had ever really seen a horse was when she was headed to Bait in place of Princess Ophelia. She’d had no reason to see the horses pulling the carriage, and the horses ridden by soldiers never came near her.

Watching the horse flick its head lightly, Evelyn swallowed hard.

“Why don’t you try petting it?”

“No, that’s… I couldn’t possibly.”

The tension in Evelyn’s voice was obvious.

Reynard let out a small chuckle and brought his horse, Epha, even closer to Evelyn.

“Don’t worry—he’s as gentle as he looks. Epha likes being touched by people.”

As Evelyn hesitated, Reynard stroked Epha’s muzzle slowly with the hand not holding the reins. At that, Epha rubbed his head against Reynard’s hand as if he were pleased. The affectionate display was actually rather cute.

“Just like this.”

Evelyn cautiously reached out her hand. Her small, slender hand touched the same spot on Epha’s muzzle where Reynard had stroked.

Feeling the soft yet firm surface gave her a bit of courage, and she gently began to pet him. Epha seemed to enjoy the careful touch and lowered his head slightly toward Evelyn.

Evelyn pulled her hand back from Epha. It felt as if the softness of his fur still lingered on her fingertips.

“He’s warm.”

She spoke with wonder, almost like an exclamation, and Reynard smiled softly.

“Now, try getting on.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think I can manage it?”

Evelyn asked, full of concern. She could tell that Epha was well-mannered and docile, but that didn’t make her worries vanish. She had heard that some people died after falling off horses.

There was no guarantee that she wouldn’t become one of them.

“You can do it. When you’re alone, he’ll just walk calmly, and if we ride faster, I’ll be with you on the back.”

Reynard mounted the horse first. His movement was swift and fluid. He then immediately extended his hand to Evelyn.

Evelyn, after some hesitation, mustered her courage and took Reynard’s offered hand. With a firm grip, Reynard lifted her up and brought her into the saddle.

Evelyn found herself suddenly airborne—she couldn’t even scream, just clenched her eyes shut.

Trembling with fear, Evelyn slowly opened her eyes. She was already seated on Epha.

The auxiliary saddle she sat on felt unfamiliar, and she shifted awkwardly in her seat. Fortunately, Epha only swished his tail calmly, showing no resistance to her being on his back.

“Looks like Epha likes you too,” Reynard said.

Overwhelmed with a sense of awe, Evelyn stroked Epha’s mane. It was softer than she had imagined. Epha didn’t seem to mind carrying Evelyn at all.

“If it ever gets too much, just say so.”

As Reynard spoke, he moved in close to grasp the reins, pressing against her. The contact made Evelyn involuntarily tense up. 

She couldn’t tell if she was this nervous because she was riding with Reynard, the man who essentially held her life in his hands, or because it was her first time on a horse. 

Perhaps it was the warmth she could feel from him behind her.

Trying to steady herself, Evelyn gently bit her lower lip. Only when the sting of pain reached her did she feel herself coming back to her senses.

Soon, Epha began to walk slowly.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to be so tense.”

Reynard whispered softly into her ear. His breath tickled Evelyn’s hair.

“…Okay.”

She said it, but Evelyn couldn’t relax. The horse carrying Evelyn and Reynard came to a stop in front of the soldiers.

The troops stood at attention in orderly ranks. Reynard guided the horse forward before them.

Naturally, the soldiers’ eyes turned toward Reynard and Evelyn. The gazes directed at her made Evelyn shrink back uncomfortably.

Reynard looked at Evelyn for a moment, then turned his attention to the soldiers.

“We’re marching back.”

Reynard’s words were brief. The soldiers’ response that followed was nothing short of a spectacle.

As if they had rehearsed it, they all bowed their heads in unison to acknowledge Reynard’s command.

Satisfied with their display, Reynard turned Epha’s reins at once. Only then did Evelyn truly feel the reality of her journey toward Bait setting in.

“You’re not relaxing at all. Epha might get startled like this.”

“It’s hard to relax.”

Evelyn truly couldn’t help it. Her current situation, her precarious position, and even the man leading the horse with her in his arms—Reynard.

There wasn’t a single thing that made Evelyn feel at ease.