Chapter 74

“Here. This one is the horse you’ll ride today. Her name is ‘Pepper.’”

Pepper was a grey mare with ash-colored spots scattered across her coat. As Lionel led her closer by the reins, Clarette tensed up.

“Why, why are you bringing her so close? Can’t I just get on?”

Having never raised an animal before, Clarette found the large horse a bit intimidating. When Pepper shook her head and snorted, Clarette froze.

“The basics of riding are getting friendly with your horse. Don’t be so nervous—just stroke her head like this. No, the other way.”

Following Lionel’s instructions, Clarette slowly warmed up to the horse. Pepper, carefully chosen by Lionel, turned out to be a very gentle horse.

As Clarette was moved by Pepper quietly eating sugar cubes, Lionel gradually led her toward the saddle.

“I’ll show you how, so watch and follow.”

Lionel placed his left foot in the turned stirrup, grabbed the saddle, and in one swift motion swung himself onto the horse’s back. His movements were so light and nimble that Clarette was surprised.

“A ladies’ saddle is made to support your right leg, so gather your legs to one side and sit like this. Try it.”

Even when Lionel dismounted, his movements were flawless.

Could she really follow that? Clarette took a deep breath and confidently put her right foot in the high stirrup.

“Left foot.”

“…Yes.”

Learning to ride didn’t seem easy at all…

* * *

It took Clarette a considerable amount of time before she could mount, dismount, and slowly guide the horse by herself.

‘Unbelievable. I really have zero athletic ability.’

Choosing art as her path had truly been the right decision. Clarette thought gloomily of her terrible coordination and even worse cooking skills.

“Good, you don’t need my help anymore.”

Meanwhile, Lionel never showed any sign of annoyance or impatience, even when she kept failing and fumbling.

He supported Clarette whenever she lost her balance, helped her down to rest when she got tired, and brought her to the shade to sit when she was hot.

‘He’s really acting like my attendant.’

Looking down at him from the horse, Clarette blushed in embarrassment. Diane had been right—he was so kind and gentle to those beneath him, especially her.

Then Lionel glanced at the closed north entrance and spoke.

“Well, shall we head outside? It’s still a long while until sunset.”

“What? Outside the garden?”

Clarette, startled, gripped the reins tightly, making Pepper snort in dissatisfaction. As she hurried to soothe the horse, Lionel brought over another horse that had been playing in the corner.

It was a strikingly handsome black stallion. Except for the diamond-shaped patch of pure white on his forehead, his coat was a glossy black all over, and he was quite large for a stallion.

“…He’s beautiful.”

Clarette honestly admired him, and Lionel smiled gently for the first time.

“Right? He’s called ‘Blackjack.’ Strong and fast.”

“Will you take him to the hunting tournament?”

“Probably. Of all the horses in the mansion, he suits me best.”

Despite his size, Blackjack was playful, rubbing his head against Lionel and demanding carrots. Clarette watched the oddly matched pair, and when Lionel opened the north gate, she grew nervous again.

“Let’s take a slow walk. If Blackjack leads, Pepper will follow well.”

Lionel said this as he bent toward the luggage in the corner. Clarette was startled to see him sling a hunting rifle over his shoulder.

“You’re bringing a gun? Why…?”

“Just want to practice after a long time. Don’t worry, I’m not planning to shoot anything.”

Lionel answered lightly, and mounted the black horse with remarkable skill, very different from his patient teaching. Clarette admired his expertise.

As the two rode slowly toward the northern woods, Lionel calmly advised Clarette.

“Always hold the reins while you’re on the horse. But if you feel like you’re about to fall, first take both feet out of the stirrups and let go of the reins. If you cling awkwardly, you’ll get hurt badly.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Don’t be too scared. I’m here.”

Lionel spoke softly and matched her pace and rhythm. Clarette, tense all along, gradually relaxed as she followed him.

‘It’s so high up. The view from a horse…’

As she began to look around, everything felt new to her.

Her eye level was so much higher than when walking that the treetops felt close above her head. The gentle rhythm of Pepper’s walk was comforting, and Blackjack’s twitching ears were cute.

Above all, she couldn’t take her eyes off Lionel, who sat perfectly upright in the saddle.

‘I want to draw him like this. Ah, I should have brought my sketchbook.’

While Clarette tried to capture his image with her eyes, Lionel suddenly stopped his horse on the shaded forest path.

“Let’s get off here.”

He dismounted even faster than he’d mounted. Clarette, thinking only of safety, carefully took her feet out of the stirrups and jumped down.

Lionel tied both horses’ reins to a nearby tree. Clarette, puzzled, asked,

“You let them roam free in the garden… Is it because we’re outside the mansion?”

“Normally I’d let them loose, but now they might try to run away.”

“Why?”

“Gunshots are louder than you think.”

Lionel took the rifle from his shoulder and walked into the woods. Clarette hesitated, then followed him.

“Your Grace, are you really shooting here? But I’ve heard the maids sometimes come here to pick fruit or mushrooms.”

“It’s fine. I won’t shoot at a height where I could hit anyone. By the way…”

Lionel turned to Clarette and asked,

“Are you just going to stand there and watch? Want to see me shoot?”

“Yes. I’ve never seen it before, so I’m curious.”

“Oh, for your art?”

“For my… No, why do you say it like that? I’m really just curious…”

“Then cover your ears well. I’ll shoot now.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Lionel turned away and fired at a tree. The loud bang made Clarette quickly cover her ears and hunch her shoulders.

Before she could catch her breath, Lionel crouched and fired again. Another deafening shot rang through the woods.

Clarette kept her hands over her ears, tense, and looked at Lionel. Kneeling on one knee, he checked the ground and shook his head.

“Shooting while prone is overkill. Well, it’s not like anyone’s going to shoot at me anyway.”

The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder. Clarette, still nervous, slowly lowered her hands and looked up.

Lionel had fired at some unripe fruit hanging high up in the tree. Clarette was amazed at how he hit the small fruits, each no bigger than a fist, with such precision.

“Your Grace… You don’t hesitate at all when shooting.”

She muttered in a dazed voice, and Lionel replied calmly,

“I got used to shooting only in places where hesitation means death. Were you scared?”

“Oh, yes. Honestly, I was scared.”

Clarette flinched at every small metallic sound when Lionel moved the gun. It was her first time seeing such a destructive weapon up close.

Seeing Clarette shrink away, Lionel slung the gun back over his shoulder. Seeming to have lost interest in practicing, he came back to her and said,

“Don’t learn things like this. I’ll let you live just painting.”

“I couldn’t learn even if I wanted to. I just barely learned how to ride…”

“Actually, maybe you don’t even need to know how to ride. You’ll never go hunting.”

“What? Then why are you teaching me?”

Clarette, feeling wronged, clutched her riding dress, and Lionel smiled faintly.

“I just needed an excuse. An excuse to be alone with you.”