TGDHC Chapter 154

Chapter 154. Basic Etiquett

“Your Highness, the Grand Duke has sent you a letter.”

“A letter?”

We live in the same Grand Duchy residence… why suddenly a letter?

I picked it up, and Cecilia’s eyes sparkled as she leaned closer.

Feeling puzzled, I opened the envelope.

“Annette,

I have a gift I want to give you.

If it’s all right, please come to the stables for a moment.

—Loic.”

‘Why is he asking me to come to the stables all of a sudden?’

Did he already hear what happened between me and Lucion?

Cecilia came close, looking like she was dying to gossip.

“Cecilia?”

Cecilia didn’t even try to hide her rising smile.

“I didn’t really say anything?”

“…That means you said something.”

“I only told Sir Perel to mention whether His Highness the Prince should really become Your Highness’s riding instructor. That’s all!”

I let out a helpless laugh as Cecilia looked at me with sparkling eyes.

“I mean, seriously, isn’t it strange? The Grand Duke—your husband—is right here, so why is the prince offering to teach you riding?”

Her tiny nostrils flared in indignation.

“And besides—what’s so great about winning that tiny little riding competition in Rondoris anyway?”

She scoffed, saying most nobles probably held back to save the prince’s pride.

I looked at Whitley, who was patiently waiting.

“I’ll go now.”

“Your Highness! You must change clothes first.”

You might end up riding a horse, after all.

Cecilia hurriedly insisted.

Ramondria’s dresses were comfortable for movement, but definitely not suitable for riding.

“Why don’t you wear riding clothes?”

“I don’t have any.”

At that, Cecilia let out a sigh as she remembered my closet.

Whitley stepped forward carefully.

“The Grand Duke ordered the maids to bring riding clothes.”

“Riding clothes?”

Before I could blink, Leta and several maids came in carrying armfuls of riding outfits.

***

At the stables

“This is a breed from crossing Leparzan and Doker. Among the horses here, he’s the calmest and most gentle. He’s a little small for warhorses, so we were just keeping him.”

Loic stroked the horse’s shiny white mane.

A graceful horse that truly suited Annette stood before him.

Just earlier in his office—

— “The prince offered to teach Her Highness riding.”

Loic’s hand froze as he was about to sign the harbor toll document.

— “But Her Highness said she cannot ride horses.”

At those words, Loic’s eyebrows furrowed harshly.

Poor or unimportant nobles aside, daughters of prestigious families always learned to ride from a young age.

But she couldn’t ride at all?

His jaw tightened without him realizing.

It wasn’t simply that Annette couldn’t ride.

If that arrogant, self-important Count hadn’t even taught his daughter basic noble education like riding…

‘What about everything else?’

Loic could easily imagine it.

And then Perel continued with an even more ridiculous statement:

— “So the prince offered to teach her personally.”

— “What?”

‘This insane bastard.’

Seeing Loic on the verge of exploding, Perel quickly added:

— “Of course, Her Highness refused him.”

Even after hearing that, Loic couldn’t cool the anger pounding in his head.

He first crossed paths with Lucion because of that prince’s messy romantic affairs.

Just imagining that bastard trying to flirt with Annette again made him feel sick.

— “Where is the Grand Duchess now?”

His trembling fingers curled tightly.

— “Most likely in her room.”

Perel gently mentioned that the Grand Duchess had a free afternoon.

Loic immediately rushed to the stables.

‘I should have taught her earlier.’

It was the same feeling he got when he learned she had no jewelry—

deep frustration and regret.

— “Bring the calmest, finest-bred mare.”

At the sharp order, the stablehands panicked and quickly brought out a young white mare.

Loic was calming himself down while brushing the mare’s mane when—

“Loic!”

The sweet voice of his wife reached him.

Loic turned—and lost his words for a moment.

He had ordered them to bring a riding outfit from his mother’s wardrobe, since Whitley said Annette wouldn’t have one.

Thankfully, the preserved clothes were still in good condition.

‘Annette is much smaller than Mother.’

Annette wore a beige shirt, sky-blue pants, and slightly darker boots.

The sleeves had to be rolled up twice.

Even with the belt, the waist was a bit loose.

And her long pant legs wrinkled because they couldn’t be tucked fully into the boots.

Yet the unfamiliar outfit looked… extremely tempting.

Her legs, normally hidden under wide skirts, were clearly outlined, and he suddenly didn’t know where to look.

“The clothes seem a little big.”

Annette smiled shyly, shrugging at the loose shirt, and his heart thumped painfully.

“Greetings, Your Highness!”

The stablehands bowed, sneaking glances at her.

Their looks made Loic annoyed.

He strode toward her.

“I’m not sure if it’s all right for me to wear these…”

“If Mother were alive, she would have insisted you take them.”

He firmly closed her slightly open collar, which finally eased his anxiety.

“You called me to teach me riding?”

Annette asked, her cheeks tinted pink.

Loic felt his throat itch and simply nodded.

At his cue, the stablehand brought the white mare closer.

“Wow.”

Annette gasped at the sight of the snow-white horse.

“Do you like her?”

“She’s beautiful.”

“She will be your horse from now on.”

“My horse?”

Her eyes widened.

“A small gift from me.”

Seeing her delighted expression made Loic’s chest warm.

Annette moved to approach the horse but hesitated, looking up at Loic.

“It’s fine. She’s gentle and won’t hurt you.”

Hearing that, she approached slowly.

“Can I touch her?”

She looked so unsure, like she had never touched a horse before.

Loic didn’t answer with words.

He gently took her trembling hand and placed it on the mare’s neck.

When Annette slowly stroked her, the horse bent its head affectionately.

“She seems to like you.”

“Really?”

Her peach-colored cheeks flushed instantly.

“If you give her food, you’ll bond faster.”

The stablehand rushed over with a box of carrots.

With Loic’s nod, Annette held out a carrot, and the mare happily crunched it.

“What’s her name?”

“You should name her.”

Annette frowned thoughtfully for a long moment before speaking.

“Snow.”

“……”

Loic bit the inside of his lip.

Horses were normally named after mythical or biblical figures.

Or sometimes based on speed or temperament.

But Snow…

‘She named a horse after wine…’

“Why? Is it strange?”

“No. I think it suits her.”

A Blenheim horse would never see battle with such a name, but somehow it was very Annette-like.

Loic smiled, startling the stablehand beside him.

“Then you’ll teach me to ride now?”

Annette asked.

Loic shook his head.

She was still too nervous around horses; letting her ride alone yet would be unsafe.

“It’s better to learn after you grow more comfortable with Snow.”

“Oh.”

She looked disappointed.

“Instead, you will ride my horse today.”

“Your horse?”

The stablehands brought out a massive black stallion.

Annette gasped.

“He looks huge up close.”

“His name is Pyros. He has a foul temper, so do not get too close.”

Annette flinched and quickly pulled her hand to her chest.

“Hello, Pyros.”

She whispered softly.

Pyros gave her an arrogant side-eye, snorted… and then turned his head away.

“He’s very handsome,” Annette said.

…And Pyros suddenly straightened his neck like he was showing off.

Loic almost choked.

This stallion was infamous for being nasty.

He would even kick knights who approached him after sweating.

‘Even this beast turns gentle in front of Annette?’

Loic scoffed and looked at her.

“Are you ready?”

“Ready for what?”

Loic gently held her waist—and lifted her straight onto the horse.

“Hiiik!”

Annette grabbed his arm with a strange noise.

“It’s all right. Swing your leg over… well done.”

Her legs trembled as she sat on the horse.

Loic jumped up lightly and sat behind her.

‘…I did not expect this.’

Once he settled, he swallowed hard.

Annette’s back was far too close to his chest.

The soft warmth of her body and her sweet scent drifted toward him, making an unexpected hunger stir inside him.