Chapter 10
Evelyn had never ridden a horse before.
A horse was one of the more expensive means of transportation.
She was already afraid of animals, but more importantly, there had never been any reason for someone of her status as a maid to ride a horse.
“Could we perhaps use a carriage for luggage or something similar…?”
“A luggage carriage?”
At Evelyn’s words, Raynard let out a low laugh.
“Evelyn, it seems you are overlooking the fact that you are currently borrowing Princess Ophelia’s name.”
Evelyn opened and closed her lips before giving up.
Evelyn had always been aware of the reality that she was wearing the mask of Princess Ophelia. Even so, she had only asked because of the slightest hope that there might be another possibility.
“Even if you are not the real Princess Ophelia and are merely being used as an excuse, from our perspective, you are still a princess in name. Do you think we can tell you to ride in a luggage carriage?”
“Then what should I do if I don’t know how to ride a horse?”
“Who knows.”
Raynard paused for a moment, tore off a piece of bread, and dipped it into the soup before eating.
“If you cannot ride a horse, then you can ride with me.”
“No! There is no need to go that far!”
At Raynard’s unexpected words, Evelyn waved her hands in refusal.
Raynard stopped eating for a moment at her reaction and looked directly at her.
“Then do you have another plan?”
“That is…”
“I will get a carriage from the nearest village. Until then, I hope you can endure it.”
Raynard focused on his meal as if he would not listen to anything further.
Unable to find a proper excuse to refuse, Evelyn only bit her tongue in frustration.
Several hours after finishing their meal, the dismantling of the camp was finally completed.
Even before the tents were taken down, Evelyn sat outside and watched Byte’s army moving busily.
Until now, she had stayed inside the tent and had not noticed, but Byte’s soldiers were far more numerous than the Hesta soldiers who had been escorting her toward Byte.
It was not simply that there were many.
Their numbers exceeded the Hesta soldiers by several times.
How many soldiers were here?
Since Evelyn had never commanded a large group of people, she could not even guess the number.
As she thought that far, she suddenly remembered what Heinrich had told her and stiffened.
Byte had originally stationed their army here with the intention of conquering Hesta.
According to the original plan, they were supposed to attack Hesta immediately.
That meant Byte’s soldiers had never intended to accept Hesta’s goodwill from the beginning.
“Is your leg feeling better?”
At that moment, Heinrich approached and asked.
After receiving treatment from Heinrich over the past few days, Evelyn had grown somewhat fond of her.
“Yes. It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt unless I walk.”
It seemed Heinrich had come to check Evelyn’s leg one last time before departure.
When a maid nearby covered Evelyn’s surroundings with a cloth, Evelyn entrusted her leg to Heinrich’s hands.
Heinrich knelt down and adjusted the knot of the bandage around Evelyn’s leg.
“As I saw this morning, your leg is healing well, but you still must not overdo it.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Evelyn smiled gently.
However, knowing that the worry in Heinrich’s voice was directed toward Ophelia made Evelyn unable to shake off her discomfort.
“You were here.”
The moment Heinrich stood up, Raynard appeared.
Heinrich and the maids politely bowed toward Raynard.
Raynard accepted their greetings with a small nod.
“Then, Princess, if you feel even slightly uncomfortable or unwell during the journey, please call me. Your Majesty, I will take my leave.”
After greeting Evelyn and Raynard in turn, Heinrich returned to where she belonged.
Watching the group disappear into the distance, Evelyn turned her gaze toward Raynard.
Behind him stood a horse with dark brown fur.
“We will depart soon.”
“Yes, I already heard.”
Evelyn answered in a tense voice.
Her eyes kept drifting toward the horse behind Raynard.
“You said you had never ridden a horse. Have you never even seen one before?”
“I have seen them from far away, but this is my first time seeing one this close.”
The only time Evelyn had properly seen a horse was when she was traveling toward Byte in place of Princess Ophelia.
She had never really seen the horses pulling the carriage, and the horses carrying soldiers had never come close to her.
Watching the horse lightly shake its head as if snorting, Evelyn swallowed dryly.
“Why don’t you try petting it?”
“No, it’s fine. How could I…?”
The tension in Evelyn’s voice was obvious.
Raynard gave a small amused smile and pulled his horse, Epha, closer to Evelyn.
“This one is as gentle as it looks, so don’t worry. Epha likes being touched by people.”
When Evelyn hesitated, Raynard gently stroked Epha’s nose with the hand that was not holding the reins.
Epha rubbed its head against Raynard’s hand as if enjoying it.
The sight of the horse acting affectionately was rather cute.
“It’s like this.”
Evelyn hesitantly reached out her hand.
Her small, slender hand touched the spot on Epha’s nose where Raynard had stroked.
Feeling the soft yet firm texture, Evelyn gathered her courage and slowly caressed it.
Perhaps liking her careful touch, Epha lowered its head toward Evelyn.
Evelyn withdrew her hand after petting Epha.
It felt as if the sensation of Epha’s soft fur remained on her fingertips.
“It’s warm.”
When she spoke as if expressing genuine amazement, Raynard smiled.
“Now ride.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“Can I really do it?”
Evelyn asked with concern.
She understood that Epha was a calm and gentle horse, but that did not completely remove her worries.
She had heard that some people died after falling from horses.
There was no guarantee that she would not become one of those people.
“You can. When riding alone, we will only walk slowly. If we need to run, I will ride behind you.”
Raynard mounted Epha first.
His movement was light and agile.
Then he immediately reached out his hand toward Evelyn.
After hesitating, Evelyn gathered her courage and grabbed Raynard’s hand.
Raynard pulled her up with strength and immediately lifted her into his arms.
Evelyn was suddenly raised into the air and squeezed her eyes shut without even being able to scream.
After being terrified for a moment, Evelyn slowly opened her eyes.
She was already sitting on Epha.
The unfamiliar extra saddle was uncomfortable, so Evelyn shifted slightly.
Fortunately, Epha did not resist even with Evelyn sitting on its back and only gently moved its tail.
“It seems Epha likes you too.”
Raynard said.
Evelyn gently stroked Epha’s mane, feeling a strange sense of emotion.
The mane was softer than she had expected.
Epha also did not seem to dislike carrying Evelyn.
“If it becomes difficult, tell me.”
After saying that, Raynard moved closer behind her to hold the reins.
Evelyn’s body instinctively tensed at the feeling of his body touching hers.
She could not tell whether she was this nervous because she was with Raynard, who held her life in his hands, or because she was riding a horse for the first time.
Perhaps it was because of the warmth she felt from his body behind her.
To regain her composure, Evelyn lightly bit her lower lip.
Only after the pain struck did she feel her mind clear again.
Soon, Epha began walking slowly.
“It’s alright. You don’t need to be nervous.”
Raynard whispered softly near her ear.
His warm breath brushed against Evelyn’s hair.
“…Yes.”
Although she answered like that, Evelyn could not relax.
The horse carrying Evelyn and Raynard stood before the soldiers.
The soldiers were waiting in perfect formation.
Raynard led the horse in front of them.
Naturally, the soldiers’ gazes turned toward Raynard and Evelyn.
Feeling burdened by their attention, Evelyn shrank back slightly.
Raynard glanced at her briefly before turning his gaze back to the soldiers.
“We are returning.”
Raynard’s words were short.
The soldiers’ response afterward was magnificent.
As if they had practiced it countless times, they all lowered their heads at the same moment and obeyed Raynard’s command.
Satisfied with their reaction, Raynard immediately turned the reins.
Only then did Evelyn realize that she truly was heading toward Byte.
“You are not relaxing even a little. At this rate, Epha might become nervous.”
“It’s just difficult for me to relax.”
For Evelyn, it was unavoidable.
Her current situation, her circumstances, and even Raynard pulling the horse while holding her close.
There was not a single thing among them that made Evelyn feel comfortable.
