The Grand Duchess Escape

The next day, like any other day, Asella and Mariel had just finished their morning walk and were passing by the fountain in front of the mansion when they heard the sound of hooves coming from the end of the road. A group of horses were walking in a row, led by the servants. 

“It seems that new horses have arrived. The breeders must have worked hard because they look sturdy and healthy,” Margo explained.

Asella nodded in agreement, but her gaze had unknowingly fallen on one of the passing horses as she recalled the first time she rode a horse was when she was a little girl.

***

“Would you like to ride with me, honey?” Her mother offered.

Asella still remembered the scenery of that day vividly; the gentle breeze brushing past her ears, the warm sun shining down on her, and the comforting embrace of her mother on her back. Every time she recalled it, it brought her a sense of happiness so overwhelming that it made her heart ache.

“What? Riding a horse? Don’t be ridiculous!”

After Adele’s death, Philip forbade Asella from horseback riding, using her frail health as an excuse. But in reality, he didn’t want any flaws to tarnish his commodity that he could sell off in the marriage market.

Asella let out a soft sigh and turned her head away. She couldn’t believe she was still holding onto the remnants of the past like this.

Suddenly, Mariel interrupted her thoughts by pointing to the horses and shouting, “Sister, do you want to ride too?”

Asella was surprised by the question. “What?”

“I’ve always wanted to ride too! Looks like we’re on the same wavelength!” Mariel exclaimed before running off to Margo. With her hands clasped together, she loudly declared, “I want to learn how to ride a horse!”

Asella quickly put her arms around Mariel’s shoulders and tried to calm her down. “Mariel, you can’t make things difficult for the Lady.”

“But don’t you want to learn too? You haven’t been able to ride because of Father all this time,” Mariel replied.

Asella was taken aback. She didn’t think Mariel would remember something like that. 

“He only allowed you to learn embroidery and flower arrangement. He wouldn’t even let you go outside!”

It wasn’t just the position of heir that Philip robbed Asella of. She was also deprived of the opportunity to learn. What she was allowed to learn was extremely limited. Instead, she was forced to learn things she had no interest in. For example, she could embroider a rose even with her eyes closed thanks to the lessons Philip arranged for her, calling in people to teach her how to be a submissive and obedient woman.

“I want to ride horses with my older sister! Mrs. Romaine, is it not allowed?”

“It’s not that it’s not allowed… it’s just that it’s related to the safety of Her Highness, so I can’t give you an answer right now. I’ll ask His Excellency for permission.”

Asella immediately raised her head.

“No, Madame. It’s just something she said out of excitement. Don’t worry about it.”

It would have been better not to try if it was something that would make Margo uncomfortable. And wasn’t it something that Philip had strictly prohibited? The Duke would never allow it. It was almost certain that it would only cause unnecessary distress.

“Horse riding.”

At that moment, a deep voice spoke behind Asella. A tall man appeared behind her, and his large figure was reflected in her blue eyes.

“Your Excellency.”

As the man approached, the maid and the escort knights who had been by Asella’s side hastily stepped back, as if they were retreating from danger. Margo followed suit.

It was the seasoned and expected behavior of the servants to not disturb the Duke and Duchess’ time together, but Asella somehow wanted to hold onto them. Without realizing it, she pulled Mariel into her arms

She wondered why the man she hadn’t seen in a while suddenly came looking for her.