The Grand Duchess Escape

“Have you been feeling well?”

“Yes.”

Asella replied simply, then added as an afterthought.

“I heard your Excellency sent for a priest; thank you for your concern.”

“…Where are you hurt?”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

As Asella’s eyes widened, Calix immediately changed the subject and asked Mariel.

“Have you ever ridden a horse, Young Lady?”

“A few times in Elven! But not on my own. Lady Etmaan sometimes rode with me.”

If it was Elven, it was the city where Mariel had lived away from her home for three years.

“Oh! But you have to keep it a secret from my father! I rode without his knowledge.”

Calix’s eyes narrowed. He had also overheard part of the previous conversation. He knew that Philip had prevented his two daughters from receiving horseback riding education. 

He turned to Asella. “Do you want to ride too?”

Asella gasped at the unexpected question.

Philip had warned her not to have any unnecessary thoughts or dreams. Once, she had been caught staring at a horse being led by a groomer and received a slap from Philip.

‘Stay quiet and behave yourself! Horseback riding… how vulgar… ‘

The Grand Duke probably wouldn’t like it, either. It was wise to say no. But for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Asella hesitated and wavered, unable to give a clear answer.

“You can be honest.”

The lingering desire in her heart rose up.

“I want to try riding.”

Finally, she said it.

Calix’s red eyes stared straight at her, her body shrunk back involuntarily under his inscrutable gaze.

‘What if he gets angry?’

She expected to be laughed at for not knowing how to ride a horse.

“Alright.”

It was an unexpectedly brief response. Asella was the one who was taken aback, as she hadn’t expected him to agree so readily.

“Is it really okay?”

“It’s a leisure activity that everyone enjoys in our duchy. There’s no reason why you can’t do it.”

The man’s lips twitched slightly as he spoke. However, Calix soon returned to his usual expressionless face and called to his attendant in a dry voice.

“Ryzen.”

“Please give your orders.”

Calix looked at Asella and Mariel in turn and spoke.

“Find me suitable horses. Ones that are docile and well trained.”

“I will make arrangements.”

Ryzen bowed to the Grand Duke and Duchess, then stepped away. Mariel squealed with delight, realizing that things had gone as well as she could have hoped.

“Mariel, wait a minute…”

“Come on, let’s go get ready, Sis. Your Excellency, may we go?”

In her excitement, Mariel grabbed the sleeve of Asela’s dress and whined, “Let’s go!” Asella glanced back and forth between Calix and her sister in embarrassment. She was baffled by how quickly and smoothly things were progressing.

Calix nodded his head.

“Go ahead.”

“But…” 

“The young Lady is waiting. You will need to get ready too.”

Despite the repeated urging, Asella hesitated. She couldn’t quite gauge whether he was sincere or not. Her blue eyes flickered with anxiety.

“Are you… really okay with this?”

Calix’s face hardened. After a brief silence, he took a step closer, closing the distance between them until they were almost face-to-face. Asella trembled with the innate sense of intimidation emanating from him.

‘He’ll get angry.’

Calix reached out his hand without saying a word. Asella couldn’t move, even as she watched the long finger approaching her.

“It’s better to tie it up when you’re riding the horse.”

He lightly brushed the silver hair falling to the side of her face behind her ear. As the touch of his hand brushed her cheek, Asella felt it too acutely and swallowed her breath.