The Grand Duchess Escape

The thick and powerful scent of his body washed over her like a wave.

Overwhelmed by the strong smell that filled her nostrils, Asella squeezed her eyes shut. Her face flushed, and she felt dizzy. She barely managed to stutter out her thoughts.

“I-I’m okay now.”

“What were you thinking, doing something like that?”

However, the voice that came back was Calix’s, and it sounded a little angry. Asella instinctively flinched.

“So what if the horse was going at an unmanageable speed? Didn’t I clearly tell you that letting go of the reins is suicidal?”

Strangely enough, there seemed to be a concern buried in his words, as if he was worried about her.

A strange fluttering sensation was coming from one corner of her chest. Asella blinked her eyes, feeling an unfamiliar and strange sensation, and she clenched her fist tightly.

Since earlier, she had been having nonsensical thoughts. If someone had peeked into her heart, they would have been laughing at her foolishness.

“You’re practically a beginner, and yet you’re doing such a dangerous thing.”

“I’m sorry.”

Asella swallowed the countless words she wanted to say and instead only let that one phrase out… After she finished speaking, she lowered her head and bit her lip.

Calix Benvito? Worried about her? What a joke… She let out a bitter laugh, hoping it was just her imagination. 

She was no different from a naive child who thought that one was good if they handed her a few candies.

Even thinking about it herself was pathetic, and she put all her strength into pressing her sealed lips tightly.

Fortunately, his voice, which was accompanied by a gentle sigh, was much softer than before.

“If the timing had been a little off, your neck would have been broken. You were lucky.”

Suddenly, Asella realized that it was only thanks to Calix that she was alive.

They were now alone, and the horse she had been riding was nowhere to be seen.

Asella turned her body halfway, swaying a little as she tried to thank him for saving her life, but for some reason, she was too afraid to meet his gaze and could barely manage to open her mouth.

“Thank you for saving me…”

However, her words were cut short despite her efforts. 

“My Lord! Your Highness!”

Ryzen and Zeke came rushing towards them, shouting at the top of their lungs. Behind them, knights were following, creating a cloud of dust as they rode in pursuit. They caught sight of the ducal couple and gradually slowed down to a stop.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“We’re fine.”

Ryzen breathed a sigh of relief.

“The doctor is on standby.”

Calix tugged on the reins, turning his horse as if he had been waiting, then looked at Asella and spoke.

“Let’s go back. You might be hurt, so you should see a doctor.”

“…”

Asella felt a sense of disappointment for some reason. Even though she had almost died a moment ago, now she had to go back. She regretted that she had made such a foolish mistake.

“Asella.”

But she couldn’t bring herself to ask him if they could ride for just a little while longer. After all, he had already shown great patience by catching her after she fell from the horse and saving her life. If she were to make any more pathetic requests like wanting to ride more, he might lose all the remaining mercy he had left.

“…Yes.”

That was why Asella had no choice but to answer obediently.

As Philip has taught her over the years, she had to do so in an extremely docile manner.