Chapter 10

A white cloth was held in the butler’s hand who was smiling along with the knights who burst into the room through the door.

I thought I was going to be dragged along like the last time by those people in tight armour. But what I heard from Ed, who came forward, was out of the blue.

“The master sent this.”

This wad of cloth?

Ed gracefully unfolding the cloth that he was holding. I had no idea about his intentions so I just looked at him as if I had expected it just by looking at him.

When he heard Ed’s explanation that he had to cover his face and ride on a horse, he realized that the translucent fabric that flowed down without any pattern was a veil. 

I am not some May bride. 

And without a chance to ask what this bizarre thing was, Ian was dragged outside with the veil on.

How many stairs and corridors did he pass with his arms clasped?

Walking through the spectacular hall outside the entrance, someone was standing with dozens of horses. It was the first time he saw the scenery with his bare eyes, so Ian, who had cold eyes for a moment, frowned and looked forward again. Dark hair, dark skin.

“You look good.”

The men were the only ones in uniform like they were then. 

Maybe it’s not that cold, and I’m the only one feeling this cold because even the men did not have a fur cape. 

He stopped still without realising that he was no less dressed than him, a man who was standing a little far. The man came in front of Ian.

It is the first time I am seeing him since that day.

It was natural because he couldn’t go out of the room, but Ian, who noticed the moment, shut up. The man bowed his head a handful away as if he didn’t care about the distance. His hand, which pulled the fluttering veil from the eyebrow to the chin, was soft.

“I prepared it because it seemed cold.”

A few days ago, when I went out to the terrace in light clothes, the temperature was like a lie. 

Everyone there knew that Ian’s clothes, which were dragged out of the room, were not warm enough with a veil.

A thin tunic and a pair of pants.

The white skin was already reddish even though it had a long way to go.

On the way back, when the thought of freezing to death crossed everyone’s mind, Logan, who was standing in front of Ian, slowly leaned down.

“Grand Duke!”

Someone shouted in surprise, but Logan’s movements were not slowing down at all. The movement of the kneeling and wrapping one hand around the ankle was that of a servant. Ian had no expression even though he saw a man big enough to raise his head and look down to his feet.

In an instant, his toes froze.

It wasn’t a metaphorical expression, it really wasn’t.

As he looked at the man who was taking off his shoes, he was grabbed by the ankle on the other side. The man looked at the barefooted white instep. It was freezing even when he stood armed, with the eyes meeting each other. Nevertheless, it was hard to read what Ian was thinking on the surface.

Dozens of people stood, but a brief silence ensued.

They often witnessed Logan’s eccentricities, but this was the first time this kind of thing had happened, so they didn’t know how to react.

If he had wanted to cut off his ankle, he would have done so. However, he could not understand why he was staring at his opponent who was taking off his shoes. In the end, even the act of smiling and turning around without saying a word with the shoes seemed to be neatly arranged.

Logan moved toward his horse and as if he had waited, the prepared shackles were fastened to Ian’s wrists and necks. 

I couldn’t speak anyway, so the muzzle seemed to have been omitted. When a driver grabbed the long chain that was wandering on the floor, the people waiting behind it also moved.

When the bare feet touched the white snow, it felt like they were becoming numb.

As the chain was pulled in a funny way, he walked a few more steps and stopped in front of a white horse. He was standing blankly when the knight beside him spoke up.

“You can ride this.”

Ian’s head creaked when he said that.

Ride a horse? 

I was confused by the look he had on his face. 

Then how can I get to the village without riding a horse? 

The driver’s face was distorted, wondering if he wanted to prepare a carriage. I couldn’t get my act together even in this situation. That’s why the nobles…

“There are no wagons.”

Ian shook his head in that stiff voice. The carriage was not the problem. 

How many people in modern society have ridden horses except for those who enjoy horseback riding? 

I’ve heard the procession and horse talk several times, but I didn’t even think I had to ride it alone.

“………..”

I’ve ridden a motorcycle, but I don’t remember riding a living creature. Unfortunately, however, there was no way to explain it.

Ian sighed quietly when he noticed that the knight’s eyes looking at him were like the common people looking at the spoilt chaebol.

If you were a royal, it was automatically thought you could ride a horse.

Then at least loosen your wrist. 

He muttered in his mouth, saying, 

‘How can I ride a horse while tied like that?’ 

But Ian moved his body. 

Holding the reins and mane, I put my foot on the stirrup and climbed on the rebound, and I felt my field of vision doubled compared to before. Unlike lumps of scrap metal, breathing was strange under the saddle.

But that was it.

It was good to sit on a horse because of its light body, but it was the first time for this rider to ride anywhere, holding reins and looking awkward, so it was balanced, but it was not possible to deceive the eyes of so many people who walked with the horses. Someone muttered as if it were understandable.

“You’ve grown up nicely.”

I didn’t.

Looking back on his messed-up childhood, Ian had cloudy eyes, but he couldn’t be more retarded here. In many ways, it was difficult to secure visibility in the forest when it was dark. It was then that a calm voice flowed clearly from the cluttered articles.

“I’ll be with you until the front of the village. Get the saddle, you bring my horse, Yubel”

“Mr. Claude!”

When I turned my head to the name I’ve heard several times, someone walked from the crowd ahead. It was a man who stood out from afar because he tied his long blue hair high. Unlike his neat and cool face, the cross sign on his forehead was rather impressive. Claude, when I remembered where I heard the name, the guy already was near me.

I thought it would be a tattoo like everyone else with a lot of this and that on their bodies, but I realised it wasn’t when I closely came across it.

The deep marks on the flesh horizontally and vertically were close to signs.

“Wagons are a luxury. Hurry up, the day is short.”

As if his position was quite high, the line was quickly cleared by the words of the man named Claude. As soon as the auxiliary saddle was filled, Claude, who climbed quickly behind Ian, grabbed the reins and shouted.

“Open the gates and secure the way! The Grand Duke is with us. Don’t disappoint us.”

“Yes!”

The horse began to move in a disciplined manner. Grabbing the rake increases the speed a little bit. 

Oh, that’s the guy Kyle told me a few times. When I thought about it, the tightly closed gate was opening. The white black forest appeared like a picture.

It was just a different feeling from when I watched it from afar. It was like a scene from a movie when old trees that were several times taller than ordinary people hung on both sides. Although the spectacular scenery was amazing, unfortunately, Ian had no time to appreciate it.

It was cold even when I stood still. I felt for the first time that this was what freezing to death was like when I started riding on the horse. 

I stuck with someone behind my back, but it didn’t help because the black armour made of metal couldn’t convey body heat.

“Straighten your waist and put your legs next to the saddle.”

A blunt word came from behind and I moved my legs as much as possible. I didn’t know if it was the right posture.

Every time I breathed, I could see white snow under my feet with a foggy breath.

I would rather close my eyes to my numb and feverish skin. The flapping of the veil hanging to the tip of the chin was even more annoying. 

I think I can die easily if I fall asleep now. 

It was so cold as I had been buried in the snow, so when I tried to let go of consciousness for a while, the reins were pulled strongly like a demon. 

When he woke up more than three times with the cry of the horse, Ian realized that it was intentional.

How long did he run like that?

As the endless black forest began to end, a high wall appeared again. As the two leading knights blew the trumpets high, the door seemed to open faintly as if they had been waiting. After running nonstop, the speed slowed down slowly.

“It’s just around the corner.”

As the noise of the hooves subsided, Claude, who was riding behind, jumped off the horse. Ian, who came to his senses with difficulty because he was running ahead of anyone else, looked ahead. The Knights who came along stood still behind Ian.

The clatter of the chain echoed quietly.

Beyond the open door, there were many people waiting.

With an absolutely fearsome face.

“The Prince of Rox.”

Then, with that remark, the squash flew in.

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

Stay safe and healthy along with your loved ones. And have a good day!

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Stay tuned for more.

~Dazzel.D~