0&1 Ch 4.2

Edward swung onto the horse with ease. He said he’d demonstrate and lightly galloped one lap around the training yard, then dismounted and handed me the reins.

I couldn’t even see how he did it. All I knew was that he had jumped up and was now riding the horse as if it were nothing.

The horse was almost as big as an adult. I thought I would need a step stool to get on.

“How did you get up there?”

“How?” Edward reacted as if I’d asked how to breathe. “You just step on it, don’t you?”

The stirrups dangled from the side of the horse. I couldn’t see any place to step on. Edward was about the same height as me.

So how did you get up there?

“That?”
“Yeah.”
“…”
“…”

We stared at each other for a moment.

Dot brought over a stool to use as a step. I stepped on it and managed to mount the horse.

I could feel the muscles twitching under my buttocks. I was riding a living creature.

The ground was far below. Would I die if I fell? I didn’t die last time. Would I be so lucky this time?

The higher I climbed, the more ominous thoughts I had. If it were my own body, it wouldn’t matter, but Joffrey’s young body could break his neck if he fell.

The horse hadn’t moved yet. I breathed carefully, afraid that the horse would move if it heard me. 

If the horse started walking, I would definitely fall. 

“Excellent, Prince! You look so majestic!”
“Yes, you’re doing very well!”

Dot and the stablehand clapped from the side. Was that supposed to be encouragement? Edward looked at them and clapped too.

“Way to go, Joffrey.”

My face burned. “Don’t do that!”

The horse reared up suddenly. I almost pulled on the reins. Instead, I grabbed the horse’s mane and held on tight. Luckily, the horse didn’t buck anymore. My heart was pounding.

“Horses are easily frightened. Don’t make any loud noises,” Edward said nonchalantly.

This is your fault!

“I think I’m going to fall.”

I tried to speak calmly, but it didn’t come out that way. Edward didn’t respond. I wondered if I’d been too calm and my words didn’t get through, so I tried again.

“Really. The horse seems to be shaking. Is it always like this?”
“You’re the one who’s shaking. Don’t be scared. The horse can tell.”
“Do you think human emotions are as easy to control as a horse’s?”

I was already scared.

And when people are told not to cry, they usually cry more. Same with fear. It only grows.

“What happens if the horse senses it?”
“It’s not good.”
“Even I could’ve said that!”

Sweetie was a good and gentle horse, and she hadn’t thrown me off yet. But I felt it was only a matter of time.

I was shaking so much that I could feel it.

In the back of my head, I felt strangely calm and that something was wrong. I had never seen a horse before, let alone ridden one, but I wasn’t a coward.

II wasn’t good at using my head, but I was confident in my physical abilities. Even though I didn’t do any sports, I was good at physical education and was strong.

Horse riding was physical. Why was I so scared? Why did I feel like I couldn’t do it?

I’m not like Yoo Yeon-ho, who worries about dropping the ball as soon as he catches it when playing basketball.

“Your Highness, if it’s too hard, please get down! Horseback riding isn’t important in life!”
“Exactly, you can always take a carriage!”

Dot and the stablehand were making a big fuss. The stablehand had been watching Dot and me practice together for the past few days, and the two of them seemed to get along well.

Thanks for the encouragement. It gave me some motivation.

“I won’t die if I fall, right?”
“Not if you don’t let go of the reins,” Edward replied. “You know from experience. People are stronger than you think.”

“Comforting.” 

Edward smiled a little when I grumbled.

“Then let’s start with a slow walk.”

An hour later, I was galloping on horseback.

Humans have a sixth sense. They can always tell when someone’s watching them.  Something felt ticklish on the back of my neck. I turned my head and saw a servant peeking at us. 

“Hey! Stop right there!”

The servant disappeared around the corner.

He looked familiar. I had often seen him in the castle. He was the same servant I had encountered on my way back to the castle after going outside.

He had witnessed Edward and me together at the training ground. His suspicious movements as he moved secretly were unmistakable.

“Stop!” I shouted again. The attendant ignored me and ran.

He was fleeing after being called by a prince.  There was a possibility that he didn’t want to get involved with his employer during break time, but I knew a more likely reason.

Is it the Queen again?

This isn’t a surveillance state, but I can’t relax. It seems like we had more privacy when there were CCTV cameras everywhere.

A person’s legs aren’t faster than a horse’s, so I’d catch up soon.

But more than the outcome, I was worried about something else. Could I pull the reins while galloping at this speed? Would the horse freak out? How hard should I pull to make it stop calmly? Should I start slowing down now? How do you even slow down a horse?

Then I passed the servant. He was panting and started running back in the direction we had come from.

Smart.

The servant must have realized that I was not good at handling horses. But Edward was approaching from the direction the servant was running. 

Edward closed the distance between himself and the servant and jumped off the horse. I was running and didn’t see what happened behind me.

Where was my horse even going?

I hope it’s just my imagination that it’s picking up speed.

The horse charged forward, eyes only on the road. As we entered the main street, some of the palace servants recognized me.

“Your Highness?”
“Your Highness!”

The horse jumped over a laundry basket. I almost lost my balance. I quickly pulled myself back onto the horse, and the wind blew the horse’s mane into my face.

The castle walls were getting closer. The horse seemed unwilling to give up its unexpected freedom. The open castle gate was right in front of us. Once we got out, the horse would be free forever.

Its hooves were as light as feathers. Should I really jump off? If I run away like this, who will save me?

I thought I should jump off before the horse gained more speed. When there were fewer people around.

My heart felt like a bomb about to explode. If I fell and hit someone, they would explode too.

Whinny!

The accident happened when I least expected it. As the horse came to a sudden stop, my body was thrown into the air. The world spun around me, and I was flying forward toward the horse.

“Aaaah!” Someone screamed.

Oddly, the first thing that came to mind was Edward’s voice.

I won’t die if I fall, right?
As long as you don’t let go of the reins.

My grip tightened. I hit the ground still holding the reins.

“Wow, wow, Your Highness!”

A man with a goatee loomed over me. His pale, thin face and flaring nostrils filled my view. My head spun. I was in pain, dazed, and I couldn’t move my hands.

And yet, I was still clutching something.

“Your Highness, are you all right?” The man dared to touch my body.

A flood of rage and disgust boiled red in my mind. 

“How dare you!”

Before I could shout, a whip-like cry rang out. It was Dot, his face red.

“Back away! Captain of the Guard!”

Dot was glaring at the goat-bearded man as if he wanted to kill him. It was the first time I had ever seen him angry.

What was I thinking just now?

When I came to my senses, the feeling returned to my body. My buttocks and feet were throbbing, and my arms hurt as if they were about to fall off.

But otherwise, I was fine. Edward had been right. Falling off a horse didn’t kill you.

“Stop, Dot. Why are you so mad? He was just trying to help me.”
“But Your Highness, how dare he lay his lowly hand on you…”

… What?

Dot quickly returned to his usual role as a kind and innocent servant and knelt beside me. I stood up with his help.

My limbs moved freely, though they ached.

The real shock was mental. Lowly? What did you just say?

“Are you all right? Shall I call a doctor? We must return to the palace immediately…”

No, did you just break character? Did I hear you wrong? Dot’s devoted attitude confused me.

And why is the captain of the guard being called a lowly person?

The captain of the guard bowed his head to the ground as soon as he met my gaze.

“Forgive me! Please show mercy, Your Highness!”
“Uh…?”

I was so flustered that I used honorific speech. Before anyone could think it was strange, I helped him to his feet.

What are you doing? Thanks for worrying about me.

Get up. Do I look like the kind of deranged prince who punishes people just for trying to help?

If eleven-year-old Joffrey was such a tyrant, there would be no attendants left by his side. Even Dot is devoted to Joffrey. As an adult, Joffrey is a character who ignores people’s social status and makes friends with anyone.