Chapter 43
The man’s expression was noticeably improving.
Anel was surprised by the unexpected change in demeanor.
“Why?”
“I have something to say, So, I asked Lord Lars for a favour.”
Ah.
A small sigh escaped from Johan’s lips.
“So… that’s what it was.”
Johan let cut out a sigh.
Anel felt the grip on her arm loosen slightly.
“Have you never heard the sound of gunfire?”
“I’ve only been around the Duke’s estate.”
Unlike you, it meant she had never been near a hunting ground either.
As if understanding Anel’s meaning, Johan let out a small laugh.
“Even that is the same as the master?”
It was an open mockery.
But even this had become familiar, and Anel only let out a short sigh.
It was tiresome to get angry every time at the man’s annoying way of speaking.
“Even Her Highness uses language befitting her station.”
Anel glanced down at the horse she was riding.
Even at a glance, it was clear that it was a fine horse.
It gleamed with luster and was as beautiful as a painting.
But…
“Does it look like that?”
There was arrogance in his eyes.
Johan slightly raised the reins towards Anel.
“Can you hold it?”
“…Yes.”
Fortunately, she still had that much strength.
Johan wrapped his hand around Anel’s hand and placed the reins on her palm.
“Do you know how to handle a horse?”
“Of course…!”
“You couldn’t even hold the reins and fell off the horse.”
“That was because Buttercup got excited.”
Not even treating it like a child.
Anel blushed.
“Delfi”
“Yes?”
“The name of this horse.”
“Oh…”
“This time, don’t fall off.”
Saying that, Johan dismounted.
“What’s the name of that one?”
Johan pointed to a white horse wandering nearby, looking at the two.
It seemed Buttercup, aware that she almost threw off her owner, regained some composure.
“…It’s Buttercup.”
Huh.
Johan let out an amazed laugh.
“You named it after a wildflower, And a very small one at that.”
“Is that a problem?”
“No, It means it suits you, Your Majesty.”
Johan approached Buttercup.
“If you suddenly approach like that…!”
Buttercup would be surprised.
While Anel hurriedly leaned forward to stop Johan, Delfi paid no attention.
“Delfi, move a bit…!”
“Purung.”
Hukma paid no attention to Anel’s words, as if saying something like this:
“What are you saying?”
…Seems like talking just like the owner.
Anel sighed.
“Buttercup.”
Meanwhile, Johann approached Buttercup without hesitation. Buttercup stepped back slightly. Johann’s gaze was not pleasing to Buttercup.
“You, You’re scared.”
Hee hee hee hee!
Buttercup timidly protested as if hurt in pride by Johann’s words.
“But does that mean you can just ignore the owner?”
Johann whispered to Buttercup as if whispering, It was a firm and neat movement.
Pururung.
Buttercup was caught without resistance but exhaled a nervous snort.
“Right, you’re good.”
Johann smiled with satisfaction, Anel wanted to reassure Buttercup, but she herself was not sure if it was really okay.
“Can I owe you for just today, Buttercup?”
Johann whispered affectionately to Buttercup. With that voice, Buttercup seemed to regain some stability, bending its legs slightly, It was the meaning of permission.
Johann climbed onto Buttercup’s back with a smile.
“I made a mistake.”
“What?”
“This is definitely much better than the owner.”
“…!”
“I should apologize to Buttercup, Insulting him by saying he’s the same as the owner. He’s so kind. Right, Buttercup?”
Teasing again.
Anel blushed but sighed deeply.
If Buttercup had gotten excited and kicked Johann with its front legs…
She didn’t even want to imagine what would happen next.
Fortunately, Buttercup seemed to know its own fault or maybe Johann pleased it. It behaved quite calmly.
Only now did Anel feel a strange sense of betrayal.
…It might not have been so bad if Buttercup had kicked him once.
“Well then….”
“Has Johann completely synced with Buttercup?
He suddenly approached Delfi.
The two stood side by side, exchanging words.
Johann smiled as he looked at the reins in s hands.
What an annoying person.
Anel muttered to himself.
Whether Johann knew Anel’s feelings or not, he flicked his head towards the meadow.
“Shall we take a walk, us.”
Anel’s adaptation to Delfi took a while after that.
Delfi was as stubborn as crazy, and his insistence was as strong as his stubbornness.
Anel gave up trying to control Delfi according to his own will.
The black horse had a firm destination in mind.
Anel seemed to consider him just a companion.
He definitely didn’t see himself as the rider leading.
“….”
Anel was embarrassed, unable to control even a single word.
“What… do you mean by ‘definitely’?”
Anel furrowed his brow.
Is he mocking again?
“You’ve endured this much on Delfi’s back, except for me, you’re the first.”
“Are you serious?”
“Why would I lie?”
“There was no reason for it.
Anel felt uneasy, but only now did her heart soften towards these stubborn words.
That’s what it was.
“So, what do you want to say to me?”
Only after reaching the end of the prairie.
Johan brought up the main topic.
The two turned their heads towards Hwangung again.
Delfi seemed to have accepted that it was time to return, obediently turning his steps.
“A few days from now, it will be His Majesty’s birthday.”
“…Birthday?”
Johan made a momentarily puzzled expression, as if hearing a very unfamiliar word.
Then, after a moment, he seemed to understand the meaning, narrowing his eyes.
“Ah, right. The day I was born… is approaching.”
Anel was dumbfounded.
‘The day I was born’?
It was the first time she heard someone express their own birthday like that.
Anel, who was about to continue speaking, hesitated for a moment.
It was because of what Ern had mentioned.
Considering Johan’s upbringing, Magnum Duke wouldn’t have carefully taken care of Johan’s birthday.
Rather.
In a sense, his birthday might have felt like a disaster to him.
Since his mother lost her mind due to his birth.
…It’s natural not to place any significance on birthdays.
Anel was disappointed in herself for not considering that fact at all.
To a man who might dislike his own birthday, she came seeking cooperation to open a grand celebration for his birthday for the sake of alleviating poverty.
Even for her, it seemed like an inhumane act.
“Yeah, what regrets could I have on the day I was born?”
…Of course, in terms of inhumanity, it would be hard to surpass this man.
“There’s no regret for me.”
“Then why?”
…Certainly, to a man who may dislike his own birthday.
“No reason at all.”
“Anel was at a loss for words.
He couldn’t bring himself to speak.
He had to bring up the topic of the birthday to a man who disliked birthdays.
How should he approach it?
After a moment of contemplation, Anel cautiously parted his lips.
“Do you have specific types of gifts you’d like to receive? Don’t be too specific, though.”
This statement was thoroughly strategic in its meaning.
If someone dislikes birthdays, maybe making it a bit more enjoyable could work.
Such a strategic meaning.
Anel murmured to himself.
“Gifts?”
Johann looked at Anel with a puzzled expression.
“I didn’t think you’d be interested in that kind of thing.”
“…So, do you have any regrets or preferences?”
Anel deliberately mimicked Johann’s tone.
When communication breaks down, mirroring is the only solution.
A faint amusement appeared in Johann’s eyes.
“I always think this, but you really are… a contradictory person.”
“Me?”
“Yeah.”
“Should I apologize to Your Highness alone then?”
Haha.
Johann burst into laughter.
“Yeah, you’re not as contradictory as I am.”
“Did you know that you’re contradictory?”
As Anel spoke with a raised eyebrow, Johann genuinely smiled, as if truly enjoying himself.
That laughter was truly…
For a moment, it looked really good.
Anel hurriedly turned his head.
“Honestly, you bringing up the birthday wasn’t just about the gift, I know that.”
“!”
“Even so, talking about the gift isn’t so bad, considering…”
He casually stroked the brim of the buttercup.
“Yeah, even I find myself quite contradictory.”
