An Unexpected Outing (2)

Just when Ethan had made the kind offer to have a new dagger made for me, right after I’d blurted out some nonsense about noble social gatherings due to a shameless misunderstanding.

As I buried my face in the table in overwhelming shame, Ethan cautiously spoke to me as if to console me.

“Sorry, Lilith. I should’ve explained properly from the start.”

“…No. It was my foolish misunderstanding, Young Master Ethan.”

“N-no, it’s not foolish or anything. I’m always grateful that you don’t deny being mistaken as my fiancée.”

“…My apologies, Young Master. Could you please forget this entire conversation we just had? I’m… too embarrassed to even lift my head right now…”

“…What are you talking about? Weren’t we just discussing going to Grainstone?”

…As expected of the Blackwood heir, he really knows how to read the mood.

Since Ethan spoke so casually as if he’d genuinely forgotten my words, I managed to calm my burning face somewhat.

Though some heat still lingered on my cheeks, I had to continue the conversation, so I responded with shameless composure.

“Grainstone Village is that small town where the half-dwarf blacksmith runs his forge, correct?”

“…Ah, yeah. That’s right.”

“What reason do you have for visiting such a small village? Are you planning to commission a new sword, Young Master Ethan?”

“…No, I want to have a new dagger made for you, Lilith.”

“My dagger? That’s truly unexpected, Young Master Ethan.”

“……”

Ethan bit his lower lip tightly as if holding something back, barely restraining his emotions.

Well, with this, the shameless timeline where I thought of attending a noble gathering with Ethan has been erased.

Now that we’re back on track, I voiced my first question about Ethan wanting to get me a new dagger.

“By the way, is there really a need to go all the way to Grainstone for a new dagger?”

“Huh?”

“Of course I don’t mind getting a good dagger, but I was wondering if it might be too much trouble for you to take me along, Young Master.”

“What are you talking about? It’s no trouble at all to go get a dagger made for you, Lilith.”

“Pardon?”

Getting a dagger made not for himself but for his personal maid isn’t troublesome?

For a moment I wondered what he meant by that, but soon realized another possible intention behind Ethan’s words.

‘He must be thinking about the second semester’s Harvest Festival.’

Just as the combat department’s evaluation matches mark the end of Luminor Academy’s first semester, the Harvest Festival involving all students is the year-end event of the second semester.

One of the combat department students’ activities during this festival is hunting game in the forest hunting grounds near the academy, and this is the only time of year when students can form parties across grades and departments for the event.

If Ethan plans to include me in his party there, then strengthening my combat ability wouldn’t really be troublesome at all.

Finding this reasoning perfectly understandable, I nodded to show my comprehension.

“Understood, Young Master Ethan. I think I can see why getting me a new dagger wouldn’t be troublesome for you.”

“…Can you tell me why you think that? Not that I doubt you, Lilith, but I feel like you might be misunderstanding something strange again.”

“Because increasing the combat strength of your personal maid means effectively increasing your own combat strength, doesn’t it?”

“……Huh?”

“…Was I wrong?”

“Ah, no… I’m just surprised you understood correctly without any weird misunderstandings for once…”

…I think Ethan just gave me a somewhat harsh evaluation there.

I decided to let it pass as just my imagination.

“Anyway, if we’re going, let’s leave tomorrow morning. I’d like to set out right now, but that might be difficult.”

“Pardon? Isn’t Grainstone Village quite close to Blackwood Territory? If we leave now, it shouldn’t take more than half a day.”

“That’s true, but I can’t exactly tell the coachman to depart immediately. The carriage needs some maintenance before the trip too.”

“Is there really any need to take a carriage for such a short trip to Grainstone?”

“Huh?”

Ethan tilted his head at me as if I’d said something strange.

I immediately made a gesture of holding reins with both hands and waved my fists before his eyes.

“If it’s just the two of us on this journey, one horse should be enough without relying on a carriage.”

“…Really?”

“We could arrive before evening if we leave now, Young Master Ethan.”

And so the expedition party to Grainstone was decided.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

After deciding on the trip to Grainstone, we stood before the stables.

Stroking the mane of a majestic white horse I hadn’t seen in a while, I called out the name I’d nearly forgotten.

“Long time no see, Jeraon.”

‘Neigh!’

“You haven’t forgotten me while I was at the academy, have you? You look healthy, that’s good.”

‘Neeigh!’

Jeraon, the white stallion of House Blackwood who had helped me so much during Dietmeyer’s riding lessons.

Fortunately, he seemed to remember the three months we’d spent together, greeting me warmly when he saw my face.

“…Lilith, this says ‘Lucina’ here? And Jeraon seems an odd name for a mare…”

“Let’s just go outside first, Jeraon.”

‘Neigh!!’

Ignoring Ethan’s nitpicking, I led Jeraon out of the stables by the reins.

The thought of riding this friend again after so long made my heart strangely flutter.

Having started my first riding lessons with him, I’d grown quite attached, and riding a horse directly was fundamentally different from driving a carriage.

Personally, I found galloping on horseback far more enjoyable than carriage rides.

Though it was bumpier, when you’re the one controlling the horse you notice it less, and you can fully enjoy the thrill of speed without any barriers.

“Are you sure about this, Lilith?”

“I mastered riding before I learned to drive carriages, Young Master Ethan. I don’t understand why you’d worry when you’ve ridden in carriages I’ve driven.”

“No, of course I know about your riding skills. That’s not what I’m concerned about…”

“Pardon?”

Ethan hesitated, struggling to voice something difficult.

Then he suddenly confessed something I already knew, showing hesitation about the trip to Grainstone.

“I can’t ride, Lilith.”

“Yes, I know. You focused on swordsmanship training instead of riding lessons.”

“So if we go to Grainstone on horseback as you suggested, the only way is for you to ride in front holding the reins while I ride behind you.”

“Yes, I know that too.”

“…You know?”

“It’s just riding together, isn’t it? I don’t see any problem.”

“……”

Ethan fell silent after my last response.

Then he nodded with a slightly stiff expression, as if accepting something.

“Alright, if it doesn’t bother you, Lilith.”

“Pardon?”

“If that’s how you feel. Let’s just ride together like this.”

“…Is something upsetting you, Young Master Ethan?”

“No. Nothing at all, so don’t worry about it. Let’s just get going, Lilith.”

“……Understood.”

He clearly seemed in a bad mood about something.

Having lived alongside him for quite some time, I thought I’d learned to avoid things that might upset him in daily life.

Yet now Ethan was clearly expressing displeasure directed at me.

…Whatever it is, knowing Ethan, he’ll probably get over it soon.

With that thought, though feeling slightly uneasy about his behavior, I mounted Jeraon as Ethan suggested.

As soon as I was on the horse, I felt Ethan climb up behind me.

-Thud.

“We’ll depart for Grainstone Village now, Young Master Ethan.”

“…Yeah.”

“Please hold onto me tightly so you don’t fall during the ride.”

“…Yeah.”

-Clop.

“…Hngk?!”

A hand reached from behind and seemed to accidentally brush against my chest, drawing an involuntary embarrassed sound from me.

As I turned to look back at Ethan’s sudden action, he immediately apologized.

“…Young Master Ethan…”

“Sorry, Lilith. That was an accident.”

“Pardon?”

“I was trying to hold onto you from behind and couldn’t help touching you there. Sorry, Lilith.”

“……”

If it was truly accidental… maybe I shouldn’t make a big deal of it.

After all, I was the one who suggested riding together – it would be strange to complain about physical contact now. This much was to be expected.

And though it might sound odd, honestly speaking, my chest has been touched several times already.

It was something I could easily ignore if I chose to.

“Understood, Young Master Ethan. Please be more careful next time.”

“Yeah.”

-Clop.

“…Ngh.”

“Sorry, I was just adjusting my position.”

“…It’s fine, Young Master Ethan.”

First grabbing my chest, now this… is he doing this on purpose?

Ah, no way. I know Ethan – he wouldn’t do that deliberately.

Dismissing the improper thought that had crossed my mind, I gave Jeraon’s reins a firm tug.

And so the white stallion carrying two riders began galloping toward Grainstone Village.