Ch.8Are You Serious? (1)

# Translation

I tried to find another horse, but all that remained were horses with defects.

I looked at the Ice woman with resentment.

Wasn’t this too unfair, taking the horse like that?

I would have accepted it if we had at least flipped a coin to decide.

But now that it had been taken, approaching her again to discuss this matter seemed too undignified.

A Praester should endure.

Among the remaining horses, I chose a black stallion that had good muscle quality and looked impressive.

And as I had predicted, it was a horse with character flaws.

As soon as I mounted it, it began acting up, making me a spectacle.

“Whoa!! Whoa… calm down, calm down.”

No matter how much I stroked its mane and patted it, this black stallion would spin in circles, suddenly freeze as if time had stopped, and spit everywhere while prancing about.

At first it was tolerable, but as it continued endlessly, I felt the urge to just rip its mane out.

From the shaking saddle, I tried to control my anger.

I just needed to endure this class.

But heaven was cruel… Lord Hoslow spoke.

“The horse you’ve chosen will now be yours.”

“…Pardon?”

I reflexively questioned.

But my voice must have been too quiet, as he continued.

“The academy is providing them as support. All the horses you’re riding are young. Name them and shower them with affection. You must become one with them.”

I couldn’t help but look at the horse I was riding.

This horse is too wild…?

And I have to stay with it?

“Now, I’ll give you some time. Get acquainted with your horse.”

Murmurs grew louder around us. Everyone was talking to their horses—the ones they had chosen.

I looked at the woman from the Ice family who had taken the horse I had initially chosen.

Unlike the expression she had shown me, she was stroking that horse with an affectionate look, continuously saying something to it.

“….Sigh..”

I sighed. When I did, my black stallion snorted and shook me once more.

“Whoa whoa.. Let’s calm down.”

This horse was still the better choice.

I couldn’t exchange it for another.

I would have to adapt.

“…..Rush. From now on, your name is Rush.”

Rush responded by acting up.

I couldn’t tell if he liked it or not.

“..Well, I’ll give you something tasty if you behave, so let’s do well together.”

****

After spending time getting acquainted with our horses, Lord Hoslow checked our riding skills.

Many students still looked awkward.

….Including myself.

It wasn’t that my riding skills were lacking, but that Rush wouldn’t listen.

Fortunately, other students were still awkward too.

If I had been the only one, I would have wanted to hide in a mouse hole.

The only one showing skillful horsemanship was that woman from the Ice family.

Not only her skills, but unlike me, her horse was perfect. There was a huge difference compared to Rush. It was already obediently following its owner’s commands.

“…Hey. You should try to be more like that too.”

I said to Rush, but this guy just spat.

Fortunately, Rush showed good performance in the subsequent training.

It could only be described as a whim, but Rush’s potential was limitless.

His muscle quality was definitely good.

Fast and explosive.

If only he would listen, he would be the perfect horse.

It’s just that he doesn’t listen.

Carrying me, Rush showed overwhelming speed in the short-distance race evaluation.

It was a sprint as if he didn’t care about me on his back, but since I could hang on, it wasn’t a problem.

Lord Hoslow seemed to notice this point and first praised my riding skills.

“…You have good balance. If you get a little closer to your horse, you’ll be fine.”

“…Haha…thank you.”

****

After class, we headed to the stables.

Lord Hoslow said that from now on, taking care of the horses would be our responsibility.

He said we needed to know how to care for them to get closer, and it would be good to visit frequently and manage them.

“I believe you’ve all seen your horse’s capabilities. You might not be in sync yet, and it might feel awkward. That’s why you need to take care of your horses with sincerity. When war breaks out, you’ll be deployed with the horse you’re riding now. To entrust your life to them, there needs to be some affection between you.”

Rush suddenly started grinding his teeth and chewing on something. Since Lord Hoslow was giving a passionate speech, I couldn’t stop him.

If war breaks out, I have to go with this guy… Is this right?

“Getting close depends on your effort. Remember. If you pour your heart into it, a horse can become a friend more precious than anyone else. They will always be on your side.”

One by one, the cadets on horseback stroked their horses’ necks.

They seemed to be taking Lord Hoslow’s words to heart. Meanwhile, I was thinking about what to do with this guy.

“Morning class is over. After lunch, gather again in an hour.”

He announced the end of the class. My peers put their horses in the stables one by one.

Except for me.

Rush wouldn’t listen, making it difficult to put him in the stable.

After struggling to get Rush in, I looked at my horse.

Rush showed me his teeth, clicking them together.

“….What am I going to do with you, really.”

I tapped his nose lightly, as if knocking.

What an ugly guy.

Maybe he looks even more so because he keeps widening his eyes.

It was after everyone had left. I had been delayed too long.

As I was about to leave the stable to go for lunch, I noticed the only person remaining.

It was that woman from the Ice family.

Dark gray hair.

Sharp eyes like Asena.

Tall stature befitting a knight and

a firm physique.

She must have already fallen in love with her horse, as she was stroking it with affectionate eyes.

“….Aren’t you going to eat?”

“……”

She didn’t answer. She clearly heard my voice. I could tell because her previously gentle face hardened again.

For a moment, I grew tired of this emotional battle.

Grandmother Riana had warned me to be wary of the Ice family and not to lose to them in anything, but this woman and I hadn’t done anything to build such a hostile relationship.

So I wanted to break through this uncomfortable relationship.

“…Hah..Let’s not be like this.”

“….”

“I know our families don’t get along, but we don’t have to be like this too.”

For a very brief moment, her expression cracked.

She looked at me.

“Let’s get along, really. Are we going to be like this all the time?”

“…..”

“Why do you hate me when I haven’t done anything yet? If anyone should hate someone, shouldn’t it be me hating you? You even took my horse.”

“…I’ve heard a lot of bad things about your family.”

“You’ve heard bad things about my family, not about me. If we’re going by that logic, I’ve heard a lot of bad things about the Ice family too.”

“…..!”

She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.

This wasn’t what I intended.

“Ah, I get it! I get it! Stop!”

“…….”

She was trying to regulate her irregular breathing.

But was it because of her expression? I shouldn’t be thinking this in this situation, but her intense reaction was somewhat amusing.

“Let’s start with introductions. You haven’t told me your name yet.”

“…….”

“…This really isn’t right, you know. Even enemies tell each other their names.”

“….Judy Ice.”

“As I said earlier, I’m Caden Praester.”

I confidently extended my hand.

She alternated between looking at my hand and my eyes

before slowly extending her own hand.

I grabbed her approaching hand and shook it as I pleased.

“Nice to meet you.”

Judy Ice..

She wasn’t a character that appeared in the novel.

But I had heard her name.

Being from a rival family, I had studied the Ice family

several times while talking with the twins.

If my memory serves me right, Judy Ice was the illegitimate daughter of Duke Ice.

I nodded.

That seems right.

Being an illegitimate daughter, she came to the knight department.

Like me, she couldn’t step into politics, so she seemed to have chosen the path of military power.

“You’re the illegitimate daughter of Duke Ice… right?”

Judy Ice trembled as if startled.

Then she looked at me with a flushed face.

I quickly tried to calm her down.

“No… why are you reacting so intensely again…”

“…This is why the Praesters are…”

“What’s wrong with being an illegitimate child? It’s not like it’s not true.”

“…Do you enjoy poking at others’ weaknesses?”

“What?”

“Why are you deliberately provoking me by bringing up the term ‘illegitimate daughter’?”

Words poured out from her previously stiff lips.

I blinked.

Does she not know who I am?

“Don’t you know me?”

“You said you’re Caden Praester!”

“That’s right, but… hmm..”

I wondered if I should say it myself, but seeing that she really didn’t seem to know, I spoke.

“…I’m an adopted child of the Praester family.”

“…Huh?”

“I didn’t mention it to poke at your weakness, but because I felt a sense of kinship.”

Suddenly, Asena’s words that I had tried not to think about echoed in my head.

Like a gust of wind, memories I had tried to bury flashed.

‘When you graduate, return the Praester surname.’

I forcibly suppressed those painful memories again.

“…A-adopted child..? There’s such a person in the Praester family..”

“…You really didn’t know. If I wasn’t, would I have gone to the knight department instead of the political department?”

“……”

I couldn’t help but laugh out of disbelief.

Judy Ice blushed as if embarrassed.

Well, once a thought takes root, it’s not easy to break that frame.

She must have heard a lot of bad rumors about our family from a young age.

“Judy, let’s just be friendly with each other. We… outcasts from our families should stick together, otherwise, who will we talk to about this sorrow?”

“…..”

“Whether we want it or not, we have to stick together for two years. Fighting every day will be exhausting.”

“….”

“Don’t you agree?”

After contemplating for a while, she nodded slightly.

Fortunately, she was thinking sensibly.

She seemed to understand what I was trying to say.

“I’m not asking you to force conversations or pretend. Let’s just not hate each other at the very least.”

“….”

“Here. As a gesture of friendship.”

I approached her horse.

The mare I had initially wanted to claim.

“..Oh..!”

Judy hesitated and tried to stop me,

but I was quick to approach the horse.

It’s definitely a good horse.

If I had approached Rush like this,

he would have tried to bite me… but this one stays still.

I’m envious.

“What’s her name?”

“…….”

When she didn’t answer, I looked into her eyes and asked again.

“…Pardon?”

“………Goldie.”

She answered in a crawling voice.

I tried to hold it in, but a laugh escaped involuntarily.

For someone who was so prickly towards me, it was a cute naming sense.

She seemed to know it was embarrassing, as her cheeks turned as red as a ripe persimmon.

Perhaps because she had lived in a cold region, her pale skin emphasized it more.

I tried to stop laughing, but the more I tried to hold it in, the more I laughed.

I turned around and adjusted Goldie’s stirrups.

I had been noticing that they were a bit long for Judy Ice’s physique.

“It’s too… ahem… long, so it’s better to make it a bit shorter. You should be able to… ride as if embracing the horse’s body with your legs. Ahem.”

Trying to speak while holding back laughter made my voice tremble.

If I turned around, I would have to face the flushed Judy, so I leaned my head against Goldie until my laughter subsided.

After finally calming down, I looked at Judy.

“Understand?”

But contrary to my expectation, Judy was also trying to hold back her laughter.

****

I left the stable and returned to the training ground.

I was planning to go to the dining hall.

But from a distance, a person with a familiar build

was waving at me and running towards me.

Silver hair that reached her shoulders.

A cute woman with a puppy-like aura.

A bright smile with matching dimples.

It was Kirsy.

“Oppa!!”

When I smiled and waved back, she beamed with eye-smiles.

After running for a while, she threw herself into my arms.

I put my arms under her armpits

to support Kirsy in an embracing form,

and she melted into me, entrusting her entire body to me.

“Ugh… I’m tired, oppa… haa.. haa..”

“Who told you to run like that?”

“No.. it’s not that, the class..”

“Gasp..!”

I lifted her slightly to help Kirsy stand on her own. Kirsy naturally stood up and spun around to my arm, linking arms with me.

“You were so excited about it. If you’re this exhausted after just one class, what are you going to do?”

We headed to the dining hall.

“I don’t know… I just liked it better when I was hanging out with oppa.”

“Well…. it’s natural that playing is more fun.”

Kirsy looked up at me blankly after my response.

Did I speak too coldly? Should I have coddled her?

“Haah…. I don’t know. I think it might be because oppa isn’t by my side…”

But contrary to my worry, Kirsy came back with a cute retort. I chuckled and playfully pushed her forehead with the side of my head.

Kirsy giggled and leaned her head on my arm.

****

Settled in the dining hall, we began to talk in earnest with food in front of us.

“So, why isn’t Asena around?”

“Oh, unnie joined the student council.”

“Student council?”

Right. I had forgotten.

Asena joins the student council.

“Yes. So she seems to be having meals with the student council members.”

Come to think of it, there’s probably no one with as much power as Asena in the academy.

Even setting aside her powerful family background, she’s almost the only one in the academy who is the head of a family.

She is definitely one of the people who should be in the student council.

“Asena is already busy.”

“I know. I don’t think I could have done it.”

“So Kirsy, have you made friends?”

“Ah, that’s right!”

She exclaimed with a blooming smile.

“I’ve made so many friends! About ten? They’re all nice, just like you said, oppa.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Since they’re new friends, there’s so much to talk about. They all have such unique personalities, and I don’t know why it’s so fun.”

Kirsy seemed to be adapting well.

I felt proud.

When I first met these twins when they were young, I had hoped they wouldn’t spend a gloomy, emotionless future, and that was coming true right before my eyes.

“Actually, today my friends asked me to have lunch with them, but I told them I had to meet oppa and left.”

“Hmm? No, next time, eat with your friends too.”

I didn’t want to be an obstacle to Kirsy’s academy life, which was starting to go well.

“Hmm… no. I just want to eat with oppa.”

Kirsy thought for a moment, then cutely opened her mouth.

“Ah~”

I naturally put food on the fork and fed her.

“You can’t eat with me forever.”

I said worriedly. In any group, if someone always misses out, they end up being left out.

The bond formed during meals is the quickest… that’s why there’s a culture of company dinners.

It’s not that relationships become distant because someone doesn’t join meals, but rather that others become closer more quickly and tend to stick together. Kirsy should belong to some group to have fun.

But Kirsy, as if ignoring my words, didn’t respond and just hummed.

It seemed like I needed to be firm here.

“Kirsy, and I can’t always eat with just you either.”

“………………Huh?”

Kirsy’s face hardened and her smile disappeared.

“I’ve made friends too. I need to eat with them as well.”

“……………Friends…?”

Kirsy tilted her head, then thumped her chest again.

“…Ah, why am I doing this again.”

“…Kirsy? Are you in pain?”

“Ah, no. I think food got stuck a bit.. Yes, that’s right… oppa would make friends too. Why didn’t I think of that..?”

“How much are you underestimating me?”

I asked her with a smile, but Kirsy’s expression remained serious.

“…How…. many?”

“Hmm?”

“How many new friends do you have?”

“Umm……”

In truth, I didn’t have any new friends.

Lord Hoslow had just trained us relentlessly.

I had talked with Judy Ice, but not enough to call her a friend.

It was a lie I had told hoping Kirsy would have meals with her friends, but I didn’t expect her to probe like this.

Then suddenly, a new friend came to mind.

“….One. No, one animal.”

“Huh?”

“I received a new horse. His name is Rush..”

“….A horse is your new friend?”

“That…..yes.”

Kirsy’s stiff face cracked with a “pfft” and she started laughing loudly.

It was cute so I didn’t mind, but the sound was a bit too loud.

People around us were looking at us.

I moved closer to her and patted her shoulder.

“St-stop laughing. Everyone’s watching.”

Kirsy looked up and hugged me.

In that state, Kirsy laughed for a long time without stopping. Was it really that funny?

“Ahahaha…ah…oppa, really. Hehe.”

Kirsy, delighted for some reason, even acted cute while hitting my arm.

I didn’t quite understand what was happening.

After shaking off the remaining laughter, Kirsy opened her mouth neatly.

She shamelessly showed me her red tongue and white teeth.

I quickly picked up some food and fed her again.

“Can you introduce me later, oppa?”

Kirsy asked while chewing her food.

“What?”

“Rush.”

“Ah…”

I recalled Rush’s willful behavior.

Would it be okay?

I didn’t want her to get her hand or hair bitten if she approached.

I didn’t want cute Kirsy’s face to get hurt.

“Hmm…I’ll think about it.”

“Ah, why..!”

“He’s a bit strange.”

“It’s okay. We can become friends.”

“…..”

“Hmm? Oppa.”

Kirsy acting cute.

I think I’m really weak to this.

And Kirsy seems to know it too.

“Sigh…alright. When you have time next time, you know the training ground where you found me today? If you cross it and walk a bit more, you’ll reach the stables. If you don’t see me after class, I’ll be there, so come by.”

“Yes, I got it.”

“I’m not sure if it’ll be okay.”

“Since he’s oppa’s friend, I should get along with him too. Like you said, I’ll have meals with friends too. I wonder if he likes carrots?”

“….I’ll check.”

“Thanks, oppa. If you make other friends, you have to introduce them to me too, okay?”

Kirsy’s face was full of smiles as she said that.