CH 407

Happy Delusion

“Okay, I’ll see you in a bit.”

After making a promise to meet again, Mia started walking back to the dorm to wash off the horse slime.

She walked slowly out of the stable, then picked up her pace to a fast walk. A hundred steps later, she started running at full speed. She ran like the wind to get to the public baths.

While Anne went to get her another outfit, she quickly took off the ones she was wearing and jumped into the pool. Just as she got a good froth going with the soap that was there, Anne came in with Mia’s favorite horse shampoo and started washing her hair right away. Anne worked quickly but carefully, and she was done just as Mia finished cleaning up. Then Mia quickly got dressed and ran back to the riding ground.

She ran like the wind again until she was only a few steps away, and then she slammed on the brakes and stopped. After a moment, she started walking again at a slow pace to let her breath catch up.

“Hello, Abel.”

“Wow, that was quick!” Abel jumped off the fence he was sitting on when he saw her come back. His slim, athletic body was covered by a brand-new shirt and black pants with a relaxed look.

Hmm… Even though this outfit isn’t exactly fit for a prince, it’s still pretty good.

The difference between his normal look and this more casual outfit was very welcome. He had also washed his black hair and let the clean strands blow freely in the wind. The fresh scent of soap wafted from it and tickled her nose, making her sigh with happiness.

Abel is always so handsome.

“Hmm? What are you looking at?”

Her long look made him raise an eyebrow.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” she said. “More importantly, let’s go into the riding ground.

Inside, Bel and Citrina were already taking lessons from Malong.

“Wow, the back of a horse is so high up. I didn’t notice before, but now that I have time to look around, it’s really obvious.”

“Ha ha ha, it sure is. At this height, it feels great to gallop across a stretch of fields. If you ever come to the Equestrian Kingdom, I’d love to take you for a long ride.”

“Please, yes! That sounds really cool!”

Bel seemed to be enjoying herself.

“You brought those two with you today, right?” said Abel.

“Yes. I wanted to ride myself, of course, but my main goal is for Bel to learn how to ride.”

“Oh, I see. Teaching Miss Bel how to ride…”

Abel crossed his arms and watched as Malong started to walk forward, leading the horse behind him. Bel swayed back and forth on its back. Mia thought of her younger self when she saw Bel’s face as she tried hard to stay upright and looked a little desperate.

“That’s pretty good,” she said with a smile of happy memory.

Abel said, “She might be a natural.”

“You may be right. Back when the Holy Eve Festival was going on, she rode pretty well, too. Who can say? Maybe she’ll surprise us all with how quickly she learns.”

They both smiled softly as they watched Bel try to ride.

“Once she learns to ride, a lot of doors will open for her. Things will be easier to deal with in general. Not that I ever want to get her involved in something like that again, but…” Mia knew that no matter how careful she was, she would eventually put Bel in danger again. It didn’t seem avoidable. When that time comes, riding a horse should be a very useful skill.

Mia was thinking about these surprisingly important things until it occurred to her to think about her own situation. Specifically, where she was standing next to Abel and how things were going around them.

It was nice. She was standing next to her beloved prince and watching her wobbly granddaughter ride a horse with a mix of love and worry, sometimes shouting words of support. There was no rush or thrill, only quiet happiness. A simple one, as common as a pebble on the side of the road, but still a happiness.

She realized at that moment that she had never imagined a future like this, one with so much everyday happiness.

I’ve just been desperately trying to avoid bad futures the whole time. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. What if I got married to Abel? What would happen next if that occured?

She hadn’t thought of it before. What if she got married to this sweet boy standing next to her? Her thoughts got out of hand. She imagined a nice day like this one, when they’d take their kids on a long ride and then have a picnic lunch of horse-shaped mushroom sandwiches…

“What’s that?”

When she came back to the real world, Abel was looking at her with interest. He gave a soft smile. She had to hold back a gasp of awe.

“What? Um, it’s nothing. Oho ho. So, why don’t we all go for a ride?”

She looked around quickly. Bel had just finished her ride and was getting off her horse by chance. She ran toward them laughing and waving her hands, showing that she had liked the experience.

Mmm hm hm, look at her go! She’s so happy. It’s good to know she’s having fun.

Just as Mia was enjoying watching Bel, her granddaughter tripped and fell in a spectacular way.

“Bel!” Mia yelled. Oh, this is what happens when you get too excited, thought Mia as she ran over to help Bel get up. “Moons, Bel, are you all right?”

“Yes, I’m okay.” Bel let out an embarrassed laugh. “Wow, I really fell there!”

“Hm. Well, I guess you’re okay if you can laugh about it,” said Mia as she looked at the girl.

When she turned her head and looked down, she saw…the sight. Bel’s soft knee was covered in red, red blood. It was a terrible sight.

“B-Bel… You’re…,” was all she could say before Bel’s body fell out of sight. But it was her body that fell backward.

“O-Ooooh…”

“Mia!”

Abel’s frantic voice was the last thing she heard before everything went dark. Mia was the kind of person who would pass out if she saw blood. Blood meant pain, and she couldn’t handle neither pain nor seeing it.

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