Chapter 77
What on earth was the title of that book he was reading, exuding such refinement and dignity?
No, no… maybe it’s just the title. It could be a philosophy, psychology, or humanities book.
…Could it really be?
While he wrestled with that thought, Lionel seized the moment to ask Beric an unexpected question, as if it were the perfect time.
“Sir Beric, was your marriage one of love or an arranged union?”
“Huh? Well… it started as an arranged marriage, but we met before the wedding and grew to understand each other. I was lucky.”
“Do you love your wife?”
Beric’s face flushed red.
For a moment, he wondered if Lionel was teasing him, but the prince’s serious expression made it clear that wasn’t the case.
Beric parted his lips, then nodded carefully.
“…Yes. I do.”
But the difficult questions didn’t stop there.
“When did you first realize you loved her?”
“I… I…”
Who am I? Where am I? Why am I here being asked this by the Second Prince?
“When I saw my wife with my cousin… I misinterpreted it, got jealous in the most pathetic way, and realized my feelings.”
“Precisely how did you get jealous?”
“Well…”
“Is it normal to feel jealousy just seeing the one you love with another man? If you don’t feel jealousy, does that mean you don’t love them?”
“Uh… well…”
Sweating profusely, Beric answered every one of Lionel’s relentless questions with honesty and care.
Lionel, seemingly insatiable in curiosity, continued questioning as if debating an unresolved philosophical topic.
By the time Beric wanted nothing more than to run away from a prince with so many questions, Lionel finally paused.
“Thank you. That will be useful.”
“Useful…?”
Beric blinked in confusion. Useful for what? Where?
Before he could ask, Lionel reopened his book and dove back into reading, completely absorbed. Beric could only shake his head and step away, realizing Lionel had lost himself in his personal world and didn’t want to be disturbed.
Beric planned to finish the preparations so they could leave immediately afterward.
“Commander!”
“What is it?”
“Well… it’s hard to report properly. You need to see this yourself.”
“Hard to report? What do you mean?”
Following his subordinate swiftly, Beric reached a soldier who handed him a telescope.
“Look over there.”
“…What is that?”
Through the telescope, they could barely make out a dusty whirlwind rising from the ground. At its center, a pale, almost ghostly shape moved.
“…A horse? Could it be?”
“Yes. Since there’s no saddle or reins, it seems to be a wild horse…”
“A horse that big?”
At first, the distance made it hard to gauge, but as it came closer, its size became undeniable. At least 1.5 times larger than a normal horse, maybe even twice. The ground itself trembled beneath its gallop.
“I-it’s terrifying!”
“Commander, could that… be a monster?”
By any measure—size, presence—it was far from an ordinary horse. Beric quickly made a decision.
“You all, ready your bows. And you, bring His Highness here.”
“Yes!”
After all, Lionel was still the general. Beric could not order the soldiers on his own.
Soon, Lionel arrived just as the horse came into view.
“What is it?”
“Look. There’s a horse that might be a monster.”
“A monster?”
Shielding his eyes from the sun, Lionel studied the wild horse. Its silver-gray mane and tail whipped like banners, and its iron-like hooves pounded the ground with a force that seemed to summon a sandstorm itself.
“Krhhh!”
“…Did you hear that? Not a neigh, but Krhhh!”
“Just give the orders!”
Soldiers aimed their bows at the charging beast.
It was nearly upon them. The sheer force of its gallop made them tremble, swallowing nervously, when suddenly…
“Piiit!”
A sharp, birdlike whistle cut through the thundering hooves.
No one else seemed to hear it—or they ignored it—but Lionel did.
“Lower your bows.”
“What?”
“Don’t worry.”
With a simple gesture, he signaled the soldiers to stand down and stepped forward toward the wild horse.
“Your Highness! It’s dangerous!”
Beric drew his sword and followed closely, but Lionel looked back with a warning glance. Beric, intimidated by his poise, lowered his blade.
The horse came to a halt right in front of Lionel.
“Krrrgh!”
Its hooves barely brushed Lionel’s clothing as it slowed. A mere misstep could have caused serious injury.
Yet Lionel extended his hand calmly to the horse’s head.
“Your…!”
Everyone froze, holding their breath, but the horse did not attack. It lowered its head as if inviting a gentle touch.
“Why are you here?”
Lionel stroked the horse’s head with surprising tenderness. Everyone watched in astonishment—so focused on Lionel that they didn’t realize it wasn’t the horse itself he was touching, but a small bluebird perched atop its head.
“I told you to stay home because it’s dangerous.”
“…Dangerous?”
Ah. Not the horse. The person who might get trampled is dangerous. That made sense. Few could survive the hooves of a beast like this unharmed.
“Did you follow me?”
“Piiit!”
“Krrr.”
“The North is dangerous. I may not be able to protect you.”
Wait—who’s protecting whom?
“Piiit!”
“Krrr!”
“Your Highness…”
Beric, jaw dropped in shock, approached Lionel cautiously.
“This horse… is it yours?”
“It’s not mine. But there’s no need to worry.”
“But… it didn’t neigh. It went Krrr, like a monster. Is it really a horse?”
Hearing this, everyone looked at Lionel. The horse’s growl-like sounds made them uneasy, but Lionel remained calm.
“You must have misheard.”
“…Ah, no…”
Could so many people all hear the same “hallucination”?
Everyone exchanged bewildered looks, but Lionel didn’t let the question linger.
“Sir Beric, what did it sound like to your ears?”
“Uh… neigh, I think?”
Under the prince’s gaze, Beric couldn’t admit the truth. He shifted his eyes away and forced a cheerful tone.
“I heard a neigh!”
The soldiers’ faces flickered between shock and sudden realization. One quick-witted soldier echoed him.
“I heard a neigh too!”
“Me too!”
Lionel studied each of their faces carefully. Once no one questioned the horse’s identity anymore, he nodded in satisfaction.
“I didn’t intend to bring anyone into danger, but since you followed, we’ll take it with us.”
“Should we put on a saddle and reins?”
“Krrr!”
See? It did it again! Not a neigh! Some soldiers glanced at Lionel with concern, worried about the horse biting.
But Lionel calmly patted the horse’s body.
“There’s no saddle or reins made for something this size. Leave it as it is.”
“Krrr!”
“Yes. You’ve had a long journey. Let’s go. There’s a resting place prepared for you over there.”
Without reins, Lionel guided the massive horse with nothing more than gentle pats, leading it exactly where he wanted.