Jamie had the horse waiting in front of the main building. It was a sleek black stallion with a glossy coat, larger in build than White, Kay’s unicorn. As Kay approached, the horse, which had been snorting, obediently lowered its head.
“Want to try riding?” Kay asked, turning to look at Rishi.
Rishi quickly shook her head. “I’m fine.”
For someone who had never ridden before, the animal looked too massive and intimidating for a first attempt.
Kay teased, “Are you scared?”
Rishi retorted stubbornly, “It’s not that I’m scared; I just enjoy walking.”
“Compared to a unicorn, this fellow is quite gentle.”
“If he’s gentler than Windy, who tries to eat my hand, then at least he won’t eat me.”
“That’s true. He’s a very well-behaved creature.”
Kay held out his hand. After a moment of hesitation, Rishi placed hers in his.
“Do you know? I love how you naturally reach out your hand whenever I offer mine.”
Rishi didn’t know how to respond to that.
Jamie, who had been standing silently nearby, cleared his throat and stepped away. Unlike Willas or Nathan, Jamie had the discipline not to show his nausea outwardly. However, the sharp *tap-tap-tap* of his boots sounded as if he were insisting, *Could you at least be a bit more moderate in front of me, Captain!*
Rishi felt embarrassed, but Kay, the very person who had driven Jamie away, remained unbothered.
“Come here, Rishi. Look into his eyes.”
Kay didn’t force her; he waited for her to move on her own.
After taking a deep breath, Rishi approached. The horse, looking as formidable as a shadow stalking a battlefield, had eyes as pitch-black as its coat. Yet, those large pupils were incredibly clear and deep.
Rishi reached out a hand. The horse gently pressed its cheek against her palm. Just as Kay had said, it was far gentler than a unicorn.
“Is his name Black?”
“Oh, how did you know?”
“It’s obvious. Your naming sense.”
“To know me well enough to call me obvious… You truly are a marvelous Countess Green.”
Kay clutched his stomach and bowed in mock reverence. At his exaggerated praise, Rishi smiled and tilted her head.
“I suppose I am.”
Kay had Rishi step back. He placed a palm on the horse’s back and vaulted up in one fluid, dazzling motion.
There was a saying about a prince on a white horse, but she decided a Count on a black horse wasn’t bad either.
Kay reached toward her. “Come here, Rishi.”
“I’ll walk.”
“Don’t be like that. I’ll hold you securely. Hmm?”
His voice, coaxing her like a child, was impossible to resist. Rishi walked toward him as if bewitched and extended her arm.
Kay leaned down, pulled on her arm, and simultaneously caught her waist with his other, lifting her into the air.
“Eek!”
Rishi let out a small cry as she was swept off her feet. A moment later, she was seated securely in front of Kay.
“Look, Rishi,” Kay said, pointing ahead. “The view from up here is quite magnificent, isn’t it?”
It truly was. The density of the wind, the shades of the scenery—it felt entirely different than it did from the ground. Even with her hips pressed against the horse’s back, it felt as though she were flying.
Kay’s arm wrapped firmly around her waist. Holding the reins with his other hand, he whispered, “We’re going to run.”
“No, wait…!”
Black began to trot along the garden path. It was more of a brisk walk than a run, but to Rishi, it felt like incredible speed.
Desperate to hold onto something, she gripped the arm wrapped around her waist and squeezed her eyes shut.
Perhaps it was because she had closed her eyes.
*Clop, clop, clop—*
The sound of the hooves quickened, and the wind brushing past her hair grew stronger. She couldn’t bring herself to look.
“Rishi.”
She didn’t even notice Kay resting his chin on her shoulder.
“Rishi, you can relax.”
Did he really mean that? If she relaxed, she felt she might fly off into the distance.
“I’m holding you securely.”
Only then did Rishi feel the warmth radiating from his body behind her. She was wedged snugly between his thighs, her back pressed firmly against his chest.
“Open your eyes, Rishi.”
Feeling his steady heat, her tension ebbed. She opened her eyes cautiously.
“Wow!”
She gasped at the sight. When had they arrived here?
They were running along the edge of a wide, clear lake. The path was lined with lush grass, bordered by towering trees. Sunlight fell onto the water, making the lake shimmer as if gold dust had been sprinkled over it.
Black gradually slowed to a stop beneath a large tree.
Kay dismounted first, then helped Rishi down.
“This is a wonderful place. Was this where you wanted to show me?”
“I heard you were with Lady Brittany, and I wanted to get you out of there. Did I do something unnecessary?”
“No, you did well.”
At her praise, Kay flashed a wide, toothy grin. His expression was so bright, so earnest—he looked like a puppy enjoying his owner’s approval.
*How can someone so much larger than me look so cute? And the person in question is none other than Count Kaybrant Green.*
Rishi reached out toward him without thinking. She meant to stroke his hair, but he sensed it and lowered his head to make it easier for her.
Rishi gently scratched his soft locks.
“I like it when you touch me like this.”
“Hmm, me too.”
“Really?”
Kay raised his head and placed both hands on Rishi’s head. His palms were large, hers small; he completely covered her scalp. He curved his fingers like claws and began scratching vigorously. Her pale pink-silver hair became a tangled mess under his fingers.
*I didn’t mean I like you touching me; I meant I like touching you,* she thought.
But she didn’t say it. The sensation of his fingertips stimulating her scalp felt too good. She hadn’t known this could be so relaxing. At first, she felt drowsy, but as he continued, a strange sensation took hold.
Tiny electrical impulses traveled down her neck and along her spine. It was only her head being stimulated, but strangely, her tailbone felt itchy and her knees went weak.
A slow heat pooled in her abdomen. Wrapped in that exotic feeling, she felt as if she might just collapse into his chest.
“Kay.”
Her voice didn’t sound like her own. “How long are you going to do this?”
“Ah. You didn’t tell me to stop.”
Kay pulled his hands away. Rishi’s hair was a wild, disheveled nest, with several strands hanging over her face. She looked up at him without brushing them away. Through the veil of hair, he looked amused.
“You look pretty even like that.”
“You think it’s pretty when it’s covered?”
“Why must you twist my words?” Kay used both hands to sweep the hair back from her face. “You know you’re pretty, whether you’re covered or revealed.”
Rishi’s face was reflected in his gray-blue eyes. She knew she had a pretty face—everyone had been saying that since she was a child. But she couldn’t believe she looked pretty in the eyes of Kaybrant Green.
The Kay she knew was a man who looked at women as if they were made of cold stone.
“Do I really look pretty to you?”
Kay widened his eyes in surprise. “Rishi, you know it too. How pretty you are.”
“Of course I know. But you… you don’t really like women.”
“Don’t say things that could be misunderstood, Rishi. I like women. It’s just that there hasn’t been a woman who caught my eye.”
“Am I enough for you?”
“You’re more than enough.”
Kay gently brushed his thumb from the hair behind her ear along the edge of her lobe.
“More than enough, Rishi.”
She should be satisfied with this. If she went any deeper, she might never be able to escape, and the purpose of this life might shift its direction.
But Rishi wanted to know.
Whether the hue of his heart toward her was similar to her own.
Whether she could be certain of him.
Whether she could look forward to this life she would spend with him.
She wanted to know.
“Is it because I’m your wife?”
“No. I thought you were beautiful even before you became my wife.”
“Then what about now?”
“I was once out on an expedition to subdue the barbarians with Eugene, and we passed through a gorge. It was a truly beautiful place. As you know, Eugene is a guy who rarely laughs, but he laughed. Out loud.”
Because Kay had suddenly strayed from the subject, Rishi was bewildered.
“I asked him why he was laughing so hard. Eugene told me, ‘Isn’t there a time when you can’t help but laugh when you see something beautiful?'”
“…….”
“Look at me, Rishi.”
Kay took her chin between his thumb and index finger and lifted it. He gazed at her with serious eyes.
“I laugh every time I look at you.”
A flower bloomed.
Deep within Rishi’s heart, for the first time, a flower bloomed.
It had very sweet, soft, light pink petals.
The flower, which shyly lifted its head and proudly unfurled its petals, was not a flower of the Witlow Duchy. *Thump, thump.* Rishi decided to simply call that flower, which carried a gentle resonance, an Iris.
It was the moment the Iris bloomed, beneath his gaze filled with affection.
+++
Kay did not ask Rishi, ‘How about you?’
She didn’t give an answer, but her feelings were conveyed—at least a little—just through the look in her eyes.
*Is this what they mean when they say a married couple is of one body and mind?*
Thinking a thought that would have made the shadows wrinkle their faces in disgust, Kay lightly kissed her forehead.
Rishi blinked like a startled rabbit.
Kay felt a dull heat spreading below his abdomen, but he suppressed it firmly.
“Let’s walk a bit, Rishi. It will be difficult to come here for a while.”
“Why?”
“Jen said he intends to hold our wedding ceremony here. He says construction will begin tomorrow.”
“Oh my. Even construction? That must cost a lot of money.”
“You don’t need to worry about money.”
“You’re going to worry about it, though.”
“Not really. The Pope wouldn’t let the guardian of a holy relic starve to death. Though, it might be difficult for me to gift you dresses, shoes, or jewelry for a while.”
“I already have enough of those. And don’t worry. There’s no need to go to the Holy Kingdom; I’ll be the one providing for you.”
At Rishi’s bold aspiration, Kay burst into laughter.
What could this small, fragile woman possibly do?
“Rishi, I’m not such an incompetent man.”
“It’s not that you’re incompetent. It’s just that I happen to be a bit more capable than you.”
“Ho, is that so?”
“That’s so, Kay.”
Rishi tapped his forearm lightly.
“Just wait a little. I’ll buy you a handsome suit, shoes, and jewelry.”