For Sale: Male Lead, Obsession Included - Chapter 64
“They seemed fine from a distance…”
When I saw my father and brother riding horses at the margraviate, I had just thought they were majestic creatures. I didn’t realize they were so big, tall, and had such large eyes…
“You’re such a handful, aren’t you, Boss?”
Feyden, who had planned to let me ride in front of him, sighed deeply, gazing up at the sky in frustration.
“Feyden.”
Ariel called out Feyden’s name softly, as if reprimanding him, while carefully wiping the sweat from my forehead.
Ugh, of course, the only one who truly cares about me is Ariel…
“Then how about this, Priest, you’ll ride with Potato.”
Feyden sneered, twitching his upper lip as he gestured toward me with his chin, treating me like nothing more than a sack of luggage.
“I’m not used to riding, but… Will you be alright, Lady Estira?”
Ariel cautiously checked my expression. As soon as he asked, I quickly nodded.
What’s the point of being good at riding anyway? As long as I can manage, that’s all that matters. If I ride with Feyden, I’m bound to get nagged so much that my ears will bleed.
Even if I’m clumsy, riding with the kind-hearted Ariel is a thousand times better, so I gripped his robe tightly, staying wary of Feyden.
Ariel placed his hand gently over mine, patting it to reassure me. He smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling, looking so kind and beautiful that I couldn’t help but think he might actually be the reincarnation of the angel Natasia.
“Thank you, Priest Ariel.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Ugh, give me a break,” Feyden muttered under his breath, then headed into the stable. A few minutes later, he reappeared, leading two horses.
Feyden’s horse had a similar brown coat to his hair, while the one he brought for Ariel was a white horse with a long gray tail.
‘Did he choose them based on their looks?’
I watched the horses from a distance, trying to avoid their large black eyes, but I could hear the clink of saddles and the sound of them being prepared to depart.
Swallowing nervously, I forced myself to move as both Ariel and Feyden stood by the horses, watching me expectantly. I did my best to ignore the horse’s big, dark eyes as I made my way closer.
Annoyed by my slow pace, Feyden frowned and approached me quickly.
“Agh, you’re such a hassle.”
“…Ah!”
Without warning, he hoisted me onto his shoulder and strode over to the horse, practically throwing me onto its back. My head spun, making it hard to grasp what was happening.
“Uh, uh!”
At the same time, I felt Feyden’s firm chest press against my back.
I squeezed my eyes shut and lowered my head, feeling his breath brush my ear as he gently wrapped his arms around me to grab the reins.
The sensation of the horse’s back between my legs and the sudden height made my body tremble uncontrollably.
“Relax. You’re fine.”
“…”
Feyden whispered softly in my ear, repeating it a few times until, as if by magic, the tension in my muscles slowly eased.
He didn’t move the horse until I was calm, holding me steadily in place. Maybe it was because of his support that I found the courage to open my eyes and look ahead.
“Lean completely on me.”
Feyden’s large hand pressed firmly against my forehead, pushing me back into his chest. I found myself nestled entirely in his arms.
“Th-thank you.”
“You’re such a pain, you know that, Potato?”
With a slow “Hi-yah!” Feyden urged the horse forward.
***
“Hyah!”
A month later, as we reached a vast grassy plain filled with the scent of fresh grass, Estira kicked the horse into action.
“Hey!”
At her sudden command, Feyden, who was sitting behind her, was thrown backward.
With quick reflexes, Feyden regained his posture and shouted, but Estira stretched lazily, as if she couldn’t hear him.
“Ahh, the weather is perfect!”
The sky was clear, the sun was warm but not too hot, the breeze was refreshing, and they were all well-fed.
It had been a month since the day Estira first got on a horse. Thanks to Feyden’s rigorous “get over your fear of horses” training, she had completely overcome her phobia. Not only was she comfortable riding now, but she had also started commanding the horse herself.
Ariel always praised her progress, saying how proud he was, but Feyden remained unimpressed.
To him, Estira was ungrateful—someone who, despite conquering her fear of horses, still refused to ride by herself.
“Hey, isn’t it time you rode on your own?”
“Hmmm.”
Estira hummed, dismissing Feyden’s repeated complaints with a smile. Feyden ground his teeth as he listened to her cheerful tune.
“If you don’t want to ride alone, then get on with that priest.”
“No, don’t bother my Ariel.”
Huh? Feyden gripped the reins tightly, his knuckles turning white as his veins bulged.
“Your Ariel?”
“Yes, my Ariel.”
Nod. Estira’s long, ivory hair fluttered in the breeze. Annoyed by the constant tickle of her scent, Feyden grabbed her hair in one hand and stuffed it into her robe.
“Since when was he ‘your Ariel’?”
“From the beginning!”
Estira’s bright voice rose above the sound of the horse’s hooves, and Ariel, who had been following behind, burst out laughing. His clean smile, framed by his long, silver hair, was as bright as the wind that carried it.
“You’re laughing?”
Feyden glanced back and forth between Estira and Ariel, who were both smiling, and finally, he set his jaw in determination.
“Brace yourself, Potato.”
