The Ugly Wife of the Shady Duke - Chapter 54.1
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“I’m fine. It’s not like I’m going out for fun, and even if I was, with the travel time it’ll only cause trouble.”
“I thought so.”
Benjamin took a sachet of sugar from his jacket pocket and handed it to Grace.
“This is what it likes. But since I don’t give it to him often, he’ll be very happy if you give it to him.”
As if to prove Benjamin’s words true, the horse snorted weakly when he saw the sugar cube.
“Ugh!”
“Haha.”
Grace was startled and took a step back while holding the sachet of sugar. Benjamin would have been worried about Grace under normal circumstances, but now he just let out a mischievous laugh.
“He’s a gentle creature. He’s the kindest and most lovable horse in the Duchy’s stable.”
“Does he have a name?”
“His name is Amber.”
‘Was he named after a pumpkin?’
The horse was completely black. Grace looked at the horse named Amber with curious eyes.
Amber noticed Grace’s gaze and looked back at her with his black eyes. Whether he was a very affectionate creature or not, he didn’t make a fuss.
‘Well, how many people really think about pumpkins when naming something?’
Even if you name something with an association, it doesn’t necessarily grow up that way.
‘My name is Grace, but it’s not like my name has anything to do with gracefulness.’
“……!”
Grace had a negative thought without realizing it.
‘I shouldn’t think like this!’
She kept promising to change, but somehow she always returned to the starting point. It was something that should never happen.
Grace furrowed her eyebrows and lowered her head forcefully.
“My Lady? What happened?”
“I’m trying to gather my thoughts.”
“What thoughts?”
“…….”
She squeezed the sachet of sugar tightly in her hand.
“The thought of becoming friends with Amber!”
“…….”
Benjamin nodded, trying to hold back his laughter.
“Yes, it would be nice to become friends. Amber will be happy to know how you feel.”
“I’m serious!”
Even though I didn’t lower my head because of that.
“Yes, I understand. I’m serious too.”
Benjamin smiled broadly and shook his head.
“Although Amber won’t be able to accompany you on your expedition, feel free to meet Amber anytime you want to go horseback riding at the mansion.”
“Is that okay?”
“Of course. Horseback riding is also good for improving your stamina.”
“….”
‘He’s like a freak.’
Grace didn’t remember ever talking to Benjamin about exercise, but he brought it up first.
Although he didn’t explicitly say exercise, Grace understood the implication of his words.
‘But it doesn’t seem like a bad idea.’
She wasn’t sure if it was okay for him to be so kind to her, but she didn’t want to ignore his kindness.
If anything, she felt even more grateful because there was no disadvantage to her.
Grace peeled off the wrapper of the sugar cube in her hand and handed it to Amber.
Amber made a small noise and ate the sugar cube that was offered to her by Grace.
“….! It, it ate it!”
“Yes, It did.”
It was strange to see a horse eat a sugar cube, so Grace exclaimed softly. Her heart felt a little warm.
Amber lightly bumped her head against Grace’s arm and then retreated.
‘It’s strange.’
The unpleasant sound that had been bothering her in her head disappeared without a trace, and only warm energy filled her up.
Grace gently stroked Amber’s hair.
“Would you like to ride it? It already has a saddle and I can escort you, so there would be no need to worry.”
“Now?”
“Yes, since it doesn’t seem like the dress is too inconvenient for the lady to move around.”
Grace hesitated, feeling tempted by Benjamin’s suggestion to ride on Amber’s back.
“Well….”
“Yes?”
“I know… this might sound like a silly and funny question.”
“I will never laugh. Feel free to ask me anything.”
Grace asked in a small and hesitant voice.
“Wouldn’t I be heavy?”
“….”
Even though she had lost weight, Grace was still above normal weight. When such a question left her mouth, she felt embarrassed and her face started to turn red with shame.
Benjamin just looked at her without saying anything.
‘As expected, I shouldn’t have asked such a thing.’
Grace dropped her head to the ground.
“Well, I guess horseback riding is just not for me…”
But before she could finish her sentence and say she should postpone horseriding for later, her vision suddenly lifted.
The solid ground in front of her became distant, and instead, Benjamin was standing there.
More precisely, Benjamin was looking up at Grace.
He smiled at Grace, who still hadn’t grasped what was going on.
“Huh?”
Grace stared at Benjamin for a moment before realizing that he was holding her up.
“Y-Your Highness?!”
Even though she was surprised, Benjamin remained calm.
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