Towards the Winter Cabin of Serenity and Madness, Cinderella Runs - Chapter 117
“There’s no need to impress anyone.”
“I don’t want that! What if people say that Kyden is with someone unremarkable?”
“That won’t happen. You’re more than enough…”
“I have my pride, you know.”
At her words, Kyden fell silent, his shoulders slumping as he checked on her mood. It was a clear sign that his stubbornness had been broken.
Feeling triumphant after finally bending Kyden’s will, Roel entered the carriage to change into clean clothes, fixing her disheveled hair as well.
‘Now that I think about it, this is the first time I’ve done what I wanted.’
Once she finished her preparations, Roel realized this new fact and slightly opened her mouth in surprise. She had always been cautious about his feelings, often believing his words were all correct, which made it difficult for her to assert herself.
Feeling good about having successfully influenced Kyden for the first time, Roel pulled out a jewelry box she had hidden deep in her belongings. Since there shouldn’t be any pickpockets here, wearing a necklace should be fine, right?
With an excited expression, Roel put on the necklace, feeling its cold touch. Although there was no mirror to see her reflection, simply wearing the jewelry gave her a boost of confidence.
Her shoulders straightened, and a graceful smile emerged. Perhaps this was the power of jewelry.
She stepped out of the carriage and asked Kyden, “Do I look okay?”
She fidgeted with the area around her neck and raised her eyes. Kyden’s gaze was fixed on her face and didn’t waver.
“Yeah. You look very pretty.”
“Does it suit me?”
“Everything suits you.”
She had asked about the necklace… yet he seemed entirely oblivious to what she meant. This was the first time she wore the gift she gave him. Maybe Kyden just lacked an eye for detail.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her effortlessly. With Kyden’s help, Roel mounted the horse, trembling slightly as she grasped the reins.
Her line of sight rose dramatically, causing her to feel a bit dizzy. Moreover, every slight movement of the horse made her feel like she might fall.
“I’m going to fall!”
“Just stay still. Keep your back straight.”
Kyden gripped the saddle, climbing up behind her, and wrapped his arms around her waist. With his other hand, he took the reins and urged the horse forward with his foot.
“Kyden! The horse is moving!”
“Yeah, that’s what it’s supposed to do.”
Terrified, Roel struggled to maintain her balance. If Kyden hadn’t held her waist firmly, she would have certainly fallen off.
Seeing Roel struggling to maintain her balance, Kyden clicked his tongue.
“Relax your body.”
“I—I feel like I’m going to fall!”
“Guess you can’t ride alone.”
“…It’s so scary.”
Roel clutched Kyden’s arm tightly and squeezed her eyes shut. Kyden looked down at her round head and couldn’t help but chuckle.
He could feel her rapid heartbeat, a clear sign of just how frightened she was. The way she tightly grasped his arm, knowing he was her only support, struck him as unexpectedly cute and endearing.
“Roel.”
“Y-Yes?”
“They say that if you get excited, your fear goes away. What do you think?”
“D-Don’t joke around! Seriously, don’t! I’ll be really mad!”
Roel shouted as if she had seen a ghost, her reaction causing Kyden to burst into low laughter.
It was amusing to tease her like this. He thought about regularly offering to teach her how to ride, just to have some fun.
Would it really be that difficult? He imagined for a moment, but quickly set aside the thought, realizing Roel would likely end up in tears.
Being considerate of the timid Roel, Kyden slowed the horse down. Because of the reduced speed, it took a long time to reach the marching group.
When they finally arrived, Kyden dismounted first and offered his hand to Roel, who was struggling to get down on her own. Exhausted from being so tense atop the horse, she clung to him as if about to collapse.
“I don’t want to ride anymore…”
“How are you going to get back?”
“I’ll just walk.”
“Why not get used to it instead?”
Kyden stroked the horse’s head as he spoke. The black stallion snorted, as if agreeing with him.
Roel shook her head vigorously. She was so scared that she quickly fled when the horse pushed its snout forward and flicked its tongue.
“Oh.”
What a cowardly Roel. Kyden shook his head, amused.
They had just stopped the march for lunch. Kyden tied the horse to a tree and headed toward where Commander Dyson was waiting.
Roel swallowed hard, her face clearly looking anxious. It was already challenging for her to interact with people, and the added pressure of wanting to make a good impression made her body stiffen.
As Roel arrived, the attention of the servants preparing lunch and those tending to the horses turned toward her.
