After wandering around the Duke’s castle for quite some time, Edwin eventually found himself heading toward the backyard.
More specifically, to the stable where Nadia had been injured.
The Pegasus, now tied up inside the stable for kicking its owner, whinnied happily the moment its eyes met Edwin’s.
“Hiiiihing!”
Well, it was a Pegasus.
It wasn’t unusual for exceptionally intelligent horses to choose their own masters.
Only then did Edwin finally understand why Nadia had described the horse as having a “terrible personality.”
“Do you dislike your master?”
The usual Edwin would never have attempted something as foolish as trying to communicate with a non-human creature…
Yet somehow, he felt as though this Pegasus could understand him.
“Hing?”
The Pegasus tilted its head innocently, as though it had no idea what he meant.
Completely unaware that its response actually meant, “From now on, you’re my master! I like you!”, Edwin asked again, this time with a hint of reproach.
“Why did you kick Miss Windsor?”
“Hiiing… hing….”
Its long eyelashes fluttered as it looked genuinely wronged.
‘So there was a reason.’
Judging by its behavior, it seemed like a kind and intelligent creature.
A horse like this wouldn’t kick someone for no reason.
Just as Edwin reached that conclusion, the stable door opened and the coachman walked in.
“Your Grace. What brings you here?”
“Do you know why Miss Windsor was attacked by this one?”
Since the coachman had been the one to report the incident, Edwin figured he might know something.
Sure enough, the coachman answered in a troubled voice.
“This is only my guess, but… I believe Miss Windsor offered it ordinary horse feed.”
Ordinary horse feed?
To a creature that was practically a divine beast…
That was little better than dog food.
“She… gave it that?”
“Yes. I assumed Miss Windsor intended to use it for something else… It was entirely my mistake.”
After a moment of silence, the coachman carefully asked,
“Is… Miss Windsor all right?”
Edwin remembered how shaken the coachman had looked when he reported the accident.
The coachman Edwin remembered had always been quiet and reserved.
Ever since becoming trapped here, he had simply lingered in front of the empty stable day after day, making no effort to search for the horses he’d lost.
He had seemed like someone who had long since given up.
For someone like him to rush over in such a panic…
The reason couldn’t have been simply because a horse had kicked someone.
“She is.”
Edwin answered shortly before looking back at the Pegasus.
“It was all a misunderstanding.”
His calm voice echoed through the stable.
“She was only trying to take care of you.”
“Hihing!”
The Pegasus let out a small whinny.
Edwin gently stroked its head once more.
He didn’t think Nadia Windsor’s injury itself was especially significant.
It had simply been an unfortunate accident.
No one’s fault.
If anyone deserved blame, it was probably Nadia for not understanding the nature of a Pegasus.
…That was all.
Not that he felt no sympathy.
“Please look after it until Miss Windsor wakes.”
“As you command, Your Grace.”
After giving the Pegasus one final pat, Edwin headed toward his aide’s office.
His superior had shown interest in absolutely nothing for so long that the aide nearly panicked upon seeing him arrive.
Edwin simply gave a brief order.
“Arrange an appointment once Miss Windsor has recovered.”
Not because he was worried about Nadia Windsor…
But because he believed it would keep the servants of the Duke’s castle from becoming unnecessarily unsettled.
****
Amazingly, after being kicked by the Pegasus, I made a full recovery after just one day of rest.
How?
‘The power of money.’
I had chugged healing potions that restored physical fatigue like crazy.
And although you couldn’t see them beneath my clothes…
My arms and legs, which still ached a little, were covered in pain-relief patches.
Normally, I would’ve happily used my recovery as an excuse to stay in bed for several more days.
But I had every reason to recover as quickly as possible.
Because Edwin had personally declared that he would teach me horseback riding.
Until I could properly handle a horse, no less!
That meant we’d have regular lessons together.
What an absolute jackpot.
“Hehehehehe.”
My original goal had always been to get closer to Edwin.
So once again, I stood in front of the mirror wearing my riding outfit.
The elegant riding clothes that had been covered in dirt yesterday looked perfectly clean.
Maybe it was an item effect, but despite never washing them, they looked as spotless as ever.
Completely satisfied with my appearance, I headed toward the backyard stable with a huge smile.
“Good morning, Your Grace!”
“You seem to be in good spirits today, Miss Windsor.”
Instead of his usual formal attire, Edwin was wearing an elegant riding outfit.
It wasn’t flashy.
Just refined.
Like a model straight out of a fashion magazine.
I stared for a moment before finally nodding.
“Of course! I feel light enough to do a somersault!”
I glanced once at that brat Goldie, who was tied up inside the stable, before approaching a gentle brown horse instead.
“The coachman said he hadn’t realized you had absolutely no riding experience. A Pegasus is unsuitable for beginners, so it would be best to practice mounting first. A pack horse will suffice.”
“O-Okay.”
And so…
My riding lessons began.
I failed several times at first because I wasn’t used to it.
Unlike Goldie, however, the pack horse was incredibly gentle.
Before long, I successfully climbed onto its back and gradually adjusted to the awkward feeling.
Honestly, for someone as clumsy as me, this counted as real progress.
Once I finally managed to hold the reins properly, Edwin gave me a small compliment.
“You mounted quite well. That’s impressive for your first time.”
“R-Really?”
“Breathing and maintaining your balance are the most important things when riding.”
Wow.
He really was an expert.
Besides that, Edwin also taught me things like how not to startle a horse and how to recognize signs that it was uncomfortable.
“But what if it just hates me for no reason? Pegasus… I mean, Goldie… seems to dislike me personally.”
I’d only looked at him briefly earlier, and he’d already turned away coldly.
As I grew a little discouraged, Edwin spoke again.
“No. Earning a Pegasus’s favor is actually quite simple.”
“…?”
How?
Did horses judge people by appearance or something?
Why did that brat treat me like freezing winter while acting all warm and affectionate toward the Duke?
My confusion must have shown, because the corner of Edwin’s lips curved ever so slightly.
“Either prove enough courage and strength that the Pegasus acknowledges you…”
“O-Or?”
“Give it a Golden Carrot.”
“A Golden Carrot?”
Was there really such a thing?
Remembering the Pegasus Care Guide I’d carelessly tossed into a corner without fully reading, I looked at him in confusion.
“Yes. The common saying ‘the carrot and the stick’ actually originated from the Golden Carrot.”
“Huh?”
…Your Grace.
I think that’s a bit of a stretch.
After finishing my riding lesson with Edwin, I immediately returned to my room and picked up the Pegasus Care Guide.
A Golden Carrot…
Honestly, I wanted to believe he was only joking.
But after seeing how serious his expression had been, I couldn’t ignore it.
“Ah, here it is.”
It didn’t take long before I found the chapter titled A Pegasus’s Diet.
Sure enough, there was information about the Golden Carrot.
“So it’s called a Golden Carrot, but it’s really just a yellow-colored carrot? But it’s so rare it’s practically impossible to find?”
Heh.
Closing the book, I immediately pulled out my secret weapon.
‘Cash Shop.’
After browsing through a few categories, I quickly found the item.
Then…
“Huh?”
[Golden Carrot — 3,000 Diamonds (Temporarily Sold Out / Restock Schedule Unknown)]
For the first time ever…
The Cash Shop had betrayed me.
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