Chapter 37: Let’s Go!
"Lady Azalea, please don’t joke around!" a blond-haired man exclaimed with desperation.
Earlier this morning, after finally catching some rest following a sleepless night, Lumien had been woken by Azalea, just as she promised. He then went about his usual routine, freshening up before heading to the dining hall to have breakfast with his family.
That was when Azalea suddenly announced her plans for the day to the family. She wanted to tour the city with him. This time, their parents had no objections, as long as they traveled by carriage and returned before sunset. Azalea agreed to their condition without hesitation, much to Lumien’s skepticism.
And, just as he expected, in less than a few minutes after leaving the family estate and reaching the bustling city center of Arsnova, Azalea abruptly ordered the carriage to stop. She then told the driver that she wanted to continue the rest of the trip on horseback and that Lumien would be the only one accompanying her.
Now, standing just outside a horse stable, Lumien watched as their part-time carriage driver, Benson, tried to reason with his sister, his expression filled with dread and exasperation.
Benson had originally served as a knight under their father, but he was later reassigned as Azalea’s personal guard, practically her aide. More importantly, he was an Aspirant Knight. For a family that wasn’t particularly wealthy, an Aspirant Knight was a rare and invaluable asset. The fact that their father had assigned one specifically to Azalea showed just how much he valued her safety.
Aside from Benson, the Ofnir family had only two other Aspirant Knights. This number might seem small, but it was reasonable considering that recruiting or training an Aspirant Knight—or Awakened of an even higher rank—required not just wealth, but also significant time, resources, and luck.
"if Lord and Lady Ofnir find out what you’re planning to do, they won’t be happy at all. Please, Lady Azalea, can’t you just return to the carriage and continue the journey as planned?" Benson pleaded.
Azalea merely shrugged, her expression indifferent. "I’m not going back. And as for my parents... the solution is simple. Just make sure they don’t find out."
Benson opened his mouth, then closed it again, struggling to find the right words. He let out a slow breath before trying again, this time with a much more serious expression.
"If something were to happen while you’re unaccompanied, they will hold me responsible too. You understand that, don’t you?"
Azalea let out a soft hum, as if she were genuinely considering his words. "Hmm. Yes, I suppose that’s true."
A flicker of hope appeared in Benson’s eyes. He knew that while his employer could be impulsive at times, she was still a reasonable person. She wouldn’t simply disregard the consequences of her actions, not if it meant putting someone else in harm’s way.
"Then-"
His words were cut short by Azalea.
"But," she continued smoothly, dashing that hope in an instant, "nothing will happen to me. So you have nothing to worry about."
Benson paled. "L-lady Azalea! Please don’t act like this!"
Yet, Azalea had already turned away, acting as if she hadn’t heard him.
Benson looked utterly devastated, as though picturing his inevitable doom. His gaze flickered to Lumien, his last remaining lifeline. His eyes glistened with unshed tears as he silently begged him to talk some sense into his sister.
Lumien, aware of the desperate plea, sighed. He really couldn’t just ignore the poor man’s suffering, could he?
Turning to his sister, he asked softly, "Will it really be fine for us to leave like this?"
"Don’t listen to his nonsense, Lumien. He’s just overthinking as usual. Nothing will happen as long as we return before sunset," Azalea said, completely unconcerned.
She then added, "Besides, I already checked Father’s schedule. He’ll be swamped with work today, especially with our departure coming up in a few days. He won’t have time to keep tabs on us. I’ve thought this through carefully, which is why I’m so confident in my plan."
Lumien glanced at Benson, then gave him a small shrug, as if to say, You heard her, right?
Benson hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line. Then, after a brief internal struggle, he let out a heavy sigh. "...Then at least let me follow you two from the dark."
Azalea’s response was immediate, direct, and simple.
"No."
Wordlessly, she turned and strode toward the stable vendor, leaving Benson standing there, looking as though his soul had just left his body.
Meanwhile, the stable keeper, who had already noticed Azalea’s arrival from the moment her carriage pulled up, hurried over with a broad, welcoming smile.
"Welcome to my shop! My name is—"
Azalea interrupted, her voice crisp and blunt. "I want the best horse you have. What can you offer me? Price is not an issue."
The stable keeper wasn’t angered by her blunt and arrogant words but was exhilarated instead. His eyes lit up almost immediately, as though he had just stumbled up a chest of gold.
"Ah, of course! Right this way, My Lady!" He gestured enthusiastically, already leading her toward the inner stables.
Her gaze swept over the rows of horses as she followed him inside.
As they walked, he began rattling off details about the horses: names, breeds, lineage, training, and all sort of details.
Lumien trailed a few steps behind, listening attentively while also observing the horses himself.
After a meticulous and exhausting introduction, the stable keeper finally turned to Azalea with an expectant smile. "So, which one catches your eye?"
"That one," Azalea said, pointing without hesitation.
The stable keeper followed the direction of her finger, his brows furrowing in mild surprise.
It was a simple, plain black horse with no distinguishing features. The only redeeming quality he could recall was its gentle temperament, especially when compared to the other horses he reared.
With doubt crossing his face, he hesitated before saying, "Esteemed customer, that horse is... well, she’s quite ordinary in every aspect. Her speed, endurance, and strength are all just average. Are you certain this is the one you want? Didn’t you say you wanted the best horse?"
"I changed my mind. I like her. How much?" she said decisively.
Initially, she had wanted the finest horse available—something fast, strong, and well-bred. But as she thought it over, she realized that what she truly needed wasn’t the most powerful steed but one that was gentle, calm, and easy to handle.
When she went near the other horses, they acted in ways she didn’t like—some were jumpy, others were wild, and a few seemed uneasy when she touched them. Only the plain black horse stayed calm and even seemed to like her, acting friendly and relaxed. That’s why she chose it, even though it was anything but special.
For their first ride together, speed or endurance weren’t priorities. What mattered most was that the horse was comfortable and dependable, especially considering Lumien’s condition.
The stable keeper, seeing her attitude, no longer tried to persuade her otherwise. Instead, he let out a small sigh and named the price. "That’d be ten gold coins."
"Alright, here’s the money." Without hesitation, Azalea retrieved exactly ten gold coins from her leather pouch and handed them over.
To the stable keeper’s delight, she didn’t even attempt to haggle. Though he was mildly disappointed she hadn’t chosen his finest, most expensive steed, the easy sale more than made up for it. With a broad smile, he quickly head off to fetch the horse.
A few moments later, he returned, leading the newly purchased mare by the reins.
"Thank you for your purchase!" he said cheerfully, handing the reins over to Azalea.
Azalea ran her fingers through the horse’s smooth mane before turning to Lumien. "What do you think we should call her?"
Lumien tilted his head in thought. "I don’t know. Kuro, maybe?"
Azalea raised an eyebrow. "Kuro? What’s that supposed to mean?"
"It means black. It suited her skin color, right?"
She blinked. "What kind of language is that?"
"It’s my made-up language," Lumien said with a chuckle.
Azalea hummed in amusement before nodding. "Alright then. Kuro it is." She gave the horse a gentle pat.
"So... how do I get on? This is my first time riding a horse." Lumien felt a bit excitement at the thought of riding a horse for the first time in his both lives.
"Technically, you won’t be riding on your own. I’ll be handling the reins, and you’ll just sit behind me."
"Still counts," he said with a grin.
Azalea smiled before stepping closer. "Alright, let’s get you on first."
She guided him toward the horse. "Put your left foot in the stirrup and hold onto the saddle. I’ll help you up."
Lumien hesitated briefly before following her instructions. He lifted his foot into the stirrup and grabbed onto the saddle’s edge. Azalea, ensuring his balance, placed a steadying hand on his back and gave him a light boost.
With some effort, Lumien swung his right leg over and settled onto the horse. He let out a small breath, adjusting himself carefully to get himself more comfortable.
After a moment, sensing the horse remained calm beneath him, Lumien finally gave Azalea a thumbs-up.
Azalea eyed him with approval. "Not bad for your first time."
"Not bad? That was perfect," he said proudly.
She laughed softly before mounting the horse with ease.
Watching how easily she got on, Lumien’s earlier sense of accomplishment instantly deflated.
Once she was properly seated, she reached for the reins and glanced over her shoulder. "Hold onto me. You don’t want to fall off, do you?"
Lumien hesitated for a brief moment before slowly wrapping his arms around her waist. "Like this?"
"Move a little closer and hold on tighter," Azalea instructed, tapping the back of his hand.
Lumien adjusted, tightening his hold slightly and shifting forward until his chest lightly pressed against her back, his face close enough to catch the faint scent of her hair.
Feeling suddenly aware of their closeness and the subtle changes in his body, he took a slow breath, closing his eyes, recalling his resolve from the night before.
Then, Azalea’s voice rang in his ears, filled with excitement.
"Let’s go! To our first destination together!"
