Chapter 24
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Dear, I believe you may be misunderstanding.
Episode 24
Neigh!
The sound of a horse's cry echoed through the halls once more.
Haem bounded down the circular staircase with urgency, while Butler Gabriel pursued close behind, a large dry towel billowing in his hands.
Despite his considerable age, the butler's movements were remarkably swift.
He ran with an elegant grace—quick, nimble, and perfectly balanced—every inch the picture of a flawless servant.
Grace found herself exhaling in admiration as she descended toward the source of the commotion.
The sounds grew louder and more chaotic.
The horse's cries, once distant, now rang out much closer.
I made my way cautiously toward the Central Hall, following the noise.
"No, I... I don't... What do I do!"
"Control it...!"
I could hear Butler and Haem bickering with each other.
I stepped carefully outside, and in that moment, I discovered an enormous beast silhouetted against the moon and thunder.
"...!"
It was as black as the night itself and as massive as a mountain.
Despite its imposing size, there stood a horse so beautiful that I found myself transfixed, utterly mesmerized.
"...How beautiful."
The words escaped my lips unbidden, and both Haem and the butler immediately turned to look at me.
"Oh! M-Miss Grace, how did you come down here! You should go back upstairs. It's terribly cold outside!"
Haem's visible panic was unmistakable.
Even the kind-faced butler wore an expression of alarm.
"I had something I needed to say. But is that horse his? I saw it bolt out earlier... Did it come back on its own? How clever."
I spoke without tearing my gaze from the black horse.
The horse, as if understanding my words, let out a soft whinny and began approaching me with measured, deliberate steps.
Clop, clop.
The sharp, distinct sound of the horse's hooves striking the cold floor rang out clearly.
The horse was in its wild, untamed state.
Without the encumbrance of a saddle, it displayed its sleek form as it came to a halt directly before me.
The enormous horse's eyes—several times larger than my own—were as clear and pristine as a lake.
Gazing into those beautiful blue eyes, I felt no fear whatsoever.
Those eyes reminded me of someone.
'Lucas Black...'
A man with broad shoulders and great height, whose stern and intimidating expression belied eyes more beautiful than anyone else's.
This horse bore a striking resemblance to that man.
I never imagined I would encounter such beautiful blue eyes in two different places.
'Have I ever seen a horse with blue eyes before?'
No matter how hard I thought, the answer was no.
This horse was truly remarkable in every way.
She spoke to him with undisguised curiosity in her voice.
"Hello?"
Neigh!
As if answering her, the black horse snorted roughly.
Startled, Grace flinched and instinctively stepped back.
The horse, which had been staring at her with tension etched across its features, slowly rubbed its muzzle against her cheek.
Carefully and gently, as if to say: I mean you no harm.
"Ah, um."
Standing there bewildered, Grace couldn't help but let out a small laugh at the horse's warm breath tickling her cheek.
Whether from careful grooming or natural constitution, its mane was as smooth and soft as human hair.
Its sleek muzzle was well-proportioned, and despite its wild appearance, it carried a subtle fragrance.
"You like people, don't you? Thank you—I was frightened. You're quite affectionate, aren't you?"
Grace carefully stroked the horse's head.
The horse, reassured, offered its head willingly, while Butler and Haem observed the scene with peculiar expressions.
Grace turned to Haem and Butler with an embarrassed tone.
"This one's quite the charmer."
"Pfft."
Haem quickly covered his mouth as laughter escaped him unbidden.
The horse's head snapped toward Haem.
Its tail swished roughly in an angle Grace couldn't see.
Its hind legs tapped the ground several times.
Tense, Haem quickly straightened his posture and composed his expression.
'What's gotten into him?'
As Haem, who had suddenly burst into laughter moments before, now stood with a serious face, Grace couldn't help but feel puzzled.
The horse, as if telling her not to worry, nudged Grace with its body and continued its affectionate display.
A strange silence fell.
Coming to his senses belatedly, Gabriel spoke in a gentle voice.
"Miss Grace, it has grown quite late. Perhaps it would be best to leave this place to us and retire upstairs to rest. With so much rain today, the Central Hall has become rather chilly, and this old man worries you might catch a cold."
"You're right. It is a bit cold."
Grace reluctantly stroked the horse's muzzle.
The horse, clearly enjoying her touch, rubbed its face against her palm.
'It seems to like me too.'
Grace smiled slightly and bid the black horse farewell in a voice only it could hear before turning to leave.
Haem and Butler, watching her departing figure, exhaled sighs of relief too quiet to be heard.
The black horse stood motionless in place, its gaze following her receding silhouette.
Haem, who had been shaking his head at the sight, belatedly noticed the strangely altered reins in his hands.
'Come to think of it, it seemed like Miss Grace was trying to say something earlier...?'
Hesitating, Haem called out to Grace as she exited the Central Hall.
"Um, Miss Grace!"
"...Yes?"
"Didn't you say something about this earlier?" Haem asked, shaking the bridle now stripped of its markings.
The black horse gazed intently at the bridle in Haem's hands, then tilted its head with a questioning toss.
Clop, clop!
The horse approached Haem rapidly.
Haem stumbled backward in surprise, but the horse had already closed the distance.
Snort!
The black horse, scrutinizing the bridle, began stamping its hooves as if indignant.
"No, that was my mistake...!"
The horse's breathing grew rough as it began butting Haem with its head.
Grace observed the scene and thought it resembled the horse reproaching Haem for something.
The black horse expressed its displeasure by nudging Haem's back and ribs with its muzzle.
Haem muttered nervously, "I don't know, I tell you I don't know!" while trembling.
Remarkably, Haem seemed to understand what the horse was saying.
He was even using formal speech with the horse.
I thought it must be because this was Lucas Black's horse.
Witnessing such extraordinary loyalty, I found myself wishing I could hear the horse's language.
-...Grace!
In that moment, I heard Lucas Black's voice at the edge of my hearing.
Standing before Haem, the Butler, and the black horse, I startled and turned around.
"...Hmm?"
I wondered if Lucas Black had come down, so I quickly glanced around, but not even a shadow was visible.
'Have I been thinking about that man so much that I'm hearing things?'
Embarrassed, I shook my head and grabbed Haem's arm.
"Haem."
"Yes, Miss. What is it?"
"I meant to tell you earlier, but... this. It's the bridle."
"Yes, yes! Do you know why it became like this?"
"Actually..."
I slowly raised my right arm and gently pulled back my sleeve.
"I discovered it earlier and read the ancient script written on it..."
My slender hand and pale wrist were revealed beneath the moonlight.
"And this happened."
And above it, the characters from the bridle gleamed like pearls.
"...Gasp! No, how, how did this...!"
Haem, startled, seized my wrist despite knowing it was rude.
I stumbled closer to Haem.
Snort-!
The black horse immediately expressed its displeasure by striking Haem's shoulder with its chin.
Haem quickly released my hand and spoke.
Haem quickly let go of Grace Oellin's hand and spoke.
"What on earth happened? Could you explain in detail?"
"It's exactly as I said before. I came down because I was thirsty, and I found a magic stone that had fallen on the floor. The light was glimmering, so I became curious and tried to examine it more closely. Then I noticed the characters written on it seemed familiar."
It was exactly what I had just heard from Grace.
It was certainly strange that this object, which should have been sitting atop the locked display cabinet, was simply lying on the floor—but with a far greater crisis unfolding now, I had no time to dwell on that peculiarity.
"So you're saying you read the ancient language written on it?"
"Yes, that's right."
"How did you come to know ancient language?"
"When I attended the Academy, I studied it out of interest. So I racked my memory and read the sentence written there, and this is what happened...."
Grace gently traced her forearm where the characters had seeped into her skin.
Haem, the Butler Gabriel, Grace, and the black horse all fell silent.
Haem stared at Grace, her forearm, and the seemingly ordinary magic stone with bewildered eyes.
Grace felt a pang of guilt at Haem's troubled expression.
"I'm sorry. It seems I've caused you a great deal of trouble. I never expected this would happen either."
"Oh! No, Miss Grace. In a situation like this, no one can be blamed! If anything, I'm merely sorry for having startled you."
Haem waved his hands frantically in denial, but Grace could not shake her sense of remorse.
Then, in that moment.
-Careless management... that fool... because of... sorry... what's there to... anyway... didn't get hurt... that's what worries me....
Huh?
Lucas Black's voice reached me once more.
More clearly than before.
And much closer.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org