The hobby club consisted of five women, including Laritte. All of them were young girls from families high-ranking enough to be invited to the exchange meeting held in May.

In other words, each of the girls had different hobbies, and it was like taking turns telling each other about each other at the club meetings.

It was a routine to have one young lady as the daily instructor of the day.

And todays instructor was Laritte.

Of course the subject was horse riding!

The young girls wore black riding suits instead of dresses and gathered in the vacant lot of the Dukes residence. They did not succumb to the cold of winter and early spring. Everyone was excited as they saw Laritte drive her horse over the obstacles.

Madam, that was great!

Amid the cry of the young girls, Bertrand, a white horse, carried Laritte across the ground.

As Bertrand ran briskly, the rungs (also used as obstacles in horse hurdles) drew closer. It was time to show off the riding skills that Laritte learned from Ian and practiced dozens of times.

Laritte leaned against Bertrands beige mane. The rider must determine the timing of the horses leap. If you got too close to the obstacle, the horse would not have time to jump high, and if you ran too far from the obstacle, the hind feet of the horse would get caught in the crossbar. Laritte can accurately measure the distance Bertrand will run.

Now, she pulled the reins against the side of the horse. Twinkling, Bertrands lustrous forepaws glistened in the wintery sunlight. Bertrand jumped over the crossbar brilliantly, snorting with a confident expression.

The girls cheered, waving their riding hats. The maids watching from inside and outside the mansion also clapped their hands to congratulate Laritte on her success. Laritte unbuckled her helmet and looked at the girls.

Lets jump over one obstacle today. Everyone can do this, right?

Laritte was the type to learn anything. As the Duchess, she followed along with minimal progress without bad luck. Despite being injured, she quickly learned to ride. It was inevitable that the white horse, Bertrand, was smart and made up for Larittes physique, but there was a decisive reason.

When she used to live in the County of Brumayer, she had to move quickly. She had to do laundry in an hour that others would do for two hours. Only then her legs were able to rest.

It was easy to recognize that she was a slow person when she responded half a beat to what the other person was saying, but in fact, it was the exact opposite. She only became insensitive when building relationships with others. If Laritte had to choose her favorite job as her job, she would choose horse riding.

Everyone, lets get on our horses.

The girls climbed up on their horses. It had been a long time since the plague, but everyone quickly regained their old senses.

The young girls walked around the vacant lot on their horses. Laritte too, driving Bertrand, moved slowly as her gaze reached the mansion in the exquisite late winter scenery.

Behind the window among the small garden trees planted by the mansion was a familiar dark-haired man.

Oh?

For some reason Ian was in the kitchen. He had fallen asleep against the glass. Laritte waved the reins and approached the mansion to say hello. Even in his sleep, Ian was excellent at detecting even the smallest noises. Originally, he would have known right away when Laritte got closer, but today Ian stayed still as he was.

Is he dead?

Laritte got serious and stopped Bertrand in front of the window.

On the window sill to the right of Ian, there was a half-filled cup of coffee.

He spent three days looking at documents related to dragons, and then came to the kitchen to have coffee but he fell asleep. Even so, there was no reason for the Swordmaster to stay up all night for three days without feeling the presence of an approaching sign, which was proof that he was under a lot of stress.

Laritte, not knowing that, narrowed her eyes.

Demand for coffee in the Empire was far below that of black tea. It was treated as a luxury item to drink only when youre very tired Was he very tired?

With only one glass in between, Laritte looked at Ian. Bertrands large, black eyes and Larittes blue eyes stared at Ian as if it were eating them.

No matter how tired Ian was, he couldnt help but feel the hot gaze of the two pairs of eyes.

Finally, Ians slightly darkened eyes opened. He also found the stares of Bertrand and Laritte as he gazed at the landscape outside the window.

!

He was so startled that he almost fell under the window, but luckily he caught on.

Why are they staring at me in such a terrifying way?

He opened the window while washing his face dry to hide his tiredness. Laritte was sitting on Bertrand, so Ian and Laritte were at the same eye level.

Ah is the meeting over? Was it fun? Please feel free to call them again.

He tried to speak casually, but Larittes eyes were still bitter.

The meeting is still in its infancy. By the way, are you

Ian gulped. A keen sense made him aware that he was being interrogated. The fact that Ian had been clinging to it all day to solve the problem with magical items must not be found out. Laritte had decided to enjoy the rest of her life with Ian without worrying about it, and Ian pretended to do so. What if she knew that Ian was wasting so much time on finding solutions?

Did you not sleep well?

No. I slept very well.

Ian held out his hands.

Then, are you suddenly sleepy? Are you drowsy?

He was terrified that he had been caught. Bertrand did not understand the current situation, but followed his master and stared constantly at Ian.

Ians heart was pounding. Come to think of it, he was holding the document The number of dragon material items left in the Duchy. Larittes eyes narrowed to the limit as he secretly hid the document behind his shirt.

You

Im tired of spring.

Laritte was confident in her answer.

Yes?

Spring fatigue?

How many people suddenly feel drowsy and sleepy in spring? In this weather?

Change clothes and take a nap. I wont say anything to the girls.

Laritte turned around with Bertrand as if she had finished talking and went back to the vacant lot. Not knowing how much she had just made Ian nervous, she sang along the wind.

Wasnt Ian just moved by her consideration? Wasnt that in the dating advice book? A good relationship was one in which one sensed and considered the other persons changes.

Oh, thats a really good word.

Laritte applauded inwardly for her caring self. She believed that she was having a smooth relationship with Ian, but the decision was broken two days later.

I warned you. If you come one step closer from there, its divorce!

A serious feud broke out between the couple.

Following Larittes sharp words, Lavingenis von Alexandria Anges or, the cat, Nabi, also stared at Ian. Unaware of anything, it thought he was harassing Laritte and therefore hissed at him.

But Ian couldnt back down either.

Please! Please listen to me just once!

Laritte was cornered in the hallway.

What was she rejecting so much?

A very dreadful thing was held in the hands of Ian.

Thats right!

It was the dress of the former Duchess. Using the dragons disgusting scales, it was not enough for a very expensive one, it was the only dress in the world that didnt get old.

However, with Laritte, the dragons magic would disappear and it would turn into a normal dress. It was Selenas keepsake, more precious than Larittes life, so she didnt want to ruin it.

Ian loved that she would live one more day which would destroy his mothers belongings, but his anger was also adamant.

This dress was the last thing the Dragon had left. In order for Laritte to be safe from the attack of mana, it must be held in her hand.

Redra, please catch that guy!

Laritte sent her rescue signal to the knight, Redra, who had just arrived from afar.

Stop right there, Count.

Ian also added a word.

Pardon?

Redra, who came back from the warehouse after sharpening her sword, felt a tug in herself.

Should she follow the Captain, the master of Reinhardts knights? Or should she listen to Madam asking for something like that? The conscience in her heart made the choice. Redra hesitated, then bound Ians left arm.

You

Ian muttered sullenly.

F-Forgive me!

While Redra recited Im sorry a hundred times, Ian struggled to escape from her. She, of course, was incompetent, and Laritte caught up with Lord Mason, who appeared out of nowhere.

Catch the Duke, please.

Ian looked at Mason.

Youre not even going to betray me, are you? But Mason also betrayed Ian and grabbed his right arm.

Heh heh, I dont know whats going on, but Im sorry.

Taking advantage of the situation, Laritte took Nabi in her arms and ran away again. Thus initiating a chase inside the mansion.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep