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"You, you smiled?"
Wigg looked at Leticia again in confusion, but she couldn't stop laughing.
The thin fabric turning black in front of her.
"So, Payedan bought that fabric?"
How did the two get tangled up?
Leticia couldn't help but find the combination of the two, who were already twisted together without her interference, amusing.
"No. Don't publish a rebuttal. Just leave it alone."
"But... then the public opinion towards the boss will worsen again, won't it?"
"Well, my reputation might take a hit, but Mariposa's sales won't be affected. It's not a problem with the product."
"That's true, but..."
"It takes two to clap. In situations like this, responding will only make things noisier."
And people are interested in love stories, but not so much in family matters.
Sometimes, staying still is the best defense.
'But sitting still and waiting is a bit boring.'
After thinking for a moment, Leticia came up with a good idea.
A way to make the bomb they lit explode faster.
"Still, we've had a good relationship, so shall we help Payedan a little?"
"Yes...? Help?"
Wigg looked at her with a puzzled expression, not understanding Leticia's intentions.
"We'll publish an article saying we're going to make riding clothes. Then customers who want dresses will flock to them."
The bigger the bomb gets, the more fun it will be.
Leticia's lips curled up wickedly as she muttered.
After that, Amon started making riding clothes.
And Payedan and my father's side quietly faded away as expected when I didn't respond.
As preparations for the hunting season progressed smoothly.
I came to learn how to ride a horse today.
There were two reasons why I suddenly decided to learn how to ride...
First, interest in riding is slowly increasing among noble ladies, so I thought I should learn it.
Second, I wanted to wear the completed riding clothes in practice and give feedback to Amon.
Oh, and one more thing.
I glanced up at Idris, who was standing next to me holding my hand.
As if sensing my gaze, his golden eyes looked down at me and playfully raised his eyebrows.
Yes. Today's riding lesson was also to have a date with Idris.
'More accurately, to take promotional photos for riding clothes.'
Idris was also wearing a couple riding suit made by Amon.
The well-fitting riding clothes clearly highlighted his firm body, which was usually covered, and the half-swept-back hairstyle clearly emphasized his strong facial features.
It was a realization that he had the looks that any woman, or even a man, would be mesmerized by.
While I was staring blankly at him.
Idris leaned over and bumped his forehead against mine.
"What are you thinking so hard about?"
My heart momentarily dropped at the sudden closeness, but I regained my composure.
'...It must be an action to be conscious of the reporter.'
The reporter, who was called to take promotional photos for the riding clothes, was watching us from under the tree.
So I know that action has no special meaning...
'I keep getting nervous and conscious every time we have physical contact...'
I evasively averted my eyes and replied.
"...Just, I was thinking about the future a little."
It was the moment when Idris's eyes narrowed as if to see through my rapidly beating heart.
"Your Highness, I've brought them."
The caretaker appeared with the horse.
Even to me, who doesn't know much about horses, it was an elegant and beautiful white horse.
Idris received the reins from the caretaker and brought it to me.
"Here. Say hello, Leo. She's the lady you'll be serving today."
As if understanding his words, the horse's black eyes turned to me.
"You should say hello too. Leo will be serving you today. He's merciless to men, but a polite gentleman to ladies."
"Does the horse really know how to distinguish between women and men?"
"I'm telling you, he does. Right, Leo?"
Idris stroked the horse's mane, and the horse snorted.
"Now it's your turn to say hello."
After hesitating for a moment, I carefully reached out and stroked its mane, greeting it.
"Hello, Leo. Nice to meet you."
Then, surprisingly, instead of snorting, it slightly lowered its head as if responding to my greeting, making it easier for me to stroke it.
I widened my eyes in surprise.
"Oh, it really seems to recognize me!"
Idris chuckled and handed me a carrot.
"Now it's time to give a bribe."
Then, as if demonstrating to me, he fed Leo the carrot he was holding.
"Leo, please take good care of my lady."
He seemed very skilled.
'He's a kind person to animals who can't even speak, what kind of villain is he.'
I laughed at my past prejudice and asked.
"Are you close to horses?"
"I'm flattering them. You could die if these guys throw you off."
But even while making light of it, his actions toward the horse were full of affection.
"Now, it's your turn."
As I carefully handed out the carrot, the clever Leo only took the carrot without biting my hand.
I chuckled and stroked Leo's mane.
"Please take good care of me today."
The riding lesson went smoothly.
Of course, only until I got on Leo's back myself.
"It seems like you've gotten close to Leo enough, so how about trying to ride now?"
At Idris's suggestion, I swallowed nervously.
That's because I couldn't do anything physical.
'I had to practice dancing twice as much as others to barely dance as well as them.'
But showing weakness was not something my pride would allow.
I pretended to be calm and stepped onto the small stairs and sat on Leo's back.
Then Idris approached me and started telling me the next steps.
"Some people think that riding is just sitting on a horse, but it's definitely not."
"Then what else do I have to do?"
"You have to firmly give strength to your thighs and calves and balance yourself well. When the horse moves, the body sitting on it will naturally shake greatly. If you make a mistake, you may fall off."
I became a diligent student and listened to his teachings.
"And falling off is very dangerous as you know. Sometimes people become disabled..."
The star instructor's theory lecture ended, and now it was practice.
But no matter how hard I listened to the theory, practice was a separate matter.
"Now, kick its side with your foot."
I took a deep breath and kicked Leo's side lightly with my foot, and Leo slowly started walking forward.
My body shook precariously due to the recoil.
"Ugh, ugh!"
Idris, who was watching the scene, must have decided that it wouldn't work and pulled the reins himself, stopping Leo.
"Your body is too stiff. You can't just give strength to your legs like that."
Idris pressed down on my thighs and calves, which were tense with strength, with his fingers.
"Straight trees break easily in a typhoon. If you put too much strength on your body, it's easy to collapse when the horse runs. You have to shake with it and maintain your balance."
He taught me hard, but sadly, my athletic ability did not move as he said.
Idris, who was looking at me still frozen, seemed to be thinking for a moment, then suddenly jumped up and got on behind me.
It was a movement without any unnecessary frills.
Then he grabbed the reins on top of my hands.
"What, what are you doing?"
"I thought you would just keep being scared if we continued like this."
"So...?"
"If you know how fun riding is, maybe the fear will disappear a little?"
There was a playful smile on Idris's lips as he answered.
That smile he made whenever he teased me.
At the same time as sensing the anxiety from that smile, he kicked Leo's side with his foot...
And soon the hellish riding began.
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