So the heels are to help with horse riding.
First of all, good to know! I never would've thought that they'd been included in the riding suit's design for practical purposes rather than fashion! Second, it's a little terrifying to see the two coming into my room with tired faces and heavy eyebags first thing in the morning. Definitely not the kind of sight that I'd want to encounter so early in the day! "What is it today?"
"Fitting!" Arnold answers enthusiastically. It's the only word he's been saying for the past several days whenever we met, because that is also the only thing he's doing, whenever we met.
To make a long story short, most of my dresses no longer fit due to size changes, so they need to be altered. That makes me think of all the weirdly snug dresses that I've been wearing recently.. ah, I really want to hit myself on the noggin for not making the correlation faster! But in any case, he and Odilie did get the riding suit done first before the girl excused herself and thus leaving me to deal with the redhead daily on my own. Good for you for escaping!
Anyway, it's both a blessing and a curse (a blurse if you will) that I'm given ample time to sort out about the riding suit that the only thing left to sort is the horse that I will be riding. It's just a piece of leftover information I retain from my past life, something about being comfortable with the horse beforehand that will make riding them easier or something, and thus, I have to verify that info to make sure it is legit.
That was done by me asking the maids in a clueless manner (because I really am clueless about this), which they interpreted as a request and passed the message on to someone or multiple someones on their information chain that by the time tomorrow arrived I somehow get a stable boy standing in front of my door ready to give me a tour of the available horses as per my non-existent request. . .
Request for personal vetting my ass! The question was if it's true that riding a familiar or gentle horse is easier, I didn't ask to go horse-picking! This is why telephone games are the worst!!! I can't even say no due to the guy being ordered from the top dog the Count himself!
"We've arrived, miss."
I look over to the right where Sieghart has opened the stable door to let me in first.
Yeah, that's right, this guy is back at serving me again, now upgraded to be twice clingier than before! Everywhere I turn my head, he's there, like some sort of ghost that pops outta nowhere.
Good thing he's keeping it to a nonintrusive level so far though, so I let him have his moments. If it went any farther I can always sic one of the girls at him. "I can see that."
Entering the stable for the first time in both lives, I can't help but look around the place with some level of expectation. There's hay piled up on the corner, some metal basket filled with water, and the indistinguishable scent of an animal that greets my nose on a first whiff.
Of course the most important star of the show, or should I say stars, the horses, are there as well. Horses! I'm going to see a real-life one!
First impression and I'm not going to lie, but they're bigger than I thought they would! Oh god, they're so gigantic! "They are very big." holy shit, they're bigger than a motorbike!
The older stablekeeper jumps into the conversation like he's been waiting for it and almost startles me in the process. "They are! These are the best mares in the Count's collection, the most gentle ones too, so they're good for beginners."
"I see."
Hearing my assent, he then starts to introduce me to the horses with a genuine smile on his face. "Over here we have the highland breed, Corrie. She's a beaut that the Count.."
Second impression and I know any mind readers out there will think I'm stupid for saying this, but the horses have a lot of colors. Like, I am aware that horses come in different colors due to the internet, but it's one thing to know something and another to witness it personally right? The internet didn't do their hair justice, for one, in real life they look so very silky!
Variations of black, dark brown, white, and spotted furs are available among the group that's being presented to me, though the one with black fur and white hair looks more intrigued that she perks up her head and saunters over while we're walking by. "Ah, this one is the youngest, Spinel. She seems to be curious about my lady!"
For some reason, that means me getting the eye cue to go greet the horse?! Hah??! Am I reading the vibe correctly???
"Here miss, try offering an apple to her." Sieghart hands me a ripe apple onto my gloved digits, smiling in a manner that's silently telling me to go greet the horse.
So I read that correctly. Alrighty then..!
Summoning my courage to walk up to the giant animal, one hand holding the apple and another steadying myself on the fence has just become the most daunting task I ever had to do. I watch carefully as the horse walks even closer to the fence. She lowers her head over the metal gates, sniffing the air close to my hand and all I can think is for it to not bite–
'crunch'
The apple is lifted from my hand by the horse's lips, and she bites into it a little ways away from me. Spinel the horse lets some whines as she eats that I can't tell if it's happy noises or annoyed ones.
So the stablekeeper translates for me. "I think she likes you miss." The stable keeper smiles reassuringly, so I just have to take his words for it.
Thus ends the very climactic moment of meeting a horse for the first time. Fast forward a few days and then arrive the planned horse-riding day.
I'm geared up to the teeth for this. Both from safety and fashion, every corner of my appearance looks pretty impeccable.. to the point that I looked like a biker from the previous world??
For some reason, the result of 2 tailors combined brain cells and week-long all-nighters is a look that I'm most familiar with seeing in action bike-riding movies and yeah now that I think about it, this kind of makes sense considering both horses and bikes are both beasts to be ridden.
Basically, the fit is a dark leather jacket with embossed floral patterns, form-fitting pants that also have subtle embroidery(complete with a small holster holding a little wittle dagger), thick ass boots with heels so sharp it can impale your skull and, most importantly, some sort of jeweled decoration to hold back my hair while in a tight braid.
Overall, I'd give this a solid 10/10 for being comfortable to wear. For the visual score? I'll have to leave that to the reaction of others.
Speaking of other people, since I depart from my room early, I find myself to be the second to arrive and find the first spot belonging to someone else I don't know all that well aside from our opening spat on day 1. "Brother Eric."
"Ah, it's you. Good to see you arriving on time, Carlyanne."
The way Eric dresses is almost similar to my own fit, to impress while being practical with just less decoration, and I can tell despite my lack of fashion sense due to how well his fit compliments his body and natural colors. Even to some extent, matching that of his horse? His red eyes give me a look once before his attention diverts to the escort by my side with a tone more genuine. "And you as well, Sieghart, good to see that you are well."
"It is an honor, young master." The blonde bows politely, the hand that holds the reigns remains steady as he bends just ever so slightly. No, not steady, it's stiff?
"Hm, are you going out to the woods unarmed? That won't do."
Eric motioned to his attendant and he handed the man a small sword, "Here, at least have this, just to be careful."
Sieghart isn't having it, however. Eyes wide momentarily and lips thinning into the stiffest frown, he bows his head low to the waist. "I can't possibly-"
"You can." Eric's chuckle this time sounded weirdly unsettling, I almost shivered. "It's not like my sister would not allow it, won't she? Let me do a favor for her, for once, hm?"
His red eyes lock with mine, issuing a challenge that I'm not even sure what for.
No, seriously, what the fuck is your beef with Carlyanne huh?? Also, girl, what's with this urge to kick him in the nuts? Not that I'm complaining, I understand the urge to bring tall men to their knees so you can talk eye-to-eye, heh.
Aah, anyway there's not much I can infer from just speculating about it. Let's just clap back and see what happens.
"She would have allowed it, if you ask her."
Eric turns his gaze at me, the once soft eyes turn amused as his right brow lifts ever so slightly, "Oh, is that so?" and yep, I get it now. Violence module engaged!
My answer comes in the form of snatching the sword plus the leather strap out of Eric's hand- (fuck it's heavy!), stunning the three men who are all a head taller than I am and feel the sliver of satisfaction throbs in my vein as that look of condescending amusement gets wiped off clean from his face. Yeah, that's right, be shooketh, you beanpoles! Drop those jaws on the floor!
"Alas, she wasn't asked, so she decides to be a little capricious instead," I shove the sword onto Sieghart's chest without looking back and cheer when I don't stumble or drop it on his foot when I feel him holding it, "Thank you for your understanding, my dear brother."
I observe Eric a little closer, gauging his reaction and seeing that his eyes had flitted momentarily to Sieghart even as his glare is directed at me, causing him to look even more incensed and immediately put a pin on that note.
"… you're welcome."
The man's vocals sound so strained and yeah, that's right, seethe!! Don't act like your brows aren't twitching, I can see the veins about to burst on your right side! Fuck you for picking a fight so early in the day!
"So-"
"Where's the other two?" I look around while changing the topic and glare at Eric with all the malice of an office worker getting called to work on their day off, "I thought this was a meetup for four people."
"Oh, you know how Theoderich is. Tardy, even though he's the one organizing this." Eric clicks his tongue, shaking his head all the while, still looking like a boiled shrimp though.
"Is that so? Ah, there is Joanne." I spot Joanne walking over with the same set of attendants as before and a horse trailing behind her, so I cut him off before he can continue, thus adding another vein on the other temple. Too bad he's picking a fight with me, even though he doesn't know it. I'm not above being petty when it fucking counts.
Joanne comes just like me, walking, though she's holding the reign of the horse on her own despite having one entourage trailing along behind her. Her horse looks a little smaller than mine and Eric's, but no less well-kept. Might even be the most well-groomed even, due to how pretty its hair looks under the sun. I swear I can see it glitter!
"Brother Eric," Joanne gives a short, polite bow and turns to me, her gaze lingering and softer than the one she gave to the oldest brother. "Carlyanne, you look dashing today. How was Madam Rosetta?"
The way Joanne greets him and moves onto me so quickly almost made her look like she's treating him as an afterthought is so funny that I had to hold back from laughing seeing the blatant display of disrespect. Man, being passive-aggressive in a noble society sure is fun when you know all the rules of the game!
"Thank you. As you can see, the result speaks for itself."
Also, chance! Let's see if Joanne knows about the switch-up! "She's kind enough to send an apprentice, despite her busy schedule. It was exactly what Arnold needed to gain more.. inspiration."
Inspiration is one way to put it, right? I'm blanking on words due to having the mouth lag a bit while it translates what I mean in my head. The whole experience is a woozy trip that I'm not sure I can ever recommend to any transmigrator who comes after, but I hope they get to go through this at least once lol.
I try to strike a pose and watch as Joanne blinks like I just broke the news that the sun is fake. To her credit though, she schooled herself fast and nod as if agreeing that from now on that the sun is fake news. "Well, I'm glad to hear that. Sounds like I have to forward some praise to the Madame for her… magnanimity in lending a helping hand."
Hmm. Voice strained, eyes a bit dilated, momentary stiffness as she processed the words.. I guess she's unaware then. Good to know! Also, A+ pun there, I see you.
During the rounds of polite haha and hoho between us two ladies, Joanne stuck by my side as she turned her head slightly to address Eric with a below-freezing tone that I felt my goosebumps rising even though we are a few feet apart. "So, where is Brother Theoderich?"
"We're still waiting for him." Eric pauses for a moment before he answers and I feel that he sounds.. strained somehow? Reluctant, more likely. Like he's all the way above interacting with us...
First me, then Joanne, why the hell do you act like this on your two little sisters?! Are you perhaps... misogynist??? Hey, that'd make sense, actually! "Perhaps we should send someone to fetch him?"
"Perhaps-"
Just before Joanne can answer, her voice is swallowed by the loud galloping that comes from the woods. Cutting through the clearing by kicking dust is a figure of a brown horse running straight to our location at such a speed that when I blinked, it feels as if the block of color just- teleports straight in front of the fence as the horse starts to do some loops to slow itself down.
The first thing I notice is not the rider, nor the horse itself now that it's closer (but boy that thing is ginormous), but a weird scent that comes from the two that makes my nose wrinkle by reflex as the wind blows when it passes us the third time. Something tangy, copper, and herby that I can't pinpoint exactly, though it soon dissipates as the rider takes the proper distance away.
The next thing I realized is the fact that the two people I wish to punch in the groin are now gathered in one place. Wow, that's two assholes too many, isn't it? Why did I do this to myself again?
Oh right, it's the consequences of my actions. I'll just have to ride this out and enjoy it, then.
"Well well, good to see everyone is here!"