"No!" Bree shouted in panic.
She hadn't imagined it would turn out like this. Her intentions were good, but she shouldn't have tried to learn on her own without a guide. Horses are unpredictable creatures. Now her life was in danger again before she could fix anything. She would surely die if she fell off Briar's back.
But then the sound of another horse's hooves came from the side. Bree turned, and there was Edmond, riding a horse beside her.
Contrary to Bree's panic, Edmond appeared calm. Using precise calculations and gripping his horse's sides with his legs, Edmond leaned toward Bree, then took the useless reins from her hand because she didn't know what to do.
Expertly, Edmond pulled the reins. Edmond measured his strength and determined the necessary amount of pull to calm Briar.
"Ha!" Edmond's mouth shouted another command that made Briar and her horse slow down, eventually coming to a stop.
"Are you okay, My Lady?" Edmond asked.
Bree nodded with difficulty. "Thank you," she said, still catching her breath. Edmond smiled and nodded.
Bree felt a bit embarrassed afterwards. This thank-you might be the first time she has been friendly to anyone in Marseilles. Since coming here with a new memory, Bree has always been brusque with everyone, anytime, knowing they would all become enemies.
That thank you reminded Bree of her old self, bringing back familiar feelings. And it made Bree regret it. She shouldn't have been friendly. She didn't want any vulnerabilities, even for Edmond, who had not been involved in her past life.
"You should be a bit careful when controlling Briar. Briar has learned to ride sideways. She's sensitive, so a little tug is enough to make her move. You can make her run, but be careful when adjusting the reins."
"How do you stop a running horse?" Bree asked.
She had forgotten about it earlier. Bree knew how to ride a horse, but she didn't know how to make it stop. It was laughable ignorance, but Edmond didn't seem inclined to laugh.
"First, use this." Edmond pointed to the reins.
"You have to be able to control this with the right strength. Second, use your body. Slowly lean your body backward, tighten your stomach and leg muscles, so the horse can feel more pressure on its back, and it will slow down."
Edmond demonstrated how to do it, accompanying Bree's explanation.
Edmond patiently explained the details of Bree's questions and others. Bree didn't want to appear foolish again, so she asked whatever she thought would make her quickly master controlling Briar.
Edmond even showed how hard Bree had to kick Briar's stomach to make her run. Unofficially, Edmond eventually became Bree's horse-riding coach.
"Slow down!"
Edmond shouted after Bree started practicing all of Edmond's teachings. Since riding a horse wasn't new to Bree, she absorbed all the lessons quite easily.
However, it still took Bree quite a while to master the theory correctly. When Edmond expressed satisfaction because Bree could stop quite smoothly, the sun had already begun to set. Now Bree could ride and stop at her will. Bree was truly satisfied.
"You're amazing," Edmond complimented with a satisfied smile. A successful student was, of course, a joy for the teacher.
"You just have to learn to control the direction, but I think it won't be too difficult because you already know how."
Edmond could see that this wasn't the first time Bree had ridden a horse; she was just not yet skilled in riding like a man.
"I'll learn again tomorrow." Bree certainly didn't want to waste time.
"I don't think that's possible." Edmond objected with a doubtful smile.
"I'll learn again tomorrow!" Bree repeated it louder, seeing Edmond's doubt. Underestimating her only fueled Bree's determination.
"Of course." Edmond smiled again, but this time with a bow. He didn't want to argue with Bree's wishes.
Bree had not finished. She had an idea that had actually come to her during the middle of the training. And this was her best chance to ask, as she might not have the opportunity to talk to Edmond again after today.
"Edmond, you're a knight, right?"
"Yes, Duchess." Edmond still bowed.
"That means you can wield a sword skillfully?"
"Of course. I was chosen to be a knight by Duke Valois because of my sword skills." There was pride in Edmond's voice because he was the first knight in his family. He wasn't born into a family of knights.
A knight was the lowest-ranking noble, responsible for leading groups of soldiers. This role was crucial, so Rad always chose it carefully. The way Rad selected knights was still very correct, looking at their skills. Most Dukes in other regions just chose from existing Knight families.
There was nothing wrong with selecting a new knight from a previous knight's lineage, as long as they had excellent fighting skills.
Rad conducted strict selection and didn't just randomly appoint knights. Out of the five knights in Marseilles, three came from lineages and two from commoners, including Edmond. He would continue to take pride in this achievement.
"If that's the case, I'm asking the right person," Bree said after hearing Edmond's skills.
"Sorry, but what's the matter?" Edmond didn't understand where Bree was going with this conversation.
"Besides riding, I want you to teach me how to use a sword."
Instantly, a hint of regret crossed Edmond's face. Bree's request was truly unexpected and far from easy. But Edmond couldn't refuse, having bestowed the title of the greatest swordsman on himself.
"Do you want to learn how to use a sword?" Edmond hoped that Bree's answer would change by repeating it.
But Bree's determined nod crushed Edmond's last hope. Bree had, of course, intended to learn swordplay from the beginning. This was Bree's second step in changing her fate.
Swordplay was her way to survive that terrible fate. Bree wanted to defend herself without relying on help or rescue. The time she had left had proven that hoping for help only led to painful disappointment. No one would help her except herself. Hoping for someone else was useless. Now Bree would only put her hope in herself. She would save herself.
"I don't mind helping you, but I have to ask Duke Valois for permission." Edmond pinned his last hope on Rad, and Bree knew it.
"It's up to you! But I'll ask another knight to teach me if you don't want to."
"If the Duke doesn't allow it, you can't force it..."
"In that case, I'll force Rad!" Bree didn't know how, but if that man didn't allow it, she was ready to argue.
Rad might be a jerk, but Bree knew he wouldn't harm her. Especially for something like this. One trait that Bree still remembered until now was that Rad would never harm a woman—physically. He said it himself when her scandal with Ben arose. Rad said he would not harm Bree, even if he's really angry, because it's contradictory to his principal.
"I want to start lessons tomorrow, after completing the horse-riding lessons."
Controlling a horse should not take long. Bree wanted to begin sword lessons immediately.
"That's not possible. You will..." However, Edmond looked weary. He retracted his words and bowed.
"I will ask Duke Valois for permission as soon as possible." Edmond surrendered.
He held back whatever he was about to say earlier and complied with the strange request of the newly eccentric Duchess.
"Good!"
Bree pulled the reins, urging Briar to move towards the castle. The path might have been gradual, but it didn't have many turns. Bree wouldn't have difficulty riding Briar there.
Aima ran beside Briar, which was moving slowly.
Bree could urge Briar to run, but she wouldn't be cruel enough to make Aima chase after her. She would treat Aima better but still be firm. She wouldn't let Aima have any desire to turn to Irene.