Chapter 30: The Hunt Begins
The sun hadn't fully risen when Lirian stepped into the stable yard.
The chilly air stung her cheeks again, and her breath curled in soft clouds as she walked toward the horses.
Around her, knights and servants bustled, readying animals and gear for the hunt.
A tall knight with a stern face approached her, holding the reins of a horse.
The animal was massive, its dark coat was shining in the pale morning light.
It snorted, stamping its hooves impatiently.
"This will be your horse, Duchess," the knight said, offering her the reins.
Lirian stared at the horse, her confidence started slipping immediately.
It looked powerful—too powerful…
The creature's eyes shone with a wild look that made her uneasy.
"Is this… the only one left?" she asked calmly despite the nervous wave in her chest.
The knight nodded. "It is. The others were already claimed."
"Of course it was," Lirian muttered under her breath.
The knight gave her an expectant look. "Shall we get you in the saddle?"
Lirian hesitated.
The original Lirian, the one from the book, had been a skilled rider.
It had been one of her greatest passions.
But the current Lirian had only ridden a handful of times in the modern world, and never anything like this.
She didn't let her doubt show. "Let's do it," she said, handing him her cloak.
The knight nodded and gestured for her to step closer. "Put your foot here," he said, guiding her to the stirrup.
With a grunt, she pushed herself up, and the knight steadied her as she swung her leg over the saddle.
The horse shifted beneath her, tossing its head and snorting.
Lirian's hands instinctively gripped the reins tightly.
Her heart pounded as the animal shifted again, restless and strong.
The height alone was dizzying, and the way the horse moved made her feel like she could be thrown off at any moment.
"Easy," the knight said, patting the horse's neck.
He looked up at Lirian. "You'll be fine. Just stay balanced, and keep a steady grip on the reins."
Lirian nodded, swallowing her nerves. "Right. Easy."
The knight gave her a once-over, then led the horse toward the arena.
Lirian tried to sit as still as possible, but every step the animal took made her belly lurch.
The arena was exciting.
Knights, servants, and other participants gathered to watch the event.
In the center, four women stood with their horses: two lady knights, Daria, and now Lirian.
Gabriel was there, standing near the edge of the arena.
He watched as Lirian entered, he immediately landed on her.
She caught the faintest sign of concern on his face but ignored it, focusing instead on staying upright.
The knight who had helped her stopped the horse near the others and stepped back.
"Good luck, Duchess," he said with a small bow before retreating.
Gabriel stepped forward, addressing the group.
"The hunt is simple," he shouted, so that everyone could hear him clearly.
"Each of you must catch three rabbits and return here as quickly as possible. The first to finish will be declared the winner and will have their wish fulfilled."
Lirian raised an eyebrow at the last part.
'A wish? That wasn't mentioned earlier'
She glanced at Daria, who sat confidently atop her horse, her smug smile made Lirian's shoulders shake.
"Good luck to all of you," Gabriel continued in a lighter voice. "And stay safe."
The other three women—Daria and the two lady knights—spurred their horses forward immediately as the signal was given.
They shot off in different directions, disappearing into the wooded area beyond the arena.
Lirian hesitated. Her horse shifted restlessly, sensing her unease.
Gabriel's eyes narrowed as he noticed the way the animal moved.
"Careful, Lirian," he called, stepping closer. "That horse is… spirited."
She tightened her grip on the reins, forcing herself to control her breathing.
"I'll be fine," she replied, though she wasn't sure if she believed it.
The horse snorted and pawed at the ground, clearly impatient.
Lirian gathered her courage, nudging it forward with her heels.
The animal jolted into speed, nearly unseating her.
Gabriel tensed, his hand twitching as if he wanted to stop her.
But Lirian didn't look back.
She leaned forward slightly, her heart was running faster than this animal as she urged the horse into a steadier pace.
The forest was alive despite being covered by snow.
Branches rustled as small animals darted through the underbrush, and the sound of hooves echoed faintly in the distance.
Lirian focused on keeping control of the horse, which seemed determined to challenge her at every turn.
"This was a mistake," she muttered, trying to adjust her grip on the reins.
The horse suddenly veered to the side, spooked by a noise in the trees. Lirian yelped, clutching the saddle horn to stay on.
"Calm down," she whispered, shaking. "Just… calm down."
The horse snorted but slowed slightly, allowing her to regain some balance.
She glanced around, realizing she hadn't even started looking for rabbits yet.
"Great start," she said to herself sarcastically.
Back at the arena, Gabriel remained near the edge, his arms crossed.
His sharp eyes scanned the forest line, watching for any sign of Lirian.
"She shouldn't be on that horse," he muttered under his breath.
One of the knights beside him glanced over. "Duchess Lirian is a skilled rider, isn't she?"
Gabriel's jaw tightened. "Not as skilled as you think."
The knight frowned but said nothing.
Gabriel's glare remained on the spot where Lirian had disappeared.
Something about the way her horse had moved unsettled him. It wasn't just wild—it was unpredictable.
And that worried him more than he wanted to admit.
"I told her not to participate…her wounds didn't even heal just yet…"
"Duke, behead me for saying this if needed, but don't you think that cuddling with Daria would make the duchess upset?"
"What is that supposed to mean?" Gabriel turned to face him.
"I mean…the last two nights seemed worrying for the duchess, even if she doesn't show it."
"Worrying?"
"Yes. She might think that you and Daria are in a relationship…"
"What?! Why would she think so?"
While Gabriel was busy, trying to understand what was happening with his wife, Lirian was thrown out of her horse.
"See? I told you she's worthless."