Several days had passed since the Maouldoth incident.
I was tending to the flowers with Grandpa Randy in the warm and sunny garden behind my detached house.
“I don’t get why my lord’s still keeping you all the way out here,” Grandpa Randy muttered.
I raised my head and noticed his dissatisfied frown and furrowed brow. Knowing he was making that face because he was worried about me, I couldn’t help but smile happily.
“Tee hee, it’s okay! I’m sure Lord Felix has his reasons. Besides, I really like living in this house, taking care of the flowers with you, and sunbathing with the cats. I might not even want him to move me to the main manor.”
Well, to be honest, I didn’t intend to stop doing any of those things on the off chance that I did move to the main manor. Aside from liking this detached house, none of them were reason enough alone to stay here.
I’m going to have to leave eventually, anyway. Plus, when Elvira gets engaged to Lord Felix, she’s not going to like it if his previous fiancée is living under the same roof as he is, even if our engagement was only temporary.
Now then, moving on...
As I continued tending to the flowers, I felt the weight of someone’s gaze from behind me. Slowly, I stood up. This familiar sensation had become a frequent occurrence, and I knew exactly who was the cause.
Before they could escape, I spun around and shouted, “Lord Felix! I want to go horseback riding!”
From within the shadows cast by the manor, the hiding form of Lord Felix flinched. He gave me an awkward look.
That’s right—the gaze belonged to Lord Felix. I’d noticed that he often checked up on me whenever he wasn’t out exterminating monsters.
“What, he was there all along?” Grandpa Randy muttered to himself. “If he cares about Lucy that much, he should just come out and talk to her.”
Grandpa Randy must think it’s suspicious that Lord Felix was looming in the shadows! I know that because I’m thinking the exact same thing. Why is Lord Felix skulking about? Why not just call out to me?
All I knew was that if Lord Felix continued to sneak around like this, we’d never have a proper conversation and I’d never be able to tell him I wanted to go horseback riding. That was why I’d pounced on this opportunity to make my request.
“I want to practice riding,” I said. “May I borrow a horse?”
“Only a horse?” Lord Felix inquired.
Yes! He didn’t say no!
Honestly, I was fine with practicing alone, but since it was my first time, it might be better to receive proper tutelage.
I thought about it and gave what I felt was the safest answer: “Now that I think about it... Please lend me Sir Kain too so he can teach me!”
“No.”
Huh?! I figured Lord Felix was too busy, and since he’s lending me something as valuable as a horse, it’d be easier to get permission if I requested a person he trusts as my instructor...
Lord Felix averted his gaze. “We don’t need to trouble Kain with this. I’ll teach you.”
What...?
I thought Lord Felix had been watching me from the shadows to avoid talking to me, so he had been the first option I’d eliminated. I hadn’t expected him to volunteer himself.
Come to think of it, when we’d ridden together on his horse that time, it had been very stable. Perhaps he was confident in his ability to teach horseback riding.
If he says it’s fine, then I’ll gladly accept his offer.
“Please do, Instructor!”
And so, Lord Felix became my new teacher.