A Horse as Red as the Setting Sun
“Ugh, I’m so exhausted…”
Mia walked out of the stable with a face that showed how tired she was. A horse came up to her before she could leave. It was her training partner.
“Ah… Kuolan…”
It neighed. The sound didn’t have as much life as usual. In fact, the horse’s spirit seemed a little bit weak.
“My… Did you come because your boss worries you? So, you’re a thoughtful underling, aren’t you? I’m kind of amazed.”
She smiled softly as she stroked Kuolan’s neck.
“Mmm hm hm, relax. Your boss is fine. Both mother and child are safe and sound.”
Mia fundamentally had no regard for those who behaved obsequiously around her. The other timeline had shown her how quickly this kind of servile flattery could turn into cold indifference as soon as she lost her power and position.
It didn’t mean anything. There is no consistency. She refused to acknowledge any value in something so ethereal.
What if, for example, the person they left behind came back and got more power? It was easy to see how people would think of them even worse than people who had always been their enemies.
Mia didn’t want or need to act in such a capricious behaviour. After all, in this world, time could be magically turned back after you died. This kind of conditional bootlicking wasn’t nearly enough. She needed true friendship.
Of course, she knew what it was like to bootlick someone with a lot of power. She knew what it meant very well. Heck, she frequently engaged in salivary polishing of footwear herself.
And because she did that, she knew what it meant to be committed.
She didn’t like sycophants who changed their minds on a dime. On the other hand, those lips stayed steadfast before powerful figures were people she considered like-minded friends. So…
“Even though your boss is weaker now that she’s had a baby, you’re still going to see her as usual. Maintaining a deferential attitude despite her vulnerability… If I do say so myself, that was a very good show. You know, I think I’ve been a little too hard on you, Kuolan.”
She felt a strong bond with the horse and saw a kindred spirit in it. With this new understanding…
“Just so you know, Kuolan, my friends and I were in there the whole time helping your dear boss give birth. You can go talk to her later about it, but it was a very close call. The baby was very close to dying. We were able to save the child’s life, though, because my friend thought of something quickly.”
She decided to get as much good will as she could out of the event. She told Kuolan that not only was she liked by the boss, but she had also done a big favour for the horse who was next in line for the throne.
She had already made friends with the horse leader of the next generation.
“So,” she said as Kuolan regarded her with its big, beady horse eyes, “I’d appreciate some help during the Horsemanship Tournament, if you know what I mean.”
She patted the horse on the neck with the smile of a politician who knows how to take bribes.
Kuolan, for its part, kept staring meekly at her, its long face unchanged. No one knew if it could understand her or not.
Then, its ears moved, and it turned its head to look around.
“Hm? What’s going on?”
Mia said, looking confused.
Even though Kuolan was smart, it was still a horse, so it didn’t say anything. Instead, her answer was a steady clopping sound, followed by a greeting.
“Well, if it’s not Your Highness. Greetings.”
She turned her head toward the voice.
“What? Ruby. Greetings.”
Ruby Etoile Redmoon jumped off her horse, walked over, and then bowed in a formal way.
Mia asked, “Are you going to the riding grounds? Also, that’s a pretty impressive horse you have there…”
She looked at Ruby’s horse. It seemed to move very quickly. Its strong back legs had smooth arcs of muscle that stuck out. This showed how hard it could kick at the ground. Its torso was also very strong. Lean but strong, Ruby didn’t feel the least bit of strain on it. But that wasn’t the thing that stood out the most about it.
“I had no idea horses could have such red hair.”
The red light of the setting sun seemed to set each strand on fire. Its shiny mane moved back and forth like the shimmering heat hazes of summer, as if its body was so hot that it warped the air around it. It looked like a monarch.
“Thank you for the praise, Your Highness. It’s a big deal. Even for us, this horse is one of a kind. The moonhare that is the fastest and best.”
Ruby ran her hand through the red hair on its head.
“It’s the one and only Skyred Hare, which is said to be able to keep up with the moon and run at the very edge of nightfall, while the red skies chase after it but never catch up.”
“Skyred Hare…”
The horse looked at Mia, its eyes shining with intelligence, and gave a short whinny, as if to say that it knew its name.
My, it’s almost elegant in the way it looks. If noble horses existed, this one would be one of them.
Then she turned to look at her own horse….
I don’t think Kuolan will put up much of a fight.
She sighed and thought, “This horse is too good for it.”
Just then, she saw Skyred Hare make a strange move. When it was around Mia, it was kind and treated her with respect. But when it looked at Kuolan, it snorted. Mia just instinctively figured out what was going on.
Oh, this horse is a real jerk.
“Now, I have to go,” Ruby said as she got back on her horse.
“I’ll see you at the event. I’m looking forward to it.”
As they galloped toward the riding grounds, they became a whirl of red, just like their names. Mia and Kuolan could only see their small shapes through the cloud of dust they left behind. Mia knew her fate after seeing how fast Skyred Hare was.
So, that’s it. I’ve lost. It doesn’t matter if you practise more or get used to riding Kuolan. They’re not the same.
She looked at her horse, which didn’t look angry or sad. It just stood there and did nothing as Skyred Hare ran off into the distance.
Oh, so you’ve also realized it. You’re right. You have no chance at all. We both don’t…
She let out a sigh of disappointment and felt her spirits drop. Only three days remained until the tournament.
