The person who showed up at the woods wasn’t anyone else but Roziel Evelian himself.
He was riding a horse. The unknown sound of footsteps belonged to a horse.
“Argh, heup!”
I covered my mouth as I made that sound.
Thanks to him a strange sound leaked out.
“Maybe we can play during the day.”
It was dark but I could still see his face turning pale.
“If you sing now, all the trainees will wake up.”
He was completely mistaken.
What on earth does he think of me?
Does he think we are such good friends that I’ll come at night and sing him songs?
“Oh, no. I’m not playing… I was practicing swordsmanship.”
My voice trembled slightly.
Since he dreamt of becoming a knight, I thought I’d get extra points if I said this.
“Really?”
Roziel didn’t seem to believe it.
“But you’re not holding a sword.”
“To be exact, I was practicing sword dancing.”
I showed him the ballet moves that I briefly learnt in my previous life.
“…”
He moved his horse and slowly approached me.
It was like his wary appearance was a mirage created by darkness.
‘I don’t know why but I feel like I have to protect you.’
I can’t believe a villain looks like that. Isn’t that cheating?
But no matter what, he kept his promise with me.
“You’re here.”
I spoke in a thrilled voice.
He stopped walking towards me.
I had a pale face, my pupils shook and I didnt want him to see me…
At that time, I realized.
Whatever I want to say now, won’t work.
I tried to look as noble as I could.
When I stopped talking, he started riding his horse again.
Before I knew it, he got off his horse.
“I’m not here to see you. I just came for a walk.”
“A walk?”
“Yes, he likes to take a walk at night.”
He gently patted the horse’s mane and spoke.
Roziel Evelian, who said that, seemed so peaceful.
It’s like a zero attack power.
‘Great, let’s go with this atmosphere.’
Don’t step forward, just carefully approach from this distance.
“I see.”
“Yes.”
He was in such a good mood that he had a faint smile on his lips.
It was a black horse with a great physique.
Black glossy fur, muscles in between the back and legs. It was one of the best horses I ever saw.
“That’s unusual. A horse who likes the night.”
I reached out to the black horse while I spoke.
But the black horse turned away and avoided my touch.
“Sorry, this child hates people.”
Roziel hushed and soothed the horse.
“Instead he likes shiny things. If you give him something shiny then he’ll give you his head.”
“Not hay but shiny things?”
I looked at the black horse with a look like I was chewing ginger.
The horse was laughing at me.
“But how come you can touch it?”
“Well.”
At my question, the black horse glared at Roziel.
There seemed to be something insidious about the topic of conversation.
I nodded when I saw Roziel smile.
Roziel’s face was shiny.
To discriminate by distinguishing human’s taste. It was the speciality of a villain.
Roziel felt good about the night walk and wasn’t as wary of me as before.
‘Good, I’ll approach you slowly like this.’
I didn’t know anything else, but now was a chance to get acquainted with him.
Cough cough. I warmed up my voice lightly.
“What a cute and lovely horse.”
The black horse had remarkably ferocious eyes and muscles but I tried to turn a blind eye on it.
“What’s the name of this cutie?”
“It doesn’t have a name.”
“It doesn’t have a name. Why?”
“It’s a horse which was not raised by my family.”
No wonder it didn’t sound like a normal horse. He tamed a wild horse.
“But it’s still following you well?”
“Yes, I ran into him in the woods and he has been following me ever since. This child is still very charming.”
When Roziel patted the horse again, it cutely rubbed it’s face on Roziel’s cheeks.
Tilting my head, I asked.
“Do wild horses live in that forest?”
“No. Nothing lives in that forest. It was the first time I saw a beast too.”
I recalled the view of the forest I saw on my first day here.
Even if there was a dragon lair I wouldn’t be surprised, but there’s nothing.
“But where did he come from?”
“Well…maybe one of the drivers was carrying it and lost it.”
“You’re lucky.”
I can’t believe you went to the forest and picked up this horse. It worked out somehow.
“Yes, it’s good.”
Roziel smiled cheerfully.
‘Cute.’
As expected he was also a child before he was a villain.
The cool impression of the Marquis was all gone with a smile.
He had softly folded eyes, chubby pink cheeks, and a mouth that went up smoothly.
‘He really is shiny.’
I could understand the black horse was discriminating with his face.
“Shall we name the horse together then?”
I asked casually.
It didn’t mean anything.
I just wanted to talk more about the subject that made him happy.
Roziel widened his eyes as if it was an unexpected proposal.
“Na- name?”
“Yes, you’re supposed to give your favourite person a name.”
He thought for a moment.
Maybe it was his first time naming someone as he seemed nervous.
And then he nodded vigorously.
“Alright.”
“What do you have in mind?”
He thought for a moment and spoke timidly.
“Umm, to… Hopper?”
“That’s a rabbit’s name.”
He was an amateur when it came to naming.
Well, who in that desolate mansion would think of naming a loved one so cutely?
“I have a name in mind.”
“What is it?”
Roziel looked at me with sparkling eyes.
Great. This wasn’t what I planned but it could work out like this.
I laughed with excitement as the good fortune followed me.
You wouldn’t be hard on someone who named your precious someone together with you.
Don’t just simply reject me, this is how we slowly get closer.
“Are you curious?”
“Yes.”
I said with a grin.
The name should also be cute to suit the taste of a child.
“Sparkly.”
“What?”
“Let’s name this nice, cute black horse Sparkly.”
Because Roziel was cute.
Cutie Sparkly. Cute Sparkly.
I looked at both of them with a pleased look on my face.
“…”
The black horse stared at me.
Though it was an animal and I didn’t know for sure how an animal felt but it certainly wasn’t a good look. The horse’s snort grew louder.
“What do you think?”
“I like it!”
Roziel looked at Sparkly with a very reminiscent expression.
“Do you like it too, Sparkly?”
“Phourong, phurrr.”
It was a strange sound. At first it sounds like a monster crying.
Ah, is that good?
I grinned and reached out to Sparkly.
Sparkly opened his mouth wide as if to bite my hand.
“Oh, you don’t have to be that shy.”
I laughed with my hands out.
* * *
After that, I discussed with Roziel about how “Sparkly” was a great name.
“The doll I used to play with was called ‘Sparkly’ too.”
“Really?”
“Yes, it’s a name that has its own origins. So I want you to cherish it.”
“Okay!”
Roziel answered nicely.
I got up from my seat looking satisfied.
“Stay right here.”
A way to win Roziel’s heart came to mind.
I picked flowers from a nearby garden and then made a pretty flower necklace and gave it to Sparkly.
“Here, it’s a gift from Sister.”
“Phuurriiing.”
Sparkly strongly rejected my flower necklace.
“You don’t like flowers?”
Can animals make facial expressions too?
For some reason, it seemed like Sparkly hated me, not the flower. His gaze was towards me.
Hmm. Is it a mistake?
“It’s because he is shy.”
Roziel thought the black horse, who looked scary, was a shy person.
“Come one, Sparkly. I’ll hang it for you.”
Roziel hung the flower necklace on Sparkly himself.
“Phurrrr-“
He was still refusing strongly but Roziel stayed still when he did it.
“Wow, it’s so pretty.”
It was like a pearl necklace was around a pig, which didn’t go well with me but I responded first.
What I needed now was Roziel’s favour.
Sparkly shook the flower around his neck as it was awkward.
“Cute sparkly.”
Roziel smiled and stroked him as he stayed still.
“Pureung.”
You’re being too obvious.
There are various animals in the world. Do wild horses usually do strange stuff like this? Are you that intelligent?
“As a gift I’ll let you ride on his back.”
He made me a tremendous offer to make me feel good.
“Really?”
“Yes…”
“That’s good for me!”
It was an unexpected gift.
If we both go on night walks like this, I’m sure we’ll become close.
Then I made eye contact with sparkly again.
“…”
“…But I don’t think Sparkly will pick me up.”
The black horse’s dark eyes were staring at me as if they were gonna burn me.
Is it because it’s night? I’m getting chills.
“It’s okay, you can ride with me. Because Sparkly is a nice friend.”
“Is.. is that so?”
Roziel stretched out his hand toward me.
I grabbed his hand and climbed on the back of sparkly.
His back was covered with solid muscles. It was as if he was shaking off a bug from his body.
You hate it that much.
Nevertheless, there was loyalty in him. He did not disobey Roziel.
After letting me climb, Roziel climbed up on Sparkly’s back too.
“Hold on tight.”
As I grabbed him by the waist, Roziel rode Sparkly slowly.
Our destination was the forest.
“This place is forbidden to the trainees.”
“It’s dangerous because there’s a trap there. But since you’re with me you’ll be safe.”
“Ha, a trap?”
“Yes, a trap to prevent outsiders from invading. It was out here a long time ago.”
A trap created during the Kingdom of Agrad?
I thought it had everything.
“What kind of trap is it?”
“Fire and arrows fly in. Oh, and a huge rock falls on your head.”
Is there magic there?
I looked around but couldn’t find anything special.
Even though it was such horrible magic for such an ordinary looking forest, it was scary.
I unconsciously tightened my grip around Roziel’s waist.
“…!”
Despite the light contact, I could feel Roziel’s body flinching.
“Oh, sorry.”
I carefully pulled my hands away from his waist.
I forgot that I’m being misunderstood right now. He would think that was on purpose.
“I promise I didn’t do it on purpose! I was just a little scared.”
“…”
I became timid and grabbed his collars by making my fingers into the shape of tongs.
I should never touch him.
“… No, it’s okay if you grab me.”
“Grab you?”
I was encouraged by his permission and increased the number of fingers grabbing him.
It was then when Roziel reached back and grabbed my hand.
“Ah?”
He then led my hands towards his waist.
“You can hug me like before. It’s because it’s dangerous.”
“Ah, no. I’m fine now. Now that I see it it’s not that scary. And what’s with the arrow? We can just avoid it if it comes flying!”
I’ve never done it on a horse but it’s better to do some tumbling than to be misunderstood by Roziel.
Roziel was silent for some time.
What could he be thinking of?
“…Skinship…”
There was a small whispering voice.
“What? What did you say?”
Roziel shook his head and said in a determined loud voice.
“It’s okay, I’m not shaken by this.”
He even clenched his fists. It was as if something was determined firmly.
I don’t know what he was thinking of but there’s no reason to keep refusing after he said to hold him.
I grabbed him with ease and had a walk with him.