### Chapter 35: Trying to Escape
“Really?”
I murmured, then spotted Sarah with her wide, gleeful grin, nodding at me with enthusiasm: “Really!”
She looked as if she might bounce right off the ground.
What’s up with that…
Suddenly, I felt a pang of anxiety in my chest and didn’t want to take another step forward. My pearl-like eyes darted around the gigantic training ground, and soon enough I noticed in the far corner where there should have been wooden stakes; instead, there was a row of makeshift huts. Inside, colorful Horned Horses stirred restlessly, kicking their front hooves.
Bang, bang, bang…
In that moment, it felt like I could hear my own heartbeat. I tugged nervously at my skirt and instinctively squeezed my legs together.
Sarah and the others continued to chat excitedly as they marched on.
“Exceptional swordsmanship, outstanding riding skills. These are the basic qualities an excellent knight must master… Well, I’d say my swordsmanship is decent enough, but I haven’t ridden a Horned Horse much. I remember the last time was years ago when my father took me to the Church Knights Order training camp… So I’ve been looking forward to riding practice at the Academy for ages!”
Then she turned to Daisy and asked, “Have you ever ridden a Horned Horse?”
“I… I haven’t…”
“Let me tell you, the sensation of galloping over the beast’s back is absolutely amazing! It feels like you’re flying!”
“But what if you fall off…?”
“If you know what you’re doing, you won’t!”
“Is riding a Horned Horse really that exciting?” Compared to Sarah’s high spirits, Sophia was much more subdued. “My father keeps several at home, and every time I pass by the stable, I just smell that awful beast odor, and I really hate it.”
“Sophia, are you bragging to me?”
Sophia shook her head.
“I just wanted to let you know, if you want to ride a Horned Horse, you’re welcome to visit my place. Please don’t yell over here because it’s really embarrassing… Honestly, with Peilo here, we’re already quite the spectacle… Huh?”
She seemed about to say something else, but turned around and noticed I hadn’t kept up, pausing in surprise.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, nothing at all…”
I forced myself to shuffle along reluctantly behind them.
“Peilo, you’re nobility too, so you must be good at riding, right?” Sophia continued, noticing my arrival. “I heard my father say hunters’ riding skills in the Valen Empire are incredibly unique. There’s a saying in the noble circles of the Royal City called ‘Dance of d*ath on Beast Back,’ which is more like art than riding… They’re talking about the hunters riding Horned Horses, but I’ve never seen it!”
She blinked confidently, as if harboring a competitive spirit.
“You come from Winter City, so you must have some basic skills, right? How about we compete later? Don’t let my dislike for Horned Horses fool you—I’m actually pretty good at riding.”
“Uh, sure…”
I distractedly replied.
Compete? I’m terrified…
I stuffed my thumb into my mouth, bent my head, and nervously started gnawing at my nails, my mind racing.
No way, I have to ditch this class…
What excuse should I use?
If I pull the “Aunt Flow” card like last time… No, no, that’s too embarrassing!
Back at Shanter Castle, I could get away with anything because my mother had my back, but here I’d be a laughingstock… I already have the nickname “Nose Bridge Terminator,” and I really don’t want to earn an even weirder one after today.
But what better excuse could I have… Maybe I should just turn around and run? Don’t think too much and just escape this mess…
…However, the Royal Academy’s punishment for skipping class is quite severe. I just got back today; if I pull a stunt like this, Grandma the Headmistress might be furious. What if she decides to invoke the rules against me… That would be even more embarrassing than the whole “Aunt Flow” incident…
More and more students were gathering around.
Before I knew it, I had followed Sarah and the others near the huts. The snorts of the Horned Horses echoed in my ears, and I stole a glance.
Those Horned Horses were a bit smaller than the one I rode during the funeral ceremony; they must belong to a common breed.
I felt like my feet could at least reach the stirrups…
But just imagining riding those beasts, feeling out of control with zero sense of safety, and thinking about the excruciating pain in that area made my scalp tingle, and I felt waves of dread wash over me.
I’m so scared…
“Haah—, haah—”
Deep breaths… Deep breaths…
I raised my eyes and glanced toward the Horned Horses again.
…Nope.
No way, no way, no way… I can’t do this; it’s too terrifying! I have to escape right now…
Just as I made my decision to bolt, a hulking, muscular man came striding into view, his chest bare.
“Giant Ram…”
“Is that our teacher…?”
That was our physical training instructor, reportedly strong enough to tear a Fire Bear Beast apart with his bare hands.
“Form up!”
As he approached, Giant Ram bellowed. Sophia jumped in fright, quickly lowering her head and shuffling towards the crowd, mumbling, “Why’s he gotta be so huge… Every time I see him, it feels like I’m under a lot of pressure…”
“Let’s hurry over.”
Sarah grabbed my hand and Daisy’s, pulling us toward the forming line.
…Wait, the front line!
I stumbled a couple of steps, and suddenly realized, quickly bending my legs, trying to resist her pulling me along.
Sarah was yanked backward by my grip, looking perplexed.
“Sarah.”
I pulled my hand away, retreating while stammering, “I just suddenly… remembered something urgent… I, I need to go…”
“What do you mean?”
Sarah panicked, furrowing her brow as she waved at me. “Do you want to be punished? Come on!”
“No.”
I shook my head like a bobblehead.
“I have a stomachache.”
“You were fine just a moment ago!”
“I ate too much.”
“…Who do you think you’re fooling?!”
“Peilo, let’s get over there quickly.” Daisy was starting to get nervous too, glancing toward Giant Ram. “Mr. Ram is looking at us…”
“What are you idiots doing, not forming up over there—?!”
A booming roar shot through the training ground, as the burly man thundered over with massive strides.
“N-nothing…”
Sarah and Daisy’s faces turned pale, their shoulders hunched as they obediently shuffled toward the back of the line, constantly throwing me glances.
“Stop dawdling and move it!”
Giant Ram stopped a short distance away, watching as Sarah timidly entered the ranks. He nodded, then turned his slightly impatient gaze toward me.
“You, what’s wrong?”
I rolled my eyes around nervously. “Teacher, I… I’m feeling unwell; I want to see a doctor.”
“What’s bothering you?”
“My stomach hurts.”
“And?”
“Uh…” I tilted my head, thinking, “My head hurts?”
Ram stared at me for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter.
“Princess spoiled by privilege, think I don’t know what you’re all thinking?” His lips bore a noticeable scar that stretched when he smiled, making him look fierce. “Because physical training is tough and I’m strict with you all, you don’t want to come to my class, right?”
