Large estates like Lakeview Manor, located outside the city of Tobysk, all have stables, but Ajelina did not choose a horse from the manor's stables. Instead, she sent someone to the Lemaire stable on the other side of Lake Schluch to select a black horse.
When Shade walked through the busy courtyard and arrived at the horse race starting point at the entrance of the manor, many gentlemen had already gathered here with their horses. Everyone had their own female companion and prepared their own racehorse in advance. Only a few players like Shade decided to participate at the last minute.
Among the contestants was Baron Cobol, an acquaintance of Shade. At the banquet where Shade was knighted, this gentleman had tried to win Shade's northern city, Coldwater Harbor, by playing the Rhodes card game, but instead Shade won five commemorative coins from him, including the pirate's blood money.
Shade greeted the Baron, who was wearing hunting clothes suitable for riding and looked quite professional:
"Knight, who is your female companion?"
The baron asked curiously, and Shad pointed at Princess Ajelina, who was excitedly holding the black horse and waiting for Shad.
Baron Cobol first showed an expression of awe, and then when Shade said that it was Miss Carina who asked him to take Princess Ajelina for a walk, he showed an expression of realization.
At this time, Ajelina had changed out of her cumbersome skirt and was now wearing winter clothes that were convenient for riding. The appearance of the princess naturally attracted people's attention, and when they learned that she was going to participate in the competition with Shade, they all showed understanding expressions.
The rules of this race are simple: start from the gate of Lake View Manor, go around the country road and then return to the starting point. Of course, because the manor is close to Schluch Lake, it goes around in front of the manor.
Although the last rays of sunset were still there, the servants of the manor were already at the fork of the country road, holding kerosene lamps to indicate the direction. At the same time, the servants would hold up a long pole with long colored cardboard strips posted on it. Each piece of paper had a uniform number. When the riders rode by, they or their female companions were required to reach out and pick up the paper.
On the one hand, this is to make the horse race more interesting and test the skills of the riders, and on the other hand, it is to prevent someone from taking shortcuts and cheating to win the race.
Xia De was the last contestant to arrive. After he put on simple protective gear, the competition was ready to begin.
Although there was no seating restriction for the competition, the other gentlemen all tacitly let their female companions sit in front of them, so Ajelina also sat in front of Shad.
When he got on the horse, Xia De said in a low voice with some concern:
"Your Highness, I'm actually not very good at riding horses."
Riding back and forth in Huntington City made him familiar with this sport, but compared with the gentlemen around him who were obviously proficient in this skill, Shade did not have much confidence. Last time at Lemaire Racecourse, he was just lucky, but this time it was not gambling, but just an ordinary banquet game, so Shade still needed to remind the little princess not to hold too high hopes.
"It doesn't matter, Mr. Hamilton, I just enjoy the process of the game."
Ajelina's face flushed with excitement. Shad got on the horse first, and then helped the little princess sit sideways on the saddle in front of him. She was very flexible, but when she sat down in front of Shad, her whole body was shaking. Shad thought she was a little nervous at first, but later thought it might be excitement.
Miss Carina said that the royal heirs of Resia's generation are all good at riding, and Ajelina must be good at riding as well.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please listen to me!"
The person in charge of organizing this competition was a middle-aged steward from Lake View Manor. He wore a thick brown coat and had his hair neatly combed. He was the kind of man who was very serious about his work.
"Safety first. Please do not do anything dangerous while riding. This will delay your enjoyment of the banquet at Lakeview Manor!"
His voice was high, but it still couldn't drown out the music coming from the courtyard.
Although the courtyard was bustling, there were also many onlookers at the entrance of the manor and at the horse racing site where the starting line was drawn. Xia De even heard someone betting on the outcome of the horse race:
"The entire race normally takes ten to fifteen minutes. As long as you complete a week's race, you will receive a small gift from Mr. Iceberg. Yes, everyone will receive one. If you encounter any trouble along the way, please ask for help from the nearby servants. You will leave in the sunset and return here covered in starlight!"
He tried his best to raise his voice, while Ajelina's maid was standing in front of the horse, holding the reins, and whispering to her master about safety. The young maid seemed to be worried about Ajelina's rash participation in such an event, but she did not stop her from doing so:
"Mr. Hamilton, please ensure His Royal Highness's safety."
Finally, he whispered to Shade, then took Shade's cat and carefully stepped aside. Mia didn't like being held by others, but she also knew that it was inconvenient for Shade to carry it while riding a horse, so she whined a few times and then settled down.
The middle-aged butler was now displaying the prizes for the winners of the competition. The winning gentleman would receive a gold-plated brooch, while the winning lady would receive a silver hand mirror with a view of Lakeview Manor on the back.
These prizes were not particularly valuable, but they were good gifts. Shade's opponents were very enthusiastic about it. Baron Brady, who looked the most professional, even jokingly boasted to his female companion that he would definitely be able to win the small mirror for her.
Although Ajelina, who was sitting in front of Shad, said nothing, Shad noticed that Her Royal Highness the Princess seemed to be interested as well.
"The point is, although I have learned to ride a horse, I still have some problems with horse racing."
This time, Shade did not have the Elf Rider Amulet that he had made himself.
"Gentlemen, please pay attention!"
The butler shouted loudly, holding the copper whistle in his mouth. The people watching on both sides of the riders started to discuss loudly, and even the carriages coming from the country road opposite the gate of the manor stopped to wait for the group to set off. The gentlemen and ladies in the carriages leaned out of the windows, smiling at the riders who had already mounted their horses, and waved and cheered when they saw familiar friends.
"Three, two, one!"
The whistle blew, and Baron Brady's chestnut horse rushed out first, followed by the others. Shade didn't rush too fast, and was in the second place in the second echelon.
His hands passed through both sides of Ajelina's body, tightly grasping the reins, and the little princess leaning on him seemed to be smiling at this time.
He couldn't be sure if he had heard it wrong, because when the horses were galloping, the wind was so loud.
"Mr. Hamilton, this feels so good!"
This time I was not mishearing, the little princess was indeed speaking, and her tone was more cheerful than ever before.
"Yes, but the wind seems a little cold. Can you still bear it?"
Shade asked on the bumpy horse's back. The black horse was extremely fast, so Shade, the rider, didn't play a big role. Baron Brady, who was in the front, was approaching the corner of the path. Shade was at least four or five horse lengths away from him. The other party was indeed professional.
"Of course, compared to this temperature, what I yearn for more is the freedom at this moment!"
The princess said, her words only audible to Shade above the rather rhythmic tapping of the horse's hooves.
"Free?"
Only then did Xia De realize that the little princess invited him to the horse racing not just because she wanted to enjoy the banquet.
"Knight, has Sister Leicia told you about me?"
She suddenly asked, Xia De tightened the reins and turned in front, and the servant holding the kerosene lamp was holding the long pole high. Before Xia De reached out, Ajielina took off the paper on it neatly.
"Lecia mentioned it to me."
Shad said, he couldn't see Ajelina's expression at this moment, but he knew that she must be stimulated by today's wedding.
"My sister promised to help me as long as I help her. Sister Leixia is indeed the best sister to me among all my sisters, but I also know that she is also using me."
The little princess' voice was very soft.
There was a curved road ahead, but there was no fork in the road. However, the second horse of the first echelon following Baron Brady somehow failed to run along the path, but rushed into a harvested wheat field on the side.
"Oh, damn it!"
The rider ahead was cursing loudly, trying to stop the horse that had gone the wrong way, and every rider who passed by was laughing.
"Your Highness, do you want me to help you?"
Shade asked, trying to control the horse's route. If he just didn't win first place, it wouldn't be a shame, but if he ran out of the right track and ran into the farmland, then his first step in proving his strength, wisdom and charm tonight would fail.
"Of course not. Why would you think that? I won't involve you in anything like this. I'm not like my sister."
Ajelina asked, and Shad felt her leaning towards him, putting her weight on him:
"Knight, I mean, even in this case, I still want to help you."
"You help me?"
Xia De was a little confused. He didn't think he needed any help:
"She wants to give me pounds? But why would she do that?"
Xia De thought about it, and for a moment he didn't know how to answer. They were both silent, and only the sound of horse hooves was still so clear. When the next fork in the road appeared again, there were three country children beside the servant holding the gas lamp, looking at the people riding horses curiously.
Ajelina seemed to have mustered up her courage and finally spoke out what was in her heart. The wind was very strong, and Shade was so nervous on horseback that his muscles were even a little stiff.
"Yes, Knight. I want to help you and free you from the restraints and threats of Sister Leicia."
"Help me to escape from...Lecia's grasp?"
Xia De never expected this answer. Due to excessive shock, he actually forgot to reach out to pick up the note on the long pole in the servant's hand. Fortunately, Ajielina reached out her hand again and took the note very accurately.
"Yes."
Her profile rested on Shade's clothes:
"Sister Lecia, hasn't she been threatening you? Otherwise, why would you do that kind of thing with her?"
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