Chapter 21
The Cecilia in the original story knew how to ride a horse. She had riding clothes ready, and the staff showed no signs of stopping her when she said she would ride.
However, the new soul in this body, Juyeon, had never ridden a horse before. Cecilia, looking down at her soft thighs, finally took a step.
“To be honest, it’s been a long time since I rode, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to do it well. I’m a little scared, Rogerick.”
“Don’t worry, Cecil. You’ll get the hang of it right away. Besides, I wouldn’t let you fall.”
Yes, Rogerick seemed like the kind of person who would really do that.
Cecilia stopped her uncharacteristic hesitation and smiled slightly.
“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”
Cecilia stepped on Rogerick’s thigh and got on the white horse. Her view was suddenly much higher. Her mood seemed to be getting a little better already from the surprisingly clear view.
“How is it, Cecil?”
“…It’s fine.”
Cecilia, who was admiring the scenery, stroked the mane of the white horse she was riding. A natural smile formed on her lips.
The white horse was the most beautiful and intelligent-looking one in the stable. She had liked it from the moment their eyes met.
“Thank you for letting me ride you. I’ll be in your care.”
It was a horse that had been raised kindly and with love. A horse like this would never die.
Cecilia stroked the horse’s mane. A faint, wistful look passed through her purplish-gray eyes.
“Cecil! Shall we get going?”
Rogerick, who was on a larger brown horse, called out.
“Sounds good.”
“Just follow me slowly, alright?”
Cecilia nodded. Giddy-up! With a strong shout, Rogerick’s horse began to move.
Cecilia, who was watching him intently, did the same.
“Giddy-up!”
As she kicked the horse’s side, Cecilia’s horse also began to move.
Fortunately, her body seemed to remember how to ride. Although it required a lot of leg strength, Cecilia felt the horse’s movements quite stably.
‘…This is fun.’
It had been so long since she had such a wholesome hobby.
Cecilia chuckled.
Her body felt itchy from going so slowly. Cecilia gently kicked the horse’s side. The white horse’s speed increased slightly and it caught up to Rogerick.
“See, I knew you’d do well.”
“My body seems to remember.”
“Then, do you want to run a little faster?”
“Sure.”
A playfully smiling Rogerick spurred his horse.
“Giddy-up!”
“…What? You’re going that fast?”
Cecilia, left behind, let out a hollow laugh. But then her eyes changed.
Fueled by a sense of competition, Cecilia shook the reins to increase her speed. The white horse began to gallop. The scenery around her flew by in a blur. Her silver hair, tied in a single ponytail, fluttered in the wind.
It felt good.
Cecilia was smiling without realizing it. Her cheeks were getting flushed. Rogerick often looked back to check if she was following and met her eyes.
That’s when it happened.
The white horse suddenly neighed and lifted its front legs.
“Eek!”
“Cecil!”
A rabbit had suddenly darted out in front of the white horse. The gray rabbit with bloodshot eyes looked more menacing than the ones she had seen in her previous life.
Cecilia braced herself, tensing her entire body. Fortunately, she didn’t fall, but the white horse couldn’t calm down and kept jumping around.
“Cecilia, calm down. It was just startled, so it’ll calm down… Cecil!”
Rogerick’s words were cut short.
The snorting white horse started backing up and then suddenly veered off the path and began climbing a hill.
“Whoa, whoa! Calm down, whoa, whoa!”
“Cecil! Cecilia!”
It was moving incredibly fast. Cecilia lowered her body as much as possible and clung tightly to the white horse. She tried to calm it down, but it was useless.
Rogerick’s voice calling her from behind grew distant. The white horse’s speed got faster and faster. It changed direction so many times that she couldn’t even tell where she was going anymore.
‘Getting this startled… just over a rabbit?’
It was an absurd situation. Shouldn’t the much smaller rabbit be the one to flip out in fear?
She had chosen a horse that was supposed to be gentle, but she didn’t know it was so gentle that its heart was this small.
‘Damn it…!’
Cecilia gritted her teeth. She was losing her strength. If the white horse were to rear up again, she would fall right off.
She had come all this way.
She didn’t want to meet an absurd end by dying from falling off a horse.
“Please! Just stop!”
Her pleas were useless to the white horse. Cecilia lowered her body as much as possible and gripped the reins tightly. Her leg muscles were trembling.
The spring wind, which still had a hint of chill, scraped harshly against her soft cheeks. The altitude was getting higher, and it felt like the air was pressing down on her.
Cecilia barely managed to open her eyes against the fierce wind. At the sight that unfolded, her breath hitched.
“You crazy…!”
The white horse was running toward a cliff.
“Please stop!”
Cecilia pulled on the reins with all her might. But the horse snorted and refused. It only ran forward.
She was really going to die at this rate. There was only one way to increase her chances of survival.
She had to jump off.
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