Coming of age

The day Lana turned 18 was like any other summer morning. Warm, pleasant, and full of bustle in the Daranhuez family's country house gardens.

Thanks to Lana's maternal great-grandparents, who had started a distribution business in their youth, the Daranhuez family possessed a huge, consolidated, and growing company. In that way, the family had owned a flourishing fortune for two generations. Although they did not have a title, their wealth and resources had nothing to envy the most influential noble family of the empire. So, the name Daranhuez was known even beyond the borders of the kingdom of Antares.

It's a perfect day. Thinking so, Lana stretched her limbs as she spent a second listening to the birds nesting in the enormous acacia tree that grew right next to her window. Even through the closed windows of her room, she could smell the sweet scent of the branches laden with white flower bouquets.

Today, she was coming of age. It was almost incredible, Lana thought. Without wasting another second, she jumped out of bed and snuck into her washroom. On this birthday, she would not get caught by her maids. So, about three minutes later, Lana was already putting on her riding pants and lacing up her newest boots.

Lana then opened the windows wide and breathed in the rich country air. A gust of wind blew into her room, ruffling her dark hair. She had tied her brown, large locks carelessly at the nape of her neck. She looked for a second at the sky painted in various shades of pink and orange and then jumped towards the branch closest to the small balcony.

"This is not a good idea, miss..." Max repeated for the fourth time. In any case, he finished saddling Chaos diligently. For her part, Lana gave a knowing smile to the young stable boy while she rubbed the silver mane of her favorite thoroughbred stallion.

"You haven't seen me, Max. I will take full responsibility for this." The young lady said with a frank tone. Then, she mounted the enormous gray horse. "If father asks, please say I took him out of the stable by myself and saddled him."

"I don't know, miss…"

"Thank you very much, Max!" Lana blurted out and added, shouting as she walked away from there: "¡Ah! Thanks also for the apples."

For his part, Max watched the young lady as she galloped away. ¡For God's sake! Thought Max. Mr. and Mrs. must have had a busy schedule for her. Even the four older brothers had come for the big day. Well, the commotion in the country mansion promised to be particularly noisy. And as if to confirm the man's thoughts, suddenly, a loud call could be heard throughout the estate: "Miss Lana!!"

"Here we go…" Max murmured without suppressing a wide smile. And while shaking his head, he went to take care of the stable.