The Horse

"Is Radford inside?" Trey asked as he saw Bree emerging from the tent.

"No, he left early this morning," Bree answered softly.

Apart from being a lie, Bree felt a bit hesitant because she could see that her father still looked angry. The events of last night had surely dealt a serious blow to him. Bree wasn't surprised if her father would soon be angry with her. Even though she defended Rad earlier, deep down, she knew she was also at fault in that challenge.

"Where is he?" Trey continued to inquire about Rad.

Bree shook her head, knowing it was impossible to know exactly where Rad was. The last time she saw him, he was grabbing a sword.

"I need to find him and apologize," Trey said, sounding regretful now.

Bree lowered her head even further, playing with her fingers. "I'm sorry." Trey sighed in response to Bree's muttered apology.

"Amber is the one at fault, but you shouldn't let your emotions take over and suggest challenges like that. You're usually calmer, Bree. This is not like you." Trey didn't scold her further. He just sounded tired.

"I was just upset at that moment, so... that's how it happened." Bree concealed her change in demeanor with the excuse of emotions, and Trey understood.

"Well, I understand. You must have been jealous hearing another woman want your husband."

"Yeah... Yes, that's it."

Bree quickly agreed before anyone could push her to argue against that statement. Her father's assumption was reasonable and something she had to accept, and it was better than the real reason. Bree being jealous of Amber might be uncomfortable, but it was more plausible.

"I hope you won't embarrass yourself like this again, Bree. It's not appropriate. I'm glad Rad didn't get angrier." Trey stroked Bree's hair, who nodded in response.

"I actually planned to stay in Marseilles a bit longer, but because of this issue, I'll take Amber home as soon as we get back to Rad's castle. She's quite disgraceful."

Bree looked up at her father with a shocked expression. Bree just received another surprise because, in the previous timeline, Amber stayed at Rad's castle. They arrived together, but Trey returned alone while Amber stayed, citing that she liked Marseilles. An explanation that Bree had believed at the time. The reality didn't unfold as expected. It was different. Another difference made Bree think hard again.

"What else will change later?" Bree pondered anxiously, then looked up again when she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder.

"Forgive your sister. I think she's just upset because she realized she was wrong in rejecting the marriage."

Bree nodded appropriately, still confused by the differences in the current reality. She kept wondering about what she should do now.

"Are you ready? We might leave soon. They've packed everything." Trey pointed to the servants who were dismantling the tents and packing them up.

"Yes... Yes. Aima has arranged everything. I just have to ride the horse." Aima had packed all her belongings since sunrise and prepared Bree to ride again.

"We'll ride together. I'll take a horse later." Trey pointed in another direction, where his horse was.

The horse had been idle because Trey accompanied Amber in the carriage. Bree nodded understandingly. Her father was still angry with Amber and decided not to accompany her in the carriage anymore.

Bree memorized this side of her father. He would withdraw until he calmed down before he could talk to Amber again after this.

"I'll ride Briar by your side." Bree said. Trey smiled and gave her a thumbs up.

"Good. Now, I can see your figure more clearly while riding. I'm sure it'll be beautiful."

Trey then patted Bree's head with a wide smile, and Bree was relieved to see that smile again, even if it wasn't perfect yet. Although her father was not fully happy, he felt better.

***

"You're really amazing," Trey praised enthusiastically. The compliment was for Rad, not Bree.

Trey fixed his eyes on the neatly arranged vegetable garden. Rows upon rows were efficient, and all looked flourishing. However, some vegetable patches were left empty as winter supplies were harvested from them.

"You even prepared a place to store the harvest and preserve it."

Trey praised again, pointing to the large barn on the edge of the plantation. There, he observed how Rad preserved vegetables in covered containers to extend their shelf life.

"It would be pointless if we had a lot of harvest but couldn't store it for long. And this doesn't just apply to vegetables and wheat. We also dry fish for the coming winter."

Rad added more information to make sure Trey understood the importance of food storage. Many regions often overlooked the importance of food storage, but they sold excess food, gaining gold. However, there would come a time when people could no longer exchange gold for food. Rad only sold the surplus. He didn't blindly pursue easy money.

Trey nodded in understanding, taking note of this in his mind. He was learning a lot today.

"I'm now even more convinced that you're smart, Rad." Trey's praise seemed endless.

"Whether I am intelligent or not, my only concern is ensuring that everyone has sufficient food. That's the most important thing for me. I don't want anyone to go hungry."

"And well-fed inhabitants are a sign of prosperity, Rad. Your priorities are correct. Since yesterday, I haven't seen a single person in Marseilles who looks thin or malnourished. I only see robust and healthy bodies. You've really succeeded in prospering Marseilles."

Trey pointed to the crowd gathering the harvest. Their faces and bodies looked very healthy. Not only men but also women and their children. The children who ran around helping as much as they could looked lively and healthy. Marseilles truly seemed to be self-sufficient.

"Too bad."

"What's too bad?"

Rad turned back, as the one expressing the regret was Bree. Trey followed Rad's gaze to Bree. He didn't hear anything, of course.

"Uh... That..." Bree looked nervous under Trey and Rad's gazes.

Since morning, she has been riding Briar behind them, as planned in the morning. And that was the first sentence Bree had uttered since they set off. No wonder Trey and Rad seemed interested.

In fact, Bree accidentally said it loudly. Bree regretted that Rad's mean attitude accompanied all of his outstanding qualities. He's handsome and a great leader, but unfortunately, he's cold and doesn't appreciate women.

"I'm regretting we'll be leaving this beautiful area soon," Bree quickly uttered a false excuse. She couldn't be honest.

"Oh... Yeah, it feels like a pity," Trey agreed and turned his gaze back to the front, while Bree let out a sigh of relief.

She didn't see how Rad was still looking at her. Evaluating, suspecting why Bree seemed uneasy.

"Are we going back to the castle now?" Trey asked.

Rad nodded. "Yes."

This visit was over, and Trey had gotten what he wanted. Rad waved to Edmond, who nodded in understanding.

Edmond raised his sword as a signal for all the members of the entourage on horseback to move faster. They had been moving slowly since Trey wanted to observe everything in detail.

"We'll ride." Bree stroked Briar's neck, smiling.

Bree had been waiting for this. Since morning, she has grown tired of riding slowly on the horse. She preferred riding when the horse was running. Bree liked the refreshing wind on her face.

Following Edmond's signal, Bree pulled the reins and kicked Briar's side gently to make her move faster.

"HIEEEE!"

Bree kicked gently, but suddenly, Briar neighed, lifting her front legs. Luckily, Bree managed to grab the saddle tightly to avoid falling backward. As Briar's front legs landed, the horse kicked and ran like lightning, passing through Mir and Trey's horses.

"BREE!"

Rad's voice could be heard shouting, but it was faint because Briar kept going fast, making it difficult for Bree to control.

Briar was now running outside the road, heading straight for the river—aquite wide river.