Princess Mia, Stirring Hearts!

Entrust yourself to the horse, is that right?

The words spoken by the foreign princess caused Goumas heart to well up with a strange sense of nostalgia.

Was there anyone in the entire Equestrian Kingdom whose heart would not be stirred upon hearing those words?

No, there wasnt!

After all, those were the first words of advice given to young children when they learned to ride a horse.

Gouma and his companions were no exception.

Mia proudly declared the most basic of teachings with an expression that showed she wholeheartedly believed in those words.

Thats because this horse, Tofu, knows a lot more about running than I do. And surely it knows how to win better than I do.

Mia said with a very wise look on her face.

I see. If it is Princess Mia, who orchestrated this horse match-up from the Chiefs Meeting, then those words carry weight. In that case, Princess Mia must trust horses just as much as we do.

Gouma felt her childlike innocence reflected in the beginners outfit she wore.

Indeed, it seems likely that someone gave her this outfit when she first learned to ride a horse. Perhaps Princess Mia chose to wear it for this important race so as not to forget the precious feelings from that time.

Gouma was almost convinced by his own argument, but he still felt uneasy about a small question that was niggling at him.

If she had left everything up to the horse, then why did she just give the command to accelerate? That was undoubtedly Princess Mias own decision, and it was extremely well-timed. If they accelerated now, they would soon be able to catch sight of Xiaolei. No matter how good of a horse Rakuro is, there is no way it can keep running at such a pace indefinitely. Thats right. Its something you can understand immediately if you think about it. Princess Mia allowed the Mountain Clan rider to go ahead. That was not just the horses will, but also part of Princess Mias own strategy.

That was Goumas speculation but he couldnt help letting out a groan as he wondered, So what was the strategy?

Princess Mia had probably checked the course of the race on the map. No, she must have definitely checked it. However, it would be her first time actually running it. So, it wouldnt be surprising if she intentionally let her opponent go ahead to observe. No, for someone as wise as her, thats exactly what she would do. That was why, even though she allowed Xiaolei and her horse to get ahead, she wanted to keep them within her line of sight as much as possible. If she lost sight of them, she wouldnt be able to observe.

That was the conclusion Gouma drew.

It means that since the beginning, Princess Mia has been deflecting her opponents provocations and has been able to carry out her plans exactly as intended. I see. Since it is Princess Mia we are talking about, the one who took leadership at the Clan Chiefs Meeting, it is really not strange for her to think that far ahead.

However, even after reaching that conclusion, there was still something that bothered Gouma. And he was not the kind of person who could stop himself from asking about it.

By the way, Your Highness Princess Mia, is there any significance behind your outfit?

Im really curious about Princess Mias beginners clothes. Was it purely for sentimental reasons to not forget her original intentions? Or something more?

Oh, this Hehehe, it was prepared for me by my precious loyal retainer.

Mia replied with a smile.

I was told that I must definitely wear this for the horse match-up. Well, Tofu is a war horse, you see. So it is fine with carrying this much weight.

I see Hmm

Gouma made a difficult expression and began to ponder deeply.

Now, should I honestly believe what this princess is saying? Following the earlier example, this outfit was prepared by her retainer. But at the same time, it aligns with Princess Mias intentions as well. Then, what does it mean?

When he took a look, he found Mia tilting her head in confusion, her innocent expression devoid of any hint of malice.

I wonder what kind of thoughts are going on behind that face. That expression looks almost as if she isnt thinking about anything

Gouma was completely ensnared in the bottomless swamp that was Mia.

Meanwhile, Mia, despite engaging in small talk to pass the time, concentrated on the task at hand. That was to match the movements of Tofu, whose speed had increased and whose vertical movements had intensified. Mia flexed her knees and focused intently to match Tofus rhythm.

It was quite different from riding Kuolan, as Tofus gait was much more straightforward. Matching her movements with Tofus was a simple task for the master of dance, Mia. She simply entrusted herself to the beat of the beautiful orchestra played by Tofu. Mia skilfully maintained her balance, allowing Tofu to gallop freely, a gesture similar to the consideration shown to ones dance partner.

The accompanying riders were all surprised by foreign princess unexpectedly good riding skills.

After exercising for a while, as Mias body gradually warmed up, the refreshing breeze blowing across the grassland felt wonderful.

That summer wasnt particularly hot, so the wind was considerably cool. The gentle breeze carried the rich scent of the green grassland, leaving Mia with a really exhilarating feeling.

Ah Horses are great after all. Hehehe.

If I had known that I could exercise so comfortably, I would have ridden more often. Mia thought.

Okay, lets go! Tofu! Mia let out an excited shout and thats when she saw them!

Far ahead, several shadows appeared on the lush green carpet.

After squinting, she realised that it was Xiaolei and the accompanying riders who had gone ahead.

Hehe, Ive caught up with you, Xiaolei-san. I wont let you get away.

And just like that, Mia awakened! To the thrill of catching up with those who had gone ahead.

It can be nerve-wracking to be chased by someone, but chasing someone is rather fun.

While muttering to herself, Mia continued to pursue Xiaolei and the others.