Chapter 42: Precious Side Eye

Chapter 42: Precious Side EyeAriana’s heart leapt in her chest as she shut her eyes tightly. The wind slapped against her body, sharp and cold—a brutal reminder of the danger she was in. "Mummy didn’t mean any of this, child," She braced herself for the inevitable crash. But it never came. At the very last second, the horse veered sharply, reacting as if guided by instinct alone. Ariana gasped, clinging tighter. The movement was smooth yet fierce—controlled, not panicked. Her hair whipped across her face, stinging her cheek. For a moment, it felt as though Snow—the—horse—was scolding her. ’Don’t pull like that next time.’ Ariana’s eyes flashed with disbelief. This horse was truly something else. She knew the horse was experienced—the way it turned so naturally proved it. Ariana blew gently on her lower lip, trying to sweep away the hair that had slapped her face. She couldn’t afford to take any risks by pushing her hair backward—no falling, no tumbling to the ground. To her surprise, the horse moved swiftly and smoothly beneath her. Her breath caught as a sweet rush of excitement washed over her. The trees at the far edge blurred past in a streak of green, while the fresh air kissed her skin. It was almost too good to be true. The horse began to slow, its movements graceful, before coming to a smooth stop exactly where it had taken off. Ariana’s smile widened in awe at its smartness and unmatchable grace, feeling a rush of pride. If she hadn’t taken that leap of faith, she wouldn’t have experienced the thrill of the ride—even though she could have faced a brutal crash. She’d still be sitting there atop the horse, frozen in place, listening to Daniel’s endless instructions. ’Maybe I could pull it off again after all...’ Before she could finish that thought— "Heeeio hoo!" The horse flicked its mane, turning its head sideways and giving her a sharp side-eye—like a diva warning her not to test its patience. Try that again, and see what happens. Ariana’s lips opened and closed in awe at its graceful demeanor. This horse was really from a royal family. She caressed its neck, realizing she was falling in love with this spirited creature. Unbeknownst to her, two figures nearby held their breath—tense but relieved that she was safe. They’d nearly risked their own heads just watching her. "Q... Queen Ariana, please, that’s enough for today," Leah spoke gently, stepping closer, much quieter now, scared she might pull again. The Moon Goddess must have saved her now, Leah thought. But who knew if the same luck would hold next time? This was her chance to tell Ariana to come down—she didn’t intend to waste it. After all, opportunity comes but once. This was Leah’s opportunity to save her own neck. To Leah’s surprise, Ariana shook her head and tightened her grip on the reins. Leah’s eyes widened. "My Queen, please let go of the reins and come down." At that moment, Ariana looked like a child reaching for fire—caught between the irresistible pull and the voice of caution. Leah reached out, knowing she would have to convince her gently not to get burned. Ariana finally nodded. Daniel quickly dismounted. He had originally planned to chase after her, but realized that would only scare her and make her grip tighter. His heart, which had been swallowed by shock, was finally freed. Thank heavens they brought this horse. She lifted one leg, placing it gently on the pedal, then stepped down slowly and carefully. Daniel moved to steady her waist, but before he could, Ariana steadied herself with quiet grace. She then moved to the horse and gently patted its head. "Bye bye. See you tomorrow, Snow," she said, even though she knew it couldn’t hear her thoughts. Still, she felt its tail flick up before falling down again. Her lips curved into a soft smile. Daniel couldn’t help but feel impressed. He hadn’t expected her to manage so well—he had been sure there would be a crash. But somehow, she had unknowingly kept everything under control. Ariana noticed the worried look on Leah’s face and wondered what had caused such concern. If only she knew she was the reason Leah finally released the breath she’d been holding. "Is there a problem?" Ariana signed, her hands moving gently, concern creeping onto her face. "No... everything is settled now," Leah replied calmly as her breathing steadied. Daniel approached with a respectful bow. "It was my pleasure to guide you. There will be another training session tomorrow. If there are any changes on your part, we can adjust accordingly." Ariana nodded with a smile, though she had no intention of changing anything. Very well then. I will be hoping to see you tomorrow, she signed gracefully. Daniel bowed again. "Have a wonderful day. May the Moon Goddess guide your path." Ariana responded with a poised nod, and she and Leah began walking out of the field. This time, Leah made sure to stay a little behind. Having acted out of turn earlier, she knew that if this had been any other royal, she might have been dismissed just for walking ahead of the Queen. Ariana turned toward her and signed, Where is little Jack? I haven’t seen him in days. Is something wrong? A soft smile curled on Leah’s lips as she signed back gently, ’Queen Ariana, I apologize if you were worried. The truth is, he was given a three-day holiday from his local learning lodge. The day you met him was actually the last day of his break. Since today is Saturday, he isn’t attending classes—he’s in the garden right now.’ Ariana’s lips curved into a bright smile, excitement bubbling within her. She quickly signed, "Take me to him." Leah gave a small nod and walked beside Ariana, silently praying that her son wouldn’t say anything that might get her into trouble. Children had a strange way of doing the opposite of what they were told—they were just so unpredictable. They walked away from the field and into the garden area, where a small figure could be seen chasing a butterfly. The way he moved tugged at Ariana’s heart, warmth blooming in her chest. She stepped forward, not minding that she was still in her horse-riding outfit. The boy turned at the sound of her approach. His eyes lit up with joy. "Queen!" he squealed, running toward her. A soft smile played on Ariana’s lips. But instead of jumping into her arms, the boy came to a halt and placed a hand over his chest, bowing respectfully like a perfect little gentleman. Ariana stared at him in disbelief. She wanted to blow Leah a kiss right then and there for raising such a well-mannered child. Leah might not see it, but she was truly doing a wonderful job raising him right. "A meet you pleasure," the boy signed clumsily. Ariana’s body stilled, her heart skipping. His signs weren’t perfect, but she understood—he was trying to say "A pleasure to meet you." That alone astonished her. His bright, curious eyes stared up at her, and her smile widened. She slowly bent down, ruffling his hair affectionately before straightening back up and raising her hand to sign, ’Thank you.’ The boy jumped with joy, his eyes shining. "Mama! The Queen says thank you! Mama, Mama!" he called out, bouncing and clapping excitedly. Leah couldn’t help but smile at her son’s cuteness. Ariana stood there, half expecting him not to understand her signs, yet marveling at the fact that he did. She was both thrilled and touched. One thing was certain—this boy would grow up to be someone great. He was truly special. "Yes, she did," Leah smiled softly as she looked at her son—the very boy she often kept hidden within the palace walls, afraid she’d get into trouble for bringing him along because of her work. She still remembered what had happened with the last maid. Her son had been present in the kitchen the day a plate went missing. At the time, suspicion fell on the maid, and she was dismissed without question. It was only after her removal that the truth was discovered—the maid in charge had been the real thief. But no one called the dismissed woman back. Pride wouldn’t let them admit their mistake or offer an apology. Instead, they quietly granted the son a full scholarship to Royal High, praising the mother’s supposed "good deed" as the reason. All of it... just because they couldn’t bring themselves to say a simple "sorry." Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of plucking flowers. Her eyes narrowed. Oh no. Her son... she was in trouble. "This is for you, Queen," the boy’s soft voice rang out as he held out a flower. Ariana couldn’t help but smile warmly as she accepted it, giving a graceful curtsy in return. The boy’s smile widened, revealing his tiny teeth—all in place except for the upper ones, which only made him look even cuter. "Mama says giving flowers is a way to show joy and happiness. She also says they have many different meanings, Queen," he said proudly. Ariana nodded, touched by the gesture, and moved her hands to sign, Thank you. "You are very much welcome, Queen!" he chirped. "I told you I was going to learn your mermaid language—and I did! Mummy taught me!" Leah’s jaw almost dropped. Yes, she had told her son that—but she never expected his first attempt would be plucking flowers from the royal garden. Ariana turned her gaze toward Leah, her heart swelling with even more admiration. She signed, "What a well-trained boy you have here." Leah bowed in gratitude. She was happy—so happy she could hardly believe the Queen herself had just spoken to her so kindly. Still, Leah silently prayed her son wouldn’t say anything out of place. But it seemed she had spoken too soon. "Queen," Jack began, his voice innocent and honest, "I told my teacher I met you when she asked for an example of royals in a castle... and they all laughed at me. Why do they think I’d lie about that?" Ariana’s face fell slightly, a soft pang in her chest at the sadness in his tone. His expression dimmed for a moment, before he quickly replaced it with a cheerful smile. "But it doesn’t matter," he said with a bright gleam in his eyes, "as long as I see you..." He paused. Leah, watching nervously, mentally facepalmed. Please, not another word, she begged silently. This boy is becoming more of a chatterbox by the second. "Right, Queen? When I come here—as long as you’re not busy—I’ll meet you again?" Ariana nodded gently, touched. The boy’s smile widened even more. One thing was certain: she would pay a visit to that school soon—and prove to every one of them that he had been telling the truth. "Mama, see? I told you she’s a mermaid! Now we just have to find the merman!"