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The stables had already been thoroughly inspected. The horses were fed and groomed, ready for the day’s festivities. The four children chattered excitedly, each tending to their own mount while exchanging lively remarks about the grand occasion.
Despite Sylvia’s fall from favor, Cecil seemed entirely unaffected. His face was bright with a cheerful smile.
Naturally, Sylvia was present as well. No matter how she was treated within the harem, she remained, in the eyes of the public, Cecil’s mother and an esteemed concubine of the kingdom.
However, Jeanette had been too unwell to make the journey and had remained behind.
Leading their horses out for a short ride, Cecil decided to test himself. Previously, he had always required assistance to mount. Today, he attempted the feat alone. To his delight, he succeeded in swinging himself onto his horse’s back without aid.
His face lit up with triumph. “Connor, Caden, Ryan! Look at me! I did it all by myself!”
His exuberance was infectious. The others doubled over with laughter and showered him with praise.
“That’s only because your horse is smaller. If you could mount any of ours, then I’d be impressed,” Caden said with a smile, clenching his hand inside his pocket.
Cecil’s competitive nature flared at once. Sliding off his horse, he strode determinedly toward Ryan’s mount.
In truth, there was not much difference in height between their horses, though Ryan’s and Connor’s were slightly taller. But the challenge lay elsewhere-the other horses did not recognize Cecil as their master and showed signs of resistance.
Still, the young boy refused to be deterred. He made several attempts, undaunted by failure. At last, he managed to hoist himself onto Ryan’s horse. His face shone with triumph as he took the reins.
“See? Ryan’s horse likes me—I did it!” he announced proudly.
The horse, however, continued to prance about in mild agitation, unaccustomed to the unfamiliar rider.
Worried about a potential disaster, Ryan stepped forward at once. “All right, we acknowledge your skill. You should come down now.”
Reaching up, he lifted Cecil from the saddle before any mishap could occur.
Still unsatisfied, Cecil made it his mission to try every horse in turn, leaving Connor’s for last. Having successfully mounted each steed, he turned to Caden with an impish grin.
“Well, Caden, do you yield now?” he asked cheekily.
Caden stepped forward, reaching out to lift his brother down. “I concede defeat. Our dear younger brother is nothing if not nimble.”
He attempted to lower Cecil to the ground, but the boy was heavier than expected. It took Caden two or three tries to manage it properly. Just before Ryan could step in to assist, he finally steadied himself and set Cecil down safely.
“You little imp, you’re heavier than you look,” Caden said with a chuckle, though his fingers trembled faintly.
Cecil lifted his chin, beaming with pride. “That’s because I eat a lot. Mom says the more I eat, the taller I’ll grow. One day, I’ll be as tall as Uncle Rafael.”
Connor nodded eagerly. “I don’t just want to be as tall as Uncle Rafael, I want to be as skilled as he is too. T master my martial arts training, learn Strategy from him next. One day, I go to war and lead troops into battle.”
To them, Rafael was a hero-a figure of legend. They longed to follow in his footsteps, to one day prove themselves worthy of the same renown.
Caden turned his gaze toward his elder brother, lips parting slightly as if to speak, but hesitated and cast his eyes downward. He had always thought Connor’s talent for combat was middling at best, and that he might never set foot on a battlefield.
But after today, Connor may not even be able to stand.
The thought of his proud, spirited brother being crippled sent a pang of unease through Caden. His fingers curled unconsciously as his eyes flickered toward the saddle. Earlier, when lifting Cecil down, he had taken the opportunity to slip the caltrop into place.
Now, regret gnawed at him. Should he retrieve it?
He had been careful-using his body as a shield when he planted it, ensuring the guards had seen nothing. Connor and Ryan had been too preoccupied with laughter to notice either. But retrieving it now would be far more difficult.
As Caden wavered in indecision, a cheerful voice cut through his thoughts.
“Your Highnesses, my lord.” Galen approached with a respectful bow, flanked by attendants. “His Majesty bids you make haste. The riding competition is about to begin.”
Connor tensed instinctively, nervousness creeping in once more.
Ryan reached for his hand, offering a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry, we’ve got this.”
Connor took a deep breath, nodding firmly. “Right!”
Sophie was especially busy today. Her presence was felt throughout the palace grounds, as she hurriedly moved from one task to the next. Now, she was back at the racetrack, overseeing the arrangements and ensuring everything was in order.
The equestrian competition was set to begin shortly. A large group of military officers and young men from noble families had already gathered outside the track. All of them held their horses, eagerly awaiting their turn.
The event itself was straightforward each rider was to complete three laps around the track. At intervals, two-foot-high hurdles would be placed in their path, and each rider would need to leap their horse over the barriers without knocking them down. The winner would be the first to complete all three laps.
In truth, calling it a “competition” was somewhat of an exaggeration.
For well-trained horses and skilled riders, the two-foot barriers posed little challenge. But the height had been chosen specifically for the three royal princes, or more precisely, for Connor and Caden, as Cecil might not participate. If he did, Sophie had already arranged for someone to lead his horse in the event.
According to the schedule, the princes would only race after all the other competitors had finished their rounds. This was a decision made by Salvador, ensuring his sons would have a chance to watch the more experienced riders go first.
As they waited in the staging area, the princes would watch the horses gallop, and feel the rush of excitement and anticipation. Perhaps they would even feel the thrill of wanting to ride themselves.
The competition was not just about the event itself, but about the emotions they would experience along the way-the tension, the adrenaline, and the eager desire to soon take their turn.
Salvador and the officials were already seated in an elevated viewing box, which offered the perfect vantage point to observe the race in full. Rafael and Jeremiah sat next to the king. As for the women of the harem, they were led by Kylie and seated on the opposite side, a respectful distance from the men, separated by a small section of space.
At the center of the track, a large drum had been set up, its blue velvet covering fluttering in the wind. On either side of the drum stood Thomas and Tyler, the judges of the event.
Sophie stood in the field, but she positioned herself just in front of the high platform where Salvador sat. While the chances of an assassin being present were slim, it was always better to be cautious.
With where she was standing, she would be in a prime position to intervene immediately if any threat to the king arose.
Ryan and the three princes arrived with their horses. They stood at the back of the line, waiting for the other competitors to finish their rounds before they took their turn.
The tension in the air was palpable, with even Ryan feeling sweat gathering in his palms. The scale of the event was overwhelming, especially with the sandy track and the imposing hurdles. The whole competition weighed like a heavy pressure on everyone involved.
But the greatest pressure, without a doubt, came from the spectators in the elevated viewing box.
Kylie was also feeling the weight of the moment. She kept casting anxious glances toward the staging area, but was unable to spot Connor among the others. When Salvador had been accepting congratulations from his ministers, Kylie had hoped to send someone to fetch Connor. However, both the Mystic Army and the guards had informed her that Victoria had given strict orders to not disturb Connor.
Frustrated, Kylie ground her teeth, powerless to do anything. She could only wonder about Connor’s current state. Was he confident, or would he be overwhelmed with nerves?
She feared a repeat of the Verdant Hunt incident. If he lost the race and broke into tears, how would that be handled?
If that happened, the name of the crown prince written in the royal edict would likely be changed.