My High School Nerd Rival - Chapter 73

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 73
Ivy stepped off the bus clutching her Riding Boots.
The bus ride had taken only forty minutes or so, yet the air pressing into her lungs felt entirely different.
Grass and earth and hay carried on the wind.
Across the broad meadow stretching beneath the high sky, a few horses grazed at pasture.
A smile bloomed unbidden at the peaceful sight.
Though it lasted only a moment.
Because the copper plaque gleaming directly ahead, with its embossed crown, sent her an unmistakable warning.
The Royal Equestrian Center.
Countless people here knew Evelyn’s face. Being noticed would be trouble.
‘Of course, it wasn’t just them.’
Ivy’s awareness snagged on Cyrus, visible some distance away.
‘Why on earth did he choose Horsemanship of all things?’
When he had any number of sports he could excel at instead.
Still, she didn’t particularly want to catch his eye either.
The one saving grace was the certainty that he felt the same way.
“Welcome, students.”
A middle-aged Instructor in riding boots and a Riding Crop at her hip approached and offered them a greeting.
At that soft yet austere voice, the students’ chatter died away.
“First, please change into your riding clothes. The Changing Room is inside the Main Building.”
The students streamed toward the red brick structure she indicated, and Ivy quickly followed their wake.
As she stepped into the Lobby, coolness seeped beneath her loose uniform.
When the other students began glancing about, Ivy silently offered a prayer.
Because there, alongside various trophies, hung photographs commemorating the visits of royal dignitaries.
One of them held a younger Ivy, making a show of primness.
Mercifully, the students were too busy chattering among themselves to pay any mind to these dusty historical relics.
A mercy indeed. She hoped it would continue.
The Changing Room, divided by gender.
A groaning wooden bench sat at its center, with neat rows of small lockers on either side.
The girls chattered away beside their friends as they pulled breeches and shirts from their bags.
“Don’t these feel like they’re clinging too much?”
One girl pulled a face.
“That’s just how they are. Don’t worry about it.”
Another girl offered comfort,
noting that it couldn’t be helped if one wanted to learn proper posture.
Ivy changed into her clothes and regarded herself in the mirror.
Perhaps the loose uniform had grown too familiar, but the Riding Habit that traced her silhouette felt oddly strange.
Now she picked up the hair tie. Just tying her hair and she’d be done.
But she hesitated.
Her face would be fully visible. Would that be all right?
No, it wouldn’t be all right. But there was no alternative. If she obscured her vision inside the Helmet, the Instructor would point it out immediately, and that would draw far more attention.
‘Once I have the Helmet on, it should be fine.’
Ivy took a breath and tied her hair low.
“Ivy, you look so pretty.”
Once she’d finished, a girl from the same dormitory approached and stood beside her at the mirror.
“What?”
Ivy flustered and quickly waved a hand in protest.
Pretty about what.
“Just… you know.”
Ivy quickly shut her locker, grabbed her Gloves, and slipped out of the Changing Room.
The door on the far side of the entrance was already standing wide open.
The passage to the Stable and the Arena beyond. The dull sound of hooves striking sand drifted in.
The students who’d finished changing were gazing in that direction, their conversation brimming with anticipation.
All except Cyrus.
Where was he?
She’d barely made a circuit of the Main Building when a single silhouette caught her eye.
It was absolutely not because the Riding Habit suited him so well. Nor because the shoulders usually buried in a hoodie were rendered unusually sharp and defined.
It was merely that she noticed him studying the trophies in the Lobby with peculiar intensity.
Her photograph was among them, after all.
She watched as Cyrus shifted a few paces toward the wall.
She couldn’t tell how much he’d seen. Anxiety was mounting with each passing moment when the Instructor returned and called everyone to assemble.
Ivy let out a breath of relief—and at that very moment, Cyrus turned and their eyes met directly.
Had he caught her watching?
‘No, no—I wasn’t exactly spying or anything…!’
Before Ivy could compose herself, he turned away first.
“…….”
As it should be.
* * *
Following the Instructor out from the Main Building, they immediately entered the Stable.
As they stepped into the Stable corridor, her field of vision narrowed. Dust drifted slowly through the slanted light filtering between roof gaps.
From the horses lining both sides came their characteristically warm scent. Some of the students grimaced, but for Ivy it felt infinitely familiar.
Though she couldn’t show it, so she made a show of absently touching her nose with a contrived awkwardness.
“Follow me and observe the horses on both sides. You may approach closer, but I ask that you refrain from extending your hands abruptly.”
Before the Instructor had even finished speaking, one boy, overcome with excitement, crowded up directly in front of a horse.
“Whoa, they’re huge.”
When the horse stepped back nervously, the Instructor immediately checked him.
“Do I need to repeat myself?”
As the chastened boy rejoined the group, the Instructor demonstrated the proper approach to a horse.
Slowly extending the back of her hand, giving the animal time to become familiar with her presence.
As always, most of the students paid attention, though a few were too busy whispering to listen properly.
Not that this was a review competition for horse temperament. Far from it.
Ivy stood at the very rear of the group, simply observing the horses.
The expressions visible above the stall gates varied. Half-lidded eyes, bored. Ears pricked forward with curiosity. Backs turned, focused entirely on hay.
By now they were approaching the end of the Stable, and Ivy felt the insides of her Gloves growing damp.
“These belong to the Royal household.”
The Instructor spoke more quietly.
This time it wasn’t instruction. It was almost a warning.
“They have difficult temperaments. Don’t approach them carelessly.”
These horses were noticeably different. Their build, the gleaming coat, the beautiful lines where muscle showed subtly beneath—
Even someone ignorant of horses would recognize that they carried an exceptional Bloodline.
The students grew quiet as they passed.
Though, as before, not all of them heeded the warning.
The same boy from earlier couldn’t resist curiosity and reached his hand toward the innermost stall.
Thwack.
The horse’s teeth bared as it brought a hoof down hard against the gate. The boy jumped back in shock, and sharp cries echoed from nearby.
“That’s precisely why I told you to be careful.”
The Instructor’s voice grew sharper, and Ivy felt her heart clench.
The horse that had just shown such a violent reaction.
It was her.
The one she and Owen had messaged about.
Coal-black coat with a thin white stripe running down the center of her forehead. From the moment they first met, this beautiful animal had captured Ivy’s heart and shown her patience.
Nix.
Though naturally sharp-tempered, she had been surprisingly gentle with Ivy from the start.
But she wouldn’t normally react so violently to someone merely approaching—which meant…
‘She’s been lonely.’
Since Ivy had started school, she’d been unable to visit as often.
Owen had told her the staff cared for Nix well, but it wasn’t Ivy’s hands.
‘I’m sorry.’
Ivy apologized silently.
All the other students had passed carefully. Nix, offended, had her ears pinned back and wouldn’t even look in their direction.
Following the others, Ivy was the last to pass in front of the stall.
She lowered her gaze and quickened her pace. She had to just pass through.
But then she felt movement within the stall.
Ears pricked forward, and a head slowly turned. Toward Ivy.
Their eyes met.
“…….”
All the hostility that had filled those dark eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by something altogether different.
‘Oh….’
She’d recognized her.
Despite Ivy wearing Glasses and looking somewhat different.
And suddenly, though she’d always been wary of being recognized, a warm flutter moved through her chest.
The horse took a step closer, extended her neck over the gate, and brought her muzzle toward Ivy with a soft, contented nickering.
Ivy’s hand moved of its own accord.
But it stopped before touching that black nose.
She couldn’t.
There were too many people here.
If a horse that was difficult with everyone became gentle only with Ivy…
‘…I’m sorry.’
Ivy forced her hand down.
Pouring an apology she couldn’t speak into her eyes.
She had to turn away now and follow the others. If she lingered any longer here, she’d draw attention again.
Ivy forced herself to look away from those dark eyes and turned to take a step forward.
It’s all right. I can go now.
Except…
Rustle.
Her shirt cuff was pulled back. She looked and found the horse gently holding the fabric between her lips.
Not pulling hard. Simply holding it.
Don’t go.
It was a soft plea, but Ivy froze completely.
If she called for help or yanked her shirt free, she risked hurting Nix. But she also couldn’t gently stroke and soothe the horse into releasing the fabric—
Because Ivy Underwood was a student for whom Horsemanship was entirely new.
‘W-what do I….’
Meanwhile, the distance between her and the other students kept widening.
Helpless, Ivy turned back to the horse as a footstep approached from behind.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————