The Prince Who Loved Me - Chapter 82

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 82

* * *

Before they knew it, the long-awaited race was about to begin.

The horses began lining up behind the gate at the starting point of the track, and the large screen broadcast live footage of the racehorses and jockeys in real time.

Soon, when Sissi appeared on screen, applause and cheers erupted. At that moment, someone threw a sugar cube toward Bada from the paddock near the Royal Box.

Reflexively catching the sugar cube, Bada stared in the direction it had come from.

Then she saw Jacob waving his hand from down below.

“Jacob!”

Jacob was wearing a fine suit instead of his usual checkered shirt and western boots. He took off his top hat and gave an exaggerated bow, then rolled his eyes playfully. This made Bada burst into laughter.

“I’ll cheer for you!”

He gave her two thumbs up as if to say thanks.

At the same time, an announcement echoed throughout the venue.

“We will now begin the Prince of Wexley Stakes race, the highlight of the Sovereign Derby.”

The noisy murmuring of the crowd died down, and the jockeys behind the gate began to tense up. A tension like the calm before a storm hung in the air.

“Gate open.”

As the gate opened with a mechanical signal, thirteen horses burst forth in unison, kicking off the ground.

The thunderous sound of hooves hitting the ground echoed through the racetrack like thunder.

At the same time, thick clouds of dust rose up, and Bada’s heart raced along with the exhilarating gallop of the racehorses.

“Waaaaaaah!”

Bada watched the race in a daze.

‘What a spectacular sight.’

She could feel the dynamic power in the stride of the horses cutting through the wind. The jockeys in their colorful silks maintained perfect form with their bodies raised.

The horses that had been running at similar speeds in the early stage began to gradually spread apart as they reached the middle section.

Amid the back-and-forth competition, Orpheus and Sissi had somehow taken the lead side by side.

Soon, the excited announcer’s voice echoed throughout the venue.

“Only 1 furlong (about 200m) remaining! With 1 furlong to go, Sissi and Orpheus are locked in fierce competition!”

“Waaaaaaah!”

Cheers erupted from the spectator stands at the thrilling race.

* * *

Sissi and Orpheus arrived at the finish line almost simultaneously.

It was impossible to tell with the naked eye which horse had crossed first, causing a stir in the spectator stands.

“What? Who won?”

After a while, the race results were announced following careful video analysis.

“Yes, we announce the race results. By the narrowest margin in Sovereign Derby history, Sissi takes the Stakes victory!”

When the winner was announced, the crowd split between those cheering and those disappointed. Bada stood up from her seat and applauded.

It was her respect for both horses that had given them a nail-biting race until the very end.

‘That was truly an amazing race.’

Soon the screen showed Sissi’s jockey interview followed by footage of owner Jacob.

The reporter asked Jacob various questions.

-Congratulations on your victory! How does it feel to win the trophy at the championship of the Sovereign Derby, one of Europe’s three major derbies?

-For me, someone who watched the Sovereign Derby every year, it feels like a childhood dream has come true. Above all, I’d like to express my gratitude to the Bernhardt Royal Family for inviting us here.

-Transporting horses from America to Bernhardt must have been extremely complicated. Despite that, was there a particular reason you decided to participate in the Sovereign Derby?

-Yes. The complexity of transport and adapting to the grass track and different time zone made for difficult days. But despite those hardships, I had confidence in Sissi’s talent, which made this choice possible.

A smile appeared on Bada’s face as she watched the interview.

‘I know Jacob’s passion for horse racing better than anyone.’

-The name Sissi sounds very cute and lyrical for a racehorse. Does that name have any special meaning?

Jacob hesitated for a moment at the question, then quietly began to speak.

-Actually, I had a customer who came to visit like summer, year after year.

His eyes deepened as if recalling old memories.

-Kentucky summers are very hot and humid, and there’s not even an ocean to cool off in. But thanks to that customer, every summer became a beautiful memory for me.

-…

-But when that customer left, my heart would become lonely like a place where the tide has receded. I don’t know why people always realize something’s value only after it’s gone.

-Wow, that’s a wonderful story. Do you still think of that summer customer often?

Finally, Jacob answered without a moment’s hesitation.

-Of course. Always.

Bada’s eyes wavered endlessly as she watched his interview on screen.

* * *

A few years ago.

At that time, Bada was attending UPenn (University of Pennsylvania) and visited Kentucky with Caroline for summer break.

Burdened by expensive university tuition, Bada was aiming for early graduation.

Therefore, she was busy taking additional classes and doing internships even during summer vacation, but she had made special time thinking of seeing Caroline and Jacob after so long.

The two who got off at the airport drove for quite a while in a jeep before arriving at a magnificent colonial-style house.

It was a mansion that stood alone in a vast field, like something that would appear in the movie ‘Gone with the Wind.’

As they got out of the jeep, Jacob stood at the front entrance with a bright smile, welcoming the two.

“Hey, troublemakers.”

“Jacob!”

Jacob, who had turned twenty-five that year, exuded a much more mature atmosphere.

His well-swept golden-brown hair, sturdy build, and the hearty atmosphere he radiated.

He looked perfect as the heir to a ranch representing the South.

Jacob must have had the same thought seeing Bada, who had turned twenty-one that year, as he ruffled her hair and said.

“You’ve grown a lot, Sissi.”

“You too. The only thing that’s stayed the same seems to be your cowboy hat and checkered shirt outfit.”

“Haha, really?”

He personally carried Bada’s luggage to the guest room. Then he stared down at Bada for quite a while.

“What’s wrong, Jacob?”

“Oh, nothing. Are you tired? Get some rest. Let’s have dinner together in a bit.”

“Oh, okay.”

Unlike his usual self, Jacob walked away like someone who was nervous for some reason.

* * *

After unpacking and resting by the swimming pool, Bada and Caroline took Jacob’s truck toward downtown Louisville.

“By the way, where are we going?”

“A country pub. To celebrate that you guys are now old enough to drink.”

“Wow! That’s a great idea!”

Jacob parked the truck in front of Louisville’s most famous country pub.

Opening the door and entering inside, lively music echoed in their ears.

The strong scent of bourbon whiskey mixed with the smell of bacon and mornay sauce hit their noses.

The three sat at a corner table and watched the customers dressed in western style.

“Alright, today everything’s on me! Order whatever you want.”

“Really? Even alcohol?”

“Of course.”

Until now, Jacob would make a big fuss whenever Bada and Caroline tried to even touch beer, as if something terrible would happen.

Something about alcohol being fatal to kids whose brains were still developing.

With Jacob’s permission, the two excited people began drinking whiskey, Jack and Coke, and tequila to their heart’s content, using Kentucky Fried Chicken as their snacks.

Just then, an amateur comedian began doing a stand-up show in one corner of the pub.

That day was the pub’s open mic day, which meant anyone who wanted to could go up on stage and show off their talents.

Perhaps because they were quite drunk, the three of them burst into laughter even at the unknown comedian’s terrible jokes.

Caroline, who had been holding her stomach and giggling, suddenly slammed the table with her hand as if she had a great idea.

“Jacob! Since we came all this way, sing us a song! Come on!”

His guitar skills were quite impressive, and he would often sing for them whenever they had campfires at the farm.

At Caroline’s words, Jacob waved his hands dismissively, but Caroline persistently tried to convince him, even dragging Bada into it.

“Bada came all the way to Kentucky, so is it really that hard to sing one song for her? Don’t be a spoilsport and sing! Sing!”

“Jacob! Jacob!”

“Okay, okay.”

Defeated by their joint operation, Jacob stood up from his seat as if surrendering.

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