Chapter 10
“Your Highness, it’s been a while. I hope you have been keeping well.”
“Yes, I’m glad to see you well too, Dean Lampman.”
It was Dean Lampman.
After exchanging the slightly awkward greetings, Lampman took a seat next to Diana in the VIP section.
Since the day of their argument, this was their first meeting. The uncomfortable silence around them made Diana silently hope that Jerome would return soon.
“Of all times, he’s not here… Did he go to make snacks or something? Why isn’t he back yet?”
As she muttered her complaints, the players finally began entering the stadium one by one to warm up.
“…Why is Ian over there?”
Seeing Ian enter the field, Diana, forgetting her discomfort, asked Lampman.
“I heard Lord Leheights is also participating today.”
“Wasn’t this supposed to be just a friendly match among Polo Club members?”
“It’s a friendly match. Even if someone isn’t a member, as long as they’re still a student, they can participate. He is still a student, so there’s no problem. But why do you ask?”
“…Oh, it’s nothing. I received the player list in advance, but I don’t remember seeing Ian’s name on it.”
“I understand that the Polo Club extended the invitation to him. He had declined for a long time, but for some reason, two days ago, he suddenly accepted.”
“…Two days ago… That was the same day I announced I would attend the match.”
“Either way, having Lord Leheights participate will be good in many ways,” Lampman added.
Diana didn’t quite catch his meaning until she noticed the reaction of the crowd as Ian entered.
“…People seem happy about it.”
“Yes. The more people who come to watch a charity match, the better.”
No wonder there were so many female spectators.
Diana propped her chin on her hand, trying to appear indifferent.
But no matter how hard she tried to ignore him, Ian kept entering her line of sight.
Watching him ride his proud white horse and gallop energetically while warming up was enough to capture the attention of everyone present—Diana was no exception.
“I also like riding. If I get the chance, I’d like to try polo too.”
She tried to look at the other players but failed, so she deliberately turned to Lampman.
“You like riding?”
“Yes, I’ve grown fond of it.”
When he narrowed his brows as if questioning her, Diana answered in an intentionally cheerful tone.
“Then you should give it a try.”
“Excuse me?”
Lampman’s voice carried both teasing and provocation.
“If Your Highness demonstrates, today’s event will shine even more.”
Then he immediately signaled someone.
“Prepare a horse for Her Highness.”
“No, suddenly—”
As Diana flustered, she felt a gaze from the field. Turning, she met Ian’s eyes. He smiled at her, as if teasing, ‘Didn’t expect to meet me here, did you?’
When she scowled, he seemed even more amused.
At that moment, the horse Ian was riding—Yan—seemed to notice Diana and suddenly began running toward her. Ian’s panicked voice reached her as he tried to calm the horse.
As Yan ran up to the VIP section, Diana, happy to see him, stood and reached out over the railing.
“Dean Lampman.”
Petting Yan’s head, she turned to Lampman.
“I don’t think we need to prepare a horse for me after all.”
“Are you really okay with this? Should I ride behind you?”
Diana, wearing a riding outfit instead of proper match gear, was asked by Ian with concern.
“Didn’t you see how I ride? Was it not me who took you to the western forest, but another man?”
Ian smiled in defeat and stepped closer to her.
“I’m just worried you might get hurt.”
He carefully adjusted the strap under her chin, and Diana watched him quietly. Then she spoke:
“…I might get hurt, indeed.”
Perhaps Lampman was hoping for that.
She couldn’t say she knew all of Lampman’s intentions, but she could tell that he wanted to make her compare herself to Louis.
Louis was skilled at polo, even at a professional level, and had performed in friendly matches like this multiple times. He was an outstanding crown prince, highly popular in the kingdom.
“But avoiding it because I can’t do it isn’t my style either,” Diana said, gripping the polo mallet and curling her lips into a confident smile.
“….”
Ian watched her determined smile silently and took her hand.
Unexpectedly, he gently wrapped his hand over hers. Diana looked at him with wide eyes.
“….”
“Like this.”
Correcting the way she held the mallet, Ian met her gaze.
“You have to hold it long. Like this.”
The subtle intensity in his eyes reminded her of the previous ball, though this was even more lingering.
She still felt nervous when meeting his eyes, but this time, she didn’t look away.
Ian surely knew she recognized the boundary she had drawn. She hadn’t planned to cross it yet, but the moment she showed a crack, he would not hesitate to cross it.
To not be pulled in this delicate tug-of-war, she needed to stay alert.
After their tense eye contact, he stepped back first.
“Don’t get hurt.”
“….”
Diana nodded silently.
He was a man whose intentions were hard to read, but the warmth through her hand showed her that he was encouraging her.
“Your Majesty! What brings you here…”
Queen Isabella appeared in the VIP section. Lampman immediately stood up.
“There’s no need for a commotion.”
Isabella sat down next to the field and looked over the green expanse, seemingly searching for someone.
“You should have informed me beforehand if Her Highness was coming!” Lampman whispered his complaint to Gilrode, who had accompanied Isabella.
“Haha, I only found out on the way here myself,” Gilrode replied smoothly.
“I heard the princess was attending. Where is she?”
Isabella had come by chance while near the Royal University and had heard that Diana voluntarily attended an external event.
“Lampman, where is the princess?”
“Er….”
As Gilrode urged him, Lampman looked uneasy.
“Her Highness is over there.”
At that moment, Natasha, standing behind Isabella, pointed to the side of the stadium where the players were warming up.
“She’s in a riding outfit.”
“…Why is the princess there, Lampman?”
Lampman was sweating profusely.
“Well… Her Highness decided to demonstrate like the crown prince usually does… Er….”
“A demonstration? What on earth do you mean?” Isabella’s voice rose.
“You knew she was afraid of horses. Why didn’t you stop her?”
“I-It’s because she said she enjoys riding! She mentioned wanting to try polo if she had the chance…!”
“So it wasn’t that you couldn’t stop her, it was your suggestion?” Isabella’s icy tone left Lampman pale.
“Your Majesty? What brings you here?”
At that moment, Jerome returned to the VIP section, his hands full of snacks.
“Jerome, why aren’t you beside the princess? Why are you here?”
Natasha glanced at him, unimpressed, and swiftly turned his gaze to the field.
“Why… why is she over there?!”
“I should be asking that!”
Seeing Diana mount her horse, Jerome turned pale as if about to faint, dropping all the snacks in panic.
“Dean Lampman! What is the meaning of this?! Stop it immediately…!”
“Er….”
But the signal flag announcing the start of the demonstration had already been raised, leaving Lampman helpless.
Unaware that people from the palace were worried about her, Diana spurred Yan and galloped toward the center of the field.
One hand on the reins and the other holding the mallet, she leaned in with the horse, moving faster and faster.
Her movements were flawless, as if she and the horse were in perfect harmony.
A small ball was prepared at the center. Diana drove Yan toward it, raised her mallet high, and struck the ball with a strong swing.
The sequence of actions was beyond perfect. She exuded strength and grace, soft yet firm beauty.
Although it wasn’t an actual match, she effortlessly bypassed imaginary defenders and scored, causing the crowd to erupt with the same enthusiasm as if it were a real game.
Waving her hand at the cheering spectators, Diana responded gracefully. Queen Isabella could no longer suppress her laughter and let out a chuckle.
“Jerome!”
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty!”
“When did the princess secretly learn to ride? Her polo skills are impressive!”
“Well… she’s been visiting the stables often, and suddenly…! It seems Her Highness is a genius…!”
Having seen Jerome react like this many times, Natasha looked at him with a mixture of disbelief and exasperation.
Lampman was completely stunned. Gilrode, watching Diana return triumphantly, smiled quietly. He knew she could shine whenever given the chance.
Diana slowly guided the horse to the waiting area at the edge of the field. She smiled slightly at someone.
The smile, seemingly unconscious, naturally drew Gilrode’s gaze toward the person she was looking at.
“….”
There was Ian Leheights, waving his hand and smiling brightly at her.
Queen Isabella saw the scene as well.
“Hmm…”
Watching the two of them smile at each other, Isabella rubbed her chin, her expression subtly unreadable.
