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The next day, every member of the royal family gathered outside, standing close to their horses, ready for the first parade that would kick off the event proper.
King Fidelis stood beside his white horse, which was the most outstanding not just because of its color but also because of the adornment of gold on its body and hooves.
Gwen stood beside her husband while the servants tried to tame her own horse before she would ride it.
The members of the royal family were dressed differently. The women didn’t have dresses on but a more comfortable outfit that helped them mount the horse better. It was trousers that stopped at their knees with high boots to help them, then a more comfortable blouse that had a leather collar.
Oriana’s outfit was gray, with a white shirt that was loose on both sides but tucked in with a tummy belt. She packed her hair up in a high ponytail using a gray band to cover her forehead. She stood close to her own horse, which was gray in color. Oriana tried to adjust her trousers, though it was comfortable but it hugged her curves tightly making her self-conscious.
"We will now start the parade to kick off the main event," the royal secretary announced, and everyone mounted their horses.
Oriana pressed her lips. She was going to ask for help, but then she saw Princess Jasmine and Adelaide effortlessly jump on their horses, while Kai mounted his without help. Oriana looked at her own horse.
"Should I call someone to help you?" Freya asked, seeing the skeptical look on Oriana’s face.
Oriana waved her hand. "I think I can do this," she muttered, touching the horse on its body. "Good girl."
"I think it’s a boy," Freya said in a small voice.
Oriana turned her head. "A boy? Okay. Good boy." She tried to pet the horse, which now looked at her with the corner of its eye.
The princess gulped. "Please let me, I’ll be gentle," she breathed in deeply as if calming the horse down. Then she stepped on the wooden stirrup, ready to raise her leg, but then the horse moved back, scaring her. Oriana jumped down quickly. She looked around to be sure nobody was watching, especially Adric. But the crown prince was immersed in whatever conversation he was having with some royal ministers.
"Do you need help?" Adelaide trotted her horse slowly until she was close to Oriana.
Oriana shook her head with a smile. "I think I can do it," she gave the princess a small bow. Taking in another deep breath, she touched the horse before positioning her foot, ready to mount the horse. This time she succeeded, but when she tried to sit well, the horse moved back and she lurched forward.
Oriana closed her eyes, holding the horse tightly on its rein, with her legs straddling the horse so she wouldn’t fall off.
"Whoa, whoa," she tried to pacify the horse to stay still, and it worked. Oriana inhaled deeply. "I did it, Freya, I did it."
Freya nodded. "Yes, yes," the girl clapped excitedly. "You did it."
Oriana touched the horse’s mane. "Thank you," she whispered to the horse as if it could hear her. She then turned to Freya. "Are you coming with us?"
Freya shook her head. "No, the servants will wait behind to prepare for the horse race," she replied.
"Alright, take care of yourself, okay?" Oriana waved at the girl and steadied herself on the horse.
A loud trumpet sounded, indicating that it was time for them to move. King Fidelis and his wife were in front while other members of the royal family followed behind. Some of the royal ministers joined them.
It was the first time Oriana was actually leaving the palace since she arrived in the kingdom. She took her time to look around, noticing how different the houses were compared to the ones back in her own kingdom. The kingdom was quite beautiful and looked peaceful.
"Long live Your Majesty," the people came out, leaving flowers and baskets filled with fruits at the side of the road while some bowed down with their foreheads touching the ground.
Fidelis waved at his people with a bright smile. He stopped to take a flower from a small boy, leaning forward he ruffled the boy’s head gently.
"What is your name?" The king asked with a calm voice.
The small child looked, scared of meeting the king’s eyes. "Robbin,"
Fidelis smiled, "Robbin, you’ll grow up and be a brave boy." He said, letting go of the boy who quickly ran to his parents embrace.
Oriana noticed how the people still had great respect for their king despite his declining health. The interaction he had with them was beautiful and special. She never noticed this between her father and the people of Orion.
"Your Highness!" one of the maidens shouted in a loud voice, "Long live Your Highness!"
Oriana noticed a group of maidens singing the praises of Adric as they chased after his horse, throwing flowers his way.
"He must be very popular with women," she said to herself, giving Adric a judging look. When he turned to look at her, she looked away. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢
After they had walked around the village, it was time to go back to the palace and start the race, but then the king suggested.
"For the first horse race of today, the women in the palace will start. The first to get to the palace is the winner," Fidelis announced with a smile. "The rest of us will be going back to the palace to wait for them."
Oriana’s heart slipped inside her stomach. She turned her head, looking for help, but everyone was eager to watch the race. It was pure luck that she was able to ride calmly all this while; now a race?
"Let’s give them space to get ready," King Fidelis ordered.
Adric watched from the side, noting Oriana’s panic-filled face, her eyes moving left and right as everyone else got ready for the race. He didn’t wait around to see how she started; he left for the palace with his father.
As the racers got ready, Gwen sat on her own horse casually, not fazed by the race. She didn’t need to put in her strength because, in her case, there was no lose or win. She was the Queen.
Adelaide was the most confident. She sat high on her horse with her head raised very high. She had more people cheering for her.
"Princess Adelaide!" Most of the men, especially the single men looking to woo her, shouted her name the most.
Jasmine on the other hand, tried to sit steadily on her horse, but it wasn’t with the ease and composure Adelaide had. Her husband, who was yet to leave with others, encouraged her with a smile.
"You can do it," Caspar waved before leaving to wait at the palace.
Oriana felt sweat drop down her back, soaking up her blouse. Her forehead started pounding. She had never been in any competition before, not to mention a horse race. She held the rein firmly, her legs clutching the horse on both sides.
"Auntie!" Walter waved. "You can do this," the boy smiled before leaving with his father.
Oriana decided not to join in the race, since she couldn’t control her horse. She accepted her defeat before the race could start.
Finally, when everyone was set, the announcer raised a white piece.
"Ready!" he shouted, looking at the four women of the royal family. "And go!"
Here’s a slightly modified version of your original sentence:
Before Oriana could start moving, someone flogged her horse from behind, startling it so badly that it let out a loud neigh and galloped off with speed, that Oriana couldn’t control it.
"Ah!" she shrieked in terror.
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