Street Mouse [Yandere Archduke x Female Reader]

23. Facing of Fears.

Frosino was in the stables early one morning. He had decided to help Alfonse with the grooming of the horses, seeing as they relaxed him greatly.

He finished getting the small knots out of Bella's black mane, he then moved on to brushing the mare's glossy raven coat. After several minutes, Frosino remarked to Alfonse: "I am rather worried that Y/N always turns down my offers to teach her how to ride. She is getting older and soon the day will come when she is eligible for a suiter. Not knowing how to ride will cause her great trouble, it is a favorite hobby of the nobility, and a fine lady is judged on her adeptness at riding. Then I sometimes think that I worry too much about her Alfonse."

The coachman took a minute to respond, "I am not surprised that the little miss always turns you down, the poor thing has been absolutely terrified of the horses since her first day here."

"Is that so... " Frosino let his voice trail off as he patted the mare affectionately.

. . .

Y/N stared on in wonder as she watched Ilidoro play the harp. She had been asking him to play for her for the past few weeks, and he finally agreed. He was absolutely amazing. His fingers moved quickly across the strings as he plucked them gently. The instrument leaned against his shoulder as he created the lovely melody.

The song was rich in tone and ethereal sounding as it filled the grand ballroom. The music was truly otherworldly, and Y/N had never heard its likeness before.

After he finished Y/N praised his wonderful playing. He was much more of a laid back and childish teacher then Frosino, but his clear passion and talent for the instrument were undeniable.

"Ilidoro, do you think that I will be able to play like that one day?" Y/N asked him, excited.

"If you practice diligently, and play from your heart I have no doubt that you shall be even better than me," Ilidoro stated as he pinched her cheek kindly.

"Really?!" The girl exclaimed, overjoyed at the news.

Ilidoro chuckled at her response and nodded his head. It had been rather awkward between the two of them during Y/N's first few lessons, but over time they had come to enjoy their different personalities.

Before Y/N could sit down at the harp and continue her lesson, the ballroom doors were opened, disturbing the silence. The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the cavernous room as someone walked across the empty space.

Frosino stopped a few paces away, and Y/N noticed that he was dressed in navy blue clothes designed for equestrian work, and that the tall riding boots were responsible for his heavy-sounding treads. Frosino gave Y/N a warm smile before he turned his attention the Ilidoro and said in a calm voice: "I have made plans to do something with Y/N this afternoon, so I am afraid that I am going to have to cut your lesson short."

Ilidoro stared at his cousin in confusion, but before he could protest Frosino beckoned Y/N to come with him. Curious of what the Archduke had in mind, Y/N followed him through the doors of the ballroom.

Frosino lead the girl through the large entrance hall, and through the tall front doors. As they walked down the stairs, Y/N tried to figure out where Frosino was taking her. At first, she thought that he was taking her on a walk through the mountains, but she became confused when he changed his course away from the drawbridge.

The slender figure of the Archduke approached the stables, and Y/N stopped abruptly. Her stomach was twisting in fear and her feet wouldn't bring her any closer to the building.

Noticing her absence, Frosino turned around and beckoned her to continue to follow him. When she remained frozen where she stood, Frosino walked back to her and tilted his head, asking her without words what was wrong.

In a trembling squeak of a voice, Y/N replied: "I-I am terrified of horses. My legs won't bring me any closer to t-them."

"Then I will bring you," Frosino said gently as he scooped the girl into his arms and carried her towards the barn. "I know that you are scared, but what sort of parent would I be if I did not help you face this fear."

Once the two of them were inside the stables Frosino set Y/N back on the ground. Hearing the shuffling and soft nickers coming from the horses Y/N became so scared that she buried her face against Frosino's chest and refused to look at her surroundings.

Frosino stroked her H/C hair as he tried to soothe her. "You are doing so well, don't worry, I shall be with you the whole time."

He guided Y/N over to one of the stalls, and when the girl still refused to look, Frosino gently pulled her hands away from her face. Hesitantly, Y/N opened her eyes and looked around her.

She was standing several paces away from the wooden and metal stall that held a great black beast. Y/N's limbs locked up and she began shaking with fear as she looked at the creature.

Frosino made a soft clucking sound with his tongue, and called the horse to come over to the door of the box stall. Terror gripped Y/N's heart as the black horse lumbered towards the opening in the door.

Y/N remembered seeing those horses, black just like this one, spook and go tearing down the street, dragging the sideways carriage behind them. No matter how hard she tried, the girl was still traumatized by how her mother had died.

Noticing her discomfort, Frosino placed both his hands on Y/N's shoulders reassuringly, and leaned down to whisper in her ear. "You are being very brave Y/N. This is Bella," he nodded at the black mare. "She is the shyest of the coach-horses. She normally does not like new people, so you could say that she is being just as brave as you are, my dear."

Y/N though she was still scared, couldn't help but small at the thought that the horse, Bella, was just as nervous as she was.

"Bella is a Makio horse, it is a special breed of horse which is native to the Makio mountain region with spans through both this Archdiocese, and Vascini to the west," Frosino elaborated, unable to resist giving Y/N a mini-lesson. "They are sure-footed and hearty animals perfectly adapted to life in the mountains. They all share the same lovely velvet black coat that Bella has. They are smaller than most other horse breeds though, which means that a team of four is used to pull the carriage of the Crivell family, instead of the customary two horses used in Luccia."

Y/N felt slightly comforted to hear the information, it was as though she was back in the library, having her daily lesson.

"The royal family of Vascini also uses four Makio horses to pull their carriage," Frosino added as an afterthought. Holding out one of his hands Bella leaned her head down pressing her muzzle into his palm, hoping for a treat. She seemed to be disappointed when she didn't find anything.

"Would you like to pet her?" Frosino asked gently. Y/N was reluctant, but she hesitantly stretched out her hand towards the black horse. The mare drew her head back at first but then, slowly pressed it against the girl's hand.

Y/N flinched, but was surprised by how soft Bella's muzzle felt against her palm. Y/N looked into Bella's deep brown eyes, and saw that they held incredible gentleness. The fear slowly left Y/N as she saw for the first time, just how peaceful horses were.

"See," Frosino commented knowingly. "She feels all the same things that we do, fear, anger, love, and today you have both been very brave."

A/N

Frosino is best dad!

*sniffs back tears* Oh, if only things could remain this peaceful forever. Alas, all good things must come to an end.

Until next time I'll see you on the other side

~J. C. Coltt.~