Marianne followed Ace's instructions, implementing the verbal and physical cues to communicate with the horse. As she did so, the horse responded by picking up its pace and transitioning into a run. The exhilaration of the horse's movement filled Marianne with a sense of joy and accomplishment. Ace, impressed by Marianne's progress, also urged his own horse to run. The two of them galloped side by side, their horses synchronizing their strides as they raced across the backyard. The wind rushed past them, and the rhythmic sound of hooves hitting the ground created a thrilling atmosphere. Together, Marianne and Ace experienced the exhilaration of riding at full speed, their horses in perfect harmony. It was a moment of pure freedom and unity, a testament to the bond they had formed with their horses through patience, practice, and understanding.
Ace halted his horse, realizing his oversight in not informing Marianne about how to stop a running horse, he quickly took action. He called out to Marshell, instructing him to intervene and help Marianne. Marshell, utilizing his power, swiftly halted the horse, ensuring Marianne's safety. Marianne, caught off guard by the sudden stop. Confused, she turned her attention to Ace, who admitted his mistake. "As what I've remembered, I didn't thought you how to halt a running horse," Ace admitted, acknowledging his oversight. Reacting to Ace's explanation, Marianne crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, expressing her slight annoyance with the situation. "If you want to halt the horse, pull gently on the reins to signal the horse to slow down and stop. Apply steady pressure and release when the horse responds by slowing down," he said to Marianne. "Speak in a calm and firm voice, saying 'whoa' or 'easy' to signal the horse to stop. Horses are responsive to vocal commands, so using a clear and confident voice can be effective," he continues. "Sit deep in the saddle and lean back slightly to shift your weight and signal the horse to slow down. Relax your body and avoid tensing up, as this can make the horse more anxious," he added. "If the horse is not responding to the reins," Marianne asked, "what should I do?" Ace explained to Marianne that if the horse is not responding to the reins, she can use a pulley rein technique. This involves holding one rein firmly against the horse's neck and pulling the other rein towards her hip. This creates pressure on the horse's mouth, encouraging them to slow down and stop. Ace also mentioned that if the horse is running uncontrollably, Marianne can perform a one-rein stop. This involves taking one rein and pulling it towards her hip, turning the horse in a tight circle. This helps regain control and slow down the horse. Marianne nodded her head slowly and said, "Okay..."
"I guess you're ready, let's race," Ace said to Marianne. Marianne nodded her head in agreement and hopped back onto the horse's saddle. Ace then walked his horse to Marianne's horse's side. "Marshell, we're going to race," Ace said to Marshell. Marshell nodded in response and raised his arm, signaling that they were ready to begin. When Marshell finally put down his hand, Ace and Marianne immediately commanded their horses to run. The two raced through the backyard, their horses galloping with power and grace. The wind rushed past them as they urged their horses forward, their hearts pounding with excitement. The sound of hoofbeats filled the air as they raced side by side, their competitive spirits driving them to push harder. The race was intense and exhilarating, with both Ace and Marianne giving it their all. The backyard became a blur as they raced towards the finish line, the thrill of the competition fueling their determination. This time, as Ace was about to reach the finish line, he made the decision to halt his horse and let Marianne win. Marianne noticed that Ace had stopped, but she continued running, crossing the finish line first and claiming victory. Confused and curious, Marianne turned to Ace and asked, "Why did you do that?" Ace responded coldly, reminding her that this was just a training and in royal sports, he was no longer her friend. Without further explanation, Ace rode away on his horse, leaving Marianne to ponder his words and the sudden change in their dynamic.
The next morning, Marianne paid another visit to Ace and found him riding his horse in the backyard. With a smile on her face, Marianne approached him. Ace noticed her presence and immediately jumped off his horse. "Guess what?" Ace said to her. Perplexed, Marianne responded, "Huh? What is it?" Ace then tossed a sword stick to Marianne, who skillfully caught it. "What is this?" she asked, curious about the unexpected prop. Ace replied, "You'll be participating in sword fighting, right?" Marianne nodded in affirmation. "Since you've learned how to ride a horse, let's move on to sword fighting," Ace explained, eager to introduce Marianne to a new skill. Ace then introduced Marianne to his instructor, Marshell. "This is Marshell, he's going to be the one teaching you today. He volunteered to help," Ace explained to Marianne. Marshell approached Marianne and began instructing her in the art of sword fighting, while Ace riding his horse nearby, observing Marianne's progress. While Marianne trained under the guidance of Marshell, Ace took the opportunity to relax and enjoy his time riding his beloved horse. He found a spot on the other side, where he could watch Marianne's training session while immersing himself in the calming rhythm of his horse's movements. Ace appreciated the chance to unwind and recharge, knowing that Marianne was in capable hands with Marshell's instruction. As Ace observed Marianne's progress in sword fighting, he couldn't help but notice that she was struggling and not performing as well as he had hoped. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he whispered to himself, "She's not going to make it in the royal sports." Filled with a mix of disappointment and concern, Ace made a sudden decision. He swiftly dismounted his horse and headed towards the palace, determined to find his father and discuss the situation.