"Y-Young Master, you can't!" Gideon nervously said as he watched Pier look through a bunch of horses lined up.

"Why not?" He asked as he had his hands on his chin as he carefully observed each horse.

"B-Because it's dangerous?" Gideon asked and Pier did not bother replying to his knight. Instead, he continued to scan the lined-up horses.

"Y-Young Master, you can ride with me instead!" Gideon offered but Pier did not budge and continued to look for a good horse he can ride on.

"Don't worry, I know how to ride a horse," He said as he was nearing the end of the line.

'Hmmm?' He looked at the horse that was from the third to the last.

It was a white horse that was healthy-looking with a big and prideful face.

"That horse looks tough," He told Gideon.

The knight turned to look at the horse Pier was referring to and he sweatdropped.

"That horse only lets some people ride on it, young master. It's very picky," Gideon said and Pier's eyes flared up with the challenge of knowing the horse was very picky.

"Ooh, I want to ride that horse," He stated as he started to approach the horse.

"Young master, no! Even the Prince himself was able to ride that horse only twice because it became so aggressive after the second time!" Gideon panicked when he saw Pier's determined-looking face.

However, the young master was not fazed.

'Of course, that horse won't like Asher. He probably hates that scumbag too' He chuckled at the thought he had.

Gideon thought that his young master was starting to get crazy because he was trying to ride an untamed horse while laughing as if he was plotting a huge crime.

Pier was actually committing a huge crime in his head though. He had been for many weeks now. He was committing the crime of Defamation in his head with how much he had called Asher, who was the Crown Prince a scumbag, and other foul names.

'Not that they'd know or anything,' He thought as he did an imaginary expression in his mind where he was poking his tongue out.

When he reached the white horse, he looked up at it.

The horse did the same as it also looked at Pier.

"Young master, wha-" However, Gideon stopped midsentence because he saw the two creatures having a staredown with each other.

Pier raised his eyebrows at the sassy-looking horse and the horse responded by neighing at the dark-haired young master.

"You're a mare, right?" He asked the prideful-looking horse neighed again.

"People must have mistaken you for a stallion or a gelding because of your size but they are just judgmental individuals who do not see your beauty!" Pier said with glamour in his words.

Pier crossed his arms as he closed his eyes and nodded as if he was understanding the horse that was constantly neighing with his words.

"Don't you think they're all stupid? Imagine mistaking you for a stallion- A STALLION, you hear me?!" He said and Gideon was looking at Pier dumbfoundedly.

"Young master, why are you talking to a horse?" Gideon asked as he turned to look at the horse.

He was surprised to see the horse had a glaring gaze at him.

"That's right, Miss Horse, please do not listen to that foul-mouthed knight that does not know how to treat others with respect," He cooed as he approached the horse.

The horse neighed in agreement with the young master as its glare intensified at Gideon. The knight staggered back as he was petrified of the stout-looking horse.

Gideon's mouth was agape with how Pier described him.

'I am... a foul-mouthed knight who does not know how to treat others with respect?' He self-reflected on the past actions that he might have done to make the young master think of him like that.

When Pier was finally near the horse, he touched its hair.

Gideon was very nervous about Pier's careless actions. There was a big possibility that the prideful-looking horse will stomp on the young master who looked very fragile yet strong.

"There there, you do not have to mind those annoying persons who think you're a stallion because of how beautiful you were," He said as he appeased the horse that had a murderous look on the knight.

The horse neighed at the feeling of Pier's soft and gentle caress on its body.

"That's right, you're a horse that needs to be free. Don't worry, they won't touch you and force you into breeding just because you're a mare if you're with me!" Pier said with joy in his voice and the horse watched the young master that was petting its fur.

Pier grinned at the horse as the huge and stout horse looked at him.

'Good thing my parents allowed me to take horse-riding classes. Phew!' He thought as he continued to caress the horse's fur.

Soon enough, the horse neighed as it stomped a few times on the ground before it bent its head to reach out for Pier's hands.

Gideon was baffled and astounded at the sight of the aggressive and prideful horse allowing Pier to pet its mouth.

"Y-Young Master... are you sure about that?" Gideon asked hesitantly as he saw that the horse and the young master were on good terms.

"Yes, why not? Do you not trust the horse? Oh wait, do you have a name?" He asked the horse but it did not respond.

'Of course, how could a horse respond to your question, young master?' Gideon thought as he looked at Pier who was asking the horse childishly.

"Gideon, does this horse have a name yet?" Pier asked and Gideon shook his head.

"It doesn't, young master. The horse does not have its official rider so the palace is simply waiting for a knight to tame it properly before they can give it a name," Gideon explained and Pier's eyes twinkled at the statement.

"Oooh!" He exclaimed as he turned to look at the horse.

"Do you mind if I give you a name?" he asked and the horse neighed as if agreeing with him.

"Then what about Snow?" Pier suggested and Gideon and the horse stared back at him without any response.

"It's because you're like the snow. It's very beautiful and elegant. However, you're not just beautiful and elegant, you're also daring and fierce, like the snow on a blizzard!" He explained as he continued to caress the horse's fur.

The horse neighed as it agreed with Pier's decision.

Pier laughed as he petted the horse and his knight only watched the two interact with each other.

'Surely the young master is not a beast tamer, right?' He thought of how Pier was so good at talking with animals.

Gideon was amazed by how good Pier was in using his words. He can make a person feel shitty in an instant with just a few sentences but he can also make another feel extreme pride.

"Gideon, call a servant and tell them to bring me the equipment for horse riding. I don't want Snow to get fatigued immediately because we're not using any equipment" Pier ordered and Gideon sighed again.

His master sure was a bright person.

----

"Your Highness, here are the documents you have requested," Caspian handed Asher the papers. These were the proofs of the town mayor's crimes in the boundary.

"Thanks. How about the other preparations?" He asked as he scanned the documents. Lists of the evident corruption were seen and Asher gritted his teeth in anger.

"We have already finished checking the carriages and the horses, your highness. We have also loaded all the things we need to bring at the spare carriages," Caspian explained and Asher nodded his head.

They were now about to depart from the boundary after distributing the rations for the people.

"That's good. Tell our men to saddle up and start moving," He commanded and Caspian bowed before he went to fulfill Asher's commands.

The people of the boundary were truly grateful for the Crown Prince. He had not just given them rations enough and maybe more for the upcoming drought but he had also given them hope that they will be okay.

People lined up on the streets, just like when Asher arrived in the boundary. They were waving their hands and shouting their cheers of thanks. Asher smiled at all of them.

He was happy because he was able to help them. He was also satisfied because he knew his actions were right. He felt everything was in place.

'It's all thanks to Pier,'

He thought Pier had done a very important part in teaching him ways and opening a new perspective for him.

Asher was taught the rules and etiquette of how a king should act. He was taught how to rule a kingdom, being the one highest above everyone. He learned how to govern and command.

But Pier taught him how to sympathize with his people.

"I should send him a proper invitation when we return to the palace," He spoke as he thought about the young master who had raven black hair and stunning blue eyes.

He wanted to send an invitation for Pier first when he returns to the Capital and prepare for his upcoming birthdate celebration.

Asher wanted to express his gratitude to the young master that gave him a new important lesson in life.

But he also wanted to express his sorrow and longing for him.

Asher was still growing as a person. He knew that. He also knew that he needed Pier to be by his side when he does that.

He had already thought about ways of how he can persuade Pier to forgive him and the only thing left was to implement them for the time coming.

He sighed as he turned to look outside his carriage. An endless sea of people were still waving their hands and smiling at him. He was happy with that improvement of him.

However, people's cheers became louder and cheers went fervent when they all looked at the backline of the Prince's line of guards.

"Whoo!"

"Oh my god!"

"Goodness gracious my heart can't handle this!"

Intrigued by the sudden commotion, Asher turned to look at the window on the other side of his carriage.

"What's happening?" He asked the knight's captain that was riding on his horse beside the carriage.

"It seems like someone is making a commotion at the back, your highness. I'll go check it out" the knight's captain said as he pulled on the reins of his horse.

But before he could turn his horse around, a purely white figure ran across him.

Asher's eyes widened and everything in his world slowed down.

Riding on top of a white horse was the young master who wore a navy blue suit with a white shirt underneath. The suit was overlaid with the black fur coat that Gideon had given him.

Pier's luscious black hair slightly swayed along with the wind and his coat also did its part to flap behind him.

His icy blue eyes complimented the suit he wore and his majestic appearance was the real definition of a prince that came straight out of a novel.

People gasped in awe at the sight of the young master riding on a horse. He had the reigns firmly gripped in his hands and he also wore an expensive smile that made everyone's heart swoon.

The prince-like person exuded a mysterious and very charming aura that made all eyes glued at him. It was a sight to behold. Just like at his entrance back on their first day in the border, Pier's appearance was the cherry on top.

However, Pier did not mind the stares he got.

He was having fun riding on top of the horse he named Snow.

"You're doing well, Snow!" Pier said as he patted the horse's head and Snow neighed as it took a huge drawback. The horse also did its part in making Pier look like he was a real prince by taking a lunging motion forward and going full speed after it made a drawback motion.

Pier laughed as he rode the horse and Asher did not take his eyes off the young master.

He felt his entire world stop the moment he laid his eyes on the immaculate image of Pier.

'What... is this?' He thought as he could not explain the feeling he had.