Chapter 130 Former Warhorse Becomes a Toy?
Her warhorse was called Starlight, her companion in battle for six years.
During one campaign, when Starlight carried Cressida through an enemy encirclement, half of its ear was cut off.
After she faked her death, Chris sorted through her "belongings" and sent them back to Emerald City in batches. Starlight was one of them.
According to regulations, after a general's death, all their possessions had to be sent to the palace first for inspection. Only after confirming there were no other items could they be sent back to the general's family one by one.
Cressida hurried toward the sound of horses neighing.
She reached a clearing in front of a pear blossom grove behind the palace and sure enough saw several noblewomen laughing as they tugged at the reins.
When she clearly saw the horse in the distance, Cressida's heart stirred.
It was Starlight!
The horse was black as night all over, except for four hooves white as snow and a white mane. It had a powerful build that only the strongest could control.
Cressida had specifically told Chris to let her know in advance when Starlight was sent back.
However, Chris had now returned to the military fortress. Something must have gone wrong, which was why the message hadn't reached her in time.
Starlight's current situation was that it had been sent to the palace horse stables, which housed a group of horses that could go to battle.
Leading the group was Madeline from the Lopez family. She was stepping on a servant's back, trying to mount several times, but Starlight showed no mercy, repeatedly rearing up on its front legs.
"This damn beast, why won't it behave? Whip it," Madeline said.
The people from the horse stables didn't dare offend her, so they raised their whips.
Two people in front were pulling Starlight's reins, while others had tied ropes around its hind legs, pulling hard to keep Starlight from moving or struggling.
A killing intent rose in Cressida's heart.
"Don't you dare!" She rushed over, grabbed the reins, and threw them aside.
Among those watching the excitement were Rose, a noblewoman from the Howard family, and Pearl.
Seeing Cressida, Pearl secretly rolled her eyes.
"Why is it her again? She loves showing off so much, such a fake!"
Rose didn't defend Cressida, but said softly, "Cressida is like this at home. Maybe she's just used to it."
Pearl sneered, "Madeline won't let her off easy."
She'd heard that Madeline would soon become Yosef's official consort.
Pearl looked forward to seeing Madeline put Cressida in her place.
At that moment, Cressida had already coldly removed the reins. None of the maids could get close, and even Madeline was so startled by Cressida's actions that she stepped back twice.
"Who are you?" Madeline asked. "This horse was brought here to entertain us. What right do you have to stop us?"
Cressida ignored Madeline and gently stroked Starlight's mane.
Cressida's movements carried both regret and cherishment.
In my past life, I was given a drug that made me mute and destroyed my martial arts. Michael once brought me a plate of meat.
Michael said it was Starlight's meat, telling me to taste what my battle companion tasted like.
"This horse was so stupid. I threw one of your bloody clothes at it, and it actually stopped eating and drinking. I wanted to ride it around Emerald City to show off, but it was so ungrateful that I had to kill it. I tried it—tasted pretty good."
I was enraged. At that time, I could barely lift my arms, let alone speak.
But I used all my strength to kick and break Michael's nose. In the end, Clio, protective of Michael, had people hold me down and break one of my ribs.
In this life, I'm taking Starlight home.
Starlight, who had been so agitated just moments ago, seemed to recognize its former master's presence. It lowered its head, constantly nudging Cressida's palm with its mane.
It kept snorting through its nose, its hooves stamping one after another.
"This is a warhorse, not something you can bully," Cressida said to Madeline, then placed her hand on Starlight's back and walked forward.
Without reins, Starlight followed Cressida as if it understood her perfectly.
Cressida was going to find Doyle to declare that this was Cameron's warhorse and ask that it be returned to her.
Madeline shouted angrily, "Have you no manners? Even if it's a warhorse, the King hasn't said anything. What right do you have to take it away!"
Cressida paid no attention, but then an arrogant voice rang out—
"Warhorses are meant to be ridden. We're not going to hurt it, so why can't we ride it?"
Cressida turned around and saw a pretty figure walking quickly toward them, followed by many maids.
The noblewomen around them all bowed: "Greetings, Princess Bella."
Bella had arrived. She walked over, her impolite gaze sweeping across Cressida's face.
"You say we can't ride it? Well, I'm going to try anyway."
Cressida's eyes turned cold. "Warhorses are wild by nature and recognize their masters. If an ordinary person gets on its back, they'll only be thrown off."
Bella scoffed, "I ride horses all the time. I've tamed countless wild horses. Watch me—I'll ride it for you!"
With that, she flipped onto the horse with her maids' help.
Starlight indeed became agitated, starting to rear slightly, trying to throw Bella off.
Bella gripped the saddle, crouching low. You could tell she had some riding skills, but not much.
Seeing how eager she was to show off, Cressida wasn't in a hurry to stop her.
She was just waiting for Bella to learn her lesson before stepping in to help.
Seeing that she hadn't been thrown off, Bella sneered at Cressida, "See? I told you, there's no wild horse I can't tame!"
Before she finished speaking, Starlight suddenly let out a neigh and reared up high on its front legs.
Bella cried out, her whole body leaning backward, nearly sliding off!
She frantically hugged the horse's neck, her face turning pale.
But Starlight didn't wait for her to steady herself. It shook its head violently and bolted forward like an arrow released from a bow!
Bella's screams pierced the air as she desperately clutched the horse's mane.
Her body bounced and swayed on the horse's back, her hair flying loose, her hairpins falling to the ground.
The noblewomen around scattered in fear. Madeline was so shocked she covered her mouth, at a loss.
Pearl grabbed Rose: "Quick, go tell the King that Cressida let a wild horse hurt Princess Bella."
Just as Starlight was about to charge into the nearby pear blossom grove, the maids around screamed, "Someone, help! The horse has gone mad!"
At this critical moment, Cressida pressed her fingers to her lips and blew a clear, sharp whistle.
The whistle pierced through the grove. Starlight's galloping form suddenly stopped, it shook its head with a snort, and actually turned around and ran back.
Bella was already weak all over from fright. The moment Starlight stopped, her body tilted and she fell straight off the horse's back.
"Princess!" the maids cried out as they rushed forward.
But Cressida's hand was faster.
She swept forward, her robes flying. In one smooth motion, she caught the falling Bella.
With one hand around Bella's waist and the other pressing against Starlight's neck, Cressida used the momentum to spin and dissipate the force, finally setting the shaken Bella safely on the ground.
All around was dead silence.
Bella's face was pale as she looked at Cressida. "Why does it listen to you?"
Cressida gently stroked the horse's mane. "Because it's my... brother's warhorse."
Gasps erupted around them, voices rising instantly.
Cameron's warhorse—how could it be here, being treated as a plaything?
Bella was breathing heavily, still shaken. Gradually, she looked Cressida over carefully.
"Are you Ms. Cressida Hamilton?"
"Yes."
The way Bella looked at Cressida suddenly changed, as if her face was even turning half red.
Just then, Doyle arrived with his entourage.
"What's going on here!"