To be honest, it wasn't as magnificent and luxurious as imagined.
At the Mejiro Family's estate, a birthday banquet was being held.
It was the birthday banquet for Mejiro Ardan, the young mistress of the prestigious Mejiro Family.
The scale of this banquet was not large, and only Uma Musume from other Uma Musume families were invited.
Those ladies, either familiar or recognizable, were elegantly dressed, gathering in twos and threes to chat.
As for the male guests, there was nothing else to do but eat, drink, and praise.
The atmosphere of the banquet was rather formal, and the guests were quite polite and distant, with everyone adhering to etiquette.
Elegant music continuously echoed, and a serious, upper-class ambiance permeated everywhere.
The only place that could be considered less formal was probably the dance floor in the center of the living room.
"I've been tricked."
Gold Legend, sitting in the corner of the dining table, gnawed on a chicken drumstick, thinking expressionlessly.
No wonder those people at home immediately expressed their excitement about attending on behalf of the Gold Family when they heard I received an invitation.
Damn it.
Biting fiercely into the meat on the chicken drumstick, Gold Legend vented her grief and indignation.
In this elegant and upper-class setting, Gold Legend often felt out of place due to her lack of elegance.
"I didn't expect to see you here, Legend."
A familiar voice came from beside her, and a dignified person sat next to Legend-san.
"...President? Why are you here?"
Gold Legend turned her head and saw Symboli Rudolf in a formal dress.
"I'm here representing Symboli, after all, a Mejiro Family banquet requires proper etiquette, no matter what." Rudolf explained with a smile. "It's rare to see you here, though. Are you representing the Gold Family?"
"Yeah, is there a problem?" Legend-san vaguely felt like she had been set up.
"The Gold Family has always refrained from participating in these kinds of exchange gatherings held in the form of banquets," Rudolf explained. "After all, these banquets, nominally for birthdays but actually for inter-family new generation exchanges, are very un-'free'."
"...So this is a matchmaking event?" Gold Legend hit the nail on the head.
"Cough, cough, you could say that." Rudolf awkwardly hinted not to be so obvious.
"But I don't see many heterosexual people interacting well?" Rather, there's more interaction among the same gender. Look, most of those dancing are Uma Musume.
"Well, that's quite normal." Uma Musume and Uma Musume being together isn't particularly unusual, and relationships between Uma Musume are also welcomed by large families.
"And it's quite good if there are occasionally one or two heterosexual couples." Rudolf tried to hint at the underlying meaning to Legend-san.
"Oh, cast a wide net, got it." In reality, she didn't understand at all.
"So if you're here, President…?"
"Ahem. Besides socializing, there are a few matters to discuss tonight," Rudolf explained. "Some things simply can't be settled in conference."
"Understood, President."
Gold Legend took another bite of her chicken leg.
"That gown is rather unusual for you, President," Legend remarked, sizing up Rudolf's outfit.
"Does it look wrong?" Rudolf glanced down, suddenly self-conscious.
"Not at all—it's beautiful," Legend said sincerely. "I just thought you'd wear a suit."
"Great minds think alike!"
A confident voice rang out.
"I told you, Rudolf—white suit, nothing less."
"Sirius…" Rudolf sighed toward the newcomer.
Legend looked up.
"So you're the star of the Gold Family? Pleased to meet you. I'm Sirius Symboli." Sirius offered a graceful gentleman's bow, far more natural than Legend's own attempt.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Gold Legend—Festa's spoken well of you." Legend glanced at her greasy fingers and refrained from offering a handshake.
"Oh? She mentioned me?" Sirius arched a brow.
"Said you were 'interesting,'" Legend answered honestly.
"Hmph, figures." Sirius smirked. "I'm here for Rudolf. Care for a dance, President?"
"You never change…" Rudolf shook her head, yet accepted Sirius's hand.
"We'll chat later," she told Legend as the two Horse Girls moved to the center of the floor.
"Definitely sending this to Senior Chiaki." Gold Legend snapped a photo and messaged it to Mr. C.B., earning only a "?" in reply.
She pocketed the phone and returned to the buffet.
"My, you must be Gold Legend."
An elegant voice, touched with age.
Legend turned. A mature, beautiful Horse Girl now occupied Rudolf's seat, gold-rimmed spectacles lending her gaze a timeless depth.
Perfect poise proclaimed her every inch a Gentildonna.
Instinctively, Legend straightened.
"Yes, ma'am. And you are…?"
"You don't recognize me? No matter—think of me as an elder of the Mejiro Family." Surprise softened into a gentle, affable smile.
"How do you do? Is there something I can help you with?" For reasons she couldn't name, Legend felt on ceremony.
"Merely curious. A Gold at our banquet—rare since the last one cost us a carefully cultivated Trainer."
"Uh…" Legend vaguely recalled the scandal.
"You show promise," Gentildonna said. "I've seen true prodigies—few compare to you."
"You're too kind," Legend managed, wondering what she meant.
She clung to her manners.
"Walk with me?"
"Er—of course."
With a last wistful glance at the buffet, Legend followed her out.
Every guest watched the pair depart in astonishment. Through the Mejiro estate's quiet corridors their hoof-steps echoed, savoring the hush and elegance.
Portraits lined the walls; Legend studied them, guessing identities.
"Do you love to run?" Gentildonna asked suddenly.
"Huh? Well—what Horse Girl doesn't?"
"And racing—do you love that?"
"Absolutely." Otherwise she'd never have become an Uma Musume.
"Why do you race?"
"Uh… prize money?"
"You're amusing." She inclined her head. "Humor shows a zest for life—optimism is good."
Legend averted her eyes, guilty.
"I've read your file: heaven-bestowed talent brings its own torments." Her voice was warm. "To stay cheerful after hell marks a pure heart. Reborn from the crucible, you're still rough, yet your future is boundless."
"You flatter me. I still have much to learn."
"Wisdom is the resolve to turn ignorance into knowledge." She smiled. "You truly are remarkable."
Legend fell silent.
Stopping before a painting, Gentildonna asked, "What is your Beauty?"
"Beauty?"
"Any kind: the brightest star, fleeting cherry-blossom, a sovereign's throne, a frozen moment, a hero in the spotlight, limitless wealth, power to scatter clouds, the pride that seeks only defeat, even a festering grudge. We run to seize that Beauty."
Eyes half-lidded, hands folded, she radiated the quiet pride of a Horse Girl beneath her grace.
"I've adored Horse Girls and racing since childhood. Sixty years ago I met the origin—the pioneer who made Uma Musume what they are. Her passion stirred me; with friends and my beloved I founded the Mejiro Family."
Legend stared—sixty years?
More than two hundred years have passed since the birth of the Uma Musume. In the long span of human history this is but a tiny corner; from a vantage that surveys time and space it is an insignificant instant. Yet to us it is the great legacy our forebears left behind. To inherit it, to create new wisdom and achievement and hand it to the next generation—like a bridge binding past, present and future—is the beauty I seek, and the very reason the Mejiro Family exists.
I suppose that little one from the north and those **** of your house feel the same. That old Gold who lived half her life on scent and instinct, chasing freedom, would found a family—no doubt because she too wanted this beauty to endure.
So, promising youngster, what of you?
Gentildonna's gaze suddenly sharpened, predatory, demanding as a conqueror. In that instant she stood as an unquestioned sovereign, a monarch who held the power of life and death.
I—well, to be honest, I don't know
Legend said after a moment, her tone calm.
To be honest I'm lost. I've resolved to be an Uma Musume and vowed not to lose, yet in truth I've only drifted with the current. I… I still haven't found my direction." Legend lowered her head. "I haven't found the beauty I'm meant to chase.
Sorry to disappoint you.
Gentildonna studied Legend as though to etch the child into memory.
Haha, no matter. Being lost is good—it proves you're moving forward." Her smile turned gentle again. "Stay lost to your heart's content; one day you'll shine. Until then, if you need help, come to me.
Right, that's enough old-woman rambling. I won't disturb you any longer.
Gentildonna glanced past Legend, gave a small shake of her head, and walked away.
Gold Legend watched that crisp departing back, inexplicably envious.
I wish I could become someone like that in the future, she thought.
Now, why had this lady sought me out? Come to think of it, what was she looking at just now?
Her curiosity pried open a mind stalled by too many thoughts, and she turned.
There stood a huge vase, and a half-hidden figure.
Gold Legend stepped closer and found the sneak.
Ardan? What are you doing?
Heh-heh… Good evening, Legend-san.
Ardan greeted her with an awkward wave.
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