"Trainer, I think I've uncovered a huge secret."
Orfevre rushed into the office, locked the door behind her, and spoke to Fujiwara Chiya in a hushed voice. If he hadn't listened carefully, Chiya might have mistaken her for Gold Ship.
"What happened?"
"This concerns someone's private affairs, so I thought I shouldn't run my mouth. But after thinking it over, I realized her private affairs are something both you and I have the right to interfere with."
Orfevre dragged a chair over and sat down beside him.
Chiya calmly took a sip of tea.
"I believe Shirayuki may no longer be innocent."
"Pffft!"
Chiya sprayed tea everywhere.
"What are you doing, Trainer? How undignified." Orfevre pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the corner of his mouth.
"W-What's with you, Orfevre? Why are you suddenly saying something like that?" Chiya coughed a few times and asked, trying to cover his panic.
"I do not think Shirayuki behaves like a girl with no experience whatsoever. Some of the things she says give me the sense that she has someone outside. I already suspected it back at Tracen, but after coming to Paris, I became even more certain."
"That's just your guess, right? Or did you actually see… you know, evidence that Shirayuki has experience?"
"Hah? Are you an idiot, Trainer? How could I possibly see something like that?"
"Pffft!"
Chiya sprayed tea again.
He had discovered something.
Sometimes, Orfevre's brain really did short-circuit.
Normally, she was proud, arrogant, and intimidating enough to make people straighten their backs on instinct, yet in certain areas she was so naturally clueless it was almost terrifying.
"That's not what I meant… Did you see Shirayuki going out with someone?"
"No."
The only time Orfevre had seen Shirayuki go out was with the Trainer.
But now Orfevre knew that the person least likely to have that kind of relationship with Shirayuki was the Trainer.
"You're probably overthinking it. Don't worry about it."
"Trainer, you really do not care about Shirayuki at all." Orfevre frowned.
"Huh? Me?"
Is there anyone in the whole world who cares about Shirayuki more than I do?
How could I not know what she's like?
Right now, Shirayuki was in the room wearing a dress, filing her nails and taking care of her body.
"As Tracen's one and only Empress, and as your… no, as our relative, should she not be watched over more carefully?" Orfevre slapped the desk.
"There isn't really anything about Shirayuki that needs special attention…"
If anything needed special attention, it was probably her desire, which had gotten a little too intense lately.
After coming to Paris, with nobody around to get in the way, Shirayuki would come running to Chiya whenever she felt needy. It wasn't as if things always went all the way. Most of the time, they simply helped each other calm down.
Light touches. Stolen kisses. That sort of thing.
Over this period, the two of them had gotten far too used to taking comfort from each other. Chiya had even been caught off guard by Shirayuki before.
For someone who looked so delicate and smooth, Shirayuki was unexpectedly overwhelming.
But because of Treve, Shirayuki had been visiting less often recently. If Treve saw her sneaking over to the Trainer dorm again, she might snap before the race even began and drag Shirayuki away herself.
So in the few days after agreeing to their bet, Shirayuki had been helping Treve keep her emotions stable.
Even if Orfevre had seen something, it would have been with Treve, not him.
"I am disappointed in you, Trainer. Shirayuki is not only important to you, but to all of Tracen. And yet you neglect her like this. How can you still be called the Empress's Scepter?"
"I'm not neglecting her…"
Watching Orfevre get strangely upset, Chiya scratched his head.
On Shirayuki's side, it was obvious that Orfevre's attitude toward her had improved. When Shirayuki fell during training, Orfevre had practically rushed over at once to check whether she was hurt.
That expression. That posture.
Anyone who didn't know better would have thought the two of them were best friends who shared the same skirt.
The moment Orfevre confirmed Shirayuki was fine, however, she immediately changed faces again and pushed her aside.
Maybe Orfevre simply refused to show it on the surface.
Deep down, she had already accepted Shirayuki as a friend.
That contrast was part of Orfevre's charm. At least, Chiya liked that side of her very much.
"What are you smiling about, Trainer?" Orfevre noticed the slight lift at the corner of his mouth and sounded displeased.
"Nothing. I just thought you really do care about Shirayuki."
"Hah?" Orfevre's ears shot upright. "What nonsense are you spouting? How could I possibly care about that woman? The Empress currently represents Tracen's dignity. Her every word and action reflects on Tracen itself. I am merely worried that she might be tricked by some filthy man outside and disgrace all Japanese uma musume."
"Let's say that's true. What are you planning to do after finding that filthy man?"
"What else? Naturally, I will make him disappear! What kind of trash dares lay a hand on the Empress?"
"I-It's not that serious, is it? Maybe that person is worthy of Shirayuki."
"Then he must first pass my judgment. In any case, I will be supervising Shirayuki recently to see whether any unclean thing approaches her. You too, Trainer. Open your eyes and watch carefully. Do not let those pieces of trash near Shirayuki."
"I know, I know."
Chiya wiped away a cold sweat.
Orfevre held Shirayuki to an extremely strict standard. She wanted Shirayuki to possess the dignity worthy of the title "Empress," and she even helped her maintain that image.
Chiya could understand that feeling.
It was like how, after Shirayuki lost to Treve, she had always treated Treve as her target. If Treve lost to a weak opponent, Chiya definitely wouldn't be able to accept it.
That was why, after hearing that the "Empress" might have been approached by some dubious person, Orfevre became so anxious. To her, it felt as if her goal had been tainted.
It was practically a slap to her own face.
Admiration… perhaps that was the word.
It was a complicated sort of admiration. She wanted to surpass her rival, yet at the same time, she wanted that rival to remain grand and untouchable.
After finishing the topic of Shirayuki, Orfevre turned her gaze back to Chiya.
"Trainer, Shirayuki said you intend to arrange collision training for me?"
"That's right." Chiya took out the training plan. "Unlike in Japan, this time it will be stricter. The reason I waited until now is because of your body."
"My body?"
"Exactly. Your body has currently grown to a small peak. So even if we apply a little more pressure, it should be fine."
"Then do I still need to watch other people's expressions?"
"No."
Orfevre snorted.
"Finally, that irritating training is canceled. Trainer, you have made me suffer for far too long."
"It was… a necessary process."
"Is there more after this?"
"Yes."
Orfevre clicked her tongue.
Then she stood, pushed Chiya's hand aside, and sat down on his lap.
She was quite tall, half a head taller than Shirayuki. Sitting on Chiya's lap, their eyes lined up perfectly. Her beautiful golden hair fell across his chest, carrying a pleasant floral scent. Her long golden tail swayed left and right, brushing against his stomach.
"Orfevre?"
"How vexing. I thought the most annoying stage of training had already passed. To think it still has not ended."
"There's at least another month."
"I need to vent."
"Huh?"
"I said I need to vent. Do you expect me to keep holding it in until training ends? Hurry up and serve me properly, so I can relax a little. Truly, you are hopelessly slow."
Orfevre leaned closer, pinched Chiya's chin, and kissed him.