After wiping her thighs clean, Orfevre left the office feeling thoroughly satisfied.
So Trainer wasn't just into feet. He was into legs too. A few brushes from a pair of soft, pale thighs, and he was already done for.
Remembering the look on his face, like he was seconds away from melting into a puddle, Orfevre lowered her head and couldn't help laughing.
What was that? That was all he had?
What a small-fry.
Next time, maybe she'd use the back of her knee.
With her stress nicely released, Orfevre spotted Shirayuki sitting on a bench in the academy's front plaza. For some reason, Shirayuki was clutching her stomach, bent forward with her upper body folded over her thighs.
"What are you doing, Shirayuki?"
At the sound of her voice, Shirayuki jolted like she'd been struck by lightning.
"O-Orfevre!?"
Under Orfevre's blue-violet stare, Shirayuki gave an awkward little laugh.
"It's nothing. My stomach just feels a little uncomfortable."
"Stomach pain? What a frail body. That's what you get for stuffing yourself every day without knowing how to take care of yourself." Orfevre clicked her tongue. "Can you still move? If not, go to the hospital. Don't just sit here toughing it out and let it get worse. It'll interfere with your training."
"It's fine. I just need to rest for a bit."
"Sorry for the wait, Shirayuki!"
Treve came running over with two crepes in hand.
"Whoa, you're… Orfevre, right? That was your name?"
"That's right." Orfevre lifted her chin. "Remember it well. Before long, I'll be branding you with the mark of defeat."
"Oh? Then good luck. I'm looking forward to seeing what you can do."
Treve smiled, utterly unfazed by Orfevre's declaration. She sat down beside Shirayuki and handed her a crepe.
"What is this, Shirayuki? Didn't you say your stomach hurt? Is it really okay to eat something like that?"
"It's fine, it's fine. I just need to replenish my nutrients."
"Huh? Shirayuki's stomach hurts?" Treve blinked.
A moment ago, Shirayuki had suddenly clutched her stomach for some reason, said she was hungry, then sent Treve all the way across the academy to buy crepes. Treve had run for ages before finally making it back.
"I'm hungry and in pain," Shirayuki said.
She devoured the crepe in a few bites, then let out a long breath.
The restless urge coming from Chiya's side had finally faded. She was more or less back to normal now.
"What kind of condition is that?" Orfevre muttered.
Beside her, Treve noticed the cream at the corner of Shirayuki's mouth. She leaned in, stuck out her tongue, and gently licked it away.
"Hey. What do you think you're doing?" Orfevre's expression darkened. "Show some respect to our Empress."
"What's wrong? Is there a problem with me and Shirayuki doing this?"
"There's a huge problem. You two are opponents, aren't you? If that's the case, stop cozying up to her."
Treve was one of the opponents Orfevre wanted to defeat too, but Shirayuki mattered more to her.
Aside from being someone she had long wanted to beat, and aside from Shirayuki's status as the Empress of Tracen, Shirayuki was also Chiya's younger sister.
That meant Orfevre had a responsibility to protect her.
And now Treve was kissing and licking Shirayuki like this. Naturally, Orfevre wasn't pleased.
"So what if we're opponents?" Treve said. "Shirayuki and I are keeping each other's bodies safe right now."
"Hah?"
"When the race is over, either Shirayuki becomes mine, or I become Shirayuki's. One of us will belong to the other. Until that day comes, we both have to take good care of ourselves for each other."
Treve rubbed her cheek against Shirayuki's.
What was this?
Why did that sound so heavy?
Was this still a race? Orfevre felt like she'd just been forced to listen to the rules of some dark duel.
"Come on, Shirayuki. Let's go look over there."
Treve took Shirayuki's hand.
"Hold on."
Shirayuki stepped over to Orfevre.
"I'm helping Treve adjust her condition, and investigating her strength while I'm at it. I haven't told Treve this yet, but I don't have those kinds of feelings anymore, so don't misunderstand."
With that said, Treve dragged Shirayuki away.
Orfevre watched the two of them go.
She could understand the part about investigating Treve's strength.
But "I don't have those kinds of feelings anymore"?
Orfevre couldn't understand that part at all.
Did that mean Shirayuki had those kinds of feelings before?
Thinking back to Treve's attitude toward Shirayuki right after they got off the plane, Orfevre suddenly had a realization.
Could it be?
Was the wild man who seduced Shirayuki actually Treve!?
And Shirayuki had gone along with it?
No, wait. If it was Treve, how had Shirayuki lost it? Had she used a toy? Or had Orfevre misunderstood everything, and Shirayuki was still untouched?
After thinking it over for a long while and getting absolutely nowhere, Orfevre shook her head.
Forget it.
Once she won, she would ask everything clearly.
Faced with the supreme ruler of the turf, none of them would dare hide the truth.
For now, she should go eat.
Oh, right. Trainer probably hadn't eaten either. Would it be better to make him something?
Thinking that, Orfevre pulled out her phone.
"Hello? Nee-san, I want to ask what someone should eat to replenish their energy… Mm. Yes, for Trainer… What? How is Trainer's quality? I'm not really sure. Probably very good… Hah? Treat the symptoms directly? Then what should I do… Taste it?"
By afternoon, Fujiwara Chiya had started training, while Montjeu reported on the investigation's progress.
"Sprint training?"
"Yes. My guess is that she wants to rush straight to the front the moment the race begins," Montjeu said. "Solemia is in the same prep race as Orfevre. I think she's focusing on Orfevre. That girl plans to race as a Pace Chaser, right?"
"Yeah. She could run from mid-pack too, but considering how difficult it would be to break through, Pace Chaser suits her better."
"Then that confirms it."
Montjeu shook the investigation report in her hand.
"She's clearly planning to pressure Orfevre early and create an advantage for herself. As long as Orfevre gets knocked down a peg, her chances of winning become very high."
"That's what I think too."
"So how are you planning to deal with it, Trainer?"
"It depends on the gate. If she draws gate five or closer to the inside, Orfevre's leg strength should be enough. If she's outside gate five…"
Chiya looked toward the track.
"Then it'll depend on the training from here on out."
On the training field, Shirayuki and Orfevre collided head-on.
Thud!
Their arms slammed together with a heavy, brutal sound.
Orfevre held her breath and forced her body steady.
It hurt.
A prickling numbness spread through her arm, and for an instant, she almost lost strength.
This hurt way more than when Trainer rammed into her! It had even thrown off her breathing rhythm.
Was Shirayuki's body made of iron!?
Orfevre clenched her teeth.
This was her first time doing collision training with the Empress, and only now did she realize it.
The Shirayuki who usually seemed soft enough to fall over with one push, whose body felt like it might melt in your arms, turned into solid stone during a race.
She was completely different.
The Shirayuki in daily life and the Shirayuki on the track were two different people.
Looking into those clear blue eyes, Orfevre swallowed.
Only by experiencing it personally could she understand Shirayuki's terrifying pressure.
After their brief contact, Shirayuki closed in again, pressing tightly against Orfevre. Their arms fought nonstop, shoulder to shoulder, elbow to elbow, each impact grinding away at Orfevre's stamina at an alarming speed.
At last, when the pain became too much to bear, Orfevre's pace dropped.
And in that same instant, Shirayuki squeezed in front of her.