At Longchamp Racecourse, the GII Prix Foy ended with Orfevre's victory.
The first half of the race had not been especially fierce. But at the very end, that golden figure who tore through everything in her path burned itself into everyone's memory.
It was the first time they had ever seen someone force open a route by physically shoving aside three uma musume with sheer body strength.
Normally, even taking the outside was more efficient than trying to muscle through opponents. And that was when it was only one opponent.
Three was absurd.
And yet Orfevre had charged forward as if that was the only path she would accept, trampling everything that stood before her. Even on the fiercely competitive European turf, few could pull off such a domineering running style.
But the golden tyrant from across the sea had done it.
Not only had she done it, she had beaten second place by a full two lengths.
A win.
And a beautiful one at that.
In the blink of an eye, Orfevre's name spread through Paris. Her story passed from one spectator to another, gaining heat with every retelling.
That night, Fujiwara Chiya prepared a grand celebration for Orfevre.
"Congratulations, Orfevre. That was a gorgeous victory."
"For I, it was the inevitable result," Orfevre said with a small huff. "I am not like those uma musume who are burdened with everyone's expectations only to lose. I fulfill what others expect of me, then surpass it."
Shirayuki scratched her cheek.
Orfevre glanced at her, then suddenly realized what she had said.
She changed course immediately.
"I mean in a small race like this, of course. The difficulty was not high, so there is nothing much to boast about. In a truly major race, I would naturally have to think far more carefully. Even I could lose with one careless mistake."
"Mm. Congratulations." Shirayuki poured her a drink.
"Shirayuki, I was not trying to scold you..."
"I know. Today is your celebration, Orfevre, so everyone should enjoy themselves."
"Right."
Orfevre scratched her head.
One careless sentence, and she might have hurt Shirayuki.
She had won this race. But at the same time, it had made Orfevre understand something.
If she had been in Shirayuki's position back then, she would not have done better.
Some things could not be understood until you experienced them yourself.
Orfevre touched her aching arm. Even after Shirayuki's special training, she had still been hurt from clashing with other uma musume.
And this was only a GII.
Her opponents were not even at the highest level.
If this had been the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe...
Orfevre was certain of it.
If more than two uma musume made contact with her, her body would not hold out.
And Shirayuki back then had dealt with more than two.
After the celebration ended, on the way back, Orfevre quietly tugged on Fujiwara Chiya's sleeve.
"Trainer. I am coming to your room later."
"...Hm?"
"There is something I want you to do."
"Sure."
That night, Orfevre came to Fujiwara Chiya's room. Looking at him sitting on the sofa, she said, "Come inside."
The moment they entered the inner room, Orfevre began to take off her outerwear.
"Wait, Orfevre. You just finished a race, so rest first!" Fujiwara Chiya hurriedly stopped her.
He really did not want to do anything intimate when an uma musume was exhausted after a race. Even if Orfevre was in an especially excited mood today, he wanted her to rest.
"What nonsense are you thinking?" Orfevre shot him a look. "I called you in because I want you to apply medicine."
"Medicine?"
Fujiwara Chiya looked at Orfevre's body. Only then did he notice the red-purple bruises blooming across her arm, chest, and shoulder.
"Originally, I wanted Shirayuki to help me. But I said the wrong thing during the celebration, so it is not convenient to ask her for now. I can only ask you, Trainer."
Orfevre lay down on the bed and loosened her clothes enough for him to reach the bruised areas.
Fujiwara Chiya opened the cabinet and took out the ointment.
"When you say you said the wrong thing..."
"I... spoke harshly to Shirayuki again because of the Arc. But I did not truly mean it. Only now do I understand how amazing the Empress is. I cannot compare to her... but I will do everything I can to surpass her. The Empress... is my goal. She is the opponent I must defeat."
As he listened to her, Fujiwara Chiya gently spread the ointment over her bruises.
"I don't think Shirayuki will mind. At the very least, she believes you weren't being malicious. We've all been together for more than a year now, right? Everyone has seen how much you've changed. Everyone knows what kind of person you are."
"Are you trying to say I am a good girl again?"
"That's right."
"I am not as good as you think... at least, I was not before."
"You are now. And I'm happy you can see Shirayuki as someone to chase after. If Shirayuki can become everyone's motivation to move forward, that couldn't be better."
"Are you happy, Trainer? Your precious little sister will lose to I one day."
"Then can I take that to mean my Orfevre will one day become invincible?"
"Hmph... smooth talker."
Orfevre smiled and turned her face away.
After Fujiwara Chiya finished applying the medicine, Orfevre hugged the blanket against herself, sat up, and moved her arm experimentally.
"Apply it twice a day. It should heal in about three or four days. Don't push yourself too hard during that time, or the injury will get worse."
"Mm."
Orfevre stared blankly at Fujiwara Chiya.
"What is it?"
"Nothing..."
Orfevre shook her head.
A moment later, she added, "When I was on the podium today, I saw Shirayuki. She was in the stands. For a moment, I thought she was you. I never noticed before, but you two really are quite alike."
"...Everyone says that."
Orfevre lay back down on the bed.
"I am sleeping here tonight."
"You're sleeping in my room?"
"What? Is that not allowed?"
"...It is, but your body."
"I have no intention of being intimate with you. I only want to sleep here. If you dare reach your hand over in the middle of the night, prepare to be bitten to death by I."
"I know. I won't touch you. Happy now?"
After taking a shower, Fujiwara Chiya changed into pajamas and lay down beside Orfevre.
"Good night, Orfevre."
"Good night."
Fujiwara Chiya turned off the light.
Moonlight slipped into the room and fell across him.
Orfevre turned over and quietly watched his face.
Under the pale moonlight, Fujiwara Chiya's hair seemed to glow faintly white. For some reason, Orfevre saw Shirayuki in him for a moment.
Are you siblings truly this alike?
Shirayuki's face and Chiya's face flickered back and forth before Orfevre's eyes, then finally overlapped.
One was the person Orfevre liked.
The other was the person Orfevre respected.
Before she knew it, those two had almost filled her entire heart.
The Fujiwara family is terrifying...
To think they could make even I fall this far.
She reached out, hugged Fujiwara Chiya, and closed her eyes.
The next morning, Fujiwara Chiya woke to an unmistakably intimate sensation.
For a few seconds, his sleep-fogged brain refused to work. Then he realized Orfevre had somehow ended up in a compromising position again.
He froze.
Why did this start again?