"Where? Where?"
Godolphin craned her neck with interest, but she was usually so busy granting Domains to newly born Uma Musume—far busier than Byerley, who bestowed their fates—that she naturally hadn't paid much attention to Nearl.
Just like now. Although she carefully observed every Uma Musume passing by, she simply couldn't figure out who Byerley meant by that "familiar person."
"Over there! That one, dressed simply yet elegantly, wearing earrings with Nearl's bloodline."
The description had plenty of adjectives, but only one thing really mattered.
"Nearl's blood? For you to single it out, it must not be some casually discarded blood, right? The kind containing divine power? Oh, never mind, I can sense it now."
She hadn't focused on it before, but now, immersing herself in the sensation, that radiance was practically blinding. No doubt it was Nearl's.
"…This child… I believe she's called Mejiro Ardan, isn't she? Her threads of fate look rather grim. Weren't you too cruel when you assigned her destiny?"
"How is that my fault? I only assign fate; I don't create it. How things ultimately turn out is entirely beyond my control."
"What a pity. She's clearly gifted, a top-class Uma Musume, yet she won't leave behind achievements matching her talent."
"Nothing to be done about it. There have been countless like her throughout history. But since she's met Nearl, her fate might change a bit, who knows?"
As she spoke, Godolphin steered the car to the roadside, coming to a slow, deliberate stop before a somewhat puzzled Mejiro Ardan.
"Miss, if you don't mind, could we offer you a ride?"
--+--
"How strange, why did it suddenly start raining? A storm of this scale couldn't have been missed by the weather forecast."
Taking shelter under a shop awning, feeling a bit flustered, Ardan's mood soured.
"And here I was planning to hurry over and congratulate Nearl, to tell her the good news that my leg has miraculously healed…"
Outside, an impenetrable darkness, punctuated now and then by rumbles of thunder. Though it wasn't raining yet, Ardan truly didn't dare venture out.
"Guess I'll have to turn back today?"
She contacted the family steward via phone, explained her situation, and upon receiving a reply that a car would be sent immediately, she settled in to wait.
Sure enough, moments later, a torrential downpour blotted out the sky. What protection could a tiny awning offer against such a deluge?
"Oh no, my clothes are…"
Ardan pressed herself as close to the wall as possible, but she wasn't Suzuka.
No matter how she curled up, her graceful figure remained, and her clothes were soon soaked through.
"...Quite a sorry sight. I don't think I've ever been drenched like this since I was little. Grandmother will surely worry when I get back."
With slender fingers, she pinched the hem of her garment, giving it a slight squeeze. Drips of water trickled out, but it was a futile effort. Exposed to the rain, there was no way to wring her clothes dry.
"This won't do. In such heavy rain, even if the steward tries to fetch me, he'll be delayed. And if I get drenched for another ten minutes or so, I'll definitely catch a cold. Can't let my younger sisters worry."
Just as Ardan decided to abandon decorum and simply make a dash for home through the rain, a vehicle approached—one that even by her standards seemed extraordinarily luxurious.
And it was no mistake; it came to a stop right in front of her. The window rolled down, revealing a face that, for some reason, made her feel an instant, peculiar fondness.
"Miss, if you don't mind, could we offer you a ride?"
"Huh?"
--+--
Naturally, Ardan declined the invitation politely but firmly.
The Mejiro family's emphasis on self-protection was paramount; she wouldn't even consider accepting an invitation from a stranger.
Even now, with a sudden downpour and her soaked, bedraggled state, she couldn't possibly accept aid from a stranger. Who knew what intentions lay behind it?
"No, thank you for your kindness, but my family will be here to pick me up soon. I'll wait a little longer."
Though inwardly wary, Ardan responded with polite restraint, her elegant demeanor winning the other's appreciation.
"Waiting for family in this weather? Even Uma Musume can fall ill with a fever. And your constitution is inherently frail, isn't it? What might be a minor cold for others could worsen for you."
"Thank you for your concern. I'm aware of that. I'll take good care of myself when I get back."
Ardan's internal alertness heightened. Though her expression remained a polite smile, she subtly shifted her weight back, ready to distance herself if needed.
'She even knows about my frail health? Seems she's looked into me specifically. What could she be after?'
This slight retreat didn't escape Godolphin's notice.
In half a second, she understood what the young filly was thinking.
A strange sense of dissonance washed over her—she'd never been regarded with such suspicion by an Uma Musume before. For a moment, it felt oddly novel.
"…"
She opened her mouth but found herself at a loss for words. After all, as a deity, she hadn't engaged in conversation with others for a long time; she was hardly skilled in persuasion.
But there was one thing that would surely convince Ardan.
With this thought, Godolphin rolled down the rear window. Two golden figures were revealed in the dim interior light.
"!"
Ardan instinctively covered her mouth, her eyes wide with shock and worry.
"So? You're on good terms with Nearl, aren't you? Feel assured enough to get in now?"
Godolphin spoke with full confidence. Just seeing how dearly Ardan treasured the earrings Nearl had given her told Godolphin the outcome was inevitable.
'Nearl's practically a trap all on her own.'
But lost in self-congratulation, she failed to notice the fierce, resentful glint in Ardan's eyes. Ardan even clenched her teeth, momentarily forgetting all grace.
'How despicable! We're both Uma Musume, how can you be so vile and shameless? But…'
Her gaze shifted to the interior. Nearl lay there with eyes closed. The dim lighting made it hard to see details, but the situation looked anything but good.
'I have no choice but to accept. Otherwise, who knows what they might do to Nearl. If they're targeting me, it might just be for money—that would be simpler. No matter what, I can't let Nearl get hurt.'
Ardan took a deep breath. Her heart felt like the rain soaking her to the bone—icy, piercing, chilling her from head to toe, leaving her numb.
Click… clack.
The car door swung open before her. To Ardan, it seemed like the gates of hell, but for Nearl's sake, she had to muster the courage to step inside.
"Please let me sit in the back."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.