"Little Nearl looked quite tired. She chatted with us for a bit, then fell asleep as soon as she got in the car."
'Tired, yes. Since she was little, she's faced every hardship alone, like a stubborn pine bursting through the mountain rock, standing solitary on the peak through sheer willpower.'
Listening to the words of the Uma Musume who called herself Blemishine, Ardan felt a surge of complicated emotions.
She heard the concern in the remark, yet it only made the whole thing feel more ironic.
She was forced to mature early because her parents abandoned her, leaving her in a poor orphanage.
She had to rely on herself because the director was too busy and the other children too young.
She studied relentlessly because her future depended solely on her own efforts.
So, in Ardan's eyes, this current show of concern was just another form of looking down on her, laced with a dose of hypocrisy.
'Hah, calm down. The situation has changed significantly, and that's good news. At the very least, it suggests they aren't the vicious, wicked Uma Musume I'd imagined. Nearl's safety is likely assured.'
With that major premise settled, Ardan felt a weight lift from her shoulders. But another thought immediately followed.
"You two are Nearl's older sisters, correct?"
"That's right."
"I understand. I won't raise objections for now. But may I ask one thing?"
"Please do."
"What exactly does Nearl mean to you?"
Frowning, Ardan's words were polite, but the accusatory edge in them was unmistakable.
"I know about Nearl's past. She was abandoned by her parents when she was just a baby. If not for kind-hearted people taking her in, she might have lost her life. Where were you, her elders, back then? Why only come looking for her now?"
Of course, there was an even sharper question she didn't voice, one that only flashed through her mind.
'Are you only seeking her out now because she's become famous and valuable to you, putting on this act of being caring older sisters?'
But that was just speculation. Ardan wouldn't say it outright. She kept the thought to herself, waiting for their response before making any judgments.
"Ah? This…"
"Well, you see…"
The two goddesses were momentarily at a loss for words. They looked at each other for a long moment, unsure of what to say.
'Byerley, say something!'
'Me? What can I say? Nearl never really had blood relatives. Her very genes were handcrafted by our eldest sister. Where else in the world would you find an Uma Musume with such pure golden features?'
'Then how do we answer this? The girl across from us is already looking at us like we're villains. If we don't explain soon, she'll probably call the police. Think of something, quick!'
"Ladies, is the question that difficult? You've been exchanging glances for quite a while."
Ardan's eyes narrowed slightly.
She was indeed gentle, kind, proper, and elegant by nature, but that didn't mean she couldn't get angry. Especially when it concerned Nearl, the one who held her heart.
"Ah, no, it's just… well…"
"Oh! Actually, our parents—Nearl's parents—passed away. In a travel accident."
"Yes, that's right! Exactly. Our parents died some time ago. It was only through a secret diary my father left behind that I learned of Nearl's existence. That's why we came to find our little sister."
Godolphin clapped her hands brightly, playing along with Byerley's improvised excuse.
"Huh?"
The reason momentarily baffled Ardan.
The overly blunt explanation, delivered with such cheerful enthusiasm, almost made it sound like they were announcing their parents' resurrection, not their death.
"You understand now, Miss Mejiro? We only just found out our father had an illegitimate daughter. You can't blame us for that, can you? We'll be sure to convey your grievances to that fellow up in heaven next time we visit his grave."
"I… see."
Ardan nodded reluctantly.
Of course, she wasn't truly convinced by this reason.
She simply knew too little at the moment and had no understanding of the background of Nearl's biological father, so she accepted it for now.
Moreover, from their interaction, she could tell these two had personalities vastly different from Nearl's, carrying an air of people who treated life like a game.
"Originally, we just wanted to find this sister we'd never met and offer her some help. But after talking with her, we gave up on that idea. Little Nearl already has her own path and bonds. She doesn't need us meddling."
"Indeed. You two are unexpectedly considerate. I apologize for my earlier rudeness. So, are you planning to return after seeing Nearl?"
Ardan was pleased by their praise of Nearl while subtly probing their next move.
"No, no, no. We can't just take a look and leave. Look, the Japanese Derby is still over ten days away, right? Nearl just ran the NHK Mile Cup and needs to rest. So we thought we'd take her on a trip. Wouldn't that be a good way to relax?"
"A trip… That's true. It seems Nearl has never really had such a relaxing experience. It might be a suitable idea. Thank you for your thoughtfulness."
Ardan readily accepted the suggestion.
In that moment, she began mentally planning future trips she could take with Nearl—from Japan's Mount Fuji to China's Great Wall, then from China to the mysterious pyramids of Egypt, her imagination even wandering to the Aegean Sea.
"How lovely."
She murmured softly, her heart brimming with joy.
Naturally, she had no intention of missing out on this particular trip either.
As everyone knows, first experiences leave the deepest impressions. She hoped Nearl's joyful journey would also be filled with memories of her.
'So the only remaining point of doubt is their identity. While their story seems fairly credible, and their similar appearance is hard to fake, it's still just their word against nothing. Only if Nearl also agrees with their account can I trust them completely.'
This was the last shred of reservation in Ardan's mind.
Of course, it also had to do with the Three Goddesses' innate ability to win the favor of Uma Musume, which is why her doubts faded so quickly.
"An unfamiliar feeling…"
Speak of Cao Cao and he appears. Think of Nearl and she wakes. No sooner had Ardan's thought settled than the Nearl in her arms slowly opened her eyes.
Well, no need for further words. What could be more reliable than the testimony of the person herself?
"…"
Ardan pulled Nearl aside for a private conversation.
Of course, the topic likely wasn't limited to these two sisters who appeared out of thin air; it probably also included some of Ardan's own little private hopes.
But had Ardan forgotten something?
A certain butler was driving a car stuck in a traffic jam.
"Sigh, the young mistress must be getting impatient by now."
--+--
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.