Wuyou shifted slightly.
Comfortable—unreasonably comfortable.
He couldn't photosynthesize like an actual plant, but basking in the sun was one of the few ways he could replenish his youki.
Of course, there was also the so-called "mana replenishment" method—like in a certain famous 18+ text-based adventure game.
He'd just never tried that.
Tap.
A light set of footsteps sounded not far away. Wuyou gave it a brief read with his senses and concluded it was an Umamusume standing behind a patch of flowers.
He didn't think much of it. This was the garden, after all—people came to admire the blooms all the time…
Then it hit him.
Wait. Isn't it class time right now?
He almost got up to deliver a little "please attend your lectures" speech, but the thought faded as quickly as it came.
Maybe she was like Oguri Cap—an athlete through and through.
If you haven't lived someone else's life, don't be so quick to lecture them. Wuyou decided to keep soaking up the sun.
But in the next second, the Umamusume who'd been "peeking" walked straight over and stopped in front of him.
Wuyou looked up. The height difference between a human and an Umamusume was already considerable, and with him seated, it became even more dramatic.
From the impression alone, she seemed roughly comparable in height to Symboli Rudolf and Mr. C.B.
What surprised him more, however, was the absolute aura of dominance radiating from her—an unmistakable "king" presence.
"Thou… state thy name," Orfevre said, her voice low.
"Wuyou."
"Wuyou… Mm. A fine name."
"May I ask who you—"
"I have not granted thee permission to pose questions."
"…"
Wuyou fell silent—not out of speechlessness, but because he was thinking:
Ah. She's definitely from the Gold line.
It's reputation. It's pedigree.
In all his years as a trainer, Wuyou had met his share of Umamusume with peculiar quirks.
But the Gold line were, as a rule, the eccentrics among eccentrics.
And Gold Ship, in particular, was the overlord of all oddities.
"This is my garden. Thou hast trespassed uninvited—dost thou mean to affront my majesty?"
Her words were sharp, but her tone held no real anger, as if she were reciting a decree more than scolding him.
Sure enough, she added immediately afterward:
"However, fortune smiles upon thee. On this day I bestow a royal command: I permit thee to admire my garden alongside me."
Wuyou just smiled helplessly.
That way of speaking should, by rights, have been grating—
Yet she was the exception.
Her presence, and her voice, made it feel neither awkward nor irritating.
It was as though that condescending imperial diction had been made for her—perfectly natural.
To sit precisely on that delicate line meant one thing: she was gifted. A born "king."
Though kings, as a rule, were troublesome.
Wuyou murmured with a faint smile, "To stroll through the garden at Your Majesty's side… that does sound rather wonderful…"
A barely perceptible curve rose at the corner of Orfevre's lips.
Then, in the next instant, cold water was thrown over him.
"But I refuse."
"…What?"
The curve at Orfevre's lips froze.
Her reaction was exactly what Wuyou had expected.
And for this type of Umamusume, he'd long since developed a reliable approach:
The more she wants you to do something, the more you shouldn't do it.
If you obey a "king" without question, she'll only look down on you. You had to defy her—just enough.
"Displeasing… Thou wouldst defy my decision?" Orfevre frowned slightly.
But the faint sweet scent in the air—and the gentle calm of the young man's face—made it impossible for her to truly flare into anger.
Wuyou leaned back a little, letting the warm sunlight spill across his shoulders.
"Defy? I wouldn't dare."
His voice was soft, but steady—peaceful certainty.
"It's simply that, compared to following a royal command, I'd rather sit here and continue enjoying the sun in this garden. After all…"
"The king's garden exists to be admired, does it not? I'm admiring it in my own way. That should count as not wasting Your Majesty's grace."
Orfevre's slight frown eased, slowly smoothing out.
She had seen countless people fear her authority, flatter her, kneel to it.
But people who could stand with her—on equal footing—were rare.
And for some reason, in her eyes, Wuyou's defiance was… oddly endearing. Like—
"A little kitty…"
"Hm?" Wuyou tilted his head.
"That deliberate disobedience of mine—it makes thee look like a small cat." Orfevre smiled, satisfied. "Is it to draw my attention? Mm. Rather adorable."
She even nodded to herself, as if approving the metaphor.
Wuyou fell silent for a long moment before rubbing his forehead in resignation.
As expected, he had underestimated the Gold bloodline…
Orfevre didn't care about his reaction. She continued, "Only this once, I shall indulge thee."
The carefully maintained oppressive majesty in her presence receded somewhat.
Instead of leaving, she sat down beside him.
"I shall see, then, how thy 'admiration' differs from that of ordinary folk."
Wuyou understood immediately—his strategy had worked.
The result was slightly different than he'd predicted, but at least she hadn't swept away in a huff.
The balance of initiative subtly tilted back toward him, breaking the one-sided dynamic where he had to obey "royal commands."
Neither spoke. They simply bathed in the mild warmth of the sun.
"You…" Orfevre spoke again at last, her voice carrying a trace of curiosity. "Dost thou often come here?"
"Occasionally. The sunlight is good—perfect for 'photosynthesis.'"
"Photosynthesis?" Orfevre glanced at him, and something like amusement flickered in her eyes. "By that logic… art thou a carrot spirit?"
Wuyou: …
So she figured it out?
He felt a fleeting moment of guilt, but his expression remained composed.
"For me, basking in the sun is as important as training is for an Umamusume."
That comparison earned her a soft, approving, "Mm."
As an Umamusume, she understood the feeling of life filling the body in motion.
But equating "sunbathing" with "training"—a statement that sounded lazy on the surface yet carried a strange kind of meaning—felt novel to her.
"I assumed thou wouldst seize this chance to inquire after my races or my training."
Her tone revealed no obvious emotion.
Humans who appeared at Tracen Academy were, almost without exception, trainers.
And from the first glance, Orfevre had instinctively sensed that this young man was an exceptional one.
She considered herself supremely gifted; the title of "Triple Crown" was, to her, something she could take whenever she pleased.
This wasn't arrogance. It was the confidence of a king.
Countless trainers had sought her out with contracts in hand—only to be met with her cold refusal.
They merely wanted to ride her talent to the summit.
She had no need for such "parasites." In fact, she believed she needed no trainer at all.
And yet now, as an Umamusume, she had developed an inexplicable interest in a trainer.
That alone was unprecedented.
Wuyou smiled faintly. "If you want to talk, I'll listen. If you don't, I won't ask."
"…Why?"
"Because even a 'king' has times when she doesn't want to speak. And besides—rather than pressing for answers, quietly keeping someone company may be the better choice."
Wuyou's voice was light—yet it landed on Orfevre's heart like a feather.
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