The atmosphere of the victory party led by the Gold Family was so heated it nearly blew the roof off the restaurant.
Under the constant teasing and force-feeding from everyone (mainly Gold Ship and Stay Gold), Myriad Dreams not only drank a significant amount of specially blended carrot juice but also sampled all sorts of French cuisine.
It wasn't until she felt her stomach grow round and full, unable to fit another single bite, that the revelry finally drew to a close.
Bidding farewell to her still-excited "family," Myriad Dreams set off alone.
Dragging her steps, which were heavy from being overstuffed, she slowly meandered back to the hotel where she was staying.
The night was deep, and the streets of Paris were sparsely lit. A cool breeze brushed against her slightly flushed face, dispersing a bit of the post-meal drowsiness and the lingering clamor of the banquet.
"Hiccup... I ate way too much..."
She rubbed her bloated stomach, feeling as though even breathing had become a chore.
"Let's check the time... It's already past midnight," she muttered, glancing at her phone.
"At this hour, Muteki should be asleep, right? I hope I don't wake her."
Myriad Dreams carefully swiped her keycard to unlock the door, trying to be as silent as possible.
She crept into the room on tiptoe, gently closing the door behind her.
Internally, she congratulated herself on not waking Yaeno Muteki, who she assumed was fast asleep.
However, the moment the lock clicked shut, a pair of warm, strong arms unexpectedly wrapped around her from behind, cinching tightly around her waist.
Immediately after, a fluffy head carrying a familiar, fresh fragrance pressed against her back and the crook of her neck.
"!!!" Myriad Dreams froze in shock.
"Honestly..."
Yaeno Muteki's voice, thick with sleepiness but tinged with a hidden dissatisfaction, rang in her ear.
Her warm breath fanned across her skin, sending a slight itch through her.
"Coming back this late... I almost fell asleep waiting for you."
Myriad Dreams finally let out a sigh of relief as her body relaxed.
She chuckled helplessly, reaching up to gently pat the arms wrapped around her waist.
"I couldn't help it... everyone in the Gold Family was so enthusiastic, I just couldn't get away."
She could feel Muteki nuzzling dependently against her shoulder with her forehead, like a large feline.
"Hmph, and so?" Yaeno Muteki's voice was muffled, carrying a trace of subtle grievance and... a dangerous undertone.
"Leaving me alone in the hotel for so long to go party with that noisy bunch..."
She paused, her arms tightening further around Myriad Dreams, squeezing away the last bit of space between them.
Then, Myriad Dreams clearly heard a low, slightly husky, and undeniable chuckle right by her ear:
"So... as punishment for coming back so late..."
Alarm bells went off in Myriad Dreams' head!
A familiar premonition— a mix of anticipation and a feeling of "this is bad"— surged through her instantly!
'Wait! That tone! That stance! Could it be...?!'
Before she could protest or beg for mercy, she felt Yaeno Muteki's arms exert a sudden force. Muteki easily began half-carrying, half-dragging Myriad Dreams, whose movements were sluggish from the heavy meal, toward the bedroom!
"Eh?! Wait, wait! Muteki! No way?! Today was exhausting enough, and I'm so full... Is there really a second round?!!"
Myriad Dreams let out a desperate wail, struggling with all her limbs.
But in the face of Yaeno Muteki's irresistible strength and determination, her resistance was like a stone sinking into the ocean.
Her only answer was Yaeno Muteki's soft hum, which sounded particularly clear in the dark, filled with a sense of success and doting, and the steady, unwavering footsteps leading her toward the large bed in the bedroom.
'It's over... I just conquered the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and now I have to face "punishment" as soon as I get back... I should've threw the race...'
Myriad Dreams thought, wanting to cry but having no tears.
The sleepiness she had felt earlier from her full stomach was now completely blown away by an even more intense premonition.
This night in Paris was destined to be a long one.
A dreamless night...