Chihaya Yui found the whole thing a little frightening. Where had that poised, elegant young lady gone, and who exactly was this strange woman standing in front of her now?
The change in Elizabeth was simply too drastic. Yui almost felt like she could no longer recognize her.
Even though Elizabeth was trying her best to keep up appearances, the shattered image Yui had of her was never coming back.
Xingyun Liuge, on the other hand, felt it was more or less fine. She gave a small nod and continued holding Chihaya Yui in her arms.
"I know. Didn't I just call Miss Elizabeth by name? To be more precise, everything Miss Elizabeth and Yui said reached my ears. I already understand what it is Miss Elizabeth wants."
"A-ah, um… Big Sister, calling me Elizabeth is far too distant. Please call me Isa."
A shy, adorable blush spread across the girl's lovely face, and even her movements turned awkward and bashful, every little gesture radiating embarrassment. It was practically written all over her face:
Big Sister, I like you. I'm your fan.
Even though she was wearing a splendid, luxurious gown and Yui could not see what her legs were doing, Yui had the distinct feeling that Elizabeth had probably already pressed her knees tightly together and had begun rubbing them unconsciously.
Yui knew she should not be interpreting such a lovely girl's behavior from so suggestive an angle—especially when, to Elizabeth, she was still little more than a stranger.
But she really could not help it. Elizabeth's words and actions were simply too suspicious, too easy to associate with something intimate. It really was not Yui's fault.
The maid seemed to sense something and quietly glanced at Chihaya Yui. That single glance made Yui instinctively look away.
She thought to herself, S-so scary! Could this maid possibly have some secret side job she can't reveal to outsiders?
Like being an assassin?
As it happened, Xingyun Liuge was thinking along exactly the same lines.
She noticed that fleeting glance from the maid and sensed something unusual about her as well.
Though the woman's temperament was not especially similar, and her figure was even more different, Xingyun Liuge still could not help thinking:
So you're the type of head maid who can handle both service and combat with effortless grace?
What comes next—showing off your skills by throwing dining knives?
Letting her thoughts wander while she did so, Xingyun Liuge agreed readily.
"Sure. Then I'll call you Isa. It's a very cute name. It suits you perfectly."
"C-cute?"
Elizabeth's face flushed an even more beautiful shade of red. She stammered out that question, then became even more awkward and flustered.
She started saying things like, "I'm not really that cute," and, "Big Sister is both graceful and adorable," and so on. In short, every word out of her mouth circled around Xingyun Liuge. She had completely drifted away from the main topic.
She had just been inviting Chihaya Yui to transfer, hadn't she? How could she forget that so quickly?
Fortunately, just when every girl present seemed to be drifting off topic, Elizabeth—after chatting with them for quite a while—finally seized the reins of the conversation again and brought up what mattered most to her, right in front of Xingyun Liuge.
"Since Big Sister and I get along so well, what do you think? Would you consider transferring to Britain?"
As she spoke of the subject dearest to her heart, Elizabeth's expression gradually grew serious again.
Titles of nobility, annual salary, honor, work, a place to live… even horseplay. Everything she had just promised Chihaya Yui, she now laid out again, and with even more added on top.
Elizabeth clearly believed she was offering the utmost sincerity.
"Whatever the American Triple Crown winners, the noble houses, or Central Tracen can give you, Big Sister—we can give you too. And what we can offer, the Americans cannot."
Pride brimmed in every word.
In truth, the only real difference between the two sides was the noble title. Because the British monarch was nominally head of state in many countries, British titles carried a great deal of weight; people in all sorts of places might acknowledge them and willingly offer their respect.
But this was the worldview of horse girls. In the end, hard power was everything. The title of a world-class horse queen could win international respect just as easily.
At least in Xingyun Liuge's eyes, the condition that might have seemed irresistible to others felt little more than tasteless gristle.
To further underline her own importance, Elizabeth added eagerly,
"I also have some information you'll be able to use very soon. Big Sister, you intend to run in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and prove your absolute dominance to the world again, don't you? But things may not go as smoothly as you think."
With a sharp snap, Elizabeth opened her folding fan and wore an expression of composed self-satisfaction, actually choosing this moment to play coy.
Yet for that reason alone, Xingyun Liuge thought more highly of her.
If Elizabeth had been the type to abandon all sense of national loyalty just for the sake of an idol she adored, then she would not have been worth getting close to.
If a person could cast aside even home and country, then how could she possibly offer true sincerity to any idol at all?
Sure, she might be able to worship someone fervently right now, looking as if she would give everything for them. But what if that devotion faded away someday, quietly and without warning? When that day came, would she still treasure the one she had once claimed to admire so deeply?
So Xingyun Liuge smiled on her own initiative, taking Elizabeth a little more seriously.
"Then Miss Isa has something to teach me? I'd be glad to hear it."
She lowered her eyes slightly, yet her expression turned more focused and solemn because of it, like a devout knight defending a sacred faith, as though she might stand and fight for that belief at any moment.
For horse girls, the thing that deserved to be called a faith was, of course, running.
Watching Xingyun Liuge like this, Elizabeth's eyes widened unconsciously. She did not even realize it herself, but her breathing had grown heavier, and even the air she exhaled felt warm.
That meant she had become excited—more focused on Xingyun Liuge, more deeply attached. She wanted to win her over even more now.
"Well, it's not exactly a secret that absolutely must be kept. Even if I don't say it now, Big Sister would probably discover it for herself in a few days."
And so Elizabeth opened her rosy lips and revealed the information she had gathered—part prediction, part rumor:
At the King George, the horse girls would join forces against Xingyun Liuge and do everything in their power to hand her a defeat.
At those words, Chihaya Yui blinked. For a moment she did not know whether she ought to thank Elizabeth for the information or simply offer her an awkward but polite smile.
Gang up on her? Hadn't that already happened in the Epsom Derby?
This did not really seem all that remarkable, did it? They had already guessed as much.
Of course, they would still thank Elizabeth for it. As a British aristocrat, for her to offer such intelligence before the dust had even settled was kindness worth remembering—and worth being grateful for.
But Elizabeth did not see it that way.
The Epsom Derby had been a siege made up of various powerhouses and their "supporting runners." The King George, however, would not be like that at all. There would be no "supporting runners" this time—only true heavyweights, united in purpose.
Strong horse girls from Britain, Ireland, France, and the rest of Europe would gather on that stage for one single reason:
to end the girl's winning streak.
And more than that, they likely would not accept Xingyun Liuge's request for training races beforehand. Instead, they would study every last detail about her on their own.
People admired the strong. They longed to witness the birth of an undefeated king or queen. But if given the chance to bring down such a legend, they would throw themselves into it with delight as well.
Just like now.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 165)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter220)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter125)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (This matter is completely finished.)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 220
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 185
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 248
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 230
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/40
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 125
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 145
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 120
I Can Copy Unique Skills 115
Summoning an Evil God, but the 75
Supernatural Multiverse 110
My Harem Is Indescribable 100
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 105
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 67
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 105
Still playing traditional Honk 80
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 85
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 78
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 80
Checking In in Demon Slayer 85
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 100
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 85
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 80
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 90
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 75
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 85
Why did they assign me to Uma 75
MYGO Beauties 70
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 75
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 80
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 100
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 60
The Uma Musume Who Became 60
I'm Definitely Not the King of 80
After Maxing Out Every Class 80
Naruto: I'm Konoha's Local Men 44
Honkai: World Modulation Mode 57
I, the Elden Sword Saint 50
Dio Brando Is Challenging FGO 43
No One Knows Pokémon Better 50
I, Sakazuki, Won't Go Down Tha 45
From Trilobites to Titans 45
Chainsaw Man: Contracted with 55
DanMachi: My Party Members Are 60
An Anime Heroine Darkened 55
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