Mejiro Ryan, looking every inch a pretty-boy prince, smiled as she led Stardust and Miho into the castle marked "Mejiro Castle."
The doors swung open to a broad lane lined with lush trees. Winter sunlight filtered through leaves, dappling the ground.
"How is it? Not bad, right?" Ryan asked.
"Whew… as expected of the Mejiros—loaded," Stardust gave a thumbs up.
Keeping this greenery lush in winter—imagine the money.
"Haha, Grandmother just likes green views," Ryan smiled, poised as a prince:
"This castle is the Mejiro home of generations, bearing many elders' glory and stories."
Pride warmed her voice. The Mejiro family was Japan's biggest horse-girl clan; even the surging Sakura family was a notch behind.
In recent years they'd produced three G1 stars in a row—Ardan, Dober, Ryan—and now the rising Mejiro McQueen. They held a huge slice of the summit.
"We all train under family trainers here. The track is privately owned."
"Eh? But McQueen joined Team Spica, right?" Stardust asked.
"Mm. Grandmother doesn't forbid joining other teams, so when McQueen wanted to train with friends, she agreed," Ryan nodded.
"Grandmother?"
"Grandmother is the Mejiro matriarch—" Ryan smiled, eyes alight with respect, "She built the family to what it is. We all admire her."
Grrrrrrr—
Stardust still wanted to chat, but Bourbon's stomach spoke.
Bourbon and Ryan exchanged looks and smiled, apologetic.
"Sorry, Bourbon—we got carried away."
"It's fine. When Master is absent, she told me to obey Stardust Mirage," Bourbon said blandly.
"Alright, I'll take you to the dining room. We can talk while we eat," Ryan waved to a butler to prepare food and led them in.
Beside the main hall, the dining room kept a classic, un-gaudy style. Oil paintings hung on the walls; fine tableware set the long table; the chandelier cast a soft glow, warm and inviting.
Servants came and went, bringing dishes and clearing plates.
Seated with Bourbon, Stardust began to devour. She'd wanted to keep up appearances—
But one bite and her famished body sprang to life.
With flavors so delicious, she held out for not even a second before surrendering and transforming into Oguri Cap herself.
Bourbon, though her stomach had growled, still ate unhurriedly, chewing dozens of times each bite.
Ryan, at the end, didn't eat much. Just watching Stardust made her feel she should eat more.
In no time, Stardust had put away a dozen steaks and assorted courses. Only then did she slow and glance sheepishly at Ryan.
"What's wrong? It's fine. I've eaten with Oguri Cap, Tamamo Cross, and Special Week at once," Ryan waved it off.
"For horse girls, a hearty appetite's a good thing. There's a famous old saying in the Celestial Empire… what was it…"
"Oh! 'A thousand-li horse may eat a shi of grain in one meal!'"
"R-right," Stardust scratched her head.
She knew her appetite was growing, but saw no reason to restrain it; many horse girls ate like this.
As dinner wound down, the doors swung open; a crowd of maids poured in and lined up in two rows, bowing deep.
The sudden pomp made Stardust swallow her bite and look up.
An elderly voice floated in: "If someone pays a special visit to the Mejiros, how could this old matriarch not come greet them?"
"Forgive the interruption."
A tall, upright figure stepped through.
White-haired but full of majesty, her eyes deep and bright as if seeing through all.
She wore a luxurious indigo gown, gilded needlework tracing flowers that bespoke her rank.
Fan in hand, she tilted her head slightly toward Stardust:
"This is the one who beat McQueen in the contest for the exchange slot—the Oguri Cap heir—Stardust Mirage, yes? This old one is the Mejiro matriarch. You may call me Lady Mejiro."
Her voice brimmed with confidence and authority—like one born to command—leaving no room for refusal.
"Yes, Lady Mejiro. I was lucky to beat McQueen. I was surprised myself."
"Luck or not, I judge for myself. You do have that strength," Lady Mejiro said, unarguable.
She swept Stardust up and down without speaking.
Stardust didn't know what she was weighing, and couldn't dodge it; she fidgeted, waiting.
"You…" At last, a conclusion; Lady Mejiro spoke again:
"—would you consider marrying into the Mejiros?"
"Oh, so marry—huh?!" Stardust echoed reflexively, then realized what she'd said. Eyes round, she forgot her earlier respect and yelped:
"I am absolutely not marrying some man! Lady Mejiro, please don't joke like that!"
"Don't get excited." Lady Mejiro's face softened into a kindly smile.
"I didn't mean a man. Our girls are all beauties—Ryan, McQueen, Dober, Ardan—plus Takamine and Bright. Want to see their photos?"
"B-but they're all girls?!"
Having just flared up, Stardust was thrown off and stammered.
"That's the point. You don't know two female horse girls can have offspring?"
"—It's the Three Goddesses' blessing."
Snap—the fan flicked open.
She hid her face to the nose behind the fan inscribed "Two-in-One Body," eyes twinkling, and explained.
Her tone blended warmth and maternal affection, like a mother making decisions for her children.
With that warmth bound to authority—and the honeyed conditions—anyone would feel themselves drawn into her will:
"I'm not joking. If you're willing, any of those girls is yours to choose."
"And the Mejiros will fully cultivate you to challenge the Classic Triple Crown—that's your next goal, right? All we ask is that your first two children take the Mejiro name. How about it?"
"Though it's too late to refuse—this is Mejiro Castle."
Stardust Mirage stood dumbstruck.
This woman—said to have built the clan into a top family—the Mejiro empress—had, at a first meeting, tried to borrow her seed?
Holy—!
The Mejiro family? More like the "Me-borrow" family!!!
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