Stardust stared in panic. She realized over thirty Mejiro servants lined the room, and not far away was Mejiro Ryan…
At some point, stuffing her face had landed her in a Mejiro encirclement.
Bad—this was a trap…!
Sixth Lord, nooo!
"Bourbon, get ready to bolt with me—"
She eased back, pressing against Bourbon's chair, whispering, "On my mark."
"Understood," Bourbon set down her cutlery at once.
"Alright, Grandma, stop teasing or she really will run," Ryan stood with a helpless face, cutting the tension.
"Eh?"
Stardust blinked, uncertain—was this a ruse?
"Sorry. Grandmother loves that joke on guests." Ryan bowed, apologizing for Lady Mejiro:
"Haha, at least the first half wasn't a joke," Lady Mejiro suddenly dropped the imperious air and laughed.
"An old woman's eye doesn't err. Your children would shine. So won't you consider marrying in? McQueen's very cute, and Ryan is popular."
"I'll pass, Lady Mejiro."
Seeing the other relax, Stardust let out a breath and hurriedly refused:
"I want to run my fill on the track. I'm not thinking about that—men or women."
"A pity." Lady Mejiro shook her head but didn't press.
She took the main seat and eyed Bourbon, interest glinting:
"And you? Miho Bourbon, was it? Your wind-splitting lead left an impression. Care to marry Ryan?"
"Grandma! Stop with the jokes or I'll tell Big Sister Bright," Ryan protested loudly, exasperated.
"Alright, alright, let's get to the point," Lady Mejiro waved it off. "Stardust Mirage, what do you think of McQueen?"
"That's the point?"
With the other's attitude softened, Stardust spoke more freely. "You're still asking about McQueen—sounds like you're researching matches."
"I mean her performance last race," the matriarch clarified.
"She lost to you, right? Didn't even make top three. The child hid it at the time, but she minded very much afterward."
"Mejiro McQueen…" Talking races made Stardust serious. She recalled and said:
"She ran into both an unfavorable distance and a big escape gambit. She lost her bearings from the start and missed her late kick, forfeiting any chance to contend."
"Correct," Lady Mejiro tapped the table with her fan, in agreement. "McQueen focuses too much on Mejiro honor, fixated on long-distance domination, neglecting what shouldn't be neglected."
"Ah—McQueen wants to achieve a Mejiro spring Tenno Sho three-generation domination?" Stardust remembered the reports: Mejiro Alpes, Mejiro Titan had both conquered the Tenno Sho; McQueen's long-distance gift made the media harp on it.
"Yes. Alpes and Titan are her elder sisters. The outside world compares them, which adds pressure."
Lady Mejiro sighed and turned to Stardust:
"She may have gone down a dead end—shut herself at home. If possible, could you talk to her?"
Seeing a trace of weakness and worry on the formidable woman's face, Stardust felt a headache.
McQueen would soon blaze in coming races—two wins, then a spring Tenno Sho three-generation domination plus a spring repeat. She was the rightful long-distance queen.
But now, after a private training loss to Stardust, she'd shut herself in?
If, because of Stardust's big-escape tactic, McQueen lost her confidence and missed those achievements—that would be too sad.
And the matriarch looked worried, too…
Thinking thus, Stardust raised her head and nodded to the expectant Ryan and Lady Mejiro:
"I don't know what I can do, but if McQueen really fell into a funk—that's a shame. I'm looking forward to facing her in her specialty."
"So you'll try to talk to her?" Lady Mejiro pressed.
"Mm. Let me try."
"Good. Ryan, take her to McQueen's room," the matriarch smiled in relief and signaled Ryan to lead Stardust from the dining room up to the rooms.
Bourbon, waiting for a signal to escape, saw none—and rose to follow, leaving Lady Mejiro and the servants behind.
"Stardust Mirage… the Oguri Cap heir, is it?" Watching her leave, the matriarch's worried face vanished.
"Ma'am, is this alright?" murmured the old retainer.
A sly gleam lit the old lady's eyes. She snapped open her fan and hid a chuckle:
"To my eye, she's no 'Oguri Cap II'… That learning talent—that escape-horse inborn nature—looks the same as that monster but is, in truth, worlds apart."
"So long as injury spares her, Stardust Mirage will reach the horse-girl summit… She has that gift—a one-in-ten-thousand genius."
"Let McQueen spend time with her. I don't force the children together—but a nudge is fine."
"McQueen's charm is hard to resist. Stardust will soon learn how adorable that child is."
"Haha—how delightful."
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