Honestly, she could no longer bring herself to say that all she wanted was to lie back on the Northern family's wealth and live as an ordinary, carefree Uma Musume.
Faced with the intimidating elite aura radiating from Mejiro Ramonu, Matikanetannhauser, who had been frightened from the very start, never once thought to doubt her.
She simply took it for granted that this was a trusted friend Northern Dreams had entrusted her to, believing Mejiro Ramonu was here to supervise her, to ensure she didn't squander the Northern family's assets.
Under her watchful eye, Matikanetannhauser, who had originally planned to lounge comfortably, found herself saddled with the responsibility of boosting the Northern family's reputation.
Naturally, her performance on the track couldn't hold a candle to Dream Weaver's, but that was fine. Mejiro Ramonu had already charted a brilliant future for the Northern family.
All Matikanetannhauser needed to do now was serve as the mascot in this Western-style mansion-turned-museum, answering curious visitors' questions as the heir of the Northern family.
By spending just a few hours from Monday to Friday answering tourists' questions, Matikanetannhauser would gain control over the entire Northern family fortune.
As far as jobs went, this one was almost effortless, yet the rewards were unbelievably generous.
Aside from making Matikanetannhauser play mascot, Mejiro Ramonu placed no other real restrictions on her beyond curbing reckless spending, nor did she assign any further responsibilities.
Perhaps thinking her airheaded demeanor was utterly unfit to carry on the Northern family's legacy, Mejiro Ramonu had taken it upon herself to shoulder that burden.
Now, every day, on top of her own family's affairs, she had to devote extra effort to planning the Northern family's future.
Compared to the dazed Matikanetannhauser, who could only really function as a mascot, Mejiro Ramonu clearly had it much harder.
But she never complained—not once—because this was the path she had chosen for herself.
Dream Weaver was the little sister she had claimed as her own, and the family her sister left behind, the glory she had brought to the Northern name—Mejiro Ramonu was determined to protect it all in her stead.
This was something Mejiro Ramonu had decided long ago.
Even if she didn't understand why Dream Weaver had handed the Northern family over to this clueless Uma Musume, it didn't mean she would ever go back on her promise.
"Here's the newly compiled guidebook. Make sure you look it over later."
As she spoke, Mejiro Ramonu took an elegantly printed booklet from her driver and handed it to Matikanetannhauser. Without pausing, she continued.
"And about the stories you share with visitors—we've leaned hard into the 'tragic hero' angle lately. It's time for a change of direction."
"Things like Dreams' past, what she liked—stories that help the public relate to her, that make her feel more approachable—that's our focus now."
"Give me some material. I'll have a professional writer polish it up for you, same as before."
Matikanetannhauser was already feeling lightheaded from all the instructions. A bit bewildered, she muttered to herself.
"Huh... Me? I'm supposed to talk about that stuff?"
"Is there a problem?"
Mejiro Ramonu raised her eyebrows, planting her hands on her hips as she fixed Matikanetannhauser with an imposing stare.
"But I really don't know what Dreams liked!"
"Aren't you the heir she chose? When you lived together at the Northern estate, didn't you two ever talk?"
How could Matikanetannhauser explain that she and Dream Weaver had barely exchanged more than a few words?
She'd lived all these years without even knowing she had Northern blood—how could she have possibly lived with Dream Weaver?
"Th-th-that kind of thing... you should really ask her yourself! Dreams would know way more than me, ahaha..."
Watching the flustered, sweating Matikanetannhauser, Mejiro Ramonu could only sigh.
She knew the other's background well enough, but she'd still held out a little hope—what if Matikanetannhauser was actually a childhood friend who'd lost her memory or something like that?
Maybe mentioning it would jog her memory. But clearly, that wasn't going to happen.
"Do you think I don't want to ask her myself?"
"But she's... well, you know..."
At those words, it was as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over Matikanetannhauser. She sobered up instantly.
Deep down, she held immense respect for this sister who shared her blood—the one who had gifted her such a vast fortune.
Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to recount Dream Weaver's legendary tales to visitors with such heartfelt passion.
Thinking about Dream Weaver's current state, even the usually airheaded Matikanetannhauser couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.
"Such a pity..."
"Yes... a real shame."
The mood between them grew heavy at the mention of Dream Weaver. Just as the silence threatened to stretch on, the driver, who had been quietly observing, spoke up at just the right moment.
"Then... would you like to visit Miss Dreams today?"
Hearing his words, they both turned in unison and nodded without a moment's hesitation.
Just as Mejiro Ramonu and Matikanetannhauser resolved to visit Dream Weaver that day, far from the Northern family's mansion, in a small courtyard similar to the one Dream Weaver had once lived in, Mejiro Ardan wiped the sweat from her cheek with the back of her hand.
"This kind of training... is still far from enough!"
Gritting her teeth, even though her muscles were already growing weak from exertion, Mejiro Ardan refused to go easy on herself.
Every second of her training now, every moment she spent on the track, was a borrowed miracle.
If she didn't push herself, if she didn't strive to win the Dream Cup, wouldn't that miracle be wasted?
Mejiro Ardan didn't want to betray that miracle.
But just as she wiped away her sweat and prepared to add another round of training, the red alarm clock beside her suddenly rang out.
Mejiro Ardan snapped to attention. She straightened up and glanced toward the small house, murmuring to herself.
"It's already this late?"
She seemed annoyed at herself for losing track of time. After sharply patting her cheeks to refocus, she headed toward the house.
As Mejiro Ardan passed the open doorway to the living room while preparing dinner, a single glance inside froze her in her tracks.
The fading sunset glow was sliced into fragments by the window frame, scattering mottled light across the dim room.
In the portrait hanging on the center wall, a face nearly identical to Mejiro Ardan's flickered in and out of the shadows, gazing serenely forward.
Before the painting, the Uma Musume in the wheelchair sat as still as a statue. Her long, dark hair almost merged with the gloom of the room; only the pale knuckles gripping the wheelchair's arms stood out starkly in the dimness.
She sat with her back to Mejiro Ardan, motionless before the portrait.
"Dreams..."
Mejiro Ardan whispered softly, gazing at Dream Weaver's back.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.