The morning light streamed through the carved floor-to-ceiling windows of the French Manor, gently bathing the velvet-carpeted floor and painting the room with a warm, golden glow.
Ryo was awakened by the crisp birdsong outside the window.
This time, most of her body’s exhaustion had dissipated.
Although her limbs still felt a slight ache, they were no longer as heavy as they had been yesterday.
As her consciousness returned, she raised a hand to touch her cheek; her complexion was noticeably better, the dark circles under her eyes had mostly faded, her crimson eyes shone as if tempered by light, and the tips of her Uma Musume ears twitched flexibly, brimming with vitality.
Her fingertips still rested on soft silk sheets, the scent of lavender replacing the sweat and dust of the training ground.
This was her bedroom in the French Manor, the furnishings still familiar.
By her count, she had been back here for over ten days—her grandmother suddenly needed surgery, and her parents, who ran a transnational business, couldn’t spare the time.
Busy handling international affairs and orders, they couldn’t attend to the bedside care, so they urgently summoned her from Tracen Academy to Paris.
Because of this, she missed the year-end Arima Kinen, missing the chance to compete against Rudolf on the track.
Although regretful, she understood the importance of caring for her grandmother.
But who could have predicted that a single kowtow before the statue of the three goddesses would trigger such rigorous special training.
Everything from last night was still clear: the extreme pressure within the special training space, the sharp pain when the crimson lightning wrapped around her, the names of her companions transforming into the strength to push her forward, and the magnificent aura of finally sitting upon the throne and awakening as an The Empress…
Every scene echoed in her mind.
A residual, immense power seemed to linger within her body, imbuing her with a quiet confidence.
She threw back the covers and got out of bed, stepping barefoot onto the cool carpet.
The mane-like hair at her neck lay smoothly against her shoulder, displaying the unique vitality of an Uma Musume.
Walking into the bathroom, the girl in the mirror had a much rosier complexion.
The faint streak of scarlet at the corner of her right eye had completely vanished, leaving only the deep-seated majesty and determination hidden in her gaze.
The toned physique resulting from long-term running training was still faintly visible beneath her loose pajamas.
Warm water poured down from the showerhead, washing away the last of her fatigue.
She closed her eyes, her mind filled not only with the names of her companions and the light of the throne but also the rushing wind of the racetrack.
As an Uma Musume naturally born to run, racing was etched into her bones.
The regret of missing the Arima Kinen did not make her despondent; instead, it filled her with a calmer anticipation for the next event.
After washing up, she changed into a light apricot knit sweater and white jeans—simple and neat, yet still feminine.
After drying her hair, she adjusted the fringe over her forehead in the mirror, her ear tips twitching slightly.
Her expression was calm but held reserved sharpness.
Downstairs, the aroma from the dining room was richer than yesterday.
Her father, Chisato Shigeaki, was sitting at the dining table.
In addition to a financial newspaper, there was a document printed in English and French in front of him.
He held a fountain pen between his fingers, occasionally nodding in thought.
Her mother, Brilliant Radiance, was setting the tableware.
She stood tall, her features still bearing the heroic spirit she possessed as a top Uma Musume back then, yet her every movement was gentle and graceful.
The air was filled with the toasted scent of bread, the richness of coffee, and the fragrance of crêpes and baked mushrooms—a typical French breakfast, the taste she had grown up with.
“Ryo Ryo is awake?
Come sit down, you look much better!” Brilliant Radiance noticed her daughter’s change instantly.
She smiled and waved, her tone full of relief.
“It seems you slept soundly last night.
That’s right; we Uma Musume need to be well-rested to enjoy running on the track.” She had been a prominent figure in the racing world back in the day, only settling down to help her husband manage the business after retirement.
She felt sorry that her daughter missed the Arima Kinen, but she was also proud of her sense of responsibility towards her family and her newfound composure after the awakening.
Ryo walked over and sat down, taking a sip of warm milk.
The rich milky flavor melted in her mouth, making her feel increasingly comfortable.
“Yes, I slept extremely well.
I feel energized all over now.”
“Your complexion is indeed good, and the dark circles are gone.” Chisato Shigeaki put down his pen and pushed the document in front of his daughter, speaking calmly.
“The Irish Champion Stakes will start early next month.
Here is the information on the two current favorites to win; take a look and familiarize yourself.”
Hearing this, Ryo calmly picked up the document and opened it.
Her fingertip slowly traced the French names and descriptions on the paper.
The innate sharpness of an Uma Musume for racing allowed her to quickly grasp the key information, yet her face showed no fluctuation, only a fleeting, knowing battle intent in her eyes.