Contrary to Dream Weaver's expectations, the middle-aged man didn't question her purpose there, nor did he seem particularly surprised that she had gotten lost. He simply nodded with a hint of understanding before asking where she wanted to go.
Seeing how approachable he was, Dream Weaver decided to be straightforward. She told him her objective outright, asking if he knew the location of the house where her mother had once lived.
This time, the man finally showcased the knowledge expected of a highly capable staff member. He effortlessly guided Dream Weaver out of the western-style mansion, not only pointing her in the right direction but also summoning a maid to accompany her and prevent any further mishaps.
Even as she followed the maid through the Mejiro estate, Dream Weaver still felt a little dazed.
So… getting lost in the Mejiro household was a normal occurrence?
What did that make her, then, after she'd spent all that time wandering around with him earlier? If she'd known, she would've just spoken up from the start.
At that thought, she couldn't help but shake her head slightly. Because of her grandmother and mother's history, she'd instinctively regarded the Mejiro family with deep suspicion.
What's more, after that argument with the head of the Mejiro house earlier—and having pulled Mejiro Ramonu's hand away right in front of her—she'd instinctively treated the entire Mejiro family like some kind of den of monsters when facing that middle-aged man.
But given her identity, she really didn't need to be so guarded. In the eyes of those who didn't know the Mejiro family's past, she was just an Uma Musume with Mejiro blood. If she needed something, she could've just asked directly.
With that realization, Dream Weaver let out a soft sigh. The task ahead should be much simpler now.
All she had to do was follow the maid to her mother's old room, collect whatever traces her mother had left behind, and then have the maid escort her back to the main gate.
Even if the staff found it strange, it didn't matter. Her status as a Mejiro-born Uma Musume meant she didn't owe them any explanations.
By the time the Mejiro head and Mejiro Ramonu realized what had happened, she would already be long gone, her mother's belongings in hand, on her way back to the Northern family.
After this, if they still wanted to bring her back to the Mejiro house, they'd have to meet her condition first: hand over Mejiro Asama.
Dream Weaver inwardly marveled at what a perfect plan it was. This way, she could learn about her mother's past and return to the Northern family to focus on preparing for her races.
There were only about four months left until the next Tenno Sho (Spring). Unlike all the races she'd run before, this time she would be facing true veterans—powerful competitors who had dominated the track for generations. She had to train harder during this time.
Thinking of that, Dream Weaver quietly clenched her fist. She didn't know who her opponents in the Tenno Sho (Spring) would be, but she was determined not to lose.
Just as her thoughts were racing, the maid leading the way ahead of her suddenly stopped and spoke softly.
"Miss Dreams, we've arrived."
Snapped from her thoughts, Dream Weaver lifted her head and looked forward. Before her was a neatly maintained small garden. Not far beyond the garden, she could see a snow-covered racecourse. This place seemed to be near the Mejiro family's training grounds.
"This area is the old Mejiro training field. It's usually quiet, and we only send people to clean here occasionally."
Hearing the maid's words, Dream Weaver nodded. She gazed at the pristine white track in the distance, her feelings a little complicated.
She'd heard from her grandmother that the Mejiro family was currently at the peak of its power. Not only had they achieved the Tenno Sho (Spring & Autumn) domination across three generations, but the family had also produced many Uma Musume capable of winning G1 crowns.
The pomp she witnessed upon her arrival also made it clear: the Mejiro family truly had no shortage of money.
But Dream Weaver never imagined they were this wealthy. To own such a vast estate was one thing, but to build a brand-new training ground as well?
In comparison, the Northern family—who had once arranged a marriage with the Mejiro family—had fallen on much harder times.
To fund the development of the Limiters, the Northern family had long since sold off their luxurious estate, leaving only a small western-style house nestled deep in the mountains.
If it weren't for the empty lot behind that house, Dream Weaver wouldn't even have had a place to train.
She shook her head, clearing away the tangled thoughts, and gestured for the maid to wait where she was. Then, she walked alone toward the small garden ahead.
The winter sun filtered through the bare branches, casting dappled shadows across her neat bangs and smooth cheeks. Trimmed shrubs lined both sides of the path, leading straight to the most eye-catching feature of the garden: a two-story house.
The white exterior walls had faded with time to a soft cream color. A small wind chime hung on the front porch, swaying gently in the breeze and letting out a clear, delicate sound. It looked as if someone still lived there.
"Was this… where Mother lived?"
Dream Weaver lifted her gaze, murmuring to herself as she stared at the little house.
The door sealing away her mother's past seemed to have cracked open slightly for her. All she needed to do was push it open a little more to find out.
Pressing her lips together, Dream Weaver strode quickly to the front door, grasped the handle, and—without a moment's hesitation—pushed it open.
But before she could properly take in the interior, a soft, puzzled sound came from inside.
A cleaner? Dream Weaver frowned slightly. Just her luck to run into this situation right as she arrived.
Still, it was fine. She'd already figured it out: she could just use her status as a Mejiro Uma Musume to handle it, then send the person outside to coordinate with the maid.
In an instant, she organized her thoughts, adopting an air of natural authority as she looked up and spoke.
"Are you cleaning today? I'm—"
Yet her words froze mid-air, unfinished.
Dream Weaver's pupils contracted sharply. Staring in disbelief at the figure before her, she realized it wasn't a maid at all—but an Uma Musume with long, pale blue hair.
Sunlight streaming through the window cast a soft silver glow upon her light blue strands. A red ribbon tied beside her left ear fluttered gently in the breeze from the window. Her clear, spring-like amethyst eyes were fixed intently on Dream Weaver.
This Uma Musume, who looked exactly like her mother in her youth, stood there on the staircase, gazing at Dream Weaver as if she had stepped right out of the past.
Inside the very house where her mother had once lived… she was seeing her mother, young again.
Dream Weaver could no longer maintain her composure. Staring at the pale-blue-haired Uma Musume, her voice trembling with irrepressible hope, she spoke.
"M… Mother?"
Mejiro Ardan blinked, tilting her head in bewilderment. She couldn't understand why this Uma Musume, whom she was meeting for the first time, would suddenly call her 'Mother.'
And yet, she felt a strange sense of closeness, as if there truly was some kind of bond connecting them.
--+--
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.