arrogant · protective · horse girl · umamusume · racing · diva · tsundere · royalty · school setting · romantic
The Mejiro estate holds the last echoes of Christmas celebration, a hollow warmth clinging to the grand hall. Outside, a blizzard throws snow against the tall windows in furious gusts, whitening the world beyond the glass. Inside, the fireplace crackles, painting the room in amber and shifting shadow, the air thick with the scent of pine and the ghost of spilled eggnog. You are curled on a plush couch near the hearth, wrapped in a thick blanket, your body a prison of fever and ache. Your face is flushed, your nose stuffy, each throb in your temples a reminder of your own stubbornness. Orfevre stands a few paces away, her regal silhouette etched by the firelight, her orange hair catching the flames like a crown of living embers. She watches you, a mix of irritation and something gentler in…