Chapter 55 – A Horse That Must Lose

The horse-racing event was hosted by Princess Deborah. The Princess, a well-known riding enthusiast in Laurent, was also fond of horse racing.

Deborah, the star of the event, appeared at the racetrack with her arm linked through that of the Duke of Guienne, who was all but her fiance. The unexpected fact was that another woman, not Princess Deborah, was standing beside the Duke of Guienne as well.

‘Who is that woman?’

Ignoring people’s unspoken questions, the Duke of Guienne, lingering in an unusually deliberate way, finally opened his mouth once enough attention had gathered.

“This is Miss Sasha Vinoche. A distant relative of mine, who has come up to Laurent to attend the Salon exhibition for the first time this year.”

The first person the Duke of Guienne introduced his companion to was a young Marquis participating in today’s race as a jockey. More important than who he was was the situation itself. Everyone present was watching them.

Some among those who heard it snorted, while others watched the scene with interest. Could that woman truly be nothing more than a distant relative of the Duke of Guienne?

“Miss Sasha truly is a relative of the Duke of Guienne. The three of us even took a walk together at the royal palace once before, did we not, Miss Sasha?”

Deborah linked her arm first through Sasha’s as though to show affectionate familiarity. Of course, the people of society were not so innocent as to believe that at face value. Still, at the very least, it was certain that the Princess was taking the side of the Duke of Guienne and the woman he had brought. Just as the Duke had shielded the Princess when she was with Mark in the box at Corbisier Theater.

The youthful-looking woman in the green dress nodded awkwardly. In spite of Deborah’s excellent acting, the play was not completed very well due to the inexperience of her counterpart.

‘She looks innocent, but one never knows.’

The people gathered at the racetrack studied the pretty young painter and the Duke of Guienne standing beside her with close attention. To judge whether she might become a second Madame Eleonore.

The conclusion came sooner than expected. The Duke of Guienne’s manner served as a clear guide. Though the novice to society, Sasha Vinoche, could not hide her feelings for the Duke and displayed them plainly, the Duke himself was another matter. His manner toward Sasha Vinoche was gentlemanly and kind, but he had always been that sort of man.

All the women of society knew that well about the Duke. That beautiful man was accustomed to receiving the hearts of young unmarried women like Sasha Vinoche, and even more accustomed to refusing them.

To those who watched, the Duke of Guienne already knew very well how Sasha Vinoche felt. He was simply pretending not to. For the people of society, who had seen such scenes many times before, there was no choice but to think that the Duke of Guienne had simply gained yet another admirer.

‘So after all, is Madame Eleonore still the Duke of Guienne’s only lover?’

The suspicious glances that had gradually been fading out died completely when, at just the right moment, they saw the Duke of Guienne introducing Daniel de Regiani, recently returned to Laurent after a long absence, as Sasha’s partner. Of course.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Mademoiselle. My name is Daniel de Regiani. I am sincerely delighted to make your acquaintance.”

Daniel greeted her with perfect courtesy and kissed the back of Sasha’s hand. The women of society watching this tore at their skirts with jealous eyes. He was no match for the Duke of Guienne, but even so, Daniel was not the sort of man one could offer to a naive painter who had only just come up from the countryside.

The young and ambitious Daniel de Regiani of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the second son of Baron Regiani, a diplomat hardened by long experience. When that man, who had followed his ambassador father abroad and been absent from Laurent for many years, finally returned, many unmarried women in Laurent society had set their sights on him as a prospective husband.

And yet the Duke of Guienne had snatched up society’s most eligible young prospect, who had been receiving the interest of many, and handed him over as the partner of the young painter he himself had brought.

‘Without the Duke of Guienne’s introduction, they would never even have exchanged a word.’

The Regiani family was not an ancient house with centuries of history behind it, but in wealth and political influence it lacked nothing compared with any old noble line. And although Daniel was only the second son, he was a talent recognized even in the bureaucratic world, which generally judged nobles harshly. Certainly, if not for the Duke of Guienne, he was not a man who would have suited Sasha Vinoche.

And yet, once paired together, one could not deny that outwardly they made a very well-matched couple. Daniel, a handsome man with a gentle impression, suited Sasha and her large clear eyes remarkably well.

“If it is agreeable to you, shall we go together to the paddock? Before the race begins, we can look over the horses in advance and decide which number to bet on.”

Daniel, with his warm brown hair and blue eyes, offered the invitation to Sasha with courtesy. The partner he had just received from the Duke of Guienne looked strangely pale. It was not merely that she felt awkward or nervous in this setting. Rather, she looked as though she had been abruptly pushed into a situation she had never expected, one she had never even imagined, and had fallen into a panic.

“I heard that you paint, Miss Sasha. If you like, you may tell me what sort of paintings you make as we walk to the paddock. As it happens, I have recently begun taking an interest in painting myself.”

Daniel did not seem greatly offended and asked once again. Only then did Sasha, barely regaining her senses and glancing around, realize that everyone was already moving toward the paddock.

Placing her hand on the arm her unfamiliar partner offered, Sasha belatedly joined the procession heading for the paddock. By then, the Duke of Guienne and Princess Deborah, surrounded by a group of people, were already far ahead.

* * *

In the paddock, the horses entered in today’s race were being prepared. The most striking among them was naturally the black horse Victor, assigned to Gate Four. His huge frame, sturdy legs, and beautiful black coat gleaming with luster stood out unmistakably among the racing horses.

More than anything, Victor was the descendant of a celebrated horse beloved by the Truffaut Royal House, and, gloriously enough, had even been named by Princess Deborah herself. Sure enough, when the Princess approached, he seemed to recognize her and even walked nearer.

Uncomfortable with the crowd gathered to look at the favorite, Sasha wandered farther inward and found a horse that did not look to be in very good condition.

“That would be Elisha. I have heard she once swept victory in every race she entered.”

Daniel, who had followed behind, spoke as though familiar. Once popular for her notably beautiful appearance and skill, she had unfortunately injured her leg, and after that her performance had declined. She was now a mare on the verge of retirement.

“Is this horse racing today as well?”

Looking pitifully at the horse, which kept lifting and setting down its leg as though uneasy, Sasha asked the stable hand.

“Well, yes, technically……. But I would recommend betting on another horse. Elisha is in terribly poor condition.”

The stable hand spoke with puzzlement, wondering why Sasha was paying attention to a horse with no chance at all of winning. But Sasha could not take her eyes off Elisha. It was then that she heard a tiny whimpering sound from deeper inside the stall.

“There is a foal with her.”

Sasha whispered in a small voice.

“That one’s Elisha’s foal. It’s only been born two weeks. Poor little thing.”

The stable hand clicked his tongue. The foal whimpered as though it might die any moment, so they had not even bothered to name it. What was more, it had nearly died once already at birth, kicked by its own mother who had not been in her right mind after foaling. Given the low chance of success compared with the effort it would take to raise and train it, it might end up being put down together with its mother.

“Elisha’s injured leg is one thing, but more than that, it seems something has gone wrong with her head, so after she retires she will probably be slaughtered at once. Today will most likely be her final race.”

Seeing Sasha’s interest in Elisha, the stable hand warned her once more. The only reason they had entered a mad horse whose ability had declined was to draw a crowd by trading on her former fame. That was all. People loved the downfall of a star just as much as they loved the star’s rise.

“It seems the Duke of Guienne is more interested in another horse.”

Hearing someone’s teasing remark, Deborah finally looked away from Victor and turned to her partner. Deeper in the paddock, where the Duke of Guienne was looking, stood Sasha Vinoche and Daniel Regiani.

Deborah understood at once. The object of that man’s attention was not some deranged horse with failing ability. Unless, perhaps, it was the woman looking at that horse.

“The race is about to begin. Shouldn’t we return to our seats now?”

Rather than openly pointing out the rudeness of her partner, who had let his eyes wander elsewhere while she stood beside him, Deborah gracefully reminded him of his mistake. Fortunately, the Duke of Guienne turned back to her at once. As though nothing had happened, they walked away from the paddock in an affectionate manner and headed toward the stands where the race would soon begin.

* * *

“Which horse did you bet on?”

Having returned to the stands and felt unable to sit still, Sasha stepped outside for a moment just before the race began, her chest feeling tight. Daniel had offered to go with her, but she declined. She wanted to be alone. And yet no sooner had she stepped outside the stands than the Duke of Guienne spoke to her as though he had been waiting.

“Number Four will win, Sasha.”

Robert said, glancing at the betting ticket in Sasha’s hand. It would be a dull and predictable race. Since everyone was already convinced of Victor’s victory, the payout would not even be large. But that still did not mean there was any need to avoid betting on a certain win.