The main room at our estate was literally packed with people. Beside me, Hinata’s brother Hiroto-san gave me a gentle smile, raising his beer to me mogly. “This is the problem with being so popur, Akio-san. These family gatherings get rather te.”

  “How do you ma? In the nobility, I mean?” I asked him, looking around at the crowd. It was all my girls and their families, though we also had a few uests. Keomi- was Kana’s cousin, so was wele to be here as family, but we had alsht along Marika-, as she was home aloherwise. Hotene-san was also here too, sier the events of Kyoto, she was very depe on her fellow survivor, Keomi-. In addition we have our pair of freeloader foxes.

  Shinkume-no-Hana was enjoying the sympathy she was receiving for her missing leg and tails, sipping on plum wine, while Mae was sitting imperiously, as if in a royal court, surrounded by the older members of roup. Strangely enough, Tsukiko’s elderly parents had taken a shio the Kitsune, perhaps as they were extremely pious, and were listening to her talk, p her sake whenever her gss was empty.

  In addition, we also had roup of Koreans, sihey were still here it seemed churlish not to ihem. My mom was keeping them pany, alongside Daiyu, and Violet-noona seemed to be having a great time, while Yu-mi was looking after Suk-ja and Eui.

  “We don’t. Not like this.” Hiroto-san chuckled, looking at his sister fondly. Hinata was rushing about talking to various people, as eic as ever. “Bear in mind Fukumoto house was only part of the Three-Hundred before this, so it’s a bit different, but mother was from Takatsukasa house, so I think I speak authoritatively on the subject.” Hiroto-san looked a little proud. “When she married father, she became part of our house, and lost a lot of status. And her brother then didn’t really bother with her after that. It’s only natural. And plicated. But then, uncle was …” Hiroto-san stopped what he was about to say, probably because one of our uests was Sakura-san, Hinata’s cousin, or sister, depending on how you looked at it.

  Yeah, her father was extremely opposed to Hinata being adopted. Even now he has very limited responsibilities, supposedly due to health issues, but it’s more bei in the background. Seeing her looking so dissote, I was about to go speak to her, when Eri went over, apanied by Shiro.

  “Sakura-san, there’s o fret. We are all friends here.” Eri said warmly, putting on a calming expression. “If you are worried about being without a bodyguard, this is the safest p the world right now. Besides, Kazumi-san is with her. They are having their own little gathering iher home.”

  “I am hardly ed about that.” Sakura-san replied coldly yet politely. “I just…” She was looking at Hinata with a plicated expression on her face.

  “I get it.” Shiro spoke up. “Must be hard, seeing your cousin e in and cause a fuss. But Hinata’s a little fireball. Besides, you o see the bes rather than the problems. But not today. Today everyone’s here to have some fun.”

  “But I…” Sakura-san began, and Eri shook her head.

  “Hinata, Motoko and Natsumi are all rexing. We’re all among family, Sakura-san. You’re Hinata’s family, so just treat us all the same…”

  As Eri and Shiro hahe situation, Hiroto-san finished his beer and took another. Seeing me raising an eyebrow, he shrugged. “I might not be as ied as my sister, but I’ve still been training on occasion. It takes extra effort to get drunk now. Anyway, looks like all your women are w together to keep matters in hand. So you might as well rex, you’ve a busy week ahead, don’t you?”

  I aking a sip of my own beer, grateful Ether Healing allowed me to feel the pleasures of being tipsy without the side-effects. “Yeah, there’s a lot that I have to take care of. So…”

  “So, you should rex when you , son.” My father joined us, alongside uncle Junpei, grandfather Jad also grandfather-in-w Kenji-san, who o his grandson beside me. “A stressed man makes mistakes.”

  “Eri’s grown up so much.” Junpei observed emotionally. “I hought I’d see the day when she cared enough to reassure other people. She’s really e out of her shell.” We were all speaking in English for Jack’s be, though after Chirurgery, he was learning Japanese, refreshing his past, mediocre efforts, and the boosted Intellect meant he was learning rapidly.

  “Our children have to grow up.” Kenji-san said fondly. “And randchildren too. Hinata’s extremely excited about the trip to South Africa. She’s hoping to show Ichijou- she has what it takes to match her, no, surpass her. And even you’re maturing, young Hiroto.”

  Hiroto-san shrugged, embarrassed. “Well, it’d feel bad if I wasn’t w as hard as my sister, wouldn’t it?”

  There was ughter and agreement, and Jack spoke up. “I still ’t believe it. Taichi, how did you raise such a son?”

  My father shook his head, an unusual smile on his face. “I still do not know. I admit to w about both my son and daughter over the years.” He looked over to where my sis was sneaking sips of beer, aurned away, ign it. Yeah, that’s a losing battle. Besides, her stats are high enough it doesn’t really affect her much. She just wants to fit in with everyone else. Father also found it hard to pin about breaking the w, as the noble girls were used to drinking from an early age at parties, and father didn’t feel fortable meddling in the affairs of my women. Even Eri, he had a light touch with.

  “I don’t see why.” Hiroto-san said, amused. “Other than his womanising, Akio-san’s a stand-up guy. Hinata loves him a lot, and so do the others. He’s a good provider too, and holy, Oshiro house is one of the Fifty-Nine in all but hough not everyone is happy about that…”

  Motoko was in one er of the room, talking to her parents, as well as Katsuro-san, who was able to make time to attend. Natsumi was there too, and she had a slightly bitter expression on her face, as she was sidelined, Motoko’s brother, Masaru-san, standing stiffly with a grim expression on his face as he observed the bustling room. Moments ter, a maid came bustling past, and Masaru-san casually ordered Natsumi to fetch him a drink.

  My face hardened, and I was about to intervene, when Motoko grabbed her brother’s arm. He was older than her, in fact he robably a couple of years older than me, and he was quite tall and well-muscled, being military-trained, like every man isumura house, but despite that, he was uo shake off Motoko’s grip. His face reddened, and in the end, after failing to dislodge her he tried to pretend nothing had happened.

  “Natsumi is your bodyguard, sister. It’s only natural to follow my orders, after all, I am the heir to Tsumura house, while you… you will be leaving us soon.”

  “It’s all right.” Hiroto-san grabbed my arm to stop me from going over there. “Motoko-san ha. Hinata tells me all about all your wives, so I know she’s not the sort to take any nonsense, even from her brother. But he doesn’t like you much, does he?”

  I nodded. “Well, his mother was the same at first, but after London I think I’ve won her over.” Indeed, Rikako-san was about to say something, but at a look from Motoko she remained silent.

  “Whether I leave or not is irrelevant, Masaru-sama…” she scolded her brother coldly. “But Firstly, I think you will find that this marriage is not merely a noble arra…”

  “Of course not. Oshiro-san’s simply a oner who had great fortune. Unworthy of a daughter of Tsumura house. You should be marrying into Ichijou house, or Takatsukasa house. Fujiwara house has no male heir, but…”

  “Not noble? More fool you, Masaru-sama. If you think that, you truly are a shame to Tsumura house. Mother, father, grandfather…” she addressed her family. “I have ignored his poor attitude towards Akio these past months. I uand it. We are a great house of long lineage, and pride is in our very bohough I do worry for the future. If Masaru-sama ot grasp the way things are now, we only dee…” He made to open his mouth to chastise her, but Motoko narrowed her eyes, as furious as I had ever seen her. “…shut up, Masaru.” Her honorific was gone now. “

  “What I ot abide is that you would order Natsumi around. She is my sister-in-arms, and i too. We will both marry the same man, and we will share joy and sorrow, and fight together.”

  “Oh Motoko…” Natsumi breathed, befathering her own will. “She’s right, Masaru-san. While I still see myself as Motoko’s bodyguard, I know I’m not. As she is also mine. Not just her…” She gestured to the watg girls. Hyath had paused, and was staring at Masaru-san rather murderously, and Hinata was also watg coldly.

  “…but each of us will defend the others. Would you be so crass as to order one of Akio’s other wives to fetch you a drink, Masaru-san? If so, I’d like to see how you deal with the sequences.”

  “Indeed. Natsumi has status higher than yours, Masaru.” Motoko sed him. “Even by the rules of the nobility. After all, many marry into the great houses, as you suggested I do, but how many and their daughters, even ask them to give up their lives?”

  “Yeah, I’m marrying Akio, a you fet… I’m a daughter of Takatsukasa house, I outmatch you!” Hinata insisted, and Kenji-san chuckled beside me, praising her ce under his breath. “But Miyu… she lives and dies by Akio’s word. If he wanted, he could ask for her hand in marriage too, and she would give it. Sure, that might have… issues…”

  No kidding, as far as I tell she’s into girls, for one!

  “…but Fujiwara-sama wouldn’t protest at all. As for Mayumi and Sakura… well, we’ll see.” Hinata saw me watg and winked pyfully. “So watouth, Masaru-san. If you upset Natsumi, you upset all of us, and you ’t bear the sequences.”

  “ I kill him, just a little bit, I prooomise?” Hyath broke in, and Motoko chuckled elegantly, hiding her ugh behind one hand.

  “I do not think you kill someone a little.”

  “No, but… I certainly burn off his head. He’s not using it.” Shiro was o pin, and her beauty overawed Masaru-san a little.

  “I appreciate the aid, but I hahis. In fact, I should. After all, is not chastising a brother the job of a sister?”

  My own sis ughed at that, and Masaru-san flushed. “I… you…”

  “I would stop while you’re ahead.” I couldn’t stand watg him make a fool of himself any longer. I walked over, patting the watg girls on the head as I went, before draping my arms around Motoko and Natsumi. “I treat Motoko and Natsumi the same, just as I would Hinata, or Shaeu, or Eri, or any of the others. You may not uand, but… if you think Motoko has married down, you’re a fool.”

  “He is right.” Katsuro-san said gently, and his daughter-in-w Rikako-san nodded, remembering her own disdain, which left her smiling ruefully. “Grandson, military minds must be flexible. I agree following the traditions we hold is important too, but… here there is no flict. Just sider Akio-san as a son of Takatsukasa house, a go at that.”

  “He is simply jealous. A small-small man.” Shaeu, who had been silent until now, interjected, “Did you perhaps think this should-should be you?”

  “I…” Masaru-san was lost for words, and I decided to step in.

  “All right, this is a family dinner. And friends, of course.” I didn’t fet to include our uests. Ae everything, we are family, Masaru-san. And Natsumi will be your family as well, so… you’ll have to get used to it. Now, don’t let this spoil them mood. After all, yrandfather could use a break after the crap I dropped in his p today.”

  Katsuro-san chuckled, breaking the tension. “That is quite true, grandson-in-w. Quite true indeed…”

  With a graceful way to back down, Masaru-san iffly, and with that I steered Motoko and Natsumi over to the table, deg to sit between them, at least at the start…

  ***

  “I see cooking has advanced over the years.” Mae observed, as she devoured a fine, A5-grade steak. It was apanied by steamiables, rich gravy and sauces, and of course washed down by ample, expensive sake and wine. “I am not displeased by this. This feast would have matched any in the Imperial Court.” Her tails wagged happily, her ears fpping.

  “This is nothing.” Shaeu decred proudly, puffing out her chest, her face flushed from the alcohol. “We shall-shall see greater iure. Our weddi, for example!”

  At her drunken words, many of the girls around the table flushed, but Mae merely looked ied. “A bold cim indeed. I shall look forward to it.”

  “Pnning to stay then?” Hinata asked her, and she nodded.

  “I am not ungrateful, despite what you may think. I shall linger a few years, or perhaps decades. What is that but a blink of the eyes to a proud Kitsune such as I?”

  “Good.” Hinata rubbed her hands happily. “As a legendary being, you’ve got to be strong, right?”

  Mae snorted, g one fist. “I am… not at my best, child. But in time, I shall be the stro here once again. My tails are not simply an affectatiosune…” She looked pointedly at Nebisuki. “…dispy ht through them.”

  “The stro?” Shaeu scoffed. “You had best-best regain your strength quickly then, fox, else I shall-shall surely surpass you, to say nothing of Akio.”

  “Bold cims, little Kamaitachi. I shall hold you to them…” Mae dismissed her, going back to her feast, and Tsukiko’s mother, still looking a bit shy and ill at ease, spoke softly.

  “To think we are in the presence of such mythical figures. I hardly believe it…”

  “Why?” Kana piped up. She had taken a day off from her stru work, which admittedly would slow down the progress, as with Grulgor alohe pound effect of their abilities wouldn’t be activated, but spending some time with Kana and her family was important to me too. “Your daughter had mystical powers even before all this. If anyone believe it, I’d think it would be you.”

  Kana’s father looked a little upset his daughter had spoken out of turn, but she meant no harm, and Tsukiko k, taking ently.

  “It is ohing to believe in the Gods. After all, your shrine is a true one, and you have powers yourself, Kana.” As Kana ceded that point, she tinued. “And therefore it is not unreasonable for Yōkai to exist, just as the Gods do. But… there is a differeween knowing of the other face of the world, aing a legend, only written of in history books, thought to be mere allegory, or myth.”

  “Hear that, my dear grandmother?” Nebisuki snickered. “You are a legend. Whereas I seem rather unimpressive in parison.”

  “See brother, you are missing out.” Hinata giggled. “You really should train more. Though I will accept that you’re busy raising Fukumoto house’s profile now we have to keep up appearances as one of the Fifty-Eight.”

  “I’m going to make time.” Hiroto-san promised, and then Violet-noona spoke up, ughing.

  “Damn, Emily, is it always so fun here?”

  On first name basis with my mom already, huh? Well, she’s rather more outgoing and free than most Asians, so…

  “It never used to be. Oh, don’t look at me like that, Ai.” She ughed at my sis, who outing. “But when Aki left, didn’t things get b? Though now every day’s iing. I’m never bored! And now you’re a part of it, Violet!”

  She shrugged. “Well, your son is my boss now. But yeah.” She cracked her knuckles. “Great days ahead, too fug right… err… oops, my bad.” She apologised for swearing, and that set my mom off, giggling again.

  “Speaking of our visitors…” Daiyu was o speak, and beside her, Eui was eatiily, which was a good thing, as she was still painfully gaunt, despite her ordeal at useon having ended. Weaselkin and human maids, plus a few ratkiending to the group, and Hyath was managing to be waited on, though she looked a little unfortable still.

  “…Suk-ja is proving most useful. Now I bsp; break down her crystal bdes into Qi, I feel my strength growing. I have faith I vert the Invincible Jade Yang Teique into a sedary Foundation in time.”

  Hearing her name, Suk-ja then flushed as it was transted for her, and nodded shyly. She stammered her thanks, which started Violet-noona off ughing, until Yu-mi scolded her to be more dignified, as one of Korea’s heroiters, and the versation turned more light-hearted, everyone mingling and having fun…

  ***

  “So, are you still fitting in at school?” I asked Marika-. The main meal was rgely fihrough a few of our hearty eaters, Motoko included, were still pig at what was left. Smiling sweetly, she answered me in her usual polite, adult manner.

  “Yes, Akio-san…” I had finally persuaded her to drop the overbearingly respectful way she spoke to me, though her eyes were swimming a little as she did it. “Keomi-san and Kana-san are very kind, and the school I attend is one of faith, so they have an uanding of our matters.” She paused. “Oh, Hotene-san, I must not fet your kindness.”

  The dark-skinned girl nodded shyly, muttering that she was happy to have a friend like Marika-, and then Keomi- bounded over, followed by my sis and Kana. Keomi- pulled Marika- into a big hug, giggling. “You’re just too cute. Awah, I hardly stand it! I want a little sister just like you!”

  “Act ye for once!” Kana rapped her on the head until she released the red and embarrassed Marika-. “Besides, you may be in high school, but you act youhan she does! Doesn’t it embarrass you, sidering all the other people here?”

  “Should it?” Keomi- tilted her head. “I’m just happy to be around friends. It’s all so fun, isn’t it Kana-?”

  “Speak for yourself. I’m w myself to the bone every day!” Kana sniffed. “But… I won’t say it’s a waste. There’s definitely satisfa in building something, seeing it get closer to pletion. I’m… actually rather proud of myself for once.”

  Hearing Nagi-san tell auntie Hana that she was so proud her daughter was all grown up now, Kana flushed, but instead ing, she pressed on boldly, grabbing my arm and kissing my cheek, which made Keomi- giggle. “Besides…” Kana tinued. “I just know all my efforts are surely strengthening my Favour and my earth elemental Skills. Even my Kami praises my efforts. In fact… I shouldn’t say this, but I’m better than Shirohebi…”

  Her father grimaced at the bsphemy, but Shaeu, who was now highly tipsy, merely ughed. “There is no-no shame iruth. Kana is merely reaping the fruits of her efforts. Be they these Kami, Yōkai, Fae, or even Gods, if they do not- themselves, we will all-all overtake them!”

  “Do you think I will ever be praised by Chairo-sama?” Marika- asked wistfully. “I have yet to meet him…”

  It was my sister’s turn to hug Marika-, though she was less clumsy about it than Keomi- was. ”Sure you will. In fact…” My sis grinned, and I knew she was readying some mischief. “ you skip school Friday?”

  “I should not, but… if it is you asking, Aiko-san, I hardly refuse…”

  “Great. Well, I have to go back to pick up Rika- and Yae- for the cert. Damn bro, yoing to miss it.” My sis narrowed her eyes, looking at Hinata. “But then, I suspect you’ll be having a different kind of fun.” She shen got to the point. “Anyway, I have to keep that Oni occupied too. So… you visit Chairoakitara in the Boundary. Sound good?”

  Marika- nodded happily, and my sis tio tease her. She’ll be going home over Christmas break anyway, she’s too young to be away from home all year, but a brief visit might dood… Keomi- expressed a wish to go, but Kaed her for her terrible grades, and advised missing any more school was unwise.

  “It’s a shame I’ll miss it, especially since Suzu-san is on the bill, as well as Red and White and the girls from AKB48. There’s also some roups too…” I gnced over at the Korean ti. “We’ve got some famous Korean acts…”

  “Oh, who, who?” My sis, a huge idol fan, was suddenly ied, but I shrugged.

  “I don’t know, but you ask Arisu-san, she’s in charge…”

  “No thanks.” My sis shook her head. “I like her, don’t get me wrong, but… she’s a bit scary.”

  She sure is! Anyway, as I had to mingle, I approached Asha, ith Natsumi’s parents, taking about clothing.

  “So, I’m very curious.” Masae-san said warmly. She resembled Natsumi quite a bit, having a youthful exuberaill, but also the quiet elegance of a her. “Just how fast do Dryads grow? I’ll o know if I am to make clothing for them. Akio-san’s children should all wear Hori-made fabrics. I wish our daughter would hurry up… though I suppose it would be a sdal, marriage should e first…”

  “Mother!” Natsumi gasped, flushing scarlet. “You ’t talk about that here…”

  “Why not?” she teased. “It was a signifit cession, your father and I allowing you premarital retions. Holy…” Now it was Masae-san who ink with shame. “…the versation we had to have with Fujiwara-sama… it was nerve-wrag. Fortunately, he is very uanding of your situation. Though I suspect he does worry about Miyu-sama.”

  “There’s nothing to worry about there.” I assured her, stepping into the versation, giving Natsumi a hug and then one for Asha too, gently pattiomach. “Asha, how’s your Tree? It’s not too much, is it?” I was still trying to mitigate the Berserk Blessing, and over the several hours of the feast, which was over twice that in the Boundary, the effect of Shiro’s buff had risen, though so had the additioher and elemental gains…

  “It is not too painful. My Tree is huge and growing well, any disfort is spread throughout it. And Trees endure. We g to the ground with our roots, and we resist the winds and rain with our opies. We will not die, even if we must struggle…” She remembered her past, and I hugged her again.

  “Just say if it’s too muothing put you or… our children… at risk.” I insisted, and she was the one kissing my cheek now, mimig Kana from earlier, since more in supany would be rude.

  “I never will. To answer your question, Masae, I simply do not know in this case, as Akio has a… unique… heritage. He is Fae now, but also human. But ordinarily, we Dryads age with our Trees, and Trees grow slowly. Yet as they will pair with existing adult Trees, it is hard to say. But I shall be hoo see my daughters wear such things, as they will not be fio their Boundary homes, but will walk this world too…”

  versatiouro what sorts of little kimonos and dresses would look good on children, so Natsumi pulled me away.

  “Thanks for earlier.” she whispered, and I nodded.

  “Yeah, I think her brother did it to try and exercise power over me, I don’t think it’s your fault.”

  “Actually, as a bodyguard from a lesser family, it’s only natural for him to order me about. I used to have to fetch him drinks all the time when at the Tsumura estate. Holy, if I wasn’t from a noble house, no matter how minor, he could have called me to his bed.” She paused, flushing deeper. “But he didn’t! Nobody touched me but you!”

  “I know that.” Now it was me kissing her cheek. “I remember our first time. That aside… yeah, the nobility will be reformed. Like your mom says, Fujiwara-san is very siderate of our issues. Besides, the training school seems to be full of nobles nowadays…”

  Natsumi giggled. “That’s mostly Hinata’s doing. But she’s right. If we induct all of the daughters who attend Hanafubuki in our ways, a as many into Adamant as possible… then we trol all the nobility by proxy. Maybe one day soon there won’t be three great noble houses, but just o the pinnacle.”

  “That’s a way off yet.” I whispered, and she nodded, her smile sly.

  “Not so long as you think. Hinata is determined. Hence why Sakura-sama… -san is here.” Natsumi couldn’t show Sakura-san too much deference. “Well, that and she’s lonely, of course.”

  I nodded. “Yeah, Hinata seems to have a plicated retionship with her cousin. I wonder why…”

  “There are… rumours. I don’t want to speak of them.” Natsumi shook her head. “But amongst the top families like Motoko’s, there are whispers that Sakura… no, I said I wouldn’t say. Just… Hinata did have reason for her bitterness, and why she pressed to bee equal to any of the three great houses so fearsomely. Even to the extent ing in Kazumi-san, a bodyguard, when she didn’t have the pedigree to do so.”

  “Is it going to cause us any problems?” I asked, and Natsumi shook her head.

  “I don’t see how it could, but… it’s a personal matter. But Sakura-san surely knows herself. Setting that aside, so you’ll be going with Mayumi-san to South Africa too, and Ichijou-sama?”

  I nodded, and Natsumi shook her head. “Be careful. Mayumi-san is by far the most arrogant and forceful of the daughters of the three great houses. Don’t get swept up into her pace, or if you do… be sure to get the best of the bargain…”

  “Do you think that Hinata would settle for a poor deal?” I quipped, and Natsumi ughed, pulling me closer by my arm, and her breath was hot on my ear.

  “Tonight… it is my turn in your bed. And do you know who else wotery?”

  I shook my head imperceptibly, and she gently nibbled on my ear. “I guess you’ve got a surprise then…”

  I guess so. But a pleasant one…

  ***

  “It is quite troooubling, being a mistress.” Hyath said to Tsukiko, who merely nodded. She was unveiled in front of many people, quite a lot of them unfamiliar to her, and it had exhausted her mental strength. Likewise, Hyath had also suffered, seeing all the maids at work.

  “Yes, but you did well.” I said, sittiween them. “You too, Tsukiko. I know how stressful it be when you aren’t used to it. But at least…” I gnced over at her parents, talking with Jack, Evelyn and the Kitsune. “…they seem more settled.”

  Tsukiko nodded. “Ihey are. And I am grateful. It is still impossible to ge our retionship so swiftly. But… time is what we have, no? Tamamo-no-Mae is right. For us… a year or ten is nothing.”

  “Time is looong and often cooold.” Hyath said insightfully, and with a hint of mencholy in her violet eyes, silver highlights twinkling. “Yet here is very warm, and Hyath loooves it. Mistress Tsukiko, never fet that what is whole be shattered in but a moooment.”

  Tsukiko’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment my Eye activated, pig up a surge of aether around her, as well as the violet flickers of spatial element. For a brief sed Tsukiko’s red eyes were shading violet, matg Hyath’s, and after a moment she reached out and took the surprised Fae’s hand.

  “I see.” Tsukiko remarked. “I shall take your advice. For who knows better than you?” Tsukiko turo me then. “I believe you should take Hyath to your bed tonight. I know she did not witery, but you have enough strength to spare for three, do you not?”

  Hyath flushed, her grin turning sloppy, and I nodded. “Assuming the chosen two don’t mind. Besides…”

  “You will ooonly have mistress Hinata for the days.” Hyath chuckled, gng sideways at Tsukiko, unig with her eyes.

  Tsukiko blinked, seeming to uand, and smiled at me. “Do not mind me, spend some time with Hyath. I shall seize the moment and talk to my parents once more. Besides, I wish to speak to the legendary fox I heard tales of as a child.” Tsukiko got up primly and strolled off, while Hyath clutched my arm, humming off-key and tentedly.

  “Are you all right?” I asked, and she nodded.

  “Hyath always is, nooow. Though sometimes when people annoooy me…” She gred at Motoko’s brother, who had loosened up after drinking a lot of fine alcohol, and was now chatting with my father, who had taken it on himself to smooth matters out between us. I appreciate it, but it’s not likely I’m going to do something stupid, father. Though I did chastise Shaeraggo for his idiocy… We had invited Shaeu’s family, of course, but despite Shaeranna’s wailing, Prince Shaetanao had required their presence for some Fae matter or other, so they weren’t here.

  “…I dooo find it a little hard to clear my mind. Sometimes serving like I used tooo helps, but… this is not so bad.” Hyath o herself. “It reminds me… ooof old times. The glittering lights in the dark, wine and sooong.” She g the speakers that were pyile background he parties spiralled ooout into the endless night, spanning days, weeks. We were fools. The rot was already in ooour hearts, the dark.”

  Fasated, I listened. Hyath almost never mentioned anything about her past before she fell, so I didn’t want to distract her. As if uanding that, she gripped my arm, her fingers digging in. “It was tooooo easy. To let petty mistakes and grudges grow. We hated the humans, who wielded bright, cold iron, who burned ooour trees and our homes. But were we bmeless? Nooo, our hands were already red.” She looked down, as if her own hands were covered in liquid. “Pranks, harmless fun. Sooour the milk, steal a shoe, turn a bed upside down. Nooo… lead into ss, steal a child and leave a geling, burn a hooome, the sleepers inside… when did it start, why did it start? I dooo not know. Sooome ged. The weaker ones… ratkin, Goblins… first. And those with anger-filled hearts. Giants. Trooolls. But we hought it could strike us, and sooo the endless night was full of dang, ooof musid lights, until it was not any longer. And once a heart is pierced, there is nooo putting back the blood…”

  I listened, rapt, to her expnation, only for her to fall silent. I waited a little longer, but she didn’t speak, until she suddenly shuddered, the usual silver gze in her violet eyes shining. “Oooh, was I talking?”

  I shook my head, squeezing her hand. “No, it doesn’t matter. We were just sharing a moment.” As she giggled, I kissed her on the cheek, and she flushed, chortling. One day I’ll know everything. But until theer the Hyath we know. I sat with her for a while, before moving on to speak to Eri and Shiro, who were engaged in a heated debate with Violet-noona over the merits of body art…

  Yes, this has been fun, but… tomorrow, it all starts. So many tasks o go perfectly to not upset my pns, and, above it all… My Fht was still prig. But… I’ve prepared all I . And nobody but me do what o be done. I ’t be everywhere at once, but… I g Mae as she was questioning Tsukiko over some small matters. I’ve hopefully secured the aid of the one who protect my seeds. If not… I looked down at the boots I wore. They had been tailored and spruced up by Natsumi’s family, and now the Seven-League Boots were fit to be worn everywhere. At seven leagues a step, it’s still a long way home…

  ShipTeaser