"I don't understand the meaning of all this urgency," Mr. Tomo said as he unlocked his shop, rubbing his eyes. "I am supposed to be at a wedding ceremony right now. And who in the world wants a dress this…"
He froze the moment he stepped inside. Jiko was just behind him, but what made his breath catch was seeing Shion and Roku standing calmly in the center of the shop. The air seemed heavier somehow, as if their presence had sucked the warmth from the room.
"Lady Hoshino, you are here. How did you get in?" he asked, bowing quickly, his eyes darting between them. I locked the shop before leaving. How… how did they get in? The thought made his stomach tighten.
"We need a dress for our Queen. A very elegant one," Roku said, his voice firm but carrying an unshakable weight.
Tomo blinked and stepped back slightly, confusion twisting his features. An Akarawa head guard in my shop… calling an Hoshino Queen… something is very wrong here. But I do not want to know. He swallowed hard and stayed silent.
"A dress for Lady Hoshino, you say?" he finally spoke, his voice tight, as he looked around the shop, scanning racks of gowns. He picked up one, a gown similar to what Shion usually wore, hoping it would suffice.
"An elegant dress," Shion said sharply, stepping closer. Her eyes glinted, sharp and commanding. "Do you dare misunderstand the word? I will wear nothing less than a gown fit for a queen."
Tomo's mouth opened slightly, then closed again. He stared at her, feeling a cold knot tighten in his chest. What in the world is happening here? Normally, he delivered dresses for Shion without complaint. She had never rejected a single design before. Her sister and cousin, on the other hand, had given him endless headaches over details and perfection. But Shion… she never cared. She never fussed. And now, she was standing here, commanding him like this.
"I… okay then. I will find a dress fit for a queen like you," he stammered, his voice uncertain as he hurried to the back room, sorting through racks and boxes for something worthy. His hands trembled slightly, betraying the unease that had settled in his chest.
After countless attempts and much shifting of fabrics, Shion finally selected a dress. She stepped in front of the mirror, her posture perfect, her gaze sharp and assessing.
"I am not entirely satisfied with this, but it is… a marked improvement over the previous failures," she murmured, her eyes scanning her reflection, tracing the sharp line of her jaw, the curve of her lips, the glint in her eyes. "What a beautiful visage… yet mine surpasses it. That ice queen—where is she hiding me? I shall uncover her. And when I command this vessel fully… hahaha." A sinister smile tugged at her lips, quiet and deliberate, a soundless promise of power.
Tomo's hands hovered over the fabric, unsure if he should move or retreat. He could feel the tension radiating off her, like standing too close to a flame.
Shion turned toward him, her voice cold but precise. "You spoke of a wedding ceremony. A wedding always requires food. Where is the location? And I will require a stylist. This hairstyle is beneath me."
Tomo swallowed, his throat dry. Beneath her presence, he could hardly comprehend the command, yet it pressed down on him like a physical weight. His heart hammered in his chest. I have to obey… or… something worse might happen.
After changing her looks, Shion looked different in every way—her tone, her walk, even the way she carried herself. Mr. Tomo, still reeling from the encounter in his shop, closed the doors behind him. He was on his way to the merchant wedding and now he has to escort them to. He had no choice but to follow at a distance, every instinct screaming that lingering too long near her would be dangerous.
Shion ignored walking entirely and lifted herself onto Roku's back. He did not protest. She did not like the idea of walking, and her satisfaction came from letting others serve her whims. Mr. Tomo trailed behind, uneasy, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck rise with every step. As soon as they arrived at the party, he lost sight of them. The tension radiating from Shion was palpable, a dangerous aura that made him move quickly away. Survival first.
"Oh, the wedding rituals are already over. Looks like the aftermath," Mr. Tomo said quickly, his voice tight. "Okay, Lady Hoshino, this is where I leave. I have people to attend to at this wedding." Without waiting for approval, he dashed off, disappearing into the crowd like a shadow, his heart still hammering in his chest.
Roku gently lowered Shion to the floor. She brushed off her dress and smiled at them, sharp and unreadable. "Amuse yourselves for now… but when I require your attendance, do not dare keep me waiting," she murmured. Her words were calm, yet carried an edge of command. She melted into the crowd like a predator among unaware prey, her movements deliberate, measured, and dangerous.
Shion wandered toward the refreshments table, her steps calculated and precise. The clinking of cutlery and the chatter of guests barely registered in her mind. She picked up her food and took a bite, savoring it with an almost childlike appreciation. "Mmm… nothing tastes better than good food," she murmured, a rare softness in her voice, one that she allowed herself only in these small, controlled moments.
Her moment of peace, however, was fleeting. A chirp cut through the hum of the party.
"Heyyy, Shion!" Rin's voice rang brightly, full of unrestrained energy. "What are you doing here? I thought you went on a mission or something!"
Shion's chopsticks paused midair. She slowly turned her head, narrowing her eyes. "Shoo away, commoner," she said coldly, her voice sharp enough to silence nearby conversations. "No one disturbs me when I am eating."
Rin, undeterred, stepped closer. Her cheeks puffed, and her hands flew to her hips. "Selene refuses to kiss me, so you have to kiss me instead!" she declared proudly. "You're the second lead, so it's only fair!"
Shion blinked once, then regarded Rin like she was an insect crawling across her table. Her gaze was sharp, calculating. Who is this irritating nuisance? Before Rin could get any closer, Shion grabbed the nearest object on the table and slammed it toward her. Rin yelped, stumbling backward.
Shion dusted her hands, eyes still fixed on Rin. "You fool. Have you no manners? How dare you try to kiss a queen like me." Her tone was cold, regal, and final, each word dripping with authority. Then, as though the incident had never happened, she returned to her food, picking up her chopsticks with casual elegance.
Her calm, however, was fleeting. She caught sight of Selene approaching Rin. Instinctively, she ducked under the refreshments table, hiding. Stupid, she scolded herself silently. Selene could sense me even now. She would know I am here. Yet, to Shion's surprise, Selene passed by without a hint of awareness.
Slowly, Shion lifted her head, peeking out as Selene and Rin moved away. "How in the world did she not sense me?" she muttered under her breath. She returned to her seat, eyes sharp, watching the two from the table. Her gaze lingered on Rin, studying her energy, her ease around Selene. Who is this girl, and why is Selene so close to her?
She sat back, her fingers curling slightly around her chopsticks as she observed silently. Selene carried Rin effortlessly on her back, laughing and smiling with unrestrained joy. Shion's lips twitched, a mixture of confusion and something resembling fascination flickering across her face. That is not the same person who trapped me in the stone. Who… or what… has she become?
Her eyes narrowed slightly, cold amusement mingling with curiosity. "How long have I been gone? How could time shape someone like her so… differently?" she murmured to herself. She tilted her head, studying Selene's effortless poise. "Or… perhaps it is not time that has changed her." A faint smirk crept across her lips, the first hint of genuine intrigue breaking her usual cold detachment.
Shion continued to watch them throughout the wedding, her mind turning over every movement, every laugh, every flicker of emotion she saw. The place seemed to shrink around her focus, the sounds of celebration fading into a distant hum as she analyzed, planned, and measured.
As the party drew to a close, and Selene and Rin prepared to leave, Shion rose smoothly from her seat. She began to follow them, her steps quiet and precise, her presence almost ghostlike.
Her progress, however, was halted by a familiar presence. Ice. He had been watching her the moment she entered the wedding ground. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes held the calm certainty of someone who already knew the truth. Shion's lips curved into a grin, sharp and dangerous.
"It has been ages, Baby Icy," she intoned, her voice low and deliberate. Her grin shifted into a smirk that promised torment rather than fondness. The air between them seemed to tighten, each second stretching with unspoken challenge.