For weeks, everyone in Kaida had been waiting for the Clan Lord to address the chaos spreading through the capital. Yet he remained silent, not out of neglect, but because he was not present. The true seat of authority was empty.
In his absence, Lady Blossom presided over the affairs of Kaida. As the Clan Lord's daughter, she held temporary authority… and as someone who secretly admired Lady Shion Hoshino, she made no effort to hide her bias. So when Rei Akarawa, now Clan Master of the Akarawa Family, requested an audience with the true Clan Lord… it was Blossom who arrived instead.
She entered the great hall with her guards on either side and took her place upon the high seat, her posture filled with entitled ease
Rei stood below with Gohan at her right, her gaze steady, cold, and proud.
Rei spoke first, her voice cold enough to frost steel.
"So this is the reason my father's murderer has not been punished."
Her eyes drifted over the guards, then back to Blossom. "The one on the seat happens to be her admirer."
"You should show respect in your words, Master Akarawa," one guard snapped. "You stand before the Clan Lord's daughter...."
But Blossom raised her hand, and the guard fell silent at once.
"I do not have an entire day for this," Blossom said, her voice clipped. "Speak. What do you want, Master Akarawa? I have other matters to attend to."
Rei's answer was simple.
"You already know what I want... justice. My father and my guards were slaughtered. According to your father's own laws, such crimes must be judged without delay. I want the culprit punished."
Blossom gave a short laugh, almost mocking.
"Punished? You expect a verdict without understanding the matter." According to the reports submitted to me, your guards were not the only ones killed that night. Hoshino guards also died, burned. The autopsy makes that clear."
She leaned back in her seat, voice dripping with false calm.
"That is called a fair fight. Lady Shion Hoshino won the battle. Blood is expected on a battlefield. You speak of justice as if your guards were not part of the conflict."
Rei's lips curved into a smile, but it was not warm.
"A battlefield…" she repeated softly, tasting the word.
Then she let out a low laugh.
"If you do not wish for the whole of Kaida to become a true battlefield, you should stop protecting someone who does not even know you exist."
Blossom stiffened, her composure cracking.
"How dare you speak to me like that, Rei Akarawa!"
"Master Akarawa," Rei corrected coldly. "And let me remind you, you are not the Clan Lord. The seat you sit on belongs to father, and you know since he is not here...."
She took a single step forward, her presence sharp as a blade.
"I wonder what your father will say when he returns to his precious land and finds it in ashes, all because his daughter refused to let go of her foolish obsession."
Blossom's breath caught.
Rei continued before she could speak.
"If Shion Hoshino is not judged for her crimes, then prepare yourself. You will see what a real battlefield looks like."
She bowed, not out of respect, but out of formality and Gohan followed.
Without another word, they turned and walked out of the hall.
The sound of their footsteps faded, leaving behind only the furious trembling of Lady Blossom, who sat frozen on the high seat angry, humiliated, and helpless.
Because she knew Rei Akarawa was right.
And she also knew… she could do nothing to stop her.
…
Shion, Akari, and Rin were escorted toward the Clan Lord's land, the flying palanquin swaying gently as it carried them through the air. Shion had been summoned, either to defend herself or to accept punishment for the death of Daichi Akarawa. No one spoke at first. The air was tight, as if even breathing too loudly would disturb the fragile balance between them.
"…So," Shion began slowly, eyes narrowing at Rin. "The Ice Queen. It seems you two are now… something, yes?"
Rin did not answer. She only turned her head toward the narrow palanquin window, watching the passing trees as if they were suddenly fascinating.
Akari groaned loudly.
"Sister Shion, please stop asking unnecessary questions," she said, growing irritated. "Queen Selene and Cousin Rin are engaged. What is wrong with them being in love? You should be grateful we are even following you to your trial. Especially now that Father has abandoned you completely, after everything you did to earn his approval."
She rested her head on Rin's shoulder, letting out a tired sigh.
Shion's eyebrow twitched. "Hey brat. Just because your fire brat dumped you doesn't mean you can speak to me like that. I am your elder sister."
"Elder sister, my foot," Akari shot back. "You always do foolish things and drag me down with you. I didn't like you from the start, and now that you've made our lives even more complicated? I hate you more than I hated you yesterday."
"Akari...!"
"I hope the Clan Lord gives you exactly what you deserve," Akari continued, refusing to stop. "And I hope you repent properly this time."
The palanquin fell silent.
Rin sat stiffly between them like a trapped bird caught between two storm clouds. The sisters bickering crackled around her like lightning. She kept her expression calm, but inwardly she wondered whether she should have simply followed her brothers in the other palanquin.
At least they will be way more calm than these two.
When they finally reached the Clan Lord's hall, the atmosphere changed immediately. Servants hurried across the polished floors, adjusting seats, lighting lanterns, whispering instructions. The doors opened with a deep groan, revealing rows of clan masters waiting in solemn silence.
But something felt wrong.
Rin's eyes scanned the hall.
The Akarawa clan was absent.
And Master Hoshino, Shion and Akari's father, was nowhere to be seen.
He had not come to witness his own daughter's judgement, well he did say he wanted nothing to do with this.
Akari stiffened. Shion's head lowered for the briefest moment, her shoulders trembling before she forced them straight again. The pain in her eyes disappeared behind a mask of cold composure.
Then the hall doors opened once more.
The Clan Lord entered.
Or so Rin thought, until she saw who stepped forward.
The Clan Lord remained seated in the shadows at the back of the hall.
It was his daughter who approached the judgement seat.
Lady Blossom.
Rin finally understood why the trial had been delayed for so many weeks.
Lady Blossom carried a long, quiet affection for Shion, a devotion she never hides. But she also carried another emotion, one far colder.
Hatred.
Because Shion's feelings had once been for Rin and still is.
Lady Blossom's steps echoed sharply through the hall as she took her seat at the center, just below the Clan Lord's gaze. Her eyes drifted to Shion first, softening with a warmth she struggled to hide…
…then they turned to Rin.
The softness vanished, replaced by venom, sharp and icy.
Rin felt the chill creep down her spine.
This trial…
would not be fair.