"So, that girl Chika was dating Nakano-sama, is that right?"
In the Fujiwara residence, a woman who somewhat resembled Fujiwara Chika, dressed in a women's suit yet possessing an exceptionally slender figure, sat cross-legged on the sofa. Looking at Fujiwara Moeha, who was wearing a formal dress and sitting opposite her, she rubbed her forehead and asked.
"Yes, yes, Mother."
Looking off to the side, Fujiwara Moeha didn't dare look at the woman, but from her words, it was clear that this woman was none other than the mistress of the Fujiwara family, the mother of Fujiwara Moeha and Fujiwara Chika—Maho.
"Oh? Nakano-sama actually accompanied that girl to do something like that? That's surprisingly good shipping material."
Raising an eyebrow, the corners of Fujiwara Maho's lips curled into a smile, and as she spoke, a strange blush appeared on her face.
"Huh?"
Hearing her mother's words, Fujiwara Moeha, who had just been troubled, looked completely bewildered.
What had she just heard?
Her mother had actually said "good shipping material"? Who was she shipping? Nakano-sama and Onee-san?
Impossible, impossible?! Does Mother really want Nakano-sama and Onee-san to be together? But... if that's the case, what about Onee-san's engagement?
Could it really just be canceled like that? Wouldn't that provoke retaliation from the other party?
Fujiwara Moeha understood her family to some extent, but if the engagement wasn't handled properly, it could easily be taken as an insult by the side that was rejected. Although the Fujiwara family wouldn't fear any challenges, such an action would still have a certain impact.
However, Fujiwara Moeha thought that her mother would surely handle those matters properly, right?
She should.
Thinking that, Fujiwara Moeha still felt a trace of unease and asked,
"Then... Mother, how should Onee-san's engagement be handled? Is it... a broken engagement?"
The moment Fujiwara Moeha spoke those words, she regretted it, because as soon as she asked, the smile on Fujiwara Maho's face suddenly disappeared, replaced by endless coldness as she looked at her gloomily.
At that moment, Fujiwara Moeha could only regret why she had asked in the first place. With Nakano-sama around, any engagement or anything else could simply be canceled outright.
Thinking that, Fujiwara Moeha felt like crying without tears. In the end, she had simply cared too much about her Onee-san!
But Fujiwara Maho's next reaction left the girl completely confused.
Fujiwara Maho, who had just been ice-cold, suddenly looked up with an expression of complete bewilderment that didn't suit her profession at all and foolishly asked,
"Little Moeha, what are you talking about? What engagement? Has Fujiwara Chika been sent into an arranged marriage?"
The moment Fujiwara Maho's words came out, Fujiwara Moeha was instantly stunned.
She looked at her mother, opened her mouth, and for a moment didn't know what to say.
Ah, right. From beginning to end, the arranged marriage was something Onee-san had told her. She hadn't even confirmed it with Father or Mother...
So this whole thing tonight had been a misunderstanding from beginning to end?!
Thinking about it, Fujiwara Moeha wanted to slap herself twice.
How could she have been so stupid?! She wasn't usually like this! Why had she been so flustered today?!
However, Fujiwara Moeha was truly being unfair to herself.
As for Fujiwara Chika's engagement, if only Fujiwara Chika had mentioned it, Fujiwara Moeha would probably have gone to Fujiwara Maho to clarify things or even try to cancel the engagement.
But the problem was that the entire upper class of Tokyo was talking about it. The saying "three people make a tiger" led Fujiwara Moeha to directly accept as fact that her sister had been sent into an arranged marriage without asking anyone.
But upon closer consideration, this matter revealed many, many flaws. Not to mention why the Fujiwara family would send their precious second daughter into an arranged marriage, consider the supposed fiancé—the second prince of a small country.
Someone who had no right of succession and no influence in Japan—how could the Fujiwara family possibly be interested in him?
In the end, Fujiwara Moeha and Fujiwara Chika had simply been too naive and hadn't thought much about those details.
Now realizing how foolish she had been, Fujiwara Moeha hugged her head and crouched on the floor, looking completely dejected.
Seeing her daughter like this, Fujiwara Maho smiled even more.
Tonight's events could serve as a lesson for her two wonderful daughters. After all, as young ladies of a political family, they must not believe everything they heard.
Speaking of which, had this plan really been that successful?
Thinking about it, Fujiwara Maho looked out the window.
That's right, all of this had been Fujiwara's plan. After all, the Fujiwara family was one of Japan's leading families. Fujiwara Maho couldn't help but hear the rumors about the arranged marriage circulating through high society, and for the sake of the Fujiwara family's reputation, she couldn't simply ignore them.
However, from beginning to end, the Fujiwara family had shown no reaction whatsoever. That was because the source of the rumors was none other than Fujiwara Maho herself!
Speaking of which, Nakano Yu and Fujiwara Chika were two children she had watched grow up. The two of them often sneaked out together to play when they were little. Her husband, Fujiwara Daichi, had complained more than once that Nakano Yu had led Fujiwara Chika astray, although those complaints had always been made in private.
But as the children grew older, their interactions noticeably became much less frequent.
Fujiwara Maho noticed this and became worried.
These two children had played together ever since they were little, and Fujiwara Maho had absolute confidence in Nakano Yu's character. Moreover, in terms of status, was there anyone in all of Japan with a higher status than Nakano Yu?
Absolutely not!
In Fujiwara Maho's eyes, Nakano Yu was unquestionably an outstanding catch!
If her foolish daughter let such an outstanding young man slip away, she would have no one to blame but herself.
Fujiwara Maho had been thinking about this plan for a long time. The moment Nakano Yu and the eldest daughter of the Katsura family announced their engagement, her mind became active.
Before that, Fujiwara Maho had felt more reverence toward Nakano Yu because the young man was like a divine being.
But Nakano Yu's engagement to Katsura Kotonoha made her realize that the young god also had a heart and could fall in love, which was why Fujiwara Maho orchestrated this farce.
As a mother, Fujiwara Maho had done everything she could. Now it was up to her foolish daughter to prove herself.
Thinking about that, Fujiwara Maho let out a deep sigh and looked out the window, only to see that the moonlight that night was exceptionally clear, even somewhat dazzling.
Looking at the moonlight, Fujiwara Maho's mood inexplicably brightened.
Meanwhile, in Kyoto, far away from Ukiyoe City.
The usually bustling streets were now completely deserted, with only various yokai moving through the shadows and the moonlight.
They were the "evil yokai" as the Japanese National Police Agency called them, an old faction that sought to overthrow human rule and allow the yokai to reclaim control of the world.
They had come from every corner of Japan, traveling thousands of kilometers. For what reason?
Naturally, to celebrate the birth of the Yokai King, [Nue].
To celebrate... the dawn of the world of yokai!