"W–what are you doing, Rei?!" I squeaked, staggering back and grabbing the nearest thing — a pillow — to shield myself.
"Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!"
That only made her laugh.
"So your face still glows red, huh? Even here," she teased, her hands on her hips.
"Are you kidding me?!" I shouted, face still burning.
"Did you just do that… for some kind of stupid cliffhanger?!"
Rei blinked, confused.
"…What did you say?"
I froze, realizing my slip.
"Uh—nothing! I wasn't talking to you!" I waved my hands frantically. "I was talking to… someone else!"
Still holding the pillow defensively, I flopped back onto the bed and stuffed food into my mouth.
Anything to avoid looking at her.
Rei crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow at me like she was staring at a particularly interesting insect.
"…Since when do you eat on your bed?" she asked, hopping onto the windowsill again like it was her throne.
"Well, since now," I muttered around a mouthful of bread.
"What do you actually want, Rei?"
She grinned, leaning her head against the wall.
"Alright. I actually tried your idea today."
"…Oh?" I looked up warily.
"And?"
"I went home. Talked to my fathers. Tried to convince them. But then…" she ran her fingers through her fiery hair, tattoos flaring faintly as she spoke, "…Selene canceled the wedding. Just like you said she would."
"See?" I said smugly, popping another pastry in my mouth.
"I told you so."
"Yeah, yeah. You were right." Rei waved her hand dismissively, but she was smiling faintly.
"Then I thought… maybe tomorrow at the party, I could confess my love to Akari. In front of everyone. Bold. Loud. No more hiding."
I choked on my bread.
"YOU WHAT?!"
"Confess," she repeated simply, like it was obvious.
I sat up fully now, staring at her like she'd grown a second head.
"But…" her grin faltered slightly as she glanced at me.
"…I also thought… maybe we should come up with a plan. Something bigger. Something to actually… stop the clans from fighting. End the stupid rivalry for good."
I froze at her words.
"…Wow," I muttered after a beat.
"You're… actually making sense. Didn't think you were capable of that."
She laughed softly, rubbing the back of her neck.
"So… any brilliant ideas, genius?"
"Oh sure," I rolled my eyes, collapsing back dramatically onto the pillows.
"Let me just magically fix centuries of hatred overnight. Totally doable."
Rei chuckled awkwardly.
"…So, uh… you don't know either?"
I groaned, throwing the pillow over my face.
"Do you even know why the clans are enemies?"
She paused… and then shook her head sheepishly.
"Nope. All I know is: we're supposed to hate each other. That's it."
Even as a reader, that irritated me.
The author never even explained it. Just tossed around words like 'a rivalry passed down through generations' and called it a day.
"Fine," I sighed, sitting up again.
"Tomorrow at the party, we start asking around. Someone has to know. We'll figure it out — and then we can actually fix this mess."
Rei's grin returned, bright and sharp.
"Deal," she said, hopping back onto the windowsill.
"See you tomorrow, Rin. And… try not to miss me too much tonight."
"…Shut up," I muttered, but my ears burned anyway.
She smirked one last time before climbing out the window like the troublemaker she was.
And just like that… I was alone again.
I flopped onto the bed with a sigh, staring up at the ceiling.
"…That girl is going to be the death of me. Again."
….
Well… just like a manga panel come to life, the ballroom was fabulous.
Golden chandeliers glittered above me, the floor gleamed like water, every corner sparkled.
People in elegant robes laughed, mingled, danced.
And at the far end — on what I could only describe as a throne — sat the Clan Lord and his wife, watching everything with the kind of smug serenity only final bosses have.
Here, all the clans were forced to act friendly.
No bloodshed.
No icy stares.
Just smiles.
A very fake peace treaty for the night.
At the center of the room, I spotted Rei and Akari dancing — hands entwined, ignoring their families' glares.
"Wow…" I mumbled through a mouthful of shrimp at the buffet table.
"My favorite characters are dancing. This is peak content."
And then — of course — she happened.
"Wow. You must really love food," a cold voice said behind me.
I froze mid-bite and turned to see Selene, hands folded gracefully behind her, her expression unreadable but somehow smug.
She looked… calm. Too calm.
I narrowed my eyes.
What are you planning now, ice queen?
"Well," I said brightly, "I can't let good food go to waste. So I must eat it all."
Her silver-blue gaze narrowed, and she tilted her head slightly.
"I heard you canceled your wedding," I added casually, pretending to sip from my cup.
"Any reason?"
Selene's lips curled into the faintest smirk — then she said, flatly:
"…You talk too much."
And just like that, she walked past me, her long hair sweeping the air like a curtain of frost.
I blinked, stunned, before whispering under my breath:
"You talk too much," I mocked her voice quietly, puffing my cheeks out in annoyance.
Gah. Annoying woman.
That's when I heard another voice — warm and teasing.
"Rin."
I turned, and my jaw almost dropped.
Shion stood there in a stunning dark-purple gown, her hair pinned elegantly, her purple eyes practically glowing under the lights.
"Wow… Cousin Shion," I stammered.
"You… you look beautiful tonight."
Her cheeks tinted pink, but she smirked anyway.
"Oh, thanks," she said softly.
"Shall we head to the dance floor?" she asked, offering her hand.
I immediately shook my head, clutching my plate of snacks protectively.
"Nope. I'd rather stay right here and stuff my face."
But — of course — she didn't listen.
She grabbed my wrist and dragged me onto the floor anyway.
This girl does not know what no means.
"Put your hands on my shoulder," she instructed smoothly, placing her own hand at my waist.
And just like that… we were dancing.
Slowly. Gracefully.
Me — the professional shut-in — dancing.
For the first time in forever… I felt a little warm inside.
My cheeks heated, my heart thudded weirdly.
Maybe… this was what I'd been missing all along, hiding in my room back home.
But just when I was letting myself enjoy the moment — my eyes caught sight of her.
Selene.
She was whispering to a waitress holding a glass of wine.
The waitress nodded, then began walking across the floor… right toward Akari and Rei.
Oh no.
Ohhh no.
Before Akari could take the glass, I sprang into action — shoving my way across the dance floor, knocking into dancers, ignoring the stares.
Just as Akari reached for the wine, I snatched it out of her hands.
"Rin?! What is wrong with you?!" Akari gasped, glaring at me.
I held the glass up proudly.
"I'm… thirsty!" I declared.
"And this is the only wine I want!"
Everyone in the vicinity stared.
Even the music faltered for a moment.
Rei raised an eyebrow, watching me closely, while Akari reached for the glass.
"Give it back," she hissed.
"Ahhh ahhh ahhh—" I laughed nervously, dancing away from her, holding the wine high above my head like a trophy.
"Sorry, Akari. Too late now!"
And before anyone could stop me — I tipped the glass back and downed it in one go.
I slammed the empty glass on the table, wiping my mouth dramatically.
"Whoops. Guess you'll have to find another."
And with that, I strutted off the dance floor like the chaotic protagonist I was destined to be…
…while Selene's icy gaze followed me silently from across the room.