Chapter 139 - Cause & Effect

"Good. Because if you were, all those people in the dojo would be kicked out of the Cedar Palace."

HUH?

"At least, if you hadn't realized what you've done and didn't take responsibility by apologizing," Ryuu continued, his face serious.

WHAT?

If Suzuki Ara didn't realize she had gone overboard with her mischief and didn't apologize all those people would have lost their jobs?

Ara was shocked. "W-why?"

"Because they failed to do their job which is a big taboo here," he simply answered.

"But…"

Ara was bewildered. "But Yayoi and Emi were both there as well –"

"– And they both would have found themselves unemployed," Ryuu interrupted her words, dealing her with more astonishment, rendering here completely speechless. "Rules for safety are absolute in this house. All the servants know that. It was why they tried to stop you. Yayoi and Emi are both the head housekeeper. They're the leaders of all the servants here at the Cedar Palace. It's only natural that if there are people who would be fired first due to neglect, it would be them. "

Seeing her look so taken aback, Ryuu turned to her with a serious gaze again.

"In this house, as my wife, your word will also be the law next to mine," he explained. "Everything you do is correct in the eyes of our subordinates. But, this doesn't change the fact that those subordinates have their specific roles to perform. Even if you are the reason why they failed to do them, the bottom line is they failed."

Ara bit her lip as she looked worriedly at her fiancé. 

"Cause and effect. In any action you do, someone's always got to pay the price. Whether it's a positive one or a negative one – do they merit a prize or punishment, it all depends on you," Ryuu informed her matter-of-factly.

A sullen expression crossed Ara's face.

Of course.

The Koutaishidenka was basically telling her that she was free to do everything she wanted. Nobody would dare reprimand her as his wife. She could choose to not follow the rules if she so wished. But if something untoward happened to her, heads would roll – literally.

"Are you disappointed?" he asked.

Hearing this question, she totally looked conflicted before turning her gaze away. He sighed. He shifted on his feet and reached out so she would look at him again.

"Ara," he called her name softly as he cupped her face with his hands. "I'll be a good husband to you. But I can't promise to be a good man to everyone all the time. My position calls for me to be ruthless. I cannot be kind if I want my clan to prosper."

Ara felt her heart sinking upon hearing this. Of course, she knew this fact.

Homura Ryuu's situation's very similar to the royalties back in Ritz. He was a man of power – and that power he wielded came with responsibilities. It was expected of him to be brutal, like how a king needed to be merciless.

Because of this, she felt more awful about her deed.

"I-I'm sorry," Ara apologized again.

"You should be. The greatest sin you did was to make everyone worry, you know. They had no idea of what you can do. If there was an accident because you didn't wear the proper attire, you'd have been seriously injured. Aside from the punishment they are sure to get if something did happen to you, they would have blamed themselves as well," the Koutaishidenka reprimanded softly as he straightened.

This time, the seriousness on his face faded, his blue gaze turning warmer than they were a few minutes ago. Ara watched in awe as his handsome face softened, the earlier rigid bow of his lips curving up into a small smile that made her heart skip.

The grin spreading on his face made him appear boyish and totally handsome, she itched to pull him close and kiss him senseless.

Er…

Ara gave herself a mental slap. What was she doing thinking about perverted things when she's being scolded?

"That was good marksmanship earlier by the way," he told her lightly, reminding her of her archery skills.

Ha?

She was surprised by the sudden praise she was not able to react properly.

"Where did you learn to shoot arrows?"

Homura Ryuu's voice reflected his interest, his eyes glinting. This time around, gone was the solemn Young Master. He was now just a young man who was simply fascinated by her skill.

However, Ara panicked.

She had totally forgotten something very, very important!

She frowned, trying to rack her brain if Suzuki Ara knew archery – and felt relieved upon remembering something. Her class did kyudo in middle school for physical education. Her school was popular for it as well as judo and aikido. It was why she saw Kou there.

"Back in middle school – did you forget? Our school's very good at it that was why you were invited for a demonstration."

Hearing her explanation, Ryuu nodded. True enough, it was what happened.

"What are the other things about you that I should know?"Ryuu asked her teasingly as he pulled her close to him again.

Ara turned her face away, biting her lower lip as she let herself get tugged into his arms.

Other things she hadn't told him? Er… she's a demigod? 

But of course, it's something she couldn't say – at least not yet. Maybe when they had children and one of the kids suddenly showed superhuman strength, she'd confess. It's not really something she ought to tell normal people at the moment, she thought.

"I eat a lot," Ara told him.

"I know that."

"I like dogs."

"I know that."

"I like alcohol – occasionally," she said the last part hurriedly when she saw him frown.

"No touching my wine collection again woman," Homura Ryuu told her sternly which made her laugh out loud. It's so cute how he still couldn't forget about the expensive red wine she chugged down.

"Never?" she challenged, her silver-grey eyes dancing in amusement as she stared into his eyes. 

He returned her stare for several moments, trying to be strong, but in the end gave in, albeit grudgingly.

"Fine, you can have some sometimes – but only when I'm around okay? Never drink when I'm not there. The doctor said you should limit your alcohol intake too." His eyes narrowed at her laughing face. "And you can only start drinking occasionally when you reach twenty."

Ara pouted, but she couldn't contest that. She's still technically underage here in Japan for alcohol anyway.

"Anything else about you that I don't know?" the Koutaishidenka prompted and Ara's smile returned.

She gazed at his handsome face, her eyes warm as she scanned his eyes down to his lips. "I think…"

She paused as if hesitating and Ryuu raised a brow. "You think what?"

Suzuki Ara then grinned as she tiptoed and gave him a feathery kiss on the lips, surprising him. "Homura Ryuu, I think I like you…"