Book 8 Epilogue, (5)

Book 8 Epilogue, (5)

[Part 5/6]

"Calm down, Aoi."

"What!?"

A presence from behind, a sweet voice. Immediately, she protected her neck, and with sonic speed, unleashed a spinning kick. But gracefully slipping past that attack, Sumire, shaking her dark purple hair, easily got inside Aoi's guard and delivered a merciless blow to her abdomen. The roots of this story extend from novell bìn origin.

An elbow strike, a heavy blow.

"Gah!!? Guh...!!?"

Screams, groans, but Aoi was no ordinary person. She was a genius. Having learned from her previous experience, just before the direct hit, she momentarily strengthened her body with spiritual power and endured Sumire's strike. In her shaken consciousness, Aoi swung her fan with a gaze filled with hatred, aiming for her mother, ready to deliver a merciless blow...

"I can't overlook any more reckless actions. Please calm down a bit."

Immediately after, the young girl regained her composure as her vision was filled with the flapping of a black butterfly. But right after, an intense drowsiness overwhelmed her. The dispersing sleeping drug forced her into an involuntary state of unconsciousness...!!

"Kuh...!? Don't play with me!!"

Her knees buckled, and she almost fell. Aoi forcefully suppressed these sensations and tried to stand up. She couldn't collapse in a place like this, and above all, she didn't want to.

"I won't allow it...!!"

Anger, humiliation, and above all, fear. Aoi knew better than anyone the terror of losing her freedom to drugs. She knew the horror of being defenseless. Therefore, she fought against the drowsiness, clenched her teeth, forced her scattered thoughts together, turned on her heel to head back to that man... But her foot slipped, and she crumbled on the spot. She bent forward and fell.

"Guh!!? Huh...?"

And then, from the front, she was gently embraced as if in a hug. By a figure dressed in black.

"Tomo, be...?"

"Princess, please rest assured. There is no need to fear. I am here. So... please, just sleep for now."

The violent drowsiness that had lowered her thinking faculties was met with a faint murmur of the name of the person who supported her. And in response, he whispered in her ear, in a comforting voice that was a complete change from before. It was a series of brief words, without any assurance, without giving any reasons, without any empty pretense. Still, it was more than enough for Aoi. She knew that much. Just the fact that he had spoken those words made them the most trustworthy words for her.

"Yes... I understand. Then, yes, I'll... sleep..."

"..."

Kochou silently took a swing of the smoking pipe in her hand. At the same time, two simplified humanoid shikigami appeared from somewhere. The faceless figures politely took over the princess from Sumire and carried her out of the room...

"...I'd like to continue the council, but it seems difficult in this situation. Unfortunately, shall we call it a day for today? What do you think, Head Servant?"

"...Many of us are quite confused. I think it's best to do so."

When the head of the family proposed that they should call it a day after glancing at the air that was left after the storm in the council room, the head servant responded calmly without showing any disturbance on the surface. Okay, Yusou nodded.

"What about the others?"

Yusou asked, seeking confirmation from the other attendees. And it seemed that the air wasn't suitable for turning down the proposal now. The attendees responded one after another, albeit reluctantly.

"...There is no other way."

Even Kochou was not an exception. She nodded reluctantly, carried away by the atmosphere around her. She couldn't afford to stand out at this point. For now, she had to settle the situation, restrain her granddaughter from losing control, and communicate with the influential members of the family. Continuing the confrontation here would be meaningless.

"...Then we shall conclude here. Well, I will excuse myself first. I have to attend to some duties."

With a nonchalant attitude that seemed to disregard the heavy atmosphere, Sumire announced. She came near the servant and exchanged a few words. Then, she left, leading the way. Under the gaze of curiosity, mistrust, and hostility, the aforementioned servant bowed and followed her. While Tamaki, Hina, and some others looked at him with different implications, it didn't mean anything in this moment.

"...!"

Without saying a word or showing it on his face, Kochou felt anxious. She thought that, in a bad sense, he stood out too much. She believed that if things continued like this, he would be killed soon. Or perhaps, was that her son's intention...?

"Yun-shoku..."

"Madam Advisor, excuse me."

As they passed by each other when he left the room, Kochou attempted to call him out, but he murmured back. Muttering that, he quickly passed by. Kochou didn't say anything. She couldn't say anything. She just looked stunned, dumbfounded.

"You can't be serious...?"

Because the atmosphere surrounding him was too similar. To that person from her first love. To the aura surrounding him...

* * *

"For how long has it been? She seems quite obsessed with you, huh? Hehehe, that fickle and easily bored girl is really unusual."