Kaguya's vat eyes regaiheir crity as she registered Ai's words. She looked at her, disbelief etched on her features.

  "Really?"

  Was Oko truly using someone's parents as leverage? That was beyond despicable.

  Although Kaguya had known her brother Oko wasn't the most honorable person, she hadn't expected him to stoop so low. If Ai was telling the truth, then Kaguya could begin to uand her maid's perceived betrayal.

  After all, Kaguya thought, if her own mother were still alive and someone used her to threaten Kaguya, she would probably act cautiously as well.

  "Miss!" Ai didn't waste any more time. She picked up her phone and ha to Kaguya, showihe messages Oko had sent.

  "…"

  There was no room for doubt now. The proof was right there. Kaguya's expression darkened.

  "That man!" She ched her fists. How vile could one be? And to think that such a person was her own brother—it was beyond repulsive.

  "Don't worry!" Kaguya said resolutely, meeting Ai's eyes with determination. "I'll go to Father. Once he knows, he'll intervene. Your parents will be safe, I promise."

  Before Kaguya could reach for her phoo tact Gan'an, Ai stopped her.

  "Miss, there's no need. It's enough that you don't hold this against me."

  Kaguya frowned. "But you—"

  Ai interrupted her worried words with a soft smile. "Oko gave me a half-hour deadlihere's still time. If I go now, I hahis."

  "Eh?"

  Kaguya blinked, stunned. What did Ai mean by handling this herself? Going to Oko in this state was risky—if he shere was no telling what he might do.

  Seeing Kaguya's , Ai raised her hand. With a small burst of cursed energy, a dagger materialized in her palm.

  "!! Is that—"

  Kaguya's initial shock gave way to realization. She looked at Ai, astonished.

  It was ued, but it made sense now.

  "I didn't know I had this potential myself," Ai admitted. In truth, she wao tell Kaguya about Ryuji's involvement. But since Ryuji hadn't mentio himself, Hayasaka chose to keep that part to herself. Perhaps he wa kept secret for now.

  "So, this is sorcery?" Kaguya murmured, more to herself. Although she had witnessed Ryuji's powers earlier, seeing them up close like this was entirely different. She hadn't expected Ai to have such talent.

  "That's why, Miss, you don't have to worry. Just don't hold the past against me, and I'll handle Oko."

  "…"

  If Ai had still been an ordinary person, Kaguya would've been terrified for her. But now, with Hayasaka wielding sorcery, Kaguya felt a little less anxious. No matter what triight have, he couldn't possibly outmaneuver a sorcerer.

  As for fiveness…

  Kaguya hesitated for a moment before looking at Ai seriously.

  "I'll five you, but you have to promise me ohing: never lie to me again."

  "???"

  Ai was taken aback. It was a tall order. Kaguya's innoce made it tempting to keep certain truths from her, to joke and tease her occasionally. But Ai knew better than to voice that thought aloud.

  Instead, she nodded with a small smile. "Okay."

  "I'm sorry, Miss, but I'm already lying to you now."

  "Good."

  Kaguya's trust was unwavering. Seeing Ai's agreement brought a smile to her face.

  "Make sure you e back safely."

  Kaguya knew Ai had something important to do and didn't want to hold her bay longer. Her only wish was for Ai to return unharmed.

  "Don't worry," Ai said fidently. It wasn't that she pced absolute faith in her newfound sorcery, she had only just awakened and hadn't even had a full day to train with it. But knowing Ryuji was behind her gave her an unshakeable sense of security, even if he wasn't physically there.

  After a few more reassurances, Ai turned a Kaguya's side.

  "…Phew."

  Watg Ai's retreating figure, Kaguya felt a weight lift off her shoulders. The day had been an eye-opeo say the least. First, she witnessed Ryuji's immense power during the day. Now, at night, she faced the underhanded schemes and depravity of her brother, Oko. She had hought he was capable of such shamelessness, using someone's parents as leverage.

  In the past, Kaguya had thought the petitioween heirs was straightforward, a matter of proving oo be the best through hard work and aplishments. But now, she realized just how brutal and ing the real struggle was.

  "…"

  She exhaled slowly. Thankfully, that battle for the position of heir no longer ed her. Kaguya already knew she was destio stand beside Ryuji. When that day came, the affairs of the Shinomiya family would be beh her . The iand all the treacherous infighting would bee irrelevant.

  What Kaguya failed to realize, however, was that because of Ryuji's influence, she had already surpassed all her brothers. The simple truth was that having someone powerful behind you ges everything.

  "Hmm~"

  With her spirits lifted, Kaguya hummed a light tune. Pig up her phone, she sighed at its plexity. It had so maures that she hadn't yet mastered.

  "This thing has so many funs…"

  Even with her intellige was a lot to take in.

  "Whatever, I should just get familiar with Line first and leave the rest for ter," she decided. The main reason she wao learn how to use her smartphone was to tact Ryuji more easily. Everything else could wait.

  "But I don't even know Mr. Ryuji's Line ID. What a shame," she muttered, feeling a twinge of disappoi. If only she did, she could be chatting with him right now.

  ---

  "Ah!"

  Meanwhile, in the Hayasaka household, a soft gasp echoed through the room.

  "Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"

  Oko's face was twisted with anger. He hadn't touched the tea set before him, which had long gone cold. His mood was far from posed.

  Ai's parents exged uneasy gnces, both holding their breath as they waited in silence. Speaking up could make things worse, so they remained mute, hoping their daughter wouldn't return as instructed.

  They had failed to protect her before, but this time, they were determined not to let her suffer again.

  "That accursed sorcerer!"

  If you asked Oko who he hated the mht now, it was undoubtedly Ryuji. Why did the old man have tain his youth? Wouldn't it have beeer for him to pass away quietly?

  Just when it seemed like his father's health was deteriorating, ready to succumb to age, Oko had already envisioned himself taking over as the head of the family. But with one casual act, Ryuji had shattered those dreams.

  Gan'an had beealized. This was just the first time; who knew how many more rejuvenations were possible? There was even the absurd possibility that Gan'an could outlive Oko himself. The thought was unbearable.

  "Master!"

  At that moment, a maid rushed in, breaking Oko's spiraling thoughts.

  "The young dy has returned!"

  "What?!"

  Ai's parents shot up from their seats, their faces a mixture of shod disbelief. Despite their message warning her not to e, Ai had returned.

  Oko smirked. "Looks like your daughter cares about you after all."

  In truth, he had anticipated that the parents would warn Ai. It didn't matter; Oko knew her well enough. Using her parents as leverage would make her hesitate, ensuring she came back.

  Standing up, Oko prepared himself, sav the anticipation. "Don't worry, I only want to have a little chat with her," he said, the false kindness in his voice making it all the more chilling.

  This was the part he loved most, having people fear him, seeing the respect that came with power. It was intoxig and the primary reason Oko aspired to lead the Shinomiya family. Power meant trol, and trol was everything.

  As Oko basked in his self-assurance, Ai stepped into the room.

  "Ai!"

  Her parents rushed to her side, tears brimming in their eyes.

  "Why would you e back?!" her father whispered, voice thick with emotion. "You should have stayed away, no matter what."

  "Dad, Mom," Ai said, relief floodi seeing them unharmed. She felt a pang of guilt for w them so much.

  "Hayasaka Ai," Yunying's voice cut through the reunion, ced with pt. He s the dispy of familial love. "Don't you have something to say to me?"

  Ai's father moved fain, his expression tense as he tried to shield his daughter from Oko's gre.

  "Master Oko, I beg you, if you o take yer out, do it on me. Let my daughter go," he pleaded, voice trembling but determined.

  But Oko's smile only grew colder, sharper. He leaned back, crossing his arms as if enjoying a show meant solely for his amusement.

  "Do you truly think I would waste my time on a mere servant? Your daughter's inpetence failed me," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "And now, all of you will uand the sequences of that failure."

  Ai's father ched his fists, his expression filled with desperation. But before he could respond, Ai's voice cut through the tension, clear and resolute.

  "Father, that's enough," she said, stepping forward. Her eyes met her father's, full of unyielding resolve. "You don't o beg. None of us are going to suffer today."

  Her decration hung in the air, heavy with an ued weight. Even Oko raised an eyebrow, a glimmer of intrigue sparking in his cold eyes.

  "Ai, do you even know what you're saying?" He leaned forward, a mog ugh bubbling up as he studied her expression. "Or has the pressure finally gotten to you?"

  But instead of the fear or nervousness he expected, Ai's gaze remaieady.

  "I kly what I'm saying, Oko," she replied, her voiwavering. "You no longer have trol over my family or me."

  For a moment, the room fell into a stunned silence. Ai's parents exged worried, puzzled gnces, uo prehend where her sudden fidence had e from.

  Oko's expression darkened, a vein throbbing in his temple. His smirk twisted into something more menag as he rose from his chair, eyes log onto Ai with a predatlint.

  ***

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