Grandfather led me inside, his pace slow but deliberate. The adrenaline was still buzzing through my body, making the castle air feel thin.
"There was no need to kill that many, Stivanstin," he said without looking back.
"There was no need to try and stop me either, yet here we are... Your Grace." The formal title was deliberate, a subtle reminder of the power dynamic he'd just asserted.
He looked older than he had on my birthday, more tired. I was still furious about the ambush, but the anger was tempered by curiosity. The castle was chaotic; groups of people rushed past with complex papers and equipment, giving the sense of a high-pressure military operation.
We made it inside his private quarters. He sat heavily and indicated I should do the same.
"Let me start by saying this: I was never going to hand over my granddaughter to that boy," he began, his tone weary. "He doesn't dare speak about her. I was the one who contacted him in the first place. You jumped to conclusions."
"Then why tell your captain not to let me in and to use force 'if need be'? You could have guessed my actions, considering the limited information you gave me to work with."
"I can't have you around when the Rastor boy comes. He can't even say your name without pissing himself. You need to play along with my plans," he said, his eyes narrowing slightly. He looked amused by my impatience.
What is he thinking? Is he just having a laugh?
"Have you ever considered the future of our family? What will happen to you all, once your grandmother and I are gone and buried?" he asked.
He was afraid of the future. I rattled off the long-rehearsed consequences: "We lose most of our political power, and our support from overseas. Japan and all other vassal states our family controls will revert to Imperial control. And there's the issue of the new Hand."
I'd heard this since I was ten.
His early lessons had taught me that political power was fleeting; the only things truly dependable were our family and our own power. Once he died, and my father became the Second Duke, we'd lose the prestige of the First Hand of Japan and be exposed to the envy and hatred of others. The old order was dying out, and the next generation of power would rise, perhaps led by easily controlled puppets like the Rastors.
"I'm glad you remembered," he conceded. "We will soon have a war on our hands, little one, whether we ask for it or not. Seth was always good to me, and I loved him like a big brother long before I married his sister. But he was also the worst father I've ever met. He'll be gone soon, and our Empire will be plunged into a civil war."
He leaned forward, his voice dropping. "Viego is a vicious little shit who spent his childhood preparing to be Emperor and torturing defenseless animals. Believe it or not, his little brother is even worse."
"Maliketh has a silver tongue and a depraved mind. He longs for conquest and glory... and women. He doesn't see the Portals as a threat. None of them do. One would be a monster on the throne, and the other could cause a war that will end the world before the Portals ever get a chance."
Everything he said was terrifyingly logical. The civil war that Sol had hinted at was inevitable.
"So what is your plan? We kill my uncles and put Sisi on the throne because of her legitimacy? No, we need to kill hundreds more—everyone with Black Flames for a start, and their families, and all their supporters. Are we going to kill all of them?"
"Yes."
He was utterly serious. He was so afraid for the future of his descendants that he was willing to kill thousands, some of them relatives. Yet, the fear in my heart vanished. He wasn't planning betrayal; he was planning to secure our family's future, and if that meant preemptive slaughter, I was fully on board.
"I see... So you are planning to unite the three Hands and wait until the right moment to strike?"
"Almost, honorable grandson, but the Rastors are enough. They've always been thought of by the court as loyal dogs, and they were. But that boy, Shien, he's changed. And he's too terrified of you to ever betray us. I've been in talks with him and his father for weeks."
So, the plan was to kill every potential threat to Sistine's ascension. From their ashes, she would rise as a Phoenix and rule this Empire. Oh, Sisi, I promise I won't end this until every single threat to your rule is gone.
"Very well. I'll talk to Sisi, and I want you to involve me when our time arrives—before that, if possible. I assume all this really came from Sol's mind?"
"Don't underestimate me, brat, but yes, mostly," he conceded, a faint smile touching his lips. "I didn't want to tell anybody until tomorrow's meeting. I will publicly reject their proposal, then we all lie low and wait." He paused, a flicker of sadness in his eyes. "We never know how long we have. Seth was never soft. The more time we gain, the better our chances. We will train, and you will have to make the leap."
"The leap?" I asked, confused.
He got up and picked up a picture from the mantelpiece above the fireplace—a picture of him at his ceremony when he was made First Hand by Seth at seventeen. He was a prodigy with telekinesis, able to lift tons with his mind. He'd lived a life I envied: respected, strong, and married to the Emperor's younger sister, Susana.
"Your ability is unparalleled for what needs to be done, which is to kill. But you need practice. So, I want you to participate in the Games this year and dedicate yourself to training. Both your eyes and, most importantly, your mother's family swordsmanship."
I was honestly surprised. Few people knew about my mother's family. They had never approved of her marriage and hadn't sought contact with us.
"My mother already taught me. I mastered her style of the sword," I said, sounding disinterested.
The man laughed long and loud, and it annoyed me. Mother herself had told me I'd mastered it!
"I'm sorry, it's just sometimes you really do think like a kid," he said, sitting back down and picking up his drink. "Your mother learned what she could, but don't forget she left for school at fifteen, married by seventeen, and hasn't seen her family since. How much could she possibly have mastered in that short amount of time?"
He was right. I must have misinterpreted her. She meant I'd mastered everything she knew. I didn't even know my maternal grandparents' names. They weren't Evolved, and Mother never liked to talk about them; it always made her sad.
"Alright, so tell me how to go about it?"
"Slow down. All will be revealed in time. For now, it's too late, and I'm tired. Go do what you promised and inform the family about our plan. Come back in a few days."
"No, no, I never said I'd talk to the family. I only promised to talk to Sisi and convince her if need be. The family part, I leave to the mastermind of this. Talk to Sol. By the way, where is he?"
"Most likely saw your senseless killing in the yard and is hiding somewhere, calculating his chance of survival."
I felt a little bad about it. "I do apologize. I did jumped to conclusions. Anyway... I'm sorry."
"Now that we got that out of the way, talk to me. How's school?" he asked, even though he'd claimed to be exhausted moments ago.
We talked until deep into the night. Now that I knew his plans and mostly agreed, I was able to relax and unload: school, friends, and girls.
"That Ranni sounds like she struck a chord with you, but your attention is divided. You pay too much attention to small details: your goofy friend's sister, the one you keep head-patting, and now this Ranni... and why the hell did you eat that poison?"
"Times have changed," I countered, perhaps a little too condescendingly. "Not everyone has legendary-tier women thrown at them so young. Some of us have to chew poison in front of those we like."
"Condescending little... you do understand I came from nothing, right? You know Moira now? Well, it was a fishing village when I was young. And when I tell your grandmother about your legendary nonsense, she'll deep fry you."
"As much as I enjoy silly banter, I'm going to go now. Remy and I should leave to make it home, and I don't want to miss school tomorrow."
"Yes, you should. I'll call later this week. I will also talk to Sol. Try not to kill any of our own soldiers on your way out." He stood up and embraced me.
"Next time, let me in. Thanks for the advice, old man."
It was a fruitful trip to Edo.
~
I had a lot to explain to my sister, and it was past midnight, but I was confident she was still up. Only it wasn't Sisi who picked up the phone.
"It's you..."
"Is there any way... any way we can just forget the whole thing, Sicily?" I asked the screen, hoping my words would reach her.
She looked teary-eyed. I felt awful for blocking her calls for such selfish reasons. I should have called her first. She was the only one who hadn't warmed up to me when I arrived six years ago.
She had kept her distance, while my brothers, initially fearful, had quickly grown accustomed to me. Sistine had been the perfect big sister from day one.
"Cily, please don't cry. I'm so sorry. I promise... I will never, ever do that again. Please? Talk to me."
Her eyes softened. It reminded me of the twelve-year-old girl who hid behind Mother, looking at me with suspicion, now a charming, beautiful young woman.
"Fine. But as a better apology, you let me and Sisi both move to Moira."
"Why? There's nothing to do here. You'll be bored," I protested. They would just end up mothering me with endless questions.
"I'll hear none of this. That's my price."
She was angry, but I also desperately missed them. And I did feel better having them near.
"Very well. To be honest, I missed you two, and it will be fun having you around. I accept."
The smile that replaced her tears were among the most beautiful things in the world.
"Hmm... we fly out tomorrow. By the way, why did you call Sisi this late?" she asked.
"Good question. Cily, are our parents there with you? And why do you have Sisi's phone?"
"Sistine is in the shower. We only arrived a few hours ago—there were terrible delays because a Yellow Portal ripped in Philadelphia. Mother is off at one of her ice cream socials, and Father went with her."
Good. I would have told my parents if they were here, but now Sol and my sisters could deal with the fallout. Now that they were moving, it was the least they could do.
"...Fine. Let's just wait for Sisi, and then I've got quite a story to tell."