As the last trace of sunset slipped beneath the horizon, the four little ones were already asleep.
Rei Ao tucked each of them in, kissed every forehead lightly, and went alone to the villa's rooftop garden.
A gentle night breeze stirred.
He poured himself a glass of red wine
and waited leisurely for the visitor he had foreseen.
Exactly as expected—
Around midnight, the sky suddenly blazed as bright as day.
A shaft of holy light cut through the darkness.
With halo aglow above her head, Zelel descended, wings fully unfurled and luminous sword in hand.
Her golden hair streamed in the radiance, her eyes burning with fury.
She looked like a blade drawn from its scabbard—sharp, brilliant, lethal.
"So you're the one who defiled my sister and lured her into depravity?!"
Her voice rang like a trumpet of judgment; the sword tip halted an inch from Rei Ao's throat.
The holy light's heat made the air itself sear.
Yet Rei Ao only took an unhurried sip of wine.
"Defiled? That's not the right word.
"Gabriel is my girlfriend; we merely did what lovers do."
He paused deliberately.
"As for you—spying on others while they're intimate isn't a very polite habit."
Zelel's face flushed crimson.
How could he speak so matter‑of‑factly?
"I wasn't spying! I used clairvoyance to find my sister!"
Her hand on the hilt trembled—partly from rage, partly from the meaning behind his words.
"Who exactly are you? Why are you… Gabriel's lover?"
The last two words came out stiff.
Did he truly say they were lovers?
"Rei Ao," he answered, standing.
Iridescent eyes reflected the moonlight with perfect composure.
"As for our relationship… you can ask Gabriel yourself."
To him, the blade at his throat was no more than a harmless twig.
"Rei Ao?" Zelel's pupils shrank.
She knew that name—intimately.
"The first Awakened of the human world?"
As a high‑ranking angel, she had heard the title,
but never imagined meeting the man in such a setting.
Rei Ao inclined his head.
"So my reputation has reached Heaven, I see."
There was a teasing lilt in his voice; he seemed to relish her astonishment.
Zelel's expression turned complex.
The Seraphs had warned: Awakened ones transcend the usual laws—Heaven itself should not provoke them lightly.
But this man—this man who had "defiled" her sister—could he truly be that legendary unifier of the human realm?
"I don't care who you are."
She gritted her teeth, pushing the sword half an inch closer.
"I will not let you hurt my sister!"
Rules meant nothing next to her sibling.
Rei Ao spread his hands.
"As you can see, our feelings are mutual. As her elder sister, shouldn't you give us your blessing?"
"Blessing?" Zelel's voice leapt eight pitches.
"Bless her falling into sin?"
She drew a deep breath to steady herself.
"Hmph. Silver‑tongued. I won't argue. I'm taking Gabriel back to Heaven."
It was her duty—as sister and senior angel.
"Then wait until she wakes. Ask her yourself," Rei Ao suggested, pointing toward the villa.
"For now they're exhausted. Why not rest for the night too?"
The proposal sounded reasonable, though a glint in his eye hinted at deeper schemes.
Zelel meant to refuse, but recalling her sister's condition, she reluctantly nodded.
"At dawn I'll speak with Gabriel alone."
She sheathed the sword; her six wings folded, though vigilance never left her eyes.
Rei Ao gestured politely.
"The guest room is ready. Would you like a late‑night snack?"
"No."
Zelel declined coldly and followed him inside.
She had to stay alert—one slip near this dangerous man could bring unforeseen disaster.
…
The Next Morning
Gabriel tottered from the bedroom, rubbing bleary eyes.
Her whole body ached; every step echoed last night's frenzy.
Sunlight streamed through corridor windows, gilding her tousled hair.
"Rei Ao—" she whined, drawing out the name.
"Carry me to the bath… You were too rough yesterday…"
Still half‑asleep, her tone was fond and playful—clearly used to such pampering.
She opened her arms, awaiting his warm embrace.
Instead, a chill voice answered:
"Need your big sister to carry you?"
Gabriel froze.
That voice… far too familiar.
No—impossible!
Her eyes flew open. Zelel's stern face filled her view.
Color drained from Gabriel's cheeks; with a pop, her angel wings burst forth, several feathers drifting to the floor.
"S‑Sister?!"
Her voice shot up at least three octaves.
"W‑Why are you here?!"
Her heart hammered, mind racing with worst‑case scenarios.
Arms crossed, Zelel's gaze was sharp as knives.
"Looks like I arrived just in time—to witness my precious little sister's fall firsthand."
She emphasized fall, each syllable hammering Gabriel's heart.
Gabriel glanced around, seeking rescue—
but the villa was eerily quiet; Rei Ao and the others were nowhere in sight.
She swallowed; her throat felt sand‑dry.
"Come with me. We need a serious talk."
Zelel turned toward a guest room—allowing no refusal.
Like a startled rabbit, Gabriel followed nervously.
The door closed; she immediately knelt, head bowed, not daring to meet her sister's eyes.
It was an old habit—whenever she erred before this strict elder sister.
"…"
Silence weighed on the room.
Zelel stood at the window, back to Gabriel, sunlight outlining her in gold.
Outside, a glittering beach; inside, suffocating tension.
"Do you know why I'm here?" she asked at last, voice icy.
Gabriel shook her head—then quickly nodded.
"I‑I can explain…"
The words were barely a whisper; her fingers twisted the hem of her nightdress.
Her greatest fear had always been—her sister.
~~~
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