Chapter 38. Finish Quickly
"Alright, alright, Eirin, don't make that face.
Being a wealthy wife, wanting for nothing—this is the life countless people dream of."
Kaguya slowly undid the bindings on her body.
She didn't shy away from Eirin and began changing clothes right in front of her.
An opulent evening gown—so out of place in a traditional washitsu—was now on her.
Under the lights it gleamed brilliantly, iridescent and dazzling.
At her first party, she would surely be the center of attention.
Then she sat before the mirror, humming as she swept up her long hair.
She slowly wove a hairstyle befitting her status with her hands.
By now dusk was falling, and a knock came again at Kaguya's door.
"Princess, it's time to depart."
When she opened the door, the head butler stood there in a fitted tailcoat, speaking with meticulous seriousness.
"Mm. I understands."
With an outsider present, Kaguya's expression returned to calm.
After she nodded lightly to the butler, she moved to follow behind him.
Kaguya's residence sat in a remote corner of the clan's estate.
That alone made her standing within the clan all too clear.
They crossed the long wooden corridor.
The flowers, grasses, insects, and fish that she would usually pause to admire could no longer hold her interest.
A flawless smile rested on her face as she followed behind the head butler without a single crack in her composure.
Their footsteps interlaced.
Eirin, walking last, wore a look of struggle.
At last, as if making up her mind, she stepped forward to walk shoulder to shoulder with Kaguya.
Ignoring the butler entirely, Eirin spoke straight out.
"Princess, I've already bought off the key personnel.
If you want to leave, I can get you out tonight.
There are funds outside that are enough for you to live on."
Kaguya merely smiled without confirming or denying.
Her steps didn't slow as she glanced at Eirin and said,
"And you, Eirin? Father will definitely suspect you, won't he?"
"Let him suspect me.
I don't want to stay here anyway.
Once I've transferred the assets, I'll come find you."
At that, Kaguya finally let the habitual polite smile break.
True joy blossomed on her face as she stared at Eirin and replied with a squinting grin,
"Ah—should I'll take that as an invitation to elope~?"
But when she saw Eirin's still-stern expression, Kaguya sighed, a little bored.
"You're just as dull as ever, Eirin—can't even catch a joke."
Perhaps Eirin truly no longer wished to stay in the Moon Capital Group.
But that place was also where Eirin had fought for half her life.
It was impossible to have no feelings for it.
Even if there was the slightest chance, Kaguya did not wish to force Eirin into anything against her will.
She had already helped her more than enough.
The lavish, spacious main hall now loomed ahead in outline.
The lively bustle inside could be heard even from afar.
"All right, Eirin, don't overthink it.
I'm just going off to live the life of a wealthy wife.
That's not so bad, is it?"
She gave Eirin a light push on the shoulder to halt her steps, waved, and left her only a graceful back view.
"Remember to keep in touch, okay~"
Her gentle farewell rode the breeze into Eirin's ears.
But just as Kaguya put her mask back on and was about to step into the banquet hall, the head butler barred her way.
"Princess, if you will—this way."
Bowing, he guided Kaguya toward a smaller side door.
Kaguya recognized the place.
It was the private room where those old men discussed serious business.
Is that so—so this is how it is?
It seemed she didn't even have the right to the last shred of choice.
She exhaled to press down the tension in her heart, arranged the etiquette she had studied for over a decade, and stepped through the door the butler held open.
As the darkness slowly swallowed her, it was as if a product polished for more than ten years was finally being set upon the display stand by its owner.
...
Meanwhile.
About a week had passed since the final exams.
Today, the results were finally posted.
They still had to go by the school to receive report cards and hear the standard vacation reminders.
After enduring the homeroom teacher's sleep-inducing voice, the words "Have a nice break" instantly sent the classroom into a frenzy.
Xander slipped the report card—straight As—into his tote at random, stood up, and, after turning down a few girls' invites to karaoke and shopping, smoothly melded into the trio with Kitahara and the others.
None of the four had any desire to talk grades.
All of them were in the top twenty of the year—no need to say more.
But when Kitahara saw Xander, he got snide again.
"Why, if it isn't the most popular with the ladies, Mr. Xander!
What brings you to us? We're truly honored~"
Smack!
His head took a slap from Xander.
He burst into anger, about to retaliate, but Xander slipped aside and hooked his leg—
and Kitahara face-planted onto the floor.
"This guy really never learns~"
Sugisaki Ken sighed and stepped aside to watch the show.
Kazuto Kirigaya also shook his head, sparing Kitahara a pitying glance.
How many beatings had it been?
And he still hadn't grasped the gap in strength between himself and Xander?
After a bit more horsing around, the four parted at the intersection.
If they didn't meet up over summer, it would be more than a month till they next saw each other.
Xander, however, felt no sadness about that.
Not even for a moment did he feel down over parting with friends—because what followed was a joyful vacation with Seele and Mei!
Sugisaki Ken, Iori Kitahara, Kazuto Kirigaya—who?
Sorry, not familiar.
In high spirits, he headed home.
Bronya and Seele had still gotten back before him.
The plane tickets to Europe were already bought, and the passports had all been handled by Mei.
Everyone would rest at home, make preparations, and set off a week later.
Also—according to news Seele had coaxed out last night—Cocolia should be arriving tomorrow.
They would turn in early tonight, then give the house a quick tidy tomorrow.
Work for the evening was canceled.
With the extra time, after their baths the three of them squeezed together to play family games for a while.
Once they felt a touch sleepy, they retired to their rooms to rest.
"Seele!"
As soon as he'd switched on the AC and slipped under the covers, Seele met Xander's serious gaze.
"Mm? What is it, Brother?"
She spoke as she inched closer to him.
"We have to get up early tomorrow."
"Right.
Since Mom Cocolia is coming, we should get up early and clean the house—of course~"
They'd already talked about this—why bring it up again?
"So…"
"So?"
"So let's finish quickly tonight."
"Ah?"
Just as Seele was puzzled and stunned, a hand slipped past the hem of her clothes and rested on her firm, smooth, slender waist.
Then, amidst Seele's gradually warming breath and murmurs, it slowly moved upward.
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