Rika's POV
I tripled my training—hardening both my heart and emotions.
The Sanguis Luane Imbrem.
A sacred, brutal ceremony within our clan.
Whoever seeks to become the next head must kill the most precious person in their life—under the full moon, before the eyes of the entire family.
It's the ultimate proof that no emotion, no attachment, no love can stand in the way of legacy.
So I clenched my fists and accepted every mission they threw at me.
Young or old, innocent or guilty—it didn't matter. If the mission said kill, I did.
But the masked men never stopped coming.
They haunted me—sent to silence me, to test me. I took down seven of them already, but every time I pressed one for answers, they were eliminated before they could speak. Someone was always watching… always one step ahead.
---
One day at school, Mila noticed the exhaustion in my face. She reached out and gently patted my head.
"Something happened?" she asked softly.
I looked up at her and forced a small smile.
"I… I'm just having a hard time with schoolwork, that's all."
Her brows knitted together. "But you aced the math test! How much IQ do you need before you're satisfied?"
Bryan chimed in from beside her.
I laughed, shaking my head.
"Well, I have to stay sharp—especially with a lazy friend like you, Bryan, who keeps begging to copy my homework."
Bryan raised her hands in mock surrender.
"Yeah, yeah. But don't worry, I'll keep buying you lunch!"
We all laughed, the tension briefly melting away—until a soft, familiar voice cut through the noise.
"Rika?"
Clarissa.
I turned around and sighed. "What now?"
Her tone was gentle as always. "It's lunchtime… I was wondering if we could go to the rooftop?"
Bryan covered her mouth, barely suppressing a grin. "Whoa, Rika, you really are—"
"Shut it," I muttered, rolling my eyes.
I stood up, feigning boredom. "Guess I need to give her five minutes of my precious time, right?"
Mila sighed and wrapped her arms around me.
"We'll wait in the cafeteria, okay?" she said, smiling—but I could feel the quiet annoyance in her voice.
I patted her head softly. "Okay then. Save my sandwich for me, alright?"
Waving goodbye, I followed Clarissa down the hallway.
---
She seemed lost in thought as we walked. I didn't ask. I didn't care to.
All I wanted was to end this game she started—and find out who Shinji's lover really was. I needed the truth before my eighteenth birthday… before I erased my emotions forever.
Clarissa was so distracted she didn't even notice a group of students carrying hot coffee for the teachers. Before she could collide with them, I grabbed her hand and pulled her toward me.
She gasped, wide-eyed. "What the—what are you doing?!"
I stayed cold, calm, unreadable. Leaning close, I whispered, "That's my line. What the hell were you thinking? You almost got yourself burned."
Her body stiffened, surprise flickering in her eyes. I nodded toward the students, who continued walking past us.
"O–oh. Is that so? W-well… thanks. Let's just go," she stammered.
For the first time, I saw her flustered. It was almost… human.
I sighed and followed her quietly.
---
When we reached the rooftop, she turned to me—and kissed me.
Just like that.
After that day, she changed the rules.
No longer my shoulder. No longer gentle contact.
She commanded me to kiss her—five minutes, every day.
I didn't understand it. She was uncomfortable, yet she kept doing it. It made no sense.
After each kiss, she spoke about Shinji.
How he met the girl.
How he smiled around her.
How he let his emotions consume him.
And little by little, I began to understand why my parents called him weak.
After our latest kiss, I pulled away—breathing unevenly, my lips trembling.
"Now speak," I demanded coldly. "What did Shinji do after my parents disapproved of his lover?"
Clarissa frowned, studying me like she couldn't believe my ignorance.
"You really don't know, huh?" she murmured. "That's… interesting."
Her voice lowered, almost pitying.
"Your parents sent another assassin to kill his lover. Right in front of him."
I froze. The words struck like a blade.
Cruel—but believable. My parents would do anything for the clan's name.
"And that assassin…" I whispered. "Who was it?"
Clarissa sighed and brushed a strand of hair from her face.
"That's for next time. I don't reveal all my secrets at once."
She straightened her uniform and gave me a chilling smile.
"Here's a fact, though."
Her eyes locked on mine.
"You're weaker than he ever was."
With that, she flicked her hair and walked away, leaving me alone on the rooftop.