The silence settled after he left.
As solid and heavy as the wooden walls.
I stayed still for a moment, staring at the closed door.
No returning footsteps.
He was really gone.
I took a slow breath.
My heart calmed a little.
I lowered my eyes to my hands.
Slim. Pale skin. Neatly trimmed nails.
I turned them over under the light.
Then I slapped myself. Hard.
It hurt. But that was it.
It was real.
My fingers slid along the white, light kimono collar.
I felt the warmth of my skin underneath.
The shape of my chest.
I stood in front of the mirror.
The girl staring back… was exactly my type.
But just.
All the fragile calm I'd managed to keep collapsed in an instant.
— Why a girl?!
My voice rang through the room as I slammed the wardrobe door shut.
The impact tipped it over, crashing loudly onto the floor.
Wood cracked.
A few neatly folded clothes spilled out.
I froze.
Breathing hard.
I stared at the mess for a long moment.
My anger faded slowly, leaving an empty bitterness.
That wasn't something Rei would have done.
Or rather… Senju Rei.
Since she had married… Tobirama.
The memories were blurry, but clear enough to grasp the essentials.
Unknown faces.
Congratulations.
My name is Rei.
My brows furrowed despite myself.
How did this happen… and how the hell am I going to explain it if I slip up?
I let out a long sigh.
I bent down to pick up one of the scattered clothes.
My sleeves slipped, and I adjusted them to cover my shoulders.
An unconscious gesture.
My eyes dropped.
Fragments of shattered mirror littered the floor.
I stared at them for a moment.
Then I looked away, sweeping my gaze around the room.
Everything was still, tidy, almost solemn despite the fallen wardrobe.
I turned my head toward the door.
Tobirama told me to familiarize myself with the residence.
In other words…
Rei didn't know this place.
A convenient cover.
I closed my eyes for a moment.
I dug through what was left of Rei's memories.
— Why can't I remember what happened after the ceremony?
I gritted my teeth.
Come on. I'm not a kid.
I know perfectly well what usually happens after a wedding.
I let out another sigh.
Rei…
No. I had left a clean kimono in the wardrobe for this morning.
And something to bathe with.
I crouched down and began moving the pieces of the wardrobe.
Gathering what I needed.
A crack of glass made me flinch.
I looked down.
Shards of mirror.
I immediately stepped back, checking my feet.
No cuts.
My breathing quickened.
That's illogical.
Normally, I should have been hurt.
I frowned.
I reached out to grab a piece of clothing and noticed it.
A glow.
Faint but distinct.
A chromatic halo around my fingers.
I froze.
What the…?
I slowly straightened, clutching the kimono.
I left the room and headed for the sliding door that led to the bathroom.
I stepped inside.
The air was more humid.
I looked for my reflection in the unbroken mirror.
I stopped dead.
A silhouette stood there.
Surrounded by a shimmering, almost liquid aura.
Waves of iridescent light blurred its outline.
I stared at my hands.
My arms.
My entire body bathed in that glow.
I leaned closer to the mirror.
Even my eyes glowed like two strange gemstones.
A shiver ran through me.
An image surfaced in my mind with chilling clarity.
Ainz Ooal Gown.
As seen by those who could perceive Mana.
I bit my lip.
I lifted my hand toward my own chest and whispered, Heart Grasp.
A beating heart appeared there.
I caressed it, and a shiver ran up my spine.
Ah… I see.
So that's how it is…