Natalia Kuzmina maintained her careful smile as she surveyed the room. The VHC Gala rippled with wealth and power around her, a glittering sea of future connections and potential rivals. Her midnight-blue gown clung to her figure before cascading to the floor in a waterfall of silk, the backless cut drawing appreciative glances that she both enjoyed and resented.
Every eye that turned her way carried a judgment: The B-Rank's daughter. Pretty enough, talented enough, but can she truly excel?
She took a deliberate sip of champagne, though she'd barely tasted a drop all evening. Her glass was merely a prop, a barrier between herself and unwanted conversation. Her thoughts kept circling back to Satori. Where was he now? What game was he playing? The questions gnawed at her, a mixture of curiosity and possessiveness that she couldn't entirely suppress.
