As a seasoned gourmet, Akuto had his own unique views on which method of appreciation suited which occasion best.
His gaze swept slowly between Sayanomiya Kaoru and Fuyuhime Renjou. Perhaps because it was far too direct, both girls instinctively drew back their small feet a little and glanced at each other.
A subtle silence spread through the reception room. Akuto smiled faintly, leaned forward slightly, and tapped the middle of the table with rhythmic fingers, each knock seeming to make the heart beat along with it.
"What? You still haven't decided who's speaking first, even before coming in?"
His voice was steady, with the faintest edge of challenge.
As one of the young leaders who commanded Japan's hidden world, Kaoru had just been about to speak when Fuyuhime cut in first.
"I'll go first, Akuto-sama."
Fuyuhime's voice carried the slightest tremor, yet it was exceptionally clear.
She took a deep breath, as though she had made up her mind about something. Then she shuffled forward two steps across the smooth tatami and immediately bent herself low in the most proper posture imaginable.
The blonde little girl named Fuyuhime Renjou pressed her forehead against the backs of her hands, raised her hips, and formed her whole body into a respectful, submissive arc.
A dogeza.
The movement made the hem of her exquisite kimono lift slightly, revealing a small stretch of slender, pale ankle. She wore a pair of pure white short socks, the cuffs neatly gathered above her ankles and outlining the delicate curves there.
Her feet beneath the white socks were small and dainty, the shapes of her toes faintly visible through the thin cotton. At that moment, they curled slightly from their owner's tension. Her petite figure looked even more pitiful in such a formal bow, while her long golden hair spilled down beside her like a waterfall, the ends nearly brushing the floor.
Though she was clearly the descendant of a traditional Japanese family, Fuyuhime's hair was not black or brown like Kaoru's, Ena's, or Yuri's.
Fuyuhime's hair was golden.
Still, Akuto acknowledged her as a traditional Japanese girl.
Because... her dogeza was simply too perfect. One look was enough to tell she had received that sort of strict upbringing.
Then again, Diana, Liliana's teacher, had also left an extremely deep impression on Akuto. Her outfit had simply been too elaborate. When it came off, it had ended up scattered all over the floor.
...
Still holding her dogeza, Fuyuhime slowly parted her lips.
"Akuto-sama, the Renjou family has served the rulers of Japan for generations. It is only proper that we offer a concubine to attend the supreme sovereign."
"I, Fuyuhime Renjou, long for the glory of serving by your side. I am as frail as a willow and lacking in talent and learning, yet if I may offer myself in attendance, that alone would be my fortune."
Normally, Fuyuhime always referred to herself as "I." She would never use such an awkward, old-fashioned self-reference. But the situation was special now. Faced with Akuto, she wanted to carry propriety to the utmost.
Akuto's gaze fell upon the golden hair spread over Fuyuhime's white-socked feet, and a trace of understanding appeared in his eyes.
So the Renjou family had still made this choice in the end.
Fuyuhime had always been known in magical circles as "talentless," a worthless discarded child in the eyes of her family. The only "value" they could still squeeze from her now was to use her as a political marriage tool and offer her to the newly ascended Godslayer, in exchange for the family's continued survival under the new order.
At the same time, this also meant she would be completely stripped of her hollow status as a candidate for the next head of the family and lose even that nominal future.
Without the slightest hesitation, Akuto's lips curved into a faintly amused smile.
"A political marriage? And you're the bride? Heh. The Renjou family really does know how to scheme."
He leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees as he looked down at the small figure below him.
"Raise your head, Fuyuhime."
Fuyuhime slowly straightened as instructed. Her little face carried a pale mix of fear and resignation, her long lashes lowered as though waiting for her fate to be pronounced.
"There's no need to be nervous. I've already accepted your request."
Akuto's voice was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable firmness that made Fuyuhime jerk her head up.
A flicker of disbelief flashed through her eyes, only to be buried at once under even deeper loneliness.
In a sense, she had merely jumped from one cage into another. From this moment on, she would lose the halo of being the Renjou family's next heir candidate and become Akuto's private possession, someone who would have to compete with other girls for favor.
But... this was acceptable too, wasn't it?
After all, whether in terms of appearance or status, she had no right to refuse.
It was a little tragic, but she had to admit it. Akuto's willingness to accept her was, in truth, a blessing.
...
Yet Akuto's next words made Fuyuhime's heart suddenly race.
"But Fuyuhime, are you really willing to leave it at this and let your family throw you away?"
"Do you want to... take complete control of the Renjou family?"
Fuyuhime's delicate body trembled. A glimmer flickered in her eyes, only to fade again in an instant.
"Thank you for your kindness, Akuto-sama. But... I have no talent for sorcery. That is an unchangeable fact. As for the Renjou family... there is nothing I can do. I can only fail your expectations."
Fuyuhime lowered her head again, her shoulders quivering slightly as she fought to keep the tears from falling.
Without power, everything was empty talk. No one understood that better than she did. And it was precisely because she lacked any magical talent that she had been reduced to this.
"No talent? Of course I know you have no talent in sorcery."
Akuto chuckled softly, with the calm certainty of someone who saw through everything.
"I may know more about you than you think."
"I know you have a very close friend named Kouzuki Sakura, don't you? That girl who goes to an ordinary high school, has a very gentle personality, and even brings you homemade sweets now and then."
Fuyuhime looked up sharply, shock written plainly across her face.
"You... how do you know Sakura?" Kouzuki Sakura was indeed her friend, but she had never once mentioned that name in front of Akuto.
Of course, Akuto knew about Sakura from the original plot.
In the original story, although Fuyuhime herself had no magical power, she still taught Sakura sorcery and hoped Sakura could oppose Godou Kusanagi, the so-called "public enemy of women."
Unfortunately, the moment she discovered that Godou was a Godslayer, Kaoru saw through it in time and had her arrested.
...
"Didn't I say so already? I know more about you than you think."
"I wonder if Kouzuki Sakura ever told you that she has a distant cousin named Godou Kusanagi. As a child of one of Japan's old families, you should know the relationship between Godou and me, shouldn't you?"
As he spoke, Akuto continued looking at Fuyuhime with the same calm gaze.
That gaze seemed able to see straight through people, laying bare every secret and weakness she had tried to hide.
A surge of bitterness and grievance welled up in her chest. The tears Fuyuhime had been desperately holding back finally broke loose, rolling down in large drops without end.
So he had known all along... known of her helplessness, known of her circumstances... and still agreed to this marriage arrangement?
That sudden "understanding," tinged with the feeling of being looked down upon, instead left her feeling utterly exposed in her vulnerability, yet also somehow accepted... and moved...
Akuto watched her cry silently and shook his head with a soft laugh. Then he stood, walked over to her, and reached out a hand. The gesture was not exactly gentle. If anything, it was rather rough as he used his thumb to wipe away the tears on her cheeks. The coarse touch made Fuyuhime shrink slightly, yet she did not dare dodge.
"What are you crying for?" Akuto's voice sank lower, carrying an unquestionable firmness.
"If I'm asking whether you want complete control over your family, then naturally that means I have a way to make it happen."
Before the words had fully fallen, Akuto extended a finger and lightly tapped Fuyuhime's smooth forehead.
"Mmh!"
Fuyuhime only felt a cool touch on her forehead, as though something had instantly been branded into the depths of her soul.
Then an immense, unfamiliar torrent of information poured into her mind, accompanied by a strange heaviness, as though it could bear all things.
[Authority: Camel]
[One of the ten incarnations of the war god Verethragna.]
[Symbol: Unyielding will and supreme endurance.]
[Effect: Grants the user an unimaginable degree of physical toughness and mental resistance, greatly increasing physical defense and resistance to energy-based attacks. It provides powerful protection against mental control, curses, poison, and environmental damage such as extreme heat, severe cold, and lack of oxygen. In extreme environments, stamina and recovery increase exponentially. It may also be actively invoked, placing the body in an "absolutely unyielding" state for a short time, rendering the user immune to most negative conditions and instant-death effects.]
Authority! This was... a god's Authority!?
Fuyuhime could clearly feel an additional power inside her body, dormant yet vast as the sea!
"Why... why?"
Fuyuhime looked up blankly at Akuto, her eyes full of bewilderment.
Akuto bent down and moved close to her small ear. Warm breath brushed across the sensitive shell of it as he whispered softly:
"What if I said it's because I rather like you, Fuyuhime... would you believe me?"
"Eh?!"
The moment those words landed, an alluring flush spread rapidly across Fuyuhime's face.
Yes, that really did seem like the only explanation.
If he had not liked her beforehand, if he had not already paid attention to her, then why would he know she lacked magical power? Why would he know she had a close friend named Kouzuki Sakura?
So... Akuto really did like her?
Once she realized that, the small feet inside her white socks curled up again, and her body trembled faintly with excitement.
She knew she was unworthy of Akuto's affection, but since he truly did like her, then from now on she could only devote herself completely to repaying him.
Because Akuto's grace was like a debt compounding with interest. Even a lifetime would never be enough to repay it.
...
Akuto was generous, but not so generous that he would hand out Authorities casually.
Giving Fuyuhime an Authority was simply a way of showing his stance.
Japan's hidden world had always answered to Susanoo. It was unlike the Italian hidden world, where loyalties had long since become fractured simply because Europe had too many Godslayers.
So beyond displaying authority, Akuto did not mind showing a little benevolence as well.
And finally, given Sakura's existence, Akuto felt it was necessary to secure Fuyuhime's complete loyalty.
After all, having Fuyuhime help him win over Sakura, and making Sakura's best friend help another man win her over, was a choice that fit Akuto's tastes rather well.
(End of Chapter)
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