Chương 53: Succession?
"Yeah I am fine. Hmm, Okay take care of yourself and...father". Ending the call Ririka turned toward Subaru and returned his phone. Subaru threw it back to dimensional storage before looking toward the conflicted Ririka.
" Is everything fine? You sure dont look good". Subaru pulled her gently in his embrace and sat back on the edge of his bed. It was late evening when Ririka asked Subaru if she could contact her family if possible. She was getting bad feelings since yesterday and looking at her current condition, it seemed that something was going on.
"Father has gone to the last stage of the slumber. He won't wake up anymore. Doctors and mages have raised their hands already, well it was to be expected. So the clan elders are expecting me in a month or so." Ririka had a tinge of sadness in her voice but apart from that, she states everything emotionlessly.
"I dont want to know about your clan. Just tell me, how you are feeling about this?" Ririka felt Subaru's arms enveloping her. With her eyes closed, she leaned back on his chest, leaving her body defenseless and fragile in his embrace.
"I dont know how to feel about it. During my childhood, I doesn't feel anything but scared of my father. Remember, I told you I had a sister?" Subaru just hummed while observing her change in pulse and heartbeat all of a sudden.
"My younger sister Kirari Momobami. She was my twin, so our hearts were somewhat connected. We always stayed together wherever we go. Sometimes she took the punishment in place of me and sometimes I enjoyed the reward instead of her. It was going good until..." Her grip on Subaru's arm stiffened all of a sudden.
"..until we reached the age of 10, and I suddenly got my powers. Since our father wasn't awakened he was delighted to the core upon hearing the news. On the other hand, Kirari wasn't able to awaken her power. My clan, my parents were all celebrating my newly achieved powers and started neglecting her. I felt bad but I was bound with the clan's law. After a month, I and Kirari were separated as an awakened living with a normal human could severely affect them. My entire being was crying after getting separated from her, but I knew it was all for her safety.." Tears started forming in her eyes, which Subaru took care of. He was continuously caressing her hand to soothe her.
"..but Kirari took it another way. Due to the obvious partial treatment of clan people, our parents, and even the servants of the house she started hating me. It was natural for her to do so, and I would also have hated her if our position would have reversed. However, I didnt know about the hatred of my sister toward me at that time. It was then, that I and Kirari got permission to meet for an hour in the clan house. I was happy the whole day that I would finally meet her but the first thing she did after getting alone with me was..." She paused momentarily and gazed down as she said.
"...She rushed toward me with a sharp hairpin in her hand. I was able to see her coming toward me and I could have easily dodged her and somehow, could have covered the whole situation. But, the grief of knowing that my blood was trying to murder me was heart aching which made me freeze at the place which eventually resulted in her stabbing me at that moment. That was my biggest mistake to let that happen. Being the heiress of a prestigious clan I had to shoulder various tasks and one of them was to execute the sinner who tried to kill me. That was the first time I took someone's life but for me, it was like I was burning half of my soul away." Subaru continued to soothe her as she wept the silent tears recalling the moments she has passed after the death of her loved one.
They sat in silence for quite some time while Subaru comforted Ririka until she calmed down.
"So what do you want to do Ririka?" Subaru asked pulling her attention completely toward him.
"Huh? What do you mean?" She asked in a confused way.
"I can save him but I dont find any reason. However you know if you ask me then I will surely oblige to it". He brought his face and rested it on her shoulder and said in a warm tone.
Ririka smiled genuinely at how caring her boyfriend was before replying.
" Will you save him, if I ask you to?"
"Well, I will compensate with reward from you afterward". He chuckled making the pale beauty go crimson in an instant.
" Su-sure. I will try to serve you however you define ah...". She tried to act boldly however it failed miserably as she bit her tongue in the end.
"You dont have to force yourself. Anyway, let's go".
" Eh? No-." Before she could have asked further her vision blurred as she recognized very familiar magic formulations around her.
_____..._____
[Some minutes ago]
[Momobami clan's main residence]
The relatives and higher-ups of the clan from all over Japan as well other counties have arrived in the main residence on hearing the shocking news.
Since this noise of this information could have formed a turmoil, the elders decided to limit it to certain people only.
Since the tragedy happened only 3 days ago, elders didnt rush to inform the heiress. They had some means to inform her and get her back but fortunately, before they could finalize those resorts, Ririka herself called the lady of the clan, the first wife of Lord Yama.
After receiving the call, elders finally breathed in relief as they got reassured that the head position won't be lonely for too long. It's not have been even a week but they already had moved on. They couldn't help it. Being the chosen elders of the Momobami clan they always had to look forward.
The two wives of Lord Yama were continuously remorsing and weeping on their husband's current state. They didnt have that much of a heart to move forward this soon. The whole clan was going through a dark period.
To not look suspicious, to the outside world, the clan people continued to carry their tasks normally they did, including the current clan meeting going on in a secluded hall. This hall was enchanted with barriers that A-rank mages continuously monitors. The visit of the last intruder was something they treated as a nightmare and continued believing that something like that won't happen again. Well, they didnt have many choices but to believe so.
"Young lady will be back in 15 days, that's what I have heard. But will she really leave school on her own accord? " One of the white-robed elders sitting in the meeting room asked.
"We all know she was pursuing someone since a young age and now that person is with her in that territory. I hope what she said on the phone was true". It was a concerning matter as major people in the room knew the obsession of their young lady over a certain young man. So, Ririka leaving him behind for her clan was something they didnt seem to put their mind at ease upon.
" But what can we do except wait. If it was anyone else then we have taken care of him but that person.." Like the speaker, everyone else shivered at once as they remembered the dreadfulness they felt under a single presence.
Before the meeting could have continued, the sensation of foreign magical signature was received by some people inside the room and various from the outside.
But before they could react two people suddenly appeared in the middle of the hall.
Like yin and yang, a black-clothed young man and a beautiful teenage girl covered in white clothing made their entrance making everyone baffled.
Since the age of 10, no one has seen Ririka's face except Yama but they still couldn't be mistaken that the person in front of them was none other than their next leader.
Everyone bowed in dogeza toward Ririka before shouting.
"We pay our utmost respect to, Lady Ririka. Welcome back Young Lady. " Ririka hummed and turned toward Subaru.
"I am sorry for their behavior. I will drill senses in their mind on whome they should greet first". Without uplifting their head every person in the hall, only with her voice, knew that they had pissed her.
" It's okay. I am not quite used to this. Anyway, shall we go and see your father?" Subaru asked as he doesn't mind a single bit about the greeting and stuff.
Ririka showed a beautiful smile before nodding.
"Kurosawa san". Ririka's domineering voice resonated in the hall.
" H-hai. Lady Ririka". An old man dashed toward them before bowing deeply.
"Lead us".
" Right away Young Lady". The answer came in an instant as he started walking toward the sliding door with nervousness plastered on his face.
*Slide* As the door closed everyone sighed in relief and prayed for their elder's well-being around the two monsters.
________..._______
In a dimly lighted room about a dozen of people could be seen. One of them was the current lord of the house lying on a futon with a heavy blanket covering his body and a medical pipe connected to his veins.
Other than his two wives, 7 maids were standing behind their mistress waiting for the next order or to provide any assistance.
Kasumi Momobami was Yama's first wife and Ririka's mother who also had similar platinum hairs like Ririka. She was a beautiful lady despite being in her late 30s, she didnt have an aging mark on her face. Since she has adapted mana her youth has slowed in time.
Sumiyara Momobami was the second wife of Yama which had black hair and rather a sharp face compared to Kasumi. Sumiyara had a strict personality and apart from Yama she doesn't follow anyone else's orders nor does she fears because of her position in the house. She had a son who recently awakened his mana and now was going through continuous training just like Ririka went.
The room was gloomy silent with sorrow and remorse spread all over the face of the two beautiful women.
"I hope Ririka san returns soon. I dont know how long this matter could be kept shut". Sumiyara said in a whispering tone to Kasumi.
No reply came back as Kasumi didnt know whether her daughter would return or not. She just stared at her husband's pale face while maintaining her composure.
The room again fell in silence before the door opened and an old man entered the room followed by two people behind.
A gasp left everyone's mouth as they saw Ririka but the astonishment wasn't because of her but the person behind. Immediately very maid bowed their head in union but didnt greeted as they were instructed to remain silent in the room.
The two women stood up in an instant with their eyes wide open. The last time Subaru made an entrance, they were also present beside the lord.
" Kaa san. Oba-san". Ririka pulled their gazes from Subaru with a fierce glare. She didnt like someone ogling on him even the person was her mother. And since she knew Subaru's peculiar interest in mature women she had to keep an eye, especially on her aunt.
"Ah Ririka. You came back already". It was only half an hour since they talked and here Ririka was already in front of her.
" Was I not welcome?" Ririka asked with her silver brows raised with a scowl.
"Ah..no. Of course, you are most welcome. It's your own house. " Kasumi answered in a flustered manner while trying to maintain her demeanor. Sumiyara also composed her facial expression while eyeing Subaru head to toe.
Ririka walked toward them slowly as Subaru followed. Kurosawa bowed and stood out of the room while facing the opposite direction to maintain privacy. Since Ririka didnt dismiss him, he had to stay near her for the next order.
"How is father?" Ririka asked while gazing upon the old man lying in a miserable state without an ounce of life on his face.
" In his worst condition. I wish you could have seen him in his last moments". Being drifted in eternal sleep the person could be considered as already dead. No miracle could help them recover but only their calm heartbeat shows that the person's suffering still remains.
"Not like I would have come even if I knew". There wasn't a single drop of sadness or hesitation in her voice. Sumiyara glared at Ririka before she spoke.
" I know your relationship with Danna sama wasn't great Ririka san. But you dont have to be so cruel with him even at his last moments". Sumiyara said in a chilly voice receiving a surprised look from Subaru.
"Hoh. Is that so. Well, what he is to me, has nothing to do with you Oba-san. Even he was my father he always saw me as a clan asset nothing else and you expect me to care about him. " Ririka's cold tone made everyone shiver in the room. Even the two women took a step back. The maids were sweating while trying to remain unfazed.
"There there". On the other hand, Subaru started patting Ririka as he saw her ruined mood. He didnt care how many gazes were upon him, he just do what he wanted at the moment. Ririka panicked and hid her face behind her palms with a shade of redness covering her ears. She thoroughly enjoyed the sensation tho.
Being baffled would be an understatement from others' perspectives upon seeing the stern and indifferent young lady acting like a young maiden but who could dare to point it out?
....
" So should I start?" Subaru asked after pampering Ririka for a whole while. Ririka nodded while regaining her composure.
Kasumi and Sumiyara were confused as Subaru started walking toward them. Lifting his left hand a green circle started forming over his palm.
In an instant, the maids, servants, and hidden hunters targeted Subaru with their magic and weapons. But before anything else could happen a voice which no one could have imagined, was heard.
"Ah..where am I?"
_______________________
A/N: Drop a com-..hey Sasha why are you chanting fireballs?
"How many chapters it has been?"
"O-only nine. But I promise next will be yours."
"It better be hmph!"
Hah...Anyway, drop a comment if you are liking the story~
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