The Flower of Separation

"Are you still hung up about that friend of yours?"

It just occurred to her that somebody heard her mention Pierre and acting all weird. Zushi coughed. "Isn't it natural for me to be concerned for a friend?"

"Says the one who was blushing moments ago."

S--she can't make a comeback there.

"I just want to know if he is okay."

"If that's all you want, can't you send a letter to his resident?"

"He doesn't live with anyone, and it is a bit far out, so I don't think they deliver letters there,"

"Well, if it is like that, then I can deliver the letter for you."

At that, her eyes brightened. "You can? But--" Normally, they aren't allowed to go out.

"Today, I have special permission. My sister and I are doing some work for our father. Since we will be in town anyway, I can drop it off for you."

Zushi flinched when she heard the words work. She already caught a glimpse of Raiju returning several times covered in blood. Naturally, he couldn't enter from the front gates like that, so he would always sneak in from the back.

It seems the others knew about that but never mentioned it. In their own way, they are grateful he is respecting their rules.

"He doesn't exactly live in town."

Zushi didn't know how to explain it, but Raiju nodded. "My sister will most likely like to take a walk in the outskirts. I will drop things off there."

"Thank you, Raiju."

She wonders why she thought he was scary before. Other than his bad habit of tricking others, he seems like a genuinely kind person.

___

A few hours later

Raju's gaze fell on his sister, who ran to him with a bright smile on her face. This sight would be sweet if she wasn't covered in blood.

"Good job. Are they all dead?"

"The last one was troublesome. He was trying to chant some magic that would give away what I did, so I had to play with his arms and his tongue a little."

Raiju didn't say anything but merely nodded. He wraps a dark-colored cloak around her.

"Do you want to change before going on the walk?"

"No, it is fine this way."

It was a stupid question, but he still asked anyway. Raiju knew how unusual his sister was. She has a very bad habit of liking the scent of the blood of her victims. She often kept dresses with bloodstains like what she has now. She always seems very proud whenever the blood of her victims ends up stained so deeply on her clothes.

Lillian is a typical Ageha to the core, but so was he. It is not like they have much of choice. If they weren't typical Ageha members, then they would long be dead by now.

They stepped out of the manor from the front, and the moment they left, flames engulfed the manor.

He turned to his sister, who was looking at the flames. "Say, brother, do you think I have the capacity to use fire magic? It would be nice to use that kind of fire next time."

"If it is you, you have the capacity for any magic. Remember what the high priest said? You can do anything you want."

"That priest, I haven't seen him in so long even though he should be in charge of my mana evaluation every year."

That's because that man is dead.

Raiju didn't refuse that order from their father when it came; he understood the reason why. If people find out what Lillian actually has, then they will force her into a power struggle. Their father isn't a caring man; he knew that he didn't care about his daughter's feelings. Father just doesn't want to lose such a good pawn at a young age.

It is more convenient to raise Lillian into his tool before revealing the truth. Raiju clenched his fist; as long as he is around, he will not allow that to happen.

He has secretly been meeting with Zestra Aaron and made some plans. He just has to wait a few more years, wait until he becomes older, before executing this plan.

It isn't wise to take over the family when he is only ten years old. No matter how smart he is, he cannot behave so carelessly. There is a reason why nobody has been able to defeat that man, let alone get him to step down as the head.

"Brother, there are rumors you are close with the young miss from the Zestra family. Is that true?"

Raiju sighed when he heard those words.

How did rumors like that get out when the monastery is a confined space? No, he already understood how. That place is so secretive, but there are those who can enter and leave freely. It wouldn't surprise him if anybody among those people saw him with Zestra Zushi a few times.

Still, Lillian's interest in this topic bothered him. "It isn't what your thinking."

"Father was searching for a partner for you, so hearing that, he said the timing was good."

Raiju had a bad feeling when he heard those words.

"He already sent off a letter to the Zestra family asking if you two could get engaged."

At those words, a dark aura wraps around him.

"You don't have to look so down; you're getting engaged to a cute girl who is the same age as your sister."

It felt like those last words were a jab to him.

"It isn't like that!"

"I knew you would have unusual tastes, brother, but really a seven-year old-"

"You definitely misunderstood!" Raiju exclaimed.

"It is your eleventh birthday soon brother, the least you can do is start behaving like an adult."

His sister can be so cold. Raju's thoughts broke off when he felt a small pair of hands brush against his cheek.

"Regardless of whether the rumors are true or not, my cool and strong brother will surely have a way to deal with this situation."

Raiju sighed more when he heard her say those words. "It is hard to tell whether you want to comfort me or put more pressure on me."

Lillian chuckled. "That is up to you to decide." She pulled her hand away from his face and picked up her parasol from the ground. "You said you wanted to take a detour, right? Let's get going."