Chain of Deceit

hythm, drumming against the black u

ping the edges of her mother's casket a

ther w

th, who had tucked her into bed, who h

empty space in Aiko's heart-

ords were distant, muffled

d a few step

daughter into his arms, to tell her

ow co

en his hands were stained

n't look

speak

acknowl

was a blade

the last shovelful of dirt covered the gra

Shadowed

n Aiko's shoulde

iy

ng her face, she knelt beside Aiko, her

o wanted to p

red, "I know it

nt, Aiko let h

behind the mask of sorrow, her li

idn't

akesh

eth grinding together as some

o was manipulative, but

just comf

claimi

's pain into somethi

eshi ha

Leave

and the fune

ests h

hi and Mri

s silent, ye

still lingered, a

dimly lit room, his

fingers trace

now," he muttere

"After everything, you

id you

rom

im long ago, back when Ha

ys be by y

that promise like a drow

o simply

ad him exactly whe

ilen

gons estate. Inside, the air was thick wi

ry, his elbows resting on his knee

's cries fil

the air, his tiny face

as h

as c

mothe

ard, staring at the

mi's

inal

trace in

ed at him, guilt wrapped ar

s dark eyes mi

for comfort, for something Tak

finally lifting the

hough Renji still whim

closed h

. what ha

errupted hi

Poison

way, her black silk robe drap

ed on Takeshi h

thing dark passed

h," she murmured,

didn't

fingers gently brushing

fragile

urd

emi

a hand to Ta

whispered. "You don't need t

i stif

just ignore him?"

, running her finge

child," she said. "

eped into hi

t the sleeping child,

waiting, measur

wasn't

t

he let go

l Renji

's Nex

aking Takeshi, Horish was

igar resting between his finger

ll alive," his

aled a clo

ppoi

shi would lose inter

never been Hor

d coldly. "Make sure the boy d

d before disappeari

, a cruel smirk pl

en patient when

ed the b

ake it

settled, he woul

owed

ys collecte

s Over

quiet that night, the weight of

his crib, his small chest rising a

er lurked in

irst

the shadows, their footsteps s

had been clear-g

kes. No

ir gloved hands reaching for the

oved closer,

ce scrunching as if sensing the p

t of he

lver as the b

h

knock at

sassin

t's voice rang th

master has been restless.

ps appr

g swiftly into the shadows jus

's crib, brushing his finge

. Al

ger that had nearl

ched their fists

failed

wouldn't

Years

s passed

der Takeshi's rule, and his eldest

refined young lady, sh

already started making his

d closed a major deal, securing t

ce filled with rare warmth. "You are provin

, his determination to surpass

, had only sm

been troubling

he would fi

roubl

ing success, one name al

nj

ght-but not in a way

nder their father's guidance,

isobedient. U

again, the sch

he bridge of his nose as the headmast

r son is constantly fighting. He refuses to fol

exhaled

he said coldly bef

flickered

Renji be mo

't he make

yo listened, a cruel sm

only the

wnfall was

choice but to erase the boy fr

Without

at it felt like to

rds, all he ever heard were whispers o

lled he

this when he was

id, her voice soft but distant, as if she bare

y answer she h

had anot

uele

rp nails digging into his skin as she gri

never worthy of Takeshi, never worthy of this f

spect his mother, but Mriyo's

at grew i

d me, why d

Against

spent year

ent she could final

ith cold precision, grooming them for power,

r over the ghost

hated hi

made a

e only man she could t

hi?" he asked, swirling th

o sm

e whispered. "And I w

amused by the dar

mused. "How do yo

lean

y have th

ever saw

gonizing-just

ng his chest, gasping for breath,

chi

il

i Mo Dragons, re

hat Change

l, the family gathered

he lawyer cleared his throa

nal will and testament

tly, already picturing

ding beside

yer con

leave a portion of my fortune, eno

ce remain

eave a similar portion, so he may

dded in

th

st son, Renji

gers dug in

wealth, including all major a

ll into stu

smile

eyes

fists

Re

ring at the paper, his

herited e

the wealth

t would belong to Aiko

n's

e in his father's study, the

r creak

ent

aid quietly. "Father still trus

aughed

ed. "You think I shoul

ightened o

this empire." His voice dropped, filled w

le

't know w

life believing their m

ain in his eyes, the anger in

all bee

's Ne

l, Mriyo stood in th

dangerous tha

n't gr

sn't

t he had to b

she whispered, "We

smirk r

be my p