Takashi Ichinose's POV
"Brother, you're amazing, even in front of those elites you can stay calm."
My sister didn't even bother to hide her admiration for , her eyes shining as she watched how I made those arrogant, high-class people back off with just a single glare, how I forced my cold and prideful fiancée into holding a proper conversation instead of throwing tantrums.
After all, it's the nature of humans to fear strength and submit to authority. That instinct is engraved deep inside our DNA, passed down since the days we were still primates, crawling on the earth as the ancestors of both apes and humans.
Back then, they feared the thunder, feared the rciless hand of nature, and they followed the alpha of their groups without question, only later did they evolve into the so-called "humans" of today.
From my sister's perspective, it was obvious she hadn't fully adapted to her new identity yet.
She was still clinging to the ntality of her previous background where we ca from nothing more than a middle-class family, instead of standing here now as heirs bound to a ga-corporation.
So of course she still felt awe and fear toward those people, she still saw them as giants, when in reality they were nothing more than fragile dolls.
But unlike her, I've already stared death straight in the eyes in my past life. I've learned the one truth that crushes all illusions: everyone is equal before death. Poor or rich, genius or diocrity, saint or sinner, none of them can escape the erosion of ti and decay.
Not one. And to top it all off, the background the system gave us placed us far above all of them, with only a few exceptions like the Koenji, Shinomiya, and Kiryuin families, who could be considered equal to us in scale and status within Japan's business world.
"You'll get used to it, Honami." I reached out and stroked her hair gently, encouraging her to start being bolder, to walk the sa fearless path I walked.
She smiled shyly, lowering her head with a soft sigh of resignation. "I don't think I can, brother."
"Don't worry. You will, eventually. You'll make it through." I grinned, confident in my words.
"Then… I will try my best." Honami didn't refute this ti.
She nodded firmly instead, her voice steady even if her heart still wavered.
"Good." I smiled in satisfaction at her resolve.
Without will and determination, how could she ever change that humble, self-doubting character of hers?
Only when we decide to change, when we push ourselves to improve, can we rise above the shackles of our past selves.
Now the engagent party had finally ended.
I had already spoken with Fuuka and was satisfied with the results, especially seeing how my sister's confidence and self-esteem had grown so noticeably during this banquet.
The business here was done.
And when the business is over, it ans only one thing...
It's ti for us to go ho.
...
Rokusuke Koenji's POV
I am beautiful, no, not just beautiful, I am magnificent.
That's beyond doubt.
If you dare to question it, then the problem isn't with , it's with yours.
Now then, let's introduce myself.
Of course, it may not even be necessary, because who doesn't already know who I am?
But still, I must say it, because the world deserves to hear it again and again.
Who am I?
I am the Great Koenji.
Yes, the Great Koenji himself, a man so radiant that even repeating my own na fills with delight.
Introducing myself repeatedly is not redundant, it is a gift to the ears of anyone fortunate enough to hear it.
This ti, my grandfather told to attend this banquet.
The reason?
To assess so so-called "new chess player" who had suddenly appeared in our family's field of vision.
We were to observe whether this newcor might beco a friend, a neutral party, an ally, or an enemy.
But honestly… I don't care.
Why should I?
Because I am beautiful.
I have been chosen as the heir of my family not because of so trivial talent or minor achievent, but because of my overwhelming greatness, my unmatched magnificence.
How could so upstart, so common piece on the board, possibly distract ?
How could they even stand on the sa stage as ?
At best, maybe they're worth a glance.
Just a glance.
Nothing more.
And then, before I could even waste that glance, I discovered the boy and his sister had already left.
How anticlimactic.
I shrugged.
It made no difference.
My mirror, my reflection, my true rival and only equal, was still with .
I continued gazing upon myself, as radiant and flawless as ever.
What possibly could go wrong?
"Rokusuke Koenji, as always, you are annoying."
A voice intruded, sharp, venomous, belonging to another heir.
Fuka.
She dared to spit her petty words at , trying to provoke the Great Koenji.
How ridiculous.
How laughable, indeed.
How could a re sparrow ever hope to comprehend the majesty of the sun?
I snorted, disdain dripping from my tone, my eyes burning with contempt as I looked down upon her. "Go and mind your own business, Fuka. Your behavior is far from beautiful. That elegant dress and that pretty face of yours are completely wasted on such a foul attitude."
Her lips twisted into a sneer.
She fired back at with words ant to cut. "Hmph. Good luck then, Koenji. You and my fiancé will be in the sa school, the sa grade. Let's see if you can defeat him and seize Class A's throne… or if you'll be rembered only as a disgraced heir who failed in the end."
With that ominous little warning, she turned on her heel and left, her presence as insignificant as the flutter of a moth's wings.
Did I care?
Not in the slightest.
Won are troubleso creatures, constantly talking nonsense, endlessly trying to entangle n with pointless drama.
Why should I listen to such prattle?
How could so upstart, so random fiancé, ever defeat the beautiful ?
Am I right?
Of course, I am right.
I am always right.
And so, I returned to the only thing that mattered.
My mirror.
My perfect reflection stared back at , and I admired it with satisfaction.
I grinned, basking in the undeniable truth: no one at this banquet, no matter what they said or did, could tarnish the radiance of the Great Koenji.
...
Fuka Kiryuin's POV
Finally, everything was over.
I thought I could return to the academy, back to the solitude of my own little kingdom, where no one could intrude on the peace.
At least, that was what I thought until my father arrived and spoiled the entire mood.
"That's my daughter," he said, clapping his hands with that smug, sarcastic tone he always used to belittle . "You did well, Fuuka. Seems you've got a talent for charming the heir. Looks like giving birth to you was a blessing after all."
His mocking words made my stomach twist. He knew well that I hadn't lifted a finger to seduce anyone.
All I had done was wear my usual cold, icy mask.
Everything else, the steps forward, the effort to bridge the distance had been made by the heir himself.
I stood there like a statue, letting him do the chasing, while my father twisted the narrative into so sche of my making.
The only reason Father didn't explode in rage, the only reason he coated his words in sarcasm instead of venom, was because he'd noticed sothing. He'd seen my expression soften around the heir.
My supposedly unbreakable ice had cracked.
That tiny shift was enough for him to feel smug.
But even with that, the truth couldn't be denied: I had done nothing.
I had simply let the heir do everything while I remained unmoving.
And that, to my father, was unforgivable.
His dissatisfaction clung to the air between us.
"We've already agreed to marry, Father," I said, my voice carrying challenge in every syllable. "What more do you want from ?"
His expression darkened instantly.
His brows furrowed, his pride wounded at being questioned.
He despised being challenged by anyone, especially , his daughter.
"That is never enough," he said sharply. "I want you to be the only woman in his life. I want him hopelessly in love with you, unable to look at anyone else. You will give him a child, son or daughter, it doesn't matter."
"Once your children are born, and once that man and his grandson, the Ichinose head and heir, are gone, your bloodline will inherit everything. Their empire, their business, their legacy, their wealth, their property, all of it will beco ours."
"But that depends entirely on you, Fuuka. It depends on whether you are capable enough to secure him for yourself completely."
Then his eyes narrowed further as he gave hints, each word heavier than the last.
"The headmaster's daughter is one of his won. He also has another lover hidden sowhere. Eliminate them. Don't ever let them co near him again. Fail , and I will strip you of everything. Your right to inherit my business, my empire, your very place as my successor gone."
He left it at that, snorting like my silence wasn't even worth his ti, and then he turned and walked away.
I remained frozen in place, fists clenched, my body burning with fury.
How could there even exist a father like this?
A man who would use his own daughter as a tool, who would reduce marriage, love, and children into nothing more than a weapon for conquest?
The taste of bile lingered in my mouth, and yet beneath the disgust, I knew his words were chains binding tighter than ever.
...
My update schedule will change to this hour from now on. The story has also reached the bonus chapter milestone for 250 power stones, so I'll release it later, around 5 hours from now, or up to 7 hours at the latest.
Update stability will also change. I'll release:
1 chapter per week if the number of stones is very low.
3 chapters per week if the number of stones is moderate.
1 chapter per day if the number of stones is high.
2 chapters per day if the number of stones is very high.
If you're enjoying this story, feel free to throw in all your power stones, rate it 5 stars, or add it to your library and collection. For every 250 power stones will unlock a bonus chapter.
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