I t Kagura's sharp gaze without flinching. Her question wasn't clearly a challenge or a test of confirmation that I was what she had read about.
She's confident this would be my stumbling block and I would fumble at defending my relationship with Marika.
Too bad. She's not the first who confronted with this. Isn't there the eccentric old man who's way scarier than her?
I took a deep breath then assured Marika again with a smile before articulating my answer.
"You're right, Kagura-san. There are other girls I care deeply about as much as I care for Marika. I won't deny it, nor will I try to justify it as sothing conventional. It never will be not. But am I feeding them lies? I don't think so. If you ask Marika or any of those girls, there is one trait that I put more importance on. Honesty."
"Before any of them commit to , I let them know what they're signing up for. And that's the sa for Marika."
Kagura's eyes narrowed slightly. I saw a flicker of sothing passing through her expression. Surprise? Curiosity? Could be both.
"Bold of you to admit it so plainly. Most n would have tried to spin so noble lie. But honesty, really? Honesty is such a luxury these days and you're saying you value it?"
"Indeed. It is so easy to pass up a lie as the truth. But Kagura-san, if you're in my shoes, you'll know that lies only complicate things further. Marika deserves better than that, and so do the others. That's how much I care about them. You can laugh and despise but that's just the truth."
Marika, sitting beside , tightened her grip on my hand. Her gaze remained steady and though her cheeks were faintly flushed, there was a spark of determination in her eyes. She's once again channeling her courage from . And with the way I never back down to the pressure of her aunt, she had every reason to.
"Aunt Kagura," She began with her voice carrying a slight tremor. "I have chosen Ruki-kun with full knowledge of his circumstances. He has not coerced into anything, nor has he concealed his past from . He respects my choices and supports my dreams. Is that not what you have always desired for ? To find soone who cherishes and values for who I am?"
Kagura leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed as she studied Marika. "Isn't your problem with that Ichihara boy also about won? He flirts with every girl he sees. Onoda here is not any different. Why can't you choose soone else? Soone not as problematic?"
"No! Ruki-kun and Jun-kun will never be the sa. They're fundantally different. Jun-kun treats won as possessions, Ruki-kun treats us as his world." Marika paused for a mont to look at , her affection filling my chest.
"Ruki-kun has also expressed that I might find soone more suitable, as his circumstances could be more challenging than what I have experienced with Jun-kun. However, Aunt Kagura, I have never seen it that way. With Ruki-kun... I am filled with a happiness that I could never attain with Jun-kun, no matter how much I tried to cultivate a healthy relationship with him."
For a mont, the room was silent except for the faint ticking of a nearby clock. Then she exhaled softly, shaking her head.
"Marika, you're certainly your father's daughter. Stubborn, idealistic, and unrelenting." A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips before she turned her attention back to . "Onoda, your candor is... refreshing, but it doesn't change the reality we're dealing with here. The Kujou family's agreent with the Ichihara is more than just an engagent. It's a foundation for restoring the influence our family once held. Do you honestly believe you can offer sothing greater than what they've put on the table?"
I don't know if her words ant she already approved our resolve but the last part was not just for her individual opinion, it was for the interest of their family.
The deal of restoring the ancestral estate of the Kujou was sothing I could never hope to achieve on my own. True, I also have the backing of big players, but in the traditional aristocratic sense? Nah. I'm still a nobody.
What can I offer then?
Well, I guess this is where I have to pull those connections and make use of them again. Especially the one that I will surely owe the eccentric old man again.
But first, considering her character, I could still appeal to her through her personal values. "I can't compete with the Ichihara in terms of wealth or status, Kagura-san. But what I can offer is my unwavering dedication to Marika's happiness and growth. I won't treat her as a bargaining chip or a ans to an end. She'll always be her own person and I'll stand by her as she pursues the life she wants. Isn't that the kind of partner who truly elevates soone?"
Kagura tilted her head, her gaze softening just enough to show she was genuinely considering my words. But that's all.
The hurdle hadn't been passed yet.
"You speak well, Onoda. But words are easy. Proving them is another matter entirely."
Marika straightened in her seat and spoke up with firm determination, "Aunt Kagura, is it not evidence enough that I am here, standing by his side? I have always adhered to the family's expectations, but this is the first ti I have chosen for myself. Please, if you truly have my best interests at heart, allow to live my life as I see fit."
For the first ti since we entered the room, Kagura's expression faltered.
She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees as she regarded Marika closely, "Do you truly believe in this, Marika? Enough to face the consequences that will co from defying the family?"
Marika nodded without hesitation, "Yes. I'm prepared for whatever cos. And I'm not alone -I have Ruki and the people who care about ."
Kagura closed her eyes for a mont, as though weighing her options. When she opened them again, there was a glimr of sothing akin to pride, "How foolish but, you've grown, Marika. I can see a part of my youth in you. But it's still not enough. You cannot change the fact that you're from our lineage. You'll just end up becoming like ..."
She sighed before shifting her gaze to , her tone softer but still firm. "Onoda, I'll be honest with you. I don't entirely approve of this arrangent. All these marriage alliances for the benefit of the family... However, you cannot overturn the world with only love. And that's the truth."
"I understand where you're coming from, Kagura-san. And I agree. That's why I'm not just collecting girls. My goal is to live with them in the future and create a place where no one can judge us. Anyway, you'll probably receive a call at any mont. You'll understand why your family can forget this deal with the Ichihara and let Marika stay with ."
"Huh? What are you--" Even before confusion set in her eyes, a clear ringtone echoed through the room. Kagura took out her phone from her purse, and her brows furrowed as she read the caller ID.
She picked it up and answered curtly, "Who is this? Huh? Wait... Uncle is this you...? Why are you calling at this mont...?"
At every line, Kagura's expression grew more perplexed until her eyes widened before putting the call in a loudspeaker.
And there, Marika and I also heard the voice from the other line, "Kagura-chan, go ho and connect to that old codger. Is he so embarrassed to ask us for help so he's turning to
upstarts by selling off his granddaughter? That fool!"
Yep. It's him alright. Otoha Hirokage. The Patriarch of the Otoha Family.
From the intel he sent back to back then, he added a line about Kujou Kagura.
She's soone he considers as an adopted niece who sotis accompanies him in his travels around the world.
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