Kai's face drained of color, the information on the screen piercing through him like a cold blade. "This... this can't be right," he muttered, almost to himself, fingers trembling as they clutched the edges of the tablet.
The system responded in its mechanical, yet eerily personal tone, [The quest information provided is based on current events and the potential trajectory they are leading towards. Immediate intervention is suggested.]
Before Kai could process this further, a familiar voice pierced through his turbulent thoughts. "Onii-chan, what are you doing?" Ryoko approached with a tilt of her head, her innocent eyes looking at him with curiosity. Unaware of the storm brewing inside Kai, she nudged closer, trying to peek at what had so captured her brother's attention.
Kai swallowed hard, struggling to find the right words. "Ryoko... how... how has father been lately?"
She looked puzzled for a moment, her brows knitting in thought. "Father? He's... always busy, I think. He's often with... um, friends? At least that's what he tells Mama. But sometimes, when I'm in the gardens or hallways, I've seen him with other women. They laugh and talk a lot." She looked down, a tinge of sadness in her eyes. "Mama always tells me it's grown-up stuff, and I shouldn't talk about it. But sometimes, Mama seems really sad. She tells me to be a good girl and not speak ill of father. I don't really understand, but... I just want everyone to be happy."
Kai felt a pang of pain
Her tiny hands reached up, softly gripping his own. "Onii-chan, everything will be okay," she whispered, her voice a soothing balm, surprisingly steady for her age.
He felt a gentle tug, realizing she was leading him by the hand. The world around him felt blurred, but Ryoko's presence was a grounding force. Every step they took was one away from the haunting revelation, and closer to the sanctuary they called home. With every moment, he found himself increasingly grateful for the anchor his sister
As the grand doors to the dining hall slowly creaked open, the rich aroma of the afternoon's meal wafted into their sense
The dining room doors opened, revealing their dad sitting at the head of the table, talking to their mom. As Ryoko walked Kai in, their dad's gaze locked onto Ryoko. He got up, quickly moving towards them and hugged Ryoko a little too tightly. It felt wrong
Lord Hiryu's grip on Ryoko was firm, almost possessive. He tucked a stray hair strand behind her ear, letting his fingers linger a moment too long on her cheek. "My precious gem," he murmured, gazing into her eyes in a way that made the room's temperature drop.
Ryoko seemed to stiffen, her discomfort evident but she tried to keep her composure. "Father," she replied in a soft voice, attempting to take a step back, "I... uh, brought Kai. He's back."
Lord Hiryu's attention finally shifted to Kai, his eyes narrowing. "Whatever," he noted, then smirked, "but you, my dear Ryoko, I want you only." The words, meant to be endearing, sounded chilling instead.
Kai's jaw tightened, anger bubbling up. He felt the need to shield his sister from their father's unsettling behavior, but before he could speak up, their mother interjected.
"Enough," she said curtly, her gaze sharp and piercing as she locked eyes with Lord Hiryu. "Let's eat. We have much to discuss."
The room was thick with tension..
Ryoko subtly tried to distance herself from her father as they took their seats, but Lord Hiryu, insistent, adjusted his chair closer to hers. Throughout the meal, he would occasionally reach over, his fingers gliding through her hair, making her visibly cringe.
"You know, Ryoko," he mused aloud, the tone of his voice dripping with an unsettling fondness, "you've really grown recently. Especially in... certain areas." His gaze roved over her in a manner that was less paternal and more predatory. "You'll soon be blossoming into a fine woman, just like your mother."
Ryoko's face turned a shade paler. She shot a pleading look towards her mother, who looked as if she was biting back her words, her expression hard and eyes icy. Her mother's look is filled with jealousy and scornful as Ryoko took away his man
Kai, on the other hand, felt a churn in his stomach. Witnessing the scene, every protective instinct in him flared up, and he felt the urge to intervene, to draw the line. But the atmosphere in the room was thick with tension, and every word and gesture seemed to be a move in a dangerous chess game. And a wrong move could punish him with failure....Kai thought for a while holding back urge to punch him....but that make him barbarian and unsettling to his family
Warning: The following content contains explicit and potentially distressing scenes. Reader discretion is advised.
As Lord Hiryu's conversation continued, his hand started to slide slowly, treacherously up Ryoko's thigh. Her breath caught in her throat as his fingers edged near her more private areas. "I bet you're still so... pristine, so tight," he whispered, the vile intent palpable in his voice.
Ryoko's eyes widened in horror and panic, but before she could be completely paralyzed by fear, she saw Kai subtly signaling her with his eyes. Drawing from a reservoir of brother. Kai instinctively wrapped his arm around her, shielding her from their father's perverse advances while hugging her.
Lord Hiryu's face contorted with annoyance, but he tried to play it off with a chuckle. "Always so playful, my dear Ryoko," he said, but his voice held a trace of warning.
Their mother, who had been silently watching the entire scene unfold, cleared her throat, her face pale but her eyes sharp. "Enough of this nonsense," she declared, though whether she meant her husband's actions or Ryoko's reaction was unclear.
The atmosphere in the room grew thicker as their mother continued, her voice icy. "I've had enough of your little games, Ryoko. Trying to gain your father's attention at every turn, acting all innocent and childlike. Perhaps if you acted your age, you wouldn't need to vie for attention. Maybe you should stay in your room if you can't act appropriately at the dining table."
Ryoko's eyes widened in shock and hurt, the earlier incident with their father momentarily overshadowed by their mother's words. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she fought them back, not wanting to give her mother the satisfaction of seeing her cry.
Kai, his heart heavy with a mix of anger and sadness, tightened his grip around his sister. "She did nothing wrong. Maybe if some people weren't so blind, they'd see what's happening right under their noses," he bit out, his voice laced with a venom that didn't go unnoticed.
Their father smirked, seemingly enjoying the familial discord. "Now, now, let's not fight. Especially not during a meal," he said, reaching for his wine glass and taking a casual sip.
Kai gritted his teeth, realizing the depth of the problems in this household. He decided then and there that he would do everything in his power to protect Ryoko from the twisted dynamics of their family.
The silence in the room was stifling after Kai's heartfelt question. Everyone seemed to be lost in their own thoughts, the tension palpable.
Without a word, their father reached into his pocket, pulling out a wad of bills and pushing it toward Ryoko, as if trying to appease her or buy her silence. Ryoko hesitated, looking from the money to her father's face, confusion and hurt evident in her eyes.
Before she could respond, their mother snapped, "What's this now? Trying to buy her love? Or is this another one of your attempts to shut us up with your money?"
Ryoko, still reeling from the earlier events and her mother's accusations, stammered, "I didn't ask for anything. I don't want his money."
Her mother scoffed, "Of course you'd say that. Playing the innocent card again. You think that act works on everyone?"
Kai, witnessing his sister being berated again, stepped in, "Enough! Ryoko has done nothing wrong. Why are you both acting like this? What's wrong with this family?"