Page 58 of Emperor of Havoc

The pill’s bitter aftertaste lingers on my tongue as I turn away from the mirror resolutely. Dwelling on the past won’t change anything. Right now, I need to focus on the present.

This marriage to Takeshi was supposed to end the feud between the Ishida-kai and the Mori-kai and give me the leverage I need to lead as a woman in a patriarchal world.

But… What the fuck is in it for Takeshi?

That’s the part I still don't get. What does he himself gain? Peace is beneficial to both families, of course. But Takeshi doesn’t strike me as the type to value peace for peace's own sake. There’s something else driving him that I can’t see yet.

And until I figure out what it is, I can’t trust him.

Later,I'm sitting across from Ryu in one of the smaller conference rooms, the door closed to ensure privacy. His expression is grim as ever, but there’s a flicker of curiosity in his eyes as he looks at me.

“You have reason to distrust him,” he observes bluntly.

I don’t respond immediately, fingers drumming on the table. Ryu’s right, of course. Idon’ttrust Takeshi. But voicing that feels like admitting defeat and giving him an edge he doesn’t need.

Ryu smiles grimly. “Good. Neither do I.” His brow furrows. “Do you think he was behind the poisoning at the wedding?” he asks after a moment.

Guilt twists in my stomach.

“I don’t know,” I sign. “Although he’s certainly capable of something like that.”

It's the least shitty answer. Itsort ofshifts blame away from the Vorobev Bratva. I’m also not explicitly pointing fingers at Takeshi.

All because I’m an asshole and a coward and can’t bring myself to admit to Papa or Ryu that I’m the one who poisoned a cup of sake at my own fucking wedding ceremony to…what…play a prankon the groom?

Yeah, sure. Just hand me the keys to the kingdom with zero concerns, father.

“But he did drink it, too,” I add.

Ryu nods quietly, thinking.

“Keep your eyes and ears open, Ryu. If you see or hear anything that points to him…”

He smiles grimly, drawing a line across his neck with his finger.

“I’ll happily address the problem,” he says bluntly.

I smile weakly at him. “Thank you,” I sign.

We exchange a few more words about logistics and security, but my mind is elsewhere, turning over the question: whatdoesTakeshi get out of this?

That’s where the mystery is, and where my distrust lies. No way he agreed to this union out of the goodness of his heart.

After Ryu and I part company, I find Nina in the kitchen, picking at a plate of fruit while idly scrolling her phone, Furrculespawing at a tennis ball at her feet. She looks up as I enter, her expression brightening.

“Hey!” she beams. “Looks like you’re back on your feet just fine.”

I grab a cup of coffee and slide into a chair across from her. I grin when Furrcules shoves his fuzzy face against my knees, nuzzling me and purring loudly as I reach down to scratch under his chin.

“Pretty much,” I sign. “Still a little unsteady, but I’ll get there.”

“Well, you’ve achieved every girl's dream of a wedding nobody will ever forget. So there’s that?”

I roll my eyes.

We sit together, sipping our coffees for another minute before the weight of it all finally comes crushing down on me.

Goddammit.

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