CHAPTER 15: Princess Meets Prince

'How did this happen?'

With a nervous expression on her face, Amane struggled to comprehend how exactly she had ended up in the situation she was now in.

It was a day like no other. She woke up in the bare bones apartment she was able to afford with the allowance from her family before eating a quick breakfast before heading to school.

Like always, she spent the entire day being avoided and feared by her classmates and teachers. But it wasn't anything she hadn't gotten used to at this point.

Amane simply bowed her head and did her best not to draw attention to herself. All she needed to was to continue acting the way all the people around her wanted her to act.

Non-threatening. Such was the only way she could ever possibly gain a friend for herself, just like her father wanted.

But it wasn't enough to just be quiet and obedient, she needed to gain the qualities of a person most people can admire, so she began to try and do good in her academics.

Alas, it would seem her natural talent in combat from her family didn't translate well into academics. Often scoring below average in spite of all her efforts.

So she enrolled herself into a reputed cram school in order to supplement her already long hours of study, all because of the upcoming high school entrance exam season.

'I had to enter a good high school. Maybe I could even reinvent myself with a high school debut'

Such thoughts motivated Amane even further. For the sake of her father's wishes, she continues to ignore the stares of fear and hesitation from the people around her in order to become what is believed to be "better".

'I lost track of time while reviewing, and no one bothered to tell me that the sun was beginning to set. I'm used to such things…but how did it lead to Leon Greenfield personally tutoring me?!'

Looking forward, the young girl felt her cheeks become even hotter as she took in the sight of the handsome young man speaking eloquently to her as his rough hands glided through the paper filled with equations and graphs. 

Though Amane didn't place her desire for love over her academics, she wasn't completely unaware of the situation that took the cram school she was in by storm.

Leon Greenfield, the son of the famed Chief Prosecutor Ada Greenfield, and above all, a handsome man, a rarity among rarities in the world they lived in.

It was rare enough that a man gave an effort to his academics, but for one to be so committed as to enroll in a cram school? It was practically unheard of for many/

Rumors began to circulate about his sudden enrollment. Many say that he initially started off in the classes for elementary grade subjects before steadily moving up the ladder until he eventually reached his current milestone of the first year of middle school. 

Naturally, this gave him the allure of an educated young man that many of the study addicts of the cram school were attracted by, but that was not all. Kindness. Gentleness. Charity. 

All these other qualities in Leon made him an ethereal-like existence in the eyes of the students who didn't have a semblance of experience with men.

'He's the idol of the cram school. Countless students and teachers sing his praises…so why is he here with me?!'

Like the plot of a certain genre of romcoms in Leon's past world, Amane began to feel her heart tighten and beat faster as she realized she was now living the widely beloved trope of "Popular Love Interest X Loner Main Character".

'Eh?! Is this real?! Have I reincarnated inside of a manga?! There's no way!!'

Amane began to run through countless thoughts to try and justify how she could ever be blessed with this heavenly opportunity. But she was eventually cut off from such ponderings as she heard Leon's voice call out to her.

"Azuma? You still there?"

"Eh?"

Staring directly into his green eyes, the young girl's red face brightened even more as she realized she was ignoring the handsome man's personal tutoring. Realizing her disrespectful actions, she quickly bowed in apology, much like how she was taught in her family.

"I'm sorry!"

"Azuma, like I said, stop apologizing. It's alright"

Facing the young girl with a wry smile, Leon eventually sighed. The sound of his sigh made Amane tense up in fear, but it was quickly thrown away as he called out to her once more. This time with his bag hanging off his shoulder.

"Let's go Azuma"

"Go?... Go where?..."

Confused, Amane wasn't sure what Leon was trying to imply, but she quickly realized that her blessing hadn't yet stopped as the young man grinned before uttering words that most women fantasize about.

"Let's go eat out"

…

..

.

"Awawawa…"

Walking through the urban streets of the city, Amane's voice broke down in a repeat cycle of exclamations as she once again became confused about how she ended up in the situation she was currently in.

"Hm? What are you craving, Azuma?"

"Huh? Eh? Ah! W-Whatever you like, Mister Greenfield!"

"Mister Greenfield? Just call me Leon, Azuma…Oh, and can I call you Amane?"

"HAWA?!"

"Not a fan? It's fine. I just wanted to ask if it would be fine"

"NO! I mean! I would be deeply honored if you could call upon this humble self by her given name!"

"Pfft- Why are you so formal all the time? Lighten up, this outing is meant for you to relax!"

With the heat of her face going against the cold night wind that blew across them both, the poor young girl felt her mind begin to break as she was struck by all kinds of violent emotions from her interactions with Leon.

The heat of his breath was faintly felt on her skin as they walked side-by-side. The sound of his laughter echoed in the air with no pretense. The sight of his beautiful face smiling as a result of her actions. It was too much for a girl who was in the midst of growing into a woman.

And it would seem that the same was true for the women who were looking upon both of them. Many of them were working women and female students who had just gotten out of work and school. Their faces burning with admiration and desire for Leon and heated in rage towards Amane. 

"Huh?! Does that young girl want to die?! Flaunting the fact she's on a date with a handsome boy when the rest of us are tired?! Die, normie!

"Students should be studying to prepare for their entrance exams, and yet this girl is outside doing things with a boy that most of us can only see through illustrations! Die, normie!"

"I'm so jealous! I'm almost turning thirty and I have to see such a youthful dream play out like this?! Give me back my youth!!"

"Don't wish that, Auntie. I'm seventeen and I can't claim to have any experiences like this…"

While Amane was quite happy that she could claim to have experienced going out with a boy to eat, she was quite sad that her years of effort to not draw attention and not be hated were immediately ruined in the span of a couple of minutes.

"Hahaha…haha…ha…"

Seeing her become so downtrodden, Leon moved into action in order to raise her spirits. Though he didn't know what caused her to frown then and there, he would do his best to reverse it.

"Amane, wanna get some takoyaki?"

"Hm?"

Catching a whiff of takoyaki from a nearby vendor, quickly led the melancholic Amane to line up with him. 

With a small row of pippin hot takoyaki in their hands, the two quickly began to eat them. With the heat of the snack going against the coldness of the air, and the flavors exploding in their mouth, the two quickly lost themselves in the joy of the food.

"It's good, right, Amane?"

"Yes! I've been craving for something with Bonito flakes for so long!"

Seeing her smile without hesitation as she talked on and on about the taste of the food, Leon smiled gently as he saw the true Amane begin to break out of her shell. Not the burdened and stressed girl he saw earlier. 

"Hehe, happier now, right?"

"Eh? Um, yeah…"

"Good! It's great that you are so studious, but everyone needs a break. You can only be the most productive with a balance of work and rest, alright?"

"But, in order to be better I have to…"

"No buts! It's admirable to work hard, but kids have to also enjoy life, lest you watch your youth fade away and regret it! It's understandable someone young like you wouldn't understand that"

"Huh? But aren't you the same age as me, Mister Green- Ehem, Leon?"

"...Never mind that!"

Chatting casually and happily by the side of the street as they ate their food, the once-divided stares of desire and jealousy among the crowd quickly turned into one of silent admiration.

Before them, a boy and a girl were just peacefully talking with one another. There was no walking on eggshells or desperate attention-seeking. Just two people talking without any worry.

In this world of many women and few men, how often did such a sight occur? The scenery had a strange healing effect on the hearts of the tired women who passed them by.

Eventually, one after the other, they began to leave the scene. Resuming their walk in silence, but with a faint smile on each of their faces. 

Some found new motivations to accomplish their work. Others felt they could put in an extra hour of review for their classes the following day. A couple even called up some friends and family to check up on them. 

Without Leon or Amane noticing it, their interaction had a profound effect on the people around them. A phenomenon that would soon be known the world over as the aura of the Blond Prince.

…

..

.

"You poor girl…"

"L-Leon! Like I said, I'm alright!"

"It's alright, just let out all those emotions…"

"I-I said I'm alright! I'm fine!"

An hour passed since Leon and Amane began their talk with one another, and in that hour, he eventually came to learn of the story behind the troubles of the girl in front of him.

Though there were some details that weren't explained like her family's background, the general gist of her woes was conveyed to him, and Leon was receptive to all that she had said. Even the nearby takoyaki vendor felt pity for Amane and gave her a free tray of takoyaki on the house.

Looking at Amane who began to awkwardly thank the vendor before digging into her takoyaki, Leon couldn't help but feel a desire to help her coming from his heart.

He clearly understood what she was going through. As an unwilling outcast to society himself, he knew just how painful it was to be told that people didn't accept who you were.

But when he decided to accept their evaluation of him and plunged straight into villainy, Amane was doing her best to prove them wrong.

'She's amazing…'

Leon's evaluation of Amane shot through the roof. He had to reach the end of one lifetime to realize the futility of taking the easy way out, but she was putting in a good fight at such a young age.

Admiration filled his green eyes, and a sense to connect with a person who was the closest to his ideal began to leap forth.

As the young girl prepared to take a bite of her takoyaki, Leon reached out. Not wanting to end their relationship at a single outing to eat.

"Amane, let's be friends!"

"...Eh?"

"Friends! Let me be your friend, Amane!"

With his eyes shimmering with an innocent desire to befriend the person in front of him, Leon drew closer to Amane to make his intentions known.

"Leon, I don't think it would be good for a person like you to be friends with me…"

"Why?"

"I'm a weirdo, you know? A lot of people don't approach me, and I don't want it to affect you too…"

"So what?"

"..."

"Why should I let other people choose who I can and can't be friends with? I want to be friends with you. That's all that matters, nothing else"

"Even if you get outcasted? Wouldn't it hurt to be rejected by everyone else?..."

"..."

As Amane spoke, the lenses of her glasses began to be clouded with smoke from the takoyaki that was left to simply sit. The heat rose to her face and obscured the young girl's eyes.

Hearing her words, Leon grew quiet as he recognized her line of thinking. Amane wasn't the ideal he was chasing after, she was simply desperately holding onto the dream she currently held, lest it break apart.

Whatever he said to her now would undoubtedly shape the course of her life. With her heart bare open for him to influence, the young man thought carefully about how to lead this girl onto a good path.

Drawing a breath, he eventually spoke once more. His eyes were clearer than ever before. He would undoubtedly reach out and save Amane from the cursed path he took in his past life.

"It is scary to be all alone. It's understandable why you would want to simply hide in order to blend in"

"..."

"But I won't allow it. The Amane who smiled so brightly with me is undoubtedly better than any mask of compliance you can come up with!"

"..."

"The hardworking Amane who studies late into the day. The kind Amane who doesn't take into heart the pain other people inflicted upon her. The caring Amane who worries about her family to this day…The real Azuma Amane is undoubtedly the best!"

"..."

"If you doubt my words, then I'll just prove it to you! I'll help you show everyone that the real you is the best version of yourself! I'll help you study, get better at socializing, and so much more…so become my friend, and let me convince you that you don't need to hide!"

Extending out his hand with a bright smile that tore through the night sky with brilliant radiance, Leon beckoned for Amane to reach out to him. Calling out to her outcasted heart to not simply be content with wasting away as time passed her by.

"..."

With clouded lenses, Amane couldn't see the face Leon was making towards her. After years of being outcasted, she learned to act based on the facial expressions of the people around her.

If they were uncomfortable, she would simply leave herself out of it. If they were frightened, she would make herself scarce. If they were angry, she would comply with their minds without an ounce of rebellion.

It was the only way Azuma Amane knew to be accepted and find a friend she could call her own. And yet, at this instance, her body moved despite being blind to what face Leon was making towards her.

『Amane…live a good life…keep smiling…find friends…maybe even find a partner…find people whom you could smile with as you go through life…』

'I understand now, Father'

『Just like how your mother and our family smiled with me…a brash and awkward man who could only act like a clown to hide his insecurities…』

'I apologize. I understand it so clearly now, Father'

『Just be you. Somewhere out there in the world, there is surely someone waiting to meet you as well. Eager to become your lifelong companion』

Amane realized what she was chasing after wasn't what her Father wished for her to have with his dying words.

How could one say they have a friend if they hid themselves under numerous veils of deception? How could one walk through life with another if they do so around eggshells?

It was so simple and yet she couldn't see it. Those weren't the friends and companions her Father wished for her to have.

𝘾𝙇𝘼𝙎𝙋...𝘾𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙆...

With unsteady hands, Amane reached out to grab hold of Leon's hands. Letting go of the withering lifeline she had long been holding onto, and taking hold of a solid rock where she could rest upon.

Along with her sudden movements came the sharp cracking of glass. Falling off the bridge of her sharp nose, the young girl's glasses fell and revealed the eyes she had so desperately tried to hide before. The shimmering reds of the Azuma lineage. 

"L-Leon…𝘩𝘪𝘤…I…𝘩𝘪𝘤…I…𝘩𝘪𝘤…"

Amane desperately urged her voice to accept Leon's beckoning, but too much emotion clouded her mind and heart for her to be able to speak coherently.

She strained and stressed as she did her best to convey her desire to accept, but her intentions were understood as the young man pulled her into an embrace.

"I'm looking forward to our friendship, Azuma Amane"

"..."

Feeling assured that she wouldn't be alone as her true self with the certainty conveyed by  Leon's hug, she simply let go of all the tension she had gathered to stop the outpour of emotions that wished to come out.

Amane cried incoherently and wailed into the night, but the tears she shed and shouts she echoed were not ones of sorrow but of gratitude. The lost girl had finally found her home once again.

"..."

Happily receiving the flood of frustration, sadness, and joy from his friend, Leon felt the weight of his actions clearly. 

There was the weight of taking a life and the weight of having saved one, and if he had to choose one over the other, he believed the latter was a burden he would happily carry anytime.

…

..

.

"I'm sorry I stained your clothes with my tears, Leon…"

"Hehe, it's alright. I'm just glad you were able to get everything off your chest, Amane"

Walking through a quieter street in the city, Leon and Amane chatted softly as they both recovered from the emotion-filled scenario a few minutes prior.

"I'm so embarrassed I did all of that in front of the vendor manager…"

"Hey, she understood everything. She even gave you a bottle of water to calm down right? No need to feel guilty"

Smiling weakly at Leon, Amane decided to end her self-deprecation. Choosing to change their conversation to something much happier instead.

"Hey, so you're my friend now. Right, Leon?"

"Yeah"

"I see…hehe…"

Hearing him reaffirm their relationship as friends, she couldn't help but grow giddy with joy as she was reminded that such a handsome young man was now her friend.

Riding that high of happiness the two of them continued to discuss their academics, a topic which had been left by the wayside as emotions and backstories took center stage.

Passing through their talks on certain subjects and lessons, the conversation eventually arrived at a discussion point that many students of their cram school wished to know.

"So, Leon, what school are you planning to apply for?"

"Hmm…"

The school the Blond Prince would apply to would undoubtedly become a fierce fighting ground for the students of the cram school who were all capable students.

For the sake of having a bright high school life with the prince-like beauty of a man, no amount of hours would be considered wasted in order to score high on his chosen school's entrance exam.

Similarly, Amane wanted to apply to whichever school Leon wanted to go to, wanting to stick close to her first friend as much as possible.

"If I had to say, I guess I'll be aiming to enter the high school with the best stats overall as I'm not yet quite sure what I want to do in the future"

"The best overall? Then that would mean…"

"Lockhart Academy"

Lockhart Academy. Though other schools excelled at the top in certain fields of study, if one were to rank all the high schools on general performance over all their offered programs, Lockhard Academy would undoubtedly be at the top.

Boasting a storied history and a long line of successful graduates over the years of its existence, it was a school that was undoubtedly top-class in every aspect. 

As such, competition for slots inside the academy was fiercely fought over. Only the best of the country would be allowed in, and it was something Leon wished to aim for. Not wanting to have any regrets in this second life of his.

"..."

Growing quiet to her friend's declaration, Amane wondered if she would be able to join him if he aspired to enter Lockhart. 

He was undoubtedly gifted due to his lightning-fast progression across the grades of classes, but what about her? The young girl who struggled to even do average with all she had. 

But before she could wallow in doubt and questioning, her mind was quickly alerted as malicious intent began to be directed in their direction.

"Leon, behind me!"

"Huh, Amane?"

Positioning Leon behind her back, she began to quickly scan the surroundings with her instincts that hadn't been called upon in so long.

Her muscles tensed as her red eyes to dart in different directions before stopping at a lone silhouette that stood silently at the end of the street she and Leon were walking on.

'Dangerous'

Amane could feel the strength of the person in front of her. Where she had let her skills and experience degrade over time, this person spent every living moment she had refining her ability to draw out her strength.

'We have the same height, but I am at a natural disadvantage in terms of ability and experience. Add onto that the fact she may be…no…she is definitely armed.'

'The nearest crowd is too far, and a shout won't be enough to catch their attention with our distance. And most importantly, I don't know what that woman wants to do in this situation'

Narrowing her eyes in anger, Amane began to consider the possibilities and arrived at only two plausible explanations. 

Either she was the target, or it was Leon. if it was the former, she had less to worry about, but if it was the latter.

'If I fight with the expectation of dying, I can buy enough time for Leon to escape'

Amane was willing to throw everything away. The blood that coursed through her veins simply wouldn't allow her to do anything less to the person who had saved her from years of torment and mental anguish.

'I'm sorry, Father. I'm sorry, Mother. Even though I have yet to apologize for insulting our family, I hope this will suffice to-'

"Stop standing there so creepily, Ana"

"Eh?"

With a casual tone that broke her serious mentality, Leon called out for his maid to come out of hiding in the shadows. His face was one of annoyance at the maid's behavior.

"Forgive me, Young Master. I was not aware that my current appearance was displeasing"

"Stuff it. If you aren't going to be sincere, don't act like you're sorry. And stop emitting killing intent, or else no head pats for a month"

"HUH?! FORGIVE ME, YOUNG MASTER!! PLEASE!! ANYTHING BUT THAT!!"

Moving beyond the stiff Amane who failed to process what was happening, Leon began to accost Anastasia as the white-haired maid began to show an expression of regret as she begged for her head pat privileges to not be taken away from her.

After some back and forth, the young man eventually turned back to his friend to introduce Anastasia to her.

"Amane, this is my maid Ana. Please forgive her for what she did, she's rather possessive. Something I thought I taught her to rein back in"

"Greetings, I am Anastasia Romanov. The unashamedly possessive servant of Young Master Leon Greenfield. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance"

"DON'T TAKE PRIDE IN CALLING YOURSELF POSSESIVE!"

Hearing the maid's words, Amane broke out of her stiffness as she recognized the name of the maid. Romanov. The family that ruled over the main competition of the Azuma Group. The snow-white maids that ran the prestigious Continental Hotel.

"Young Master, the Madame has sent me to track you down and bring you back home. It is already six. She has been worried sick since you didn't arrive home on time"

"Ah- Sorry about that. I'll head back home now, but I was safe the entire time I was outside. I was with my new friend, Azuma Amane!" 

"New friend? Azuma, huh?"

Being reminded of the young girl's presence, Anastasia's cold blue eyes swept through and examined the scion of the group she was intimately familiar with as their main competition.

Affirming that the once-prodigious heiress that the Azuma Group gloated over their Continental Hotel had degraded so much over the years, the snow-white maid couldn't help but have a smug grin grow across her face.

Stepping closer towards her, Anastasia spoke and asserted to Amane about the hierarchy between them both when it came to being companions of life with Leon.

"Greetings, heiress of Azuma. I am the third in line to inherit the Continental which holds some relations with your group, and I am the FIRST companion the Young Master has made outside of his mother, Madame Ada"

Face to face with an immense amount of tension in the air, the two heiresses of rival groups began a stare down with Leon Greenfield, an important person to each of their hearts, as a central focal point of their discussion.

"Though I do not wish to aggravate the hostilities between both sides, I cannot back down when it comes to the protection of Young Master Leon. In this maid's humble opinion, never consider doing what you pulled again"

"Our two groups hold different specialties, and the Continental is undoubtedly superior in the protection of a single VIP against numerous hostiles"

"Add onto that the obvious years you have gone without training or live combat, and you would be nothing more than a convenient shield that would shatter rather quickly"

Under the harsh words of Anastasia, Amane could only grit her teeth as she knew that everything she said was true.

The only option she realistically accepted was to serve as a means to delay the enemy to allow Leon to escape. Far from the complete and assured protection she wanted to display for her friend.

"Unless your worth as a fighter is gone over your years of no training, then I'm sure you can understand that deadweight is far more of a risk factor than most hostiles"

"So if you're ever in a situation where the Young Master's safety is at risk, throw away your pride and contact the Continental by any means necessary. Let your family handle tasks they're more suited to"

…

..

.

"Ha?"

Insults towards her ability and character, Amane can handle those, but any insults towards her family were something she would never allow now that free of her burden and curse.

Hearing Anastasia subtly say that her family wasn't fit for more challenging work like the protection of male clients, Amane recognized that it was a diss against her family's capabilities.

Having no more need for her unassuming persona of meekness and obedience, Amane began to show the behavior her family and lineage were known for. The brashness of the lion-like criminal family of the East.

"I guess Leon was right about you. You have some serious possessiveness, Romanov mutt"

"What?"

Hearing Amane confrontational words, Anastasia narrowed her eyes even further as her anger began to display on her face.

"What? Doggy's ears deaf? I said you're possessive. I feel sad that Leon has to discipline you constantly. Isn't your family's motto to protect and not inconvenience men? So I guess you're a failure of the family just like me"

"..."

"Oh, my apologies. I meant that your entire family must be a failure. Considering that you all cosplay while on the job, I can only assume you're all nutcases. Drop the long skirt before you go talking to me about fighting capabilities and worthiness"

"Take that back, Azuma pussycat"

"You first, Romanov bitch"

In an instant, Anastasia and Amane were mere centimeters apart, with their bodies emitting immense levels of bloodlust and killing intent. The white wolf of the west and the black lion of the east were preparing to enter a blood match until they were eventually brought to heel.

"Ana. Amane. Quiet."

"?!"

"?!"

Without warning, the two of them were engulfed by a pressure that overwhelmingly silenced them both. The weight and coldness of the malice they were currently feeling was like none they had ever felt before.

It was an aura of violence and despair that could only be attained after a lifetime of cold-hearted fighting and maneuvering.

Anastasia and Amane were able to recognize it as the aura a criminal would emit, but it was far above the ones they experienced from petty thieves or failed burglars. No, it was an aura of a criminal who ruled over all other criminals. A lawless monarch.

As they turned their heads to face the source of this malice, they eventually only saw the figure of Leon, devoid of any trace of emotion.

His evergreen eyes had turned into a dark forest, and his blonde hair which resembled a gentle sun now seemed more akin to a burning pyre of hell.

When his eyes eventually recognized that they were no longer willing to fight one another, emotion returned to his face as the pressure on the area dissipated.

"I told you, Ana…"

"Young Master…"

"Leon?…"

With Leon walking near to Anastasia, the two women held their breaths until the young man broke the tension with an annoyed expression.

"No head pats until the end of the entrance exams in a few months"

"..."

Hearing her young master's words, Anastasia felt her knees begin to buckle as she felt weakness begin to invade her body.

"And don't wake me up for the next three days. I am angry with you and I don't want to see you for a while once we get back home"

"YOUNG MASTER, PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!!"

Unable to bear the hatred of her young master, Anastasia began to beg for forgiveness, but Leon wasn't having any of it. Taking hold of her hand as he began to lead them both back to their home.

"I'm so sorry, Amane. There's a lot I want to say, but I'll leave that for tomorrow when we can meet up after classes. Stay safe and have a good night!"

"Young Master! Please forgive me!"

"How many times do I have to tell you not to be so confrontational with all the people I meet? We'll have a family talk later. If you're like this, then that means Mom is as well. I'll make sure you both understand this time to not be so confrontational!"

"NOOOO!!"

As the snow-white maid was dragged away in tears, she turned her head to meet the gaze of Amane. Her teeth gritted and her brows furrowed in anger.

But similarly to Anastasia, Amane was also expressing a face of hatred, recognizing that the child of her family's rival was close enough with Leon that he could take her hand without hesitation.

The two scions of the two renowned groups had now begun a war with one another. One with the desired Leon Greenfield as the prize. Whoever won between them would undoubtedly be the better choice to stand by his side as his protector and guardian.

"Tch, Romanov dog"

"Tsk, Azuma cat"

…

..

.

"..."

Walking in silence by herself, Amane had a grim expression as she reminded once again just how torturous it was to be alone.

Now that she had gotten a taste of companionship, she could never go back to how she was, so Amane made a vow in her heart.

No matter how far Leon was able to go. No matter who stood between him and anyone who wished to reach him. She would dedicate everything she had to catch up with him.

𝙁𝙒𝙊𝙊𝙊...

Unbraiding her long hair that had begun to sway with the gentle night breeze, the child of Azuma had now returned. 

The prodigal daughter walked down the streets that her family held jurisdictions over, shocking the employees of the group as they slowly recognized who exactly walked so confidently in their territory this late in the day.

Eventually, Amane reached the large oriental doors to her family's estate. With her red eyes shimmering with a desire nearing obsession, her cold face turned into a faint smile as she recalled the sight of Leon smiling at her.

'I don't know how you were able to emit such pressure to calm both me and that Romanov, but it would seem that I just need to get to know you better and understand who you are'

𝘾𝙇𝙄𝘾𝙆...

'No matter how much time you spent with that maid, I'm confident I'll be able to close the gap. So wait for me, Leon'

𝙒𝙊𝙊𝙊...

With a resounding echo of metal coming undone, the gates to the Azuma estate began to open themselves for their heiress. 

Within, a long line of strong and battle-hardened women bowed down in reverence as they presented a path for their mistress to walk upon.

At the end of the long path was a beautiful older woman with deep black hair that extended down to her thighs. 

Dressed in a traditional dress of their homeland, the attire wasn't so formally worn as her curves and skin busted out whenever they could, displaying her many oriental tattoos etched into her body.

Holding a smoke pipe that graced her full lips and held a deep scar, the current head of the Azuma Group arrogantly stood tall as she faced her runaway daughter.

"What do you want, coward?"

"..."

Under the pressure of her mother, Amane flinched slightly since she knew plenty well what the woman in front of her was capable of.

Where she trembled under the malice of Anastasia, Amane's mother would hardly consider the maid a threat. 

With her capabilities, the only person who could realistically take her down was the head of the Romanov family, Catherine Romanov.

She was undoubtedly a fearsome person, but between facing her and giving up on Leon, Amane was clear on what she would choose.

"I want to return to the family, Mother"

"Ha? A runaway like you? And why should I?"

"Because I found something that I treasure deeply"

"Something? Hah! Unbelievable! My daughter called a person "something". For all your unruly behavior, I thought you would be better than that, Amane"

Amane shook as she was exposed by her mother so quickly. The grown woman was able to recognize that she was able to face her here because she had met a person. Leon.

"Hm…who could urge my coward of a daughter to return home after everything she did? A friend? Plausible, but that glint in your eyes…I recognize it…because I had the same shimmer once myself"

Moving closer to her daughter, Azuma Amano displayed a smug grin of recognition. A grin that reminded Amane of Anastasia.

"It's a man isn't it?"

"Tsk"

"My daughter has fallen in love. He must be quite the looker?"

"Mother"

"Hoh, rebellious now aren't we? What are you going to do about it? Do you think you can do anything to me as I have my way with the man you like, daughter?"

"..."

"..."

"No. But I can sure as hell tear off a few limbs before you do"

"...Hah! Looks like you're really determined to come back, you brat!"

Seeing that the red in her daughter's eyes was more than just a mere hue, Amano smiled wildly as she welcomed her daughter back into the family.

This was followed by the cheers and crying of the accompanying rugged women. All of whom were grateful that the young mistress they had witnessed grow up was safe and sound. 

Though there were so many things to talk about and catch up on, Amane made it clear what urged her to suddenly reconnect with the family she had shunned so long ago due to her immaturity.

"Please help me become better"

Amane will no longer try and become a better version of herself all alone. After seeing how profound of an effect Leon had on her in such a short amount of time, the young girl realized that the path to improvement was one better taken with company.