"A grandmother's call"

The Mistress spoke again, her tone cutting through the tension like a blade.

"Enough, work together with your past woman and deliver Ray Shigeyoshi to me at once." The Mistress uttered.

Ryuji's anger did not abate, but he forced himself to take a deep breath, his mind spinning. He didn't trust Kojima's judgment in this, but he knew better than to question the Mistress openly. The room seemed to close in around him, the weight of the situation pressing down on him from all sides.

"But...why her? Why not just anybody else?" Ryuji asked again, his voice calmer but still tinged with bitterness.

"In Kojima-san's account, she's extremely skilled as you are. A warrior born out of perseverance, tenacity, dedication, cold, and strength, just like the Dawning Devil. In my account, she is here because I will it. Her involvement is crucial to what comes next, and you would do well to accept it." The Mistress responded. Her response was deliberate, almost chilling in its precision.

Ryuji's jaw tightened as he struggled to control his emotions. The Mistress's words offered little comfort, only deepening the mystery and his frustration. He glanced at the woman from his past, and a mix of anger and sorrow flickered in his eyes. She remained silent, her expression inscrutable, but the pain of their history was written in the tension between them.

The Lady in Pink stepped forward, her voice soft yet authoritative.

"Ryuji-kun, the Mistress has given you an opportunity. Whether you see it as a curse or a blessing is up to you. But make no mistake, this is not a chance you can afford to squander." The Lady in Pink said.

Ryuji took a long, slow breath, his thoughts racing. He felt cornered, his options narrowing with each passing moment. The Mistress's will was absolute, and defying it would be foolish.

"Fine." Ryuji finally said, his voice strained.

"But we'll do it my way, she'll follow it whether she like it or not." He added.

"That is not my concern anymore, my concern is Ray Shigeyoshi. Bring him to me alive and subdued. You have seven days, Ryuji Takahashi." The Mistress's cold, calculated voice cut in.

Ryuji nodded stiffly, feeling as though he had little choice in the matter. The Mistress was spoken, and her word was law. But the anger inside him still burned, fueled by the presence of his former lover and the hard task ahead.

As he and Kojima prepared to leave, Ryuji couldn't help but to cast one last glance at the woman who had once been so important to him. Their eyes meet for a brief moment, and in that exchange, a thousand unsaid words passed between them, words of love, betrayal, regret, and unresolved anger.

Meanwhile, the moonlight bathed a balcony in a soft glow, casting long shadows that danced gently with the breeze. Risa, dressed in a flowing silk robe, stood by the railing of her son's luxurious penthouse. The view from this height was breathtaking, Tokyo's skyline shimmered like a sea of stars, stretching endlessly into the night.

In her hand, she held a glass of the finest wine, deep red, rich, and expensive, just like her tastes. She took a slow sip, savoring the flavors, but her mind was elsewhere, lost in a sea of memories and regrets.

It had been years since they had truly spoken, and despite being near him, she still fears to reach out to him. The weight of the past hung heavy on her heart, a burden she carried with every step she took. Risa's thoughts wandered to the time when Ray was just a boy, full of life and hope.

She sighed, feeling the familiar ache of guilt settling in her chest. Ray had grown into a man she barely knew, and thought she was proud of his achievements, the distance between them was like a chasm, vast and seemingly impossible to bridge. She had wanted to reach out to him so many times, to explain, to apologize, but fear always held her back. Fear that he would reject her, that he would see her as nothing more than a mother who had abandoned him when he was young.

As she gazed out over the city, her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden, shrill ring of her phone. The sound cut through the silence like a knife, startling her out of her reverie. Risa set down her wine glass and picked up the phone, her brow furrowing as she saw the name on the screen: "Mother"

Risa hesitated for a moment before answering. Conversations with her mother were always intense, filled with expectations and demands. And yet, despite the weight they carried, Risa could never refuse a call from the former queen of England.

"Mother." Risa greeted, her voice steady but with an undercurrent tension.

"It's already late here in Japan. Is everything alright?" She added.

"Risa, I need you to come back to London immediately. There's an urgent matter that requires a family meeting, and it cannot wait." Charlotte II's voice came through the line, crisp and authoritative as always.

Risa's heart skipped a beat. A family meeting? The last time such a meeting had been called, it had been during a crisis that shook the very foundations of their family. She knew better than to question her mother's judgement, but the suddenness of the request filled her with unease.

"Mother, what happened? Why the urgency?" Risa asked, trying to maintain her calm voice.

"It's about my grandson. Your son that you kept from us all this time." Charlotte II replied, her voice sharp.

Risa's breath caught in her throat.

"My-my son? What....How...But.." Risa barely uttered. A woman of stoic and calmness suddenly blanked.

"Save your excuses. I want to see him right away." Charlotte II said firmly.

"Bring him to us. He should be where he is supposed to be, in our family." Charlotte II added.

Risa fell silent a moment. Many questions arose in her mind.

"Mother.....how did you know my son?" Risa began hesitantly.

"It doesn't matter, Risa. What important is, he needs to be integrated in our family. He carries our blood, and we shall see him grow more in our royal family. He deserves to know where he comes from. He deserves to meet his grandmother and grandfather. Charlotte II replied, her voice softening slightly.