Interesting advice

The courtyard was quiet after Lady Suzuki's words. No one as much as dropped a pin to break the silence.

Everyone was waiting for Lady Yoko's response.

And the lady did not disappoint when she turned her lazy eyes toward Lady Suzuki. Even the guards could not stop their gasp once they heard Lady Yoko's words.

"True. The family head should be the person who has the most strength and experience. But this is a matter we need to solve. Outsiders need to keep their heads out and about. You know, personal matters and all."

Lady Yoko had said those words most informally and casually possible. Those words could even be taken as an insult if one was prideful enough.

But Amane already knew nothing would happen. Knowing Charlie Suzuki, she would just find this insult funny.

Amane was not sure what stroke of luck this was, but she had recognized the fox-masked lady as soon as she had laid eyes on her. It was someone Amane had taken in her family.

Charlie Suzuki was someone Amane had almost raised in her last life and she had died in front of.

'Holy! Charlie is an old lady now. Is she using magic to appear this young? I'm glad to see that she survived to live this long. She even became the leader of the Divine Guild. How impressive.'

Amane was happy for the fox-hybrid. When she had taken the child in, Charlie was all but a twig.

Now she radiated power and authority like no one else.

"L-Lady Yoko! Maybe you should apologize to Lady Suzuki. She looks mad at your words and you were also late in meeting her."

The guards quickly tried to lighten the situation. They looked terrified of Charlie.

The mask made it impossible to tell what she was thinking. Her tense body was also difficult to read and Amane could tell why these people thought that their 'Lady Suzuki' was angry at them.

'Man, it's weird to think of Charlie as someone high up. She used to be such a clingy kid and always picking up fights with others.'

For Amane, that time was only yesterday. But the fully-blossomed lady in front of her begged to differ.

"Huh? How is it my fault that I am late? Wasn't it their side that canceled this engagement and then decided that they wanted to visit us? The least they could do is to wait for me. Our family has our problems to solve first. Right, Lady Suzuki?"

Everyone flinched at one at Amane's words. Fear was visible in their eyes and their body language.

'They are all such pansies. It's not like Amane would eat you alive if you did not fear her.'

"L-Lady Yoko, let's stop here for now. I can see that the Tsurugi family is having some issues between themselves. Mother, let's leave for today and come back another day."

'Mother? This child doesn't feel related to Charlie. He must be adopted. How unexpected for Charlie of all people to adopt children.'

Lord Helios finally managed to snap out of his daze. Amane was sure this meeting was an eye-opener for him.

He had liked expected to meet a meek and submissive Lady to take on as his bride. But that was not what ended up happening.

'What is taking Charlie so long to think? I'm sure she wants to go back now that she had her fun. She should leave now.'

To say that Amane was happy to see Charlie again would be an underestimation. She was ecstatic to see someone from her past survive this long.

But that did not mean Amane wanted to reconcile with Charlie. Even if Charlie asked Amane outright for her identity, Amane would tell her to 'shove it.'

'Am I going to tell anyone who I am? Hell no. Why would I risk doing that and losing my freedom?'

"But Heliosssssssss, I don't want to leave right now. I am sure Lady Yoko would not mind hosting us sometimes more."

Everyone flinched when they heard Lady Suzuki's amused tone. Her amusement usually resulted in someone else's discomfort.

And in this case, the target was clear. No one in their right mind would turn down Lady Suzuki's request.

In fact, most people would have killed for such an opportunity. But Amane was not like most people and she also had too much to do. Like, planning to take over the Tsurugi family quickly.

"No, I do mind you being here. Go home and come back another day. All this excitement will set my griffin off and I still need to look at other beasts that managed to escape the mansion."

Most of what Amane said were excuses but no one could prove her words to be false.

The only one who could call Amane a liar was Lady Suzuki and Amane knew she would not do that. She found 'Yoko' far too interesting to risk losing her.

"Lady Yoko, please. Do not egg mother today…."

"Alright~ If you want me to return today then I will return today. But I want to come back soon. How does tomorrow sound?"

For a second nothing happened. Everything was silent and calm. No one, not even Lord Helios could believe their ears at what they were hearing.

Lady Suzuki did not request that. She never asked to come back to a place she had visited and found lacking.

And the Tsurugi house had been nothing but lacking when it came to attending to her.

"No. Go away and do not come back. I am far too busy to entertain someone as high up as Lady Suzuki. I will tell you this in advance, I have no interest in marriage so we do not need to meet each other again."

With this, the engagement should be called off. Amane was sure Suzuki would respect her wishes of not being married against her wishes.

"No! I insist on coming here again. You see, I seemed to take an interest in you, Lady Yoko. Won't you indulge me?"

"No. Now get out before I stick a beast after you."

Amane left the mother-son pair standing in the inner courtyard like a rude host. She had finally done what she had set out to do.

'With this, the engagement should finally be called off now. I was seriously starting to feel frustrated toward the end there but I am sure Charlie was not serious about me.'

Amane had acted rude and informal toward the leader of the Divine Guild leader. No respected leader would ever approach such a person again.

'It's not like I hate Charlie but she has her own life now. And I do not want her life to intersect with my new life. I don't want to complicate my new life.'

"Someone, fetch me bathing supplies and prepare me a bath. I want to get this filth off me."

Amane yelled once she reached the inner corridor. She was sure that the rumors about her and her abilities must have spread amongst the Tsurugi family's servants.

It would not be long before Amane would have to confront Lord Tsurugi and finally take over the family.

'I wonder what that old fool would try to do. But first, I should visit Sakura and see where she stands. I have a feeling that she would see things my way soon enough.'

Amane entered her room and immediately felt someone else's presence inside the room.

This person was trying to hide their presence from Amane but they were unsuccessful in their attempt.

'Too immature. I wonder how I should punish my would-be assassin.'

Amane had a few ideas but she first decided to let the man try. Amane was interested in what would happen next.

___________________________

The whole interaction with Lady Yoko left Helios reeling. He had to take a few minutes together his thoughts and consider what had happened in front of him.

Not only had Lady Yoko managed to tame a beast, but she had also insulted Lord Tsurugi and challenged his position.

But that was not all. She had even managed to get away with denying and insulting Lady Suzuki. This was a feat no ordinary human could boast of having achieved.

'Did Lord Tsurugi lie to be about Laady Yoko? Which part of her looks meek and submissive? Forget getting bullied, I am sure Lady Yoko will be able to bully the council if she wanted to.'

Helios had never seen a female with more balls than Lady Yoko and he was not sure he would be able to handle her if he married her.

'And something is wrong with mother. She never lets people get away with insulting or denying her like this.'

That was true. In normal cases, Lady Yoko would not have been able to live past her first denial, never mind getting a chance for a second one.

But there had been a point where Helios had felt her mother's core getting ready to fire and then stopping all of a sudden.

Helios was not sure what was wrong with Lady Suzuki, but her body language screamed 'interested.'

"Mother, are we seriously going back today?"

Helios was not sure what would happen next. He could tell this his mother did not want to go back and the guards would not be able to make her go back if she did not want to.

But Helios had a feeling that they would not be staying in the Tsurugi mansion for long.

"Well, what else can we do but go back for now? The next family head doesn't want us anywhere near her for now. I will try the get close to Lady Tsurugi during next week's party."

Helios almost slipped when he heard his mother's words. He could not believe the words coming out of Lady Suzuki's mouth right now.

"Mother, the party next week is exclusive to the members of the Divine Guild. Even other supreme leaders are not allowed entry. Lady Suzuki is not a part of our fraction."

"But would anyone deny her entry if I am the one sending her an invite? As long as those fools know what is good for them, they will not deny my request."

Helios knew that what his mother was saying was right. The other leaders in their fraction feared his mother's powers and influence.

There was no way they would complain if Lady Suzuki decided to invite Lady Yoko to that party, despite Lady Yoko's refusal to marry his son.

But it would also paint a target on Lady Yoko if her mother did that. Lady Yoko would be harassed all night by everyone and questioned relentlessly about her connection to Lady Suzuki.

'Maybe this is mother's way to take revenge on Lady Yoko. It sure seems like the mother's usual method of assessment. I am not sure how well Lady Yoko will be able to survive in such an unfamiliar environment.'

Helios was not sure if he was sorry for Lady Yoko or if she deserved this treatment. But he was not going to get in his mother's way and direct her earth toward him. He was not suicidal enough to do that.

'Sorry, Lady Yoko, you are on your own.'

"Man, I cannot wait for the party next week. Those old fools won't know what hit them once Lady Suzuki is through with them."

Helios shook his head at his mother's words. Now he was not sure if he should feel sorry for Lady Yoko or the people in the divine guild.

"Mother, are you sure Lady Yoko will be able to handle this much pressure? She's quite fragile looking."

Lady Suzuki's grin widened at his words and Helios suddenly felt the need to run far away from her.

"'Yoko' will be fine. In fact, she might be better than fine. I knew someone like her once so I am feeling pretty confident about her chances to survive in our world."

Helios shut his mouth after that. He did not have anything more to add and nothing seemed to be appropriate to say about this situation.