Akari quickly let go of Rin's hand the moment she saw Selene walking toward them.
Akari and Shion both bowed low, showing respect.
"Welcome, Ice Queen," they said together.
Selene gave them a small nod. But her smile faded slightly as her eyes focused on something.
Shion.
More specifically… Shion's hand still holding Rin's.
Selene stopped in her tracks, her voice smooth but sharp. "Your hand… is in the wrong place."
Shion blinked. "What?"
"You're touching my queen's hand," Selene said, her tone calm, yet firm.
Without warning, she raised her hand and slapped Shion's hand away with a quick flick.
Shion let go immediately, startled.
Selene's smile returned—calm, but clearly possessive. "That's better."
But she wasn't done.
Her eyes flicked to the small space between Rin and Shion. Too close for her liking.
Selene raised one hand slightly, and with invisible force, Rin was pulled gently toward her. The moment Rin reached her side, Selene wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Now this is better," she said with a proud grin, holding Rin close as if claiming a prize.
Akari blinked, confused, her eyes bouncing between the two.
Shion looked stiff, clearly annoyed, but trying to hide it.
"Selene, let go of me," Rin muttered, trying to wriggle free from her grasp.
But Selene tightened her hold, whispering into her ear, "Only I get to touch you like this. No one touches what's mine."
Rin's eyes widened slightly at the words, and she shifted awkwardly.
"Queen Selene," Shion spoke up sharply, stepping forward. "What are you doing here?"
Selene smiled without looking at her. "I'm here to take my future wife on a date."
"A… what?" Akari and Shion said at the same time.
"A date," Selene repeated. "Before we become one, I want to get to know my bride even better."
"You're holding me against my will," Rin snapped. "Let go!"
Selene blinked innocently. "Okay, as you say, Kisaragi." She slowly let go, though her eyes lingered a moment longer on Rin's waist.
Shion stepped in. "Rin and I have important things to take care of. Maybe you should postpone your little 'date.'"
Selene's face remained pleasant, but her voice dropped to a dangerous softness. "No one tells me what to do… especially when it involves my queen."
"She's not your queen yet," Shion said firmly. "Until you're married, you need my father's permission to take her out."
Selene raised a brow and stepped closer to her. "I don't need anyone's permission, Maiden Shion," she said. "You think just because you two shared a kiss that makes her yours?"
"You're not married either. So that doesn't make her yours, Queen Selene," Shion said, locking eyes with her.
The tension thickened in the air like a storm cloud ready to burst. The two women stood face-to-face, neither backing down.
Akari took a step back, whispering to Rin, "Wow… you're really caught in the middle here."
Selene's icy aura began to rise. "You don't want to cross me, Maiden Shion. I hate it when people stand in my way."
"Then don't make me your enemy," Shion replied. "Because I won't back down either."
Selene tilted her head slightly, her smile returning—but this time, colder.
"Don't become an obstacle I'll have to eliminate," she said quietly.
That was enough.
Rin suddenly stepped forward, grabbed Selene's arm, and pulled her close.
"You're late for our first date," she said loudly, cutting through the tension. "And now you're picking fights? Don't ruin it."
Selene blinked, surprised.
Then her expression softened. A slight blush rose on her cheeks. "What's this? Are you being romantic all of a sudden?" she asked, clearly pleased.
Shion took a step forward again, but before she could say a word, Akari quickly grabbed her hand.
"Come on, Sister Shion," she whispered urgently. "Father must be looking for us."
Shion didn't move right away. Her eyes stayed fixed on Rin and Selene—her heart full of frustration, jealousy, and confusion.
"Let's go," Akari said more firmly, tugging her away.
As they walked off, Shion looked back one last time.
Selene was still smiling down at Rin, standing close like she was guarding something precious.
Rin didn't say a word.
She didn't lean closer, but she didn't step back either.
She just stood there—quiet, caught between two people who both seemed to want her.
....
"Let go of me, Sister Akari," Shion said from a few steps away, her voice steady.
But Akari kept pulling her back.
"Let go!" Shion shouted.
She reached toward a flower pot nearby. With a sharp wave of her hand, water floated up and shaped into a palm. It shoved Akari backward, knocking her down.
Akari groaned as she hit the floor. "Really? Still showing off, Sister?"
She stood up and looked at her soaked dress. "Look at this! You ruined it!"
"Why did you pull me away?" Shion demanded.
Akari gave her a pointed look. "Didn't you see the Ice Queen? She was ready to fight."
Shion scoffed. "So? I would've fought back. She's no match for me—I can take her."
"Oh, I see," Akari said, tilting her head. "And what would Father say?"
At that word—Father—Shion's energy dropped for a second. Her hands lowered, the water swirling around her dimmed.
Akari saw it. She stepped forward. "See? Just hearing his name and you freeze. You're still his little puppet. Doing everything he says, even when it breaks you."
"Shut up, Sister Akari," Shion said, her voice tight.
"You always follow his orders, even when it's against your will. You never fight for yourself."
"Shut up!"
A powerful wave burst from Shion's hands. Water swirled into a giant fist and slammed Akari against the wall.
"You think you know everything?" Shion growled. "You waste time flirting with that Akarawa all day while I fight for our lands!"
The watery hand squeezed around Akari's throat—not choking, but tight enough to scare her. Akari clawed at it, coughing, trying to break free.
"At least—I fight for love," Akari managed to say through coughs.
Those words hit Shion like a slap.
Her eyes widened. Her hands trembled.
The water hand vanished.
Shion took a shaky step back, her breath heavy.
Then she turned and walked away, her wet footsteps echoing behind her.
Akari dropped to her knees, coughing and rubbing her neck.