Selene woke on Rin's bed with a soft sigh. The sheets were still warm, but the spot beside her was empty. The small room felt strangely quiet without Rin's presence. Selene pushed herself up, slowly brushing her hair back as her eyes adjusted to the sunlight.
"Where did you run off to this early," she murmured.
Selene stood and looked around. The room was a complete mess. Clothes lay across the floor. Blankets were tangled. A pillow had been tossed halfway under the bed. Rin had acted like a restless child last night.
"Look at what you did, Kisaragi," Selene whispered again.
She knelt and began picking things up one by one. The more she cleaned, the clearer the memories of last night became. Rin laughing softly. Rin clinging to her. Rin falling asleep against her chest like it was the safest place in the world. Selene's hands paused for a moment.
When she finished arranging the room, she made her way toward the bathing area. It was warm, scented, and decorated with little wooden charms. It felt too gentle for someone like her. But Rin was not here to complain, and Selene needed to wash.
She bathed in silence. The warm water rippled around her, soft and calm. When she stepped out, she walked to Rin's wardrobe to find something to wear. Her hand brushed against a familiar robe. Selene stopped and slowly lifted it out.
It was the robe she had given Rin the first time they met.
She held it close to her face. A faint scent clung to it. The smell of Rin's skin. Rin's warmth. Rin's quiet innocence. For a moment, Selene's sharp eyes softened like melting frost. She slipped the robe on.
A cold presence appeared behind her.
Selene did not turn. "You are finally back."
Ice stood in the room, silent and still. She could not summon him last night. That meant something had blocked their connection.
Selene looked at him through the mirror. "So it has reached that point." Her voice dropped. "But tell me one thing. Why did you not finish her when you had the chance."
Ice remained quiet. He never used words. They communicated through thoughts, but today he guarded his mind tightly.
Selene frowned. "You are hiding something from me."
Silence answered her. She could feel Ice's gaze drifting toward Rin's pillow. Something inside him shifted.
Selene did not ask again. Instead, she stepped toward the window. People were gathering. They were rushing toward the Hoshino main hall with tense steps.
She breathed out slowly. "Come. Let us end this drama."
She walked out.
The moment Selene stepped into the hall, the entire place froze. It felt as if winter itself had entered. People stiffened, Guards stayed silent. Even the candles flickered lower.
No one understood how the Ice Queen had heard about the trouble so quickly. She never cared about the problems of Kaida. She never showed interest in their politics or clan disputes.
And yet she was here, wearing only a robe, her movements slow and cold. Master Hoshino stared at her with wide eyes. His mind raced. Had she been inside his household overnight.
"Queen Selene, you honor us with your presence," Master Hoshino said. He sat proud on his high seat, but his voice shook beneath the surface. "What brings you to my hall."
"I said she had the stone," Selene replied without looking at him. Her eyes found Rin first. Only after that her gaze moved to Shion who knelt on the floor.
Master Hoshino tried to speak again. "This matter is not about a stone or whatever you call it. It concerns my clan. We were handling it."
Selene turned her head, slow and cold. "I do not care about your clan matters. But if it involves the stones of Kaida, especially the Dark Stone, then it concerns me."
Master Hoshino fell quiet. He rolled his eyes slightly but said nothing. Selene had no interest in him anymore.
She stepped closer to Shion.
"You encountered the Dark Stone. It latched onto you as its vessel."
Shion stared at her with trembling eyes. "I never touched that stone. I never stepped on that island. It is impossible, i did say I do not have it."
"Then explain the butterfly beside you."
Shion's breath caught. The hall fell into a low murmur. Only she and Rin could see the butterfly.
Selene's expression hardened. "I cannot see it. Only you can. Do not lie. And another question remains. How are you blocking your energy from me. What power are you hiding."
Everyone fell silent again.
Ice stood beside Selene, invisible to all except Selene and Rin. His heartbeat changed. His attention shifted toward Rin. Selene noticed it immediately.
"You know something," she whispered.
Ice did not respond. His face remained empty, but something in his presence felt tense.
Shion bowed deeply. "I do not understand why this happened to me. But if you can remove the butterfly, please do. I do not want it to hurt anyone again."
Akari stepped forward. "Queen Selene, please. There must be a way to free her."
Selene looked at her. Her eyes were colder than the mountains. "There is only one way."
Hope flickered in the hall. People leaned forward, thinking she might truly help Shion.
But Selene's next words shattered everything.
"The butterfly cannot die. It is immortal. The only way to trap it again is through death."
Rin gasped under her breath. The hall turned into stone.
Akari screamed. "No. You want to kill my sister. You cannot do that. There must be another way. I will not let you."
A cold force slammed into her. Selene did not lift a finger. Akari was thrown across the hall, crashing onto the floor. Her breath escaped in a sharp gasp.
No one moved to help her. Not even Master Hoshino. He stayed seated, watching as if he were watching a play.
Akari tried to stand but fell again, trembling.
Selene summoned her ice sword. Light shimmered along the blade. She stepped toward Shion. Shion lowered her head. She did not resist. She had already given up.
The ice sword rose. The room held its breath.
Then a warm hand grabbed Selene's wrist.
A heavy silence fell.
Rin had moved before she even realized it. She held Selene's hand with all her strength, her body shaking like a leaf.
"What are you doing, Kisaragi," Selene asked quietly.
"You do not need to do this," Rin said. "There are other ways. Killing her is not the only choice. Please. Do not do this."
Selene's eyes narrowed. "Let go, Kisaragi. Now."
Rin shook her head. "No. I will not let you commit such an act."
For a moment, Selene only stared at her. Something unreadable passed through her eyes. Something sharp, something cold.
"Kisaragi," Selene said softly. "I hope you can forgive me for what I am about to do."
Before Rin could react, Selene summoned another ice sword with her free hand.
The blade pierced Rin's stomach.
Rin gasped. Her breath broke. Her body folded as she collapsed to the floor. Warm blood spread beneath her.
Selene stood above her with the calm face of a true villain.
What was Rin thinking.
A villainess would always be a villainess.