Chapter 156 – Morning, With Fire and Light
The sky was darkening by the time they walked home.
Alex didn't say much. He never needed to. Hanabi clung to his arm the whole way, lips still tingling from earlier, her smile smug and satisfied — until they reached the front door. As they stepped into the quiet hallway, she glanced over at the glowing glyph on his hand.
And she remembered.
Ciel had been there the whole time.
Watching.
She froze.
Only for a second.
Then Ciel's voice whispered gently through the air — warm, loving, and entirely without resentment.
"You were beautiful today, Hanabi. I'm so happy for you."
That was all.
No teasing. No tension. No subtle warnings.
Just joy.
And somehow… that made Hanabi's heart twist even harder.
"Y-you saw all that?" she mumbled, averting her eyes.
"I saw everything," Ciel answered, with a soft laugh that made Hanabi's ears turn pink. "And I'm glad. Because now, it's my turn too."
Their bedroom was warm, softly lit by the golden light slipping in through the window blinds. The air smelled faintly of clean cotton and sandalwood. Alex stepped inside first, tossing his jacket over the chair, followed by Hanabi — who hovered awkwardly at the edge of the bed, fidgeting with the red ribbon on her wrist.
Then, with the quiet shimmer of magic, Ciel stepped out of his hand.
Graceful. Radiant. Gentle.
She was barefoot and wearing one of Alex's old shirts again — it hung just a little too long on her frame, sleeves brushing her thighs, her silver hair loose and luminous.
Hanabi's eyes widened a little. "You… you're really not jealous?"
Ciel blinked, confused. "Jealous? Why would I be?"
Hanabi looked away, muttering, "Because I kissed him like I was trying to brand his soul."
Ciel stepped closer, smiling.
"You didn't take anything from me," she said softly. "You gave something to him."
Then she leaned in.
And brushed her lips against Hanabi's cheek.
Just once.
Light.
But sincere.
Hanabi went scarlet.
"Wh-what are you doing—!?"
"You called me big sister," Ciel whispered, smile playful. "This is normal."
"N-not in this century—!"
Alex watched quietly from the bed, not moving, just letting it unfold — the light and the flame, drawing toward each other one breath at a time.
And then, finally…
They all lay down together.
Ciel on one side, curling in with practiced grace.
Hanabi on the other, after some fidgeting, pouting, and muttering — before finally flopping down with her head on Alex's shoulder.
Their legs tangled under the blanket.
Three heartbeats.
One rhythm.
No fear.
No awkwardness.
Just warmth.
The next morning.
Sunlight spilled across the floor in golden strips. Birds sang just beyond the window. The room smelled faintly of skin and sleep and faint lingering traces of strawberry shampoo.
Ciel stirred first.
She blinked slowly, then smiled.
She was curled into Alex's side, her cheek resting just above his chest. Her leg was gently wrapped around his, and her hand rested peacefully on his stomach.
Hanabi, on his other side, was still asleep — lips parted, breath slow, arm draped protectively over his waist. Her ribbon had come undone in the night, leaving strands of her dark hair scattered across the pillow like silk threads.
Ciel leaned up first.
And kissed Alex softly on the lips.
He blinked.
Slowly.
Then smiled.
"…Morning."
Then Hanabi shifted, groaning faintly, rubbing her eyes. "Did you two start without me…?"
"You were drooling," Ciel teased gently.
"I was recharging," Hanabi snapped. Then, before she could lose momentum, she grabbed Alex's collar and kissed him full on the mouth.
A proper kiss.
Slow. Hot. Thorough.
She pulled back after a few seconds, grinning with sleepy smugness.
"…That's how I say good morning."
Ciel tilted her head thoughtfully.
"I want to try a hotter kiss too."
Hanabi choked on air. "Wait, what?!"
Ciel leaned in.
And kissed Alex again.
But this time—
Longer.
Her lips moved with unfamiliar intensity. Her fingers tangled in his hair. And then—
She used her tongue.
Alex inhaled sharply.
Hanabi sat up instantly, hair a mess, face bright red.
"HEY HEY HEY—YOU—YOU CAN'T JUST—YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THE PURE ONE—"
Ciel pulled back slowly, lips slightly parted, cheeks pink.
"I wanted to learn," she whispered. "I liked it."
Alex was still stunned.
"…Me too," he managed.
Hanabi puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms. "This is a betrayal."
"Then kiss him harder," Ciel offered innocently.
Hanabi didn't need to be told twice.
She climbed right on top of him and claimed another kiss like a thief protecting stolen treasure — fiery and aggressive, full of tongue and territorial growling.
Ciel giggled beside them.
And when they finally paused to breathe, Hanabi — flustered and flushed — collapsed back into the blankets.
But the moment Ciel closed her eyes again to rest—
Hanabi leaned close to Alex's ear.
And whispered:
"Tonight, I'm going to sit on your lap in that shirt she's wearing and see how long it takes before you break."
Alex's breath caught.
Hanabi licked her lips and added softly:
"And if you keep blushing like that... I'll say worse."
Then she cuddled into his side like nothing happened, her smile innocent, her heart racing, her love sealed with fire.
And the golden glyph on his hand pulsed once.
Content.
Chapter 157 – When Fire Meets Steel
The air outside was crisp with early spring wind, tinged faintly with the scent of camphor and turning blossoms. Airi Tachibana stepped through the quiet neighborhood with her coat neatly buttoned, a slim, lacquered box tucked under one arm. She walked with poise, posture perfect as always — but her steps had a subtle energy to them, something just beneath the surface.
Pride.
Anticipation.
A secret.
She had passed the test.
Not just the written exams or the ancestral rites — but the final rite of blade and spirit.
Airi had chosen the katana.
Not the scroll.
Not the talisman.
Not the family's long-favored charms.
She had followed her instinct — and the sword had answered.
Airi had drawn a blade and split a training dummy blessed by seven protective wards.
Even the elders had gone silent.
She was officially named heir of the Tachibana family.
But because of her age… she could not ascend yet.
Not until she turned eighteen.
Until then, she would walk as the next head in waiting — shadowed by expectation, but unchallenged in name.
Still, none of that mattered now.
Because she was here to tell him.
The Elwood residence looked peaceful under the afternoon sun.
The garden was neatly trimmed. A few drying towels hung from the balcony railing. A wooden wind chime sang softly from the eaves.
Airi adjusted her grip on the sword case and approached the door.
She rang the bell once — not too long. Not too loud.
Then waited.
Footsteps.
Soft, rhythmic, light.
Not Alex's.
Not Sarah's.
The door opened.
A girl stood on the other side.
She was wearing a loose-fit shirt over black shorts. Her hair was long and dark with a violet-red tint that caught the sunlight like flame. Two fox charms dangled from her twintails. Her eyes — bold, slightly narrowed, gleaming with confidence — blinked once.
And smiled.
"Oh," she said casually. "You're not the mail."
Airi blinked.
"I'm not."
The girl leaned her head slightly to one side. Her voice was sweet, slow, and just a little too relaxed.
"…Who are you?"
Airi's eyes narrowed by a hair. Her posture didn't change, but her voice turned cool.
"I should be asking that."
The other girl smiled wider, placing a hand on her hip. "I live here."
Airi tilted her head. "Do you?"
"Mmhm," she nodded. "I eat here. I sleep here. I steal the blankets here."
Her smile turned playful.
"And I kiss Alex here."
Airi's fingers tightened slightly around the box in her hand.
Her voice didn't rise.
But it dropped in tone.
"Who. Are. You?"
The girl stepped forward into the light — and offered a dramatic little bow, arms wide.
"Fushikawa Hanabi."
A pause.
"And I'm his first love."
Airi blinked once.
Then slowly — very slowly — smiled.
But it wasn't warmth.
It was steel.
"I see," she said softly. "So you're the ghost from the fire."
Hanabi blinked. "Ghost?"
"The one I was told was long gone. Forgotten."
Hanabi raised an eyebrow. "Well, I'm very much alive. And apparently still living rent-free in your mind."
Airi stepped forward, removing her shoes without a sound and walking past Hanabi without permission — graceful, poised, and radiating cold pressure.
"I came to speak with Alex," she said. "If you're done marking territory like a stray animal, perhaps you'll let him know I'm here."
Hanabi turned on her heel, eyes wide, then narrowed — smile still in place, but now glowing with challenge.
"Oh, I'm not done," she said sweetly. "But if you're here to confess or flirt, you might want to wait until he's done showering."
Airi paused in the hallway.
Then turned slightly, her voice icy and elegant.
"I didn't come here to flirt."
Hanabi smiled with her teeth now. "Good. I don't share my food."
Airi's eyes narrowed. "But he's not food. He's a person. You can't claim him."
"I don't need to claim him," Hanabi said with a wink. "He already remembers how I taste."
Silence.
Airi exhaled slowly.
Then set the sword case carefully on the table nearby.
She didn't reach for the blade.
But she didn't need to.
The pressure in the room dropped subtly, like something ancient and noble had unsheathed a single inch of its presence.
"I'm not here to fight you," she said calmly.
"Good," Hanabi replied, stepping closer. "Because I bite."
A moment of silence passed between them — long, quiet, but vibrating with tension.
Then—
A door opened at the end of the hall.
Alex stepped out, towel around his shoulders, shirt half-buttoned.
He blinked once at the scene.
Then sighed.
"…You two met."
Simultaneously—
Airi turned to him with perfect poise.
Hanabi threw herself at his side.
"Alex," Airi said sweetly, "may we speak in private?"
"Alex~" Hanabi whined, clinging to his arm, "your other girlfriend's here~"
Alex closed his eyes for a long moment.
Then opened them.
"Let's all talk."
Both girls froze.
"…Together?" Airi asked.
"…Right now?" Hanabi echoed.
"Yes," Alex said.
Because whether they liked it or not—
This was happening.
And he was not going to survive it alone.
The living room was charged.
Alex sat in the center, his towel half-forgotten on his shoulders, silently wondering if it was too late to teleport himself into deep space. On one side of him, Hanabi leaned in like a cat defending its spot on a sunny windowsill — chin up, grin sharp, voice warm but threatening. On his other side, Airi sat with elegance and poise, spine straight, hands folded neatly in her lap, every word coated in the kind of grace that could cut glass.
The two had not taken their eyes off each other.
Not once.
They were smiling.
But the room was a battlefield.
"I didn't expect a guest," Hanabi said, sipping her tea, legs crossed. "Let alone a second girlfriend."
"I'm not a guest," Airi replied without blinking. "I'm family. And I'm here to share something important with Alex."
"Is it your tea recipe? Because I think you forgot the sweetness."
"I didn't forget it," Airi said softly. "I'm just saving it for people who deserve it."
Alex was about to interrupt when—
The air shimmered with warm golden light.
And a familiar soft glow bloomed into being at the edge of the room.
Ciel stepped forward.
No fanfare. No dramatic entrance.
Just grace.
She wore one of Alex's black shirts again — sleeves too long, hem brushing her thighs, collar slightly wide at the shoulder. Her silver hair shimmered like moonlight, her bare feet silent on the wooden floor. She carried a warm presence with her, like a cup of light placed gently into a storm.
But her expression was clear.
Not smiling.
Not glowing.
Serious.
Ciel's gaze moved calmly between the two girls as she walked past the edge of the table. She moved first to Airi, kneeling beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Airi," she said quietly. "Are you okay?"
Airi nodded. And for a moment—just a breath—her elegant facade softened. Her eyes flicked up to Ciel, her voice small.
"She was… sitting too close."
"I see," Ciel replied, gently rubbing her shoulder.
Airi didn't say more.
But her posture relaxed. Just slightly.
Because Ciel was here.
Her big sister was here.
Ciel turned next to Hanabi, who was now sitting up straighter.
Not aggressive.
Not smug.
Just visibly flustered.
"…You weren't watching the whole time, were you?" Hanabi asked carefully.
"I didn't have to," Ciel replied. "The emotional pressure was strong enough to register from another plane."
Hanabi cleared her throat. "We were just… talking."
"Mm," Ciel hummed. "With swords under the table?"
"Metaphorical swords," Hanabi muttered.
"I'm glad."
Ciel smiled then, and Hanabi looked away — cheeks pink.
There was silence for a moment.
Then Ciel sat down between them, beside Alex, her hands resting calmly on her knees.
"You both love him," she said plainly. "And neither of you are willing to leave. I've accepted that. I've embraced it. I want us to be together — all of us."
She looked at Airi.
"You're my little sister now. I'll protect you."
She looked at Hanabi.
"You're my partner too. You've held him longer than anyone."
Both girls blinked.
Neither of them spoke.
Then Ciel smiled warmly.
"I think we should have a conversation. No more knives behind words. No more games."
She placed a teacup in front of both of them.
"Let's talk honestly. About what you want. What you need. And how we can all make space."
Alex blinked. "…All?"
Ciel looked at him sweetly. "You did this. You can help fix it."
He leaned back against the wall with a quiet sigh.
This was going to be the strangest team meeting of his life.
But somehow—
With Ciel beside him…
With Hanabi puffing her cheeks on his right…
With Airi quietly relaxing on his left…
He wasn't afraid.
Just outnumbered.
Chapter 158 – The Calm Between Sparks
The tea had been poured.
Ciel sat in the center now, her silver hair cascading softly over her shoulders, her expression calm and composed — like a graceful empress holding court in oversized sleepwear. She looked more like someone preparing a tea ceremony than refereeing a brewing emotional war.
On her left: Hanabi, still clinging lightly to Alex's arm with narrowed eyes and a restless tail of crimson ribbon swaying at her hip. Her fox mask sat on the table like a warning sign — "trespass here at your own risk."
On her right: Airi, upright and elegant, fingers folded in her lap like she was waiting to present a political proposal. Her eyes remained focused, but her shoulders were no longer stiff. The presence of Ciel beside her acted like a grounding spell.
Alex?
Trapped between beautiful, emotionally complex women who all loved him.
Again.
Ciel took a quiet sip of her tea, then opened her mouth with the serene authority of someone ready to manage a sacred ritual — or a war table.
"I've decided something," she said.
The room froze.
Alex blinked. "…Should I be worried?"
Ciel smiled. "You already are."
Then she turned to both girls.
"I want us to be a real family," she said gently. "Not just three people orbiting Alex. Not just tolerating each other. I want you two to like each other."
Hanabi choked on her tea.
Airi stared like she'd just been told to hug a dragon.
"…Excuse me?" they said in unison.
Ciel nodded, entirely unbothered.
"You both love the same person," she said. "You both care about his future. And you both are, in different ways, terrifying. That's a good foundation for bonding."
Hanabi's eyes narrowed. "I don't need friends. I need his lips."
Airi's smile sharpened. "And I need his name beside mine in the family registry. Legally."
Ciel nodded again. "And neither of those are incompatible."
Alex slowly sipped his tea like it was the only anchor to reality he had left.
"I've accepted that I'm the big sister now," Ciel said plainly. "Emotionally. Romantically. Maybe metaphysically. I don't need to win. I want peace. So we're going to try something."
She slid a small notepad across the table. On the top sheet, in elegant handwriting, were three columns:
What I Want From AlexWhat I Can OfferWhat I Won't Tolerate
Hanabi stared.
Airi blinked.
Alex whispered, "You made a chart?"
"I made a healthy framework for emotional navigation," Ciel replied.
Hanabi grumbled. "This is cult behavior."
Ciel nodded proudly. "A loving cult."
Airi looked over the chart and sighed. "Fine. I'll go first."
She took the pen.
Airi wrote:
What I Want From Alex:
His loyalty. His protection. His heart.
I don't need all of him. But I need to know I won't be left behind.What I Can Offer:
My whole life. My sword. My name. My ambition. I'll rise for him.What I Won't Tolerate:
Lies. Secret love. Being treated like a backup.
She handed it back without looking at anyone.
Hanabi took it next, mumbling, "So formal…"
But she wrote.
Hanabi wrote:
What I Want From Alex:
His time. His touch. His eyes only on me sometimes. I can share… maybe. But I need him to choose me daily.What I Can Offer:
My fire. My loyalty. My mischief. Also, I cook now. Badly.What I Won't Tolerate:
Being ignored. Being lied to. Someone acting like I'm replaceable.
She shoved the pad back across the table, cheeks slightly pink.
Ciel took the notepad and added her own, smiling.
Ciel wrote:
What I Want From Alex:
Just to be by his side. That's all. I've already received more than I ever thought possible.What I Can Offer:
Everything I am.What I Won't Tolerate:
Anyone hurting the others. Love should make us bigger, not smaller.
She placed the notepad down gently, then looked between them.
"Now," she said with a warm voice, "Hanabi, Airi — I want you to say something you admire about each other."
Both girls stared at her like she had just asked them to perform synchronized aerial magic.
"…Admire?" Hanabi muttered.
Airi's jaw tightened slightly.
Ciel folded her arms.
"No tea refills until you do."
Hanabi scowled. "You're cruel."
"Big sister privilege," Ciel replied.
After a long pause—
Airi spoke first.
"…I admire your loyalty," she said to Hanabi, her voice low but sincere. "Even when I insulted you. You stayed. That means something."
Hanabi blinked.
Then looked away.
"…I like your sword."
Airi raised an eyebrow. "My sword?"
Hanabi fidgeted. "It's cool. Makes you look hot. Shut up."
Airi looked at her for a long second.
Then gave the faintest smile.
"…Thank you."
Ciel beamed.
Alex blinked.
"…Did you just prevent a war with tea and a worksheet?"
Ciel turned to him, eyes gleaming.
"I'm the goddess of diplomacy."
Chapter 159 – A Name from the Past
The afternoon had faded into a soft golden haze. The living room was quieter now. Tea cups were mostly empty, and the tension between Airi and Hanabi had cooled to a simmer, thanks to Ciel's calm diplomacy and unshakable presence.
Alex sat cross-legged, towel finally gone, hair still slightly damp. He looked like a man who'd been hit by emotional lightning and was trying to rebuild his nervous system.
Hanabi rested her chin on his shoulder, still smug from earlier. Airi sat just a little too close on the other side, adjusting her sleeves like she hadn't just casually claimed his future name on paper.
And Ciel, their center of gravity, still knelt gracefully in front of them — her hands folded in her lap, gaze steady, as if she'd been waiting for the quiet.
She spoke first.
"Before we end today," Ciel said gently, "there's something I need to remind you all. Something important."
Alex glanced at her. "What now?"
Ciel tilted her head, her silver hair falling like silk.
"Something your family already told you… but I think the weight of it hasn't really settled."
Hanabi raised an eyebrow. "Is this about how many more of us there might be?"
Airi's eyes narrowed. "You mean the photo."
Ciel nodded.
"You've forgotten many of them," she said, her voice soft. "But they haven't forgotten you."
Alex sighed. "You mean the kids I met when I was six?"
"You played with children from bloodlines that shape the spiritual world," Ciel continued. "Some of them were daughters of sealed clans. Some… not even entirely human."
"I was a kid."
"You were a kind kid," she replied. "And powerful. And different. They felt it. Children like that — from places bound by fate and legacy — they don't forget connections."
Hanabi frowned, sitting up slightly. "You're saying one of them might come back?"
"I'm saying," Ciel said calmly, "they're already looking."
Alex rubbed his forehead. "This is turning into a prophecy, isn't it?"
Ciel smiled faintly.
Then turned to Airi and Hanabi.
"And if one of them still loves him…"
The air held still.
"…then we should welcome our new sister."
Hanabi blinked. "I'm sorry, what?"
Airi stared. "You can't be serious."
Ciel nodded. "I am. Love isn't something we get to control. If someone appears from his past — someone who's held on for all these years — we shouldn't react with fear. We should respond with grace."
"Or claws," Hanabi muttered.
"I have both," Airi added, eyes cold.
Ciel smiled gently. "And yet, you both sat beside me today. You spoke. You listened. You opened the door to each other. I believe you can do it again."
Alex looked between them, suddenly pale. "…Wait, how many childhood friends are we talking about?"
"More than five," Ciel said innocently.
"Less than thirty," Alice called from the hallway.
Alex slumped forward.
"I'm going to die surrounded by women I can't remember."
Ciel placed her hand on his gently.
"Then we'll help you remember. Together."
Hanabi groaned. "If another girl shows up and calls you 'Onii-chan,' I swear—"
Airi's voice dropped. "I'll unsheathe the katana."
Ciel laughed.
And Alex, despite everything, smiled.
Because in this strange, shared life of his — one built on old memories, quiet flames, and uncertain futures — they weren't just surviving.
They were growing.
Even if that meant making room for one more.
Alex slumped against the couch with a groan, face half-buried in a cushion. "Why do I feel like I'm about to be hit by a truck labeled 'regret,' and the driver's wearing a shrine maiden outfit?"
Hanabi tilted her head thoughtfully. "That's oddly specific."
Airi folded her arms. "It's not inaccurate."
Ciel sat beside him, smiling peacefully. "Don't worry. If you collapse from stress, I'll just keep your heart in a preservation charm until you recover."
"That… sounds horrifying."
"I mean it lovingly."
"Still horrifying."
Hanabi rolled onto her side and looked at him. "So what if one of them shows up and says, 'Alex promised to marry me when we were six!' What then?"
Alex lifted his head just enough to glare at the ceiling. "Then six-year-old me is getting punched in the past."
Airi nodded solemnly. "I approve of this plan."
Ciel gently raised a hand. "Technically, that might cause a paradox."
Hanabi snapped her fingers. "Ooh, or what if it's a ghost girl and she's like, 'You gave me your first candy so I offered you my soul'? That sounds like your type."
"I don't even like candy."
"You liked me," she said proudly.
Alex blinked. "You're not a snack."
She winked. "Aren't I?"
Airi groaned audibly. "Can I still file for wife status first, or do we have to fight a literal demon princess from Mongolia first?"
"Why Mongolia?" Alex asked weakly.
"It's exotic. I'm preparing for escalation."
Ciel reached over and refilled everyone's tea with a smile too serene for the chaos around her.
"We'll take it one sister at a time," she said cheerfully.
Alex groaned again.
"I need a flowchart."
Hanabi snorted. "Don't tempt Ciel. She'll make one."
Ciel nodded. "Already started."
Chapter 160 – The Royal Proposal Problem
It was a quiet evening at the Elwood residence.
For once, dinner had ended without anyone throwing a spoon or launching suggestive innuendos over rice bowls. The air smelled of grilled fish, miso, and a little too much jasmine incense — courtesy of Hanabi, who insisted it kept "emotional ghosts" away.
Alex sat at the table, a warm cup of barley tea in his hands. He looked calm.
Too calm.
Which, in this house, meant he was about to say something devastating.
Ciel sat beside him, her head tilted, eyes soft and golden. Hanabi was lounging cross-legged on the floor in front of him, nibbling a stick of mochi with suspicious ease. Airi sat neatly at the far end of the table, arms folded, sipping her tea like a princess pretending not to be armed.
Alex cleared his throat.
"I need to tell you something."
Hanabi's eyes narrowed. "If it's a new girl, I swear—"
"It is."
Ciel smiled softly. "You mean Mircella and Queen Ileana?"
Airi blinked.
Hanabi dropped her mochi.
"…Wait, Mircella? As in—?"
Alex nodded. "Vampire princess. Daughter of Queen Ileana Draculesti. Also, she kissed me. On the lips."
Hanabi opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Ciel gently poured more tea for everyone. "She was very elegant about it."
Airi didn't speak.
Not at first.
Her expression darkened slowly — not rage, but realization.
"…So that's what that was," she said coldly.
Alex glanced at her. "What?"
Airi looked him dead in the eye.
"I saw you with her once. During the field trip. You were walking in the castle garden. She was holding your hand."
Alex blinked. "You… saw that?"
"I thought you were being controlled," Airi said, voice clipped. "You looked like you were under a charm spell."
Ciel covered her mouth politely, smiling. "He wasn't charmed. He was just flustered. Mircella is very… direct."
Hanabi's eye twitched. "How direct are we talking?"
"She sat on his lap the first time they met," Ciel replied.
Airi stood slowly.
"Excuse me."
She walked to the sink.
And washed her hands.
Even though she hadn't touched anything.
"…Is she coming back?" Hanabi asked, her voice tight.
Alex nodded. "Probably. She said she'd wait until I turn eighteen. Then she wants to marry me."
"Wonderful," Airi muttered. "Royal vampire wedding. Maybe we'll get matching coffins."
Hanabi growled. "So now it's not just foxes and swords. It's undead royalty too."
Alex winced. "There's more."
Ciel, sipping her tea, spoke calmly.
"Her mother also wants to marry him."
Silence.
Hanabi dropped her tea.
Airi turned around slowly.
"…I'm sorry. Her mother?"
Alex nodded, staring into his cup. "Queen Ileana. After I erased Vlad's soul fragment, she… made a proposal."
Hanabi's voice dropped two octaves. "A double-vampire bloodline wedding?"
"I'm going to kill something," Airi whispered.
"Not before I light it on fire," Hanabi growled.
Ciel placed her teacup down gently.
"I already told Alex he has to wait until he's eighteen. Then we'll host a meeting."
"A meeting?" Airi snapped.
"A royal wife candidate meeting," Ciel said sweetly. "To assess suitability, affection levels, and overall behavior."
Alex blinked. "What… what does that mean?"
"It means," Ciel said gently, "we're going to make space. Even if we have to draw blood."
Hanabi cracked her knuckles. "I'll handle the interrogation."
"I'll handle the background check," Airi said coldly.
Ciel nodded. "And I'll provide snacks."
Alex sighed.
Deeply.
"I don't want to be a political target."
"You already are," Ciel said softly, resting her hand on his.
"Let them come," Hanabi smirked. "Let them try."
Airi looked at him one last time. "If I see another girl on your lap, Elwood, I'm cutting it off."
Alex blinked. "…My lap?"
Airi didn't blink.
Ciel smiled. "We'll make this work."
Alex leaned back, drained.
At this rate, surviving until eighteen might be the hardest mission yet.
The air was still tense, thick with the scent of spilled tea and declarations of war.
Alex had said too much.
Hanabi had threatened too clearly.
Airi had washed her hands like she was preparing for surgery.
And yet, somehow, Ciel remained composed — sipping calmly as if she were simply hosting a garden lunch and not refereeing the rise of a multilateral romantic incident.
She placed her teacup down with quiet finality.
Then turned to Alex, her tone thoughtful but firm.
"Alex."
He looked up. Tired. Haunted. Already aging ten years from stress.
"We need to have a meeting," Ciel said gently.
"…A meeting?"
She nodded.
"With everyone."
Hanabi squinted. "Everyone like… the three of us?"
"No," Ciel replied softly. "Everyone. Including Mircella. Including Queen Ileana."
Alex paled. "You want me to host a—what?—a vampire-and-exorcist-magic-sword-harem summit?"
"Yes."
Airi coughed. "You're not joking."
"I'm never joking about diplomacy," Ciel said seriously. "I may look like the quiet one, but I'm trying to prevent bloodshed in the kitchen."
Hanabi crossed her arms. "What, you think if we all sit down and have tea, we'll magically stop hating each other?"
"No," Ciel said with a calm smile. "But we'll understand each other."
She turned back to Alex.
"You've built these relationships one at a time," she said softly. "You didn't mean to. But you did. And if we let this continue without structure, someone's heart will break. Or someone's head will roll."
Airi muttered, "Not necessarily metaphorical."
Ciel gently touched Alex's hand.
"You're kind, Alex. And that kindness is why we love you. But kindness without clarity can become cruelty."
He looked at her — really looked. Her golden eyes held no judgment. Just insight. And care.
"I've never spoken to Mircella," Ciel continued. "I've never met her mother. And yet… they're part of your life now. If we're all going to stay by your side, we should know each other. As women. As sisters, if not rivals."
Hanabi groaned. "Do we have to call them sisters?"
Ciel tilted her head. "It's better than calling them enemies."
Airi sighed. "This sounds like the kind of event that starts with tea and ends in duel invitations."
"Then I'll host it," Ciel said firmly. "On neutral ground. With food. With rules. And with a plan."
Alex stared at her.
"You… already made a plan?"
She smiled faintly.
"I wrote a draft of the seating chart yesterday."
Hanabi blinked. "You're serious."
"She's terrifying," Airi whispered.
"She's right," Alex said quietly.
And deep down, they all knew it.
Because this wasn't just a romance anymore.
It was becoming something else.
A constellation of hearts.
A battlefield of old bloodlines.
A legacy forming around one boy who never asked to be chosen.
Ciel took his hand in both of hers, and leaned forward slightly.
"If we don't make peace early," she said gently, "we'll bleed later. I'd rather sip tea with my rivals than cry beside them."
Hanabi looked away, arms crossed, mumbling something about poisoned cups.
Airi exhaled sharply.
"…Fine. But I'm bringing my sword."
"And I'm bringing foxfire," Hanabi added.
Alex groaned. "I'm bringing antacids."
Ciel just smiled.
"Good. Then we're halfway ready."