Chapter 0.154 : Velvet Shadows and Crimson Games

moment the maid bowed and whispered, "Dinner is served, Lady Naoko," the entire atmosphere of the room shifted.

Naoko rose from the velvet-black couch with the poised elegance of a dark empress. Her heels clicked against the polished obsidian floor like a slow, deliberate clock counting down a royal sentence. Her long silver hair cascaded behind her like silk light caught in twilight, her soft porcelain skin a pale contrast to the black lace gown hugging her frame like woven shadows.

Behind her, Jin followed with his hands stuffed deep in his coat pockets, that lazy, mischievous smirk glued to his face, and his crimson eyes glinting with a devil's amusement. His black leather coat swayed around his legs like the trailing wings of a fallen angel.

Shizana, the majestic white wolf, walked beside Jin with pride, her glacial-blue eyes flickering with silent power. Her thick white fur shimmered faintly under the enchanted chandeliers overhead, and her tail swayed like a living banner of the moon.

Bounding playfully around her feet was Nyx, Jin's white cat, meowing and batting at Shizana's tail as if nothing in the world could be more important.

Rena and Amelia followed behind, mother and daughter. As they walked, Amelia leaned closer to her blushing daughter and whispered mischievously:

"Tell me, darling, what exactly happened between you and Jin back at the academy? I have my own spies watching for your sake, after all... I know about the karaoke room."

Rena froze for a heartbeat, her golden eyes widening as her cheeks flushed redder than her fiery hair, which bounced in a high ponytail tied with Estelle's ribbon.

"Mom! Not you too!" she whispered in horror, her voice cracking.

Amelia simply smiled with that glint of mischief in her golden eyes, her fiery red hair gleaming like an ember crown.

"Oh, come now, Rena," she cooed playfully. "I'm your mother. You can tell me. Was it a kiss? Or… maybe a little bite?"

Rena nearly tripped over herself, her face burning hotter. Her eyes watered from embarrassment. "Stop it, please..."

By then, the large double doors to the dining hall were opened by the servants. The group entered.

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The Dining Hall of House Rotschy 

It was a cathedral of elegance and darkness. The ceiling soared high above with carved blackwood arches, while walls of gleaming obsidian flickered faintly with traces of violet mana. A grand chandelier, shaped like a spider of crystal and silver, hovered overhead, bathing the room in soft twilight hues.

A massive black-marble dining table stretched across the room, its surface polished so finely it mirrored the guests like a ghostly parallel.

Naoko seated herself at the head of the table, her expression blank, eyes void of concern or emotion. Nyx leapt gracefully into her lap and curled there like a pearl nestled in night.

Jin took his place to her right, sitting in a lazy sprawl like a prince who never cared for etiquette. Shizana curled by his feet, tail swishing contentedly as servants placed a silver bowl in front of her containing mana-infused meat, water, and milk. Nyx occasionally peeked up to paw at Shizana's tail before returning to her own meal of neatly sliced meat cubes.

Amelia sat on Naoko's left, regally composed. Rena took her place beside her mother, stiff as a statue, her mind spinning.

The servants began laying out dishes: roasted prime beef, fragrant saffron rice, silken mana soups glowing faintly blue, buttered vegetables kissed with basil and thyme, rare cuts of mana-infused venison, and wine—red, white, aged, spiced—all from the private vaults of House Rotschy.

Then came the curious sight.

Jin, with a childlike audacity, began rearranging the table.

He silently took every glass of alcohol near his plate and pushed them in front of his mother. Then he reached across her plate and traded her sweet fruits and tarts for saltier vegetables and roasted mushrooms.

Amelia and Rena watched in horror and awe.

He swapped Naoko's water for fizzy mana soda. Then, with absolute impunity, he reached again and tossed a chocolate truffle into her soup.

Naoko didn't flinch. She continued eating as if this disruption were natural, her hand lifting a fork with ethereal grace, silver lashes low over silver eyes.

Amelia finally chuckled. "Naoko... does that not bother you?"

Naoko didn't look up. Her voice was calm, cool, devoid of concern. "He's giving me the food he doesn't want. That's normal."

Rena blinked. "But… he's doing it messily! It's… rude."

Naoko lifted her silver eyes to Rina, tone still flat. "And? I'm not bothered. Why should you be? Are you worried about aristocratic etiquette? That doesn't apply to my son."

Jin leaned back in his seat, that smirk deepening as he sipped from a glass of tomato juice—spiked with chili, of course. He watched his wife, his expression unreadable, until Rina finally looked up and met his gaze.

He smiled like a boy who'd just found the perfect way to set fire to the room.

Amelia saw it. That spark. That devilish gleam in Jin's eyes.

And she smiled in response, recognizing it immediately.

Rena saw her mother's smile and whispered in dread, "Oh no. Not again."

Jin leaned forward, tone playfully wicked. "Lady Amelia… why don't you tell us about one of your scandalous love stories?"

Amelia smirked. "There are too many. Ask me something specific."

"Oh, gladly. But my questions won't be… tame," he said, voice teasing. "Think you can handle that?"

"I've handled worse," she replied smoothly, brushing a lock of red hair over her shoulder.

"Alright then," Jin said, tapping his glass. "Have you ever thought about... yuri?"

Rena choked on her wine, coughing and going red from ears to chin.

Amelia tilted her head thoughtfully. "That depends on the girl. Emotion plays a part."

"Interesting," Jin mused. "So, if a pretty woman asked to spend the night with you… just for fun...?"

Amelia shrugged. "I'd consider it. Maybe let her have a taste."

Rena covered her face with both hands. "Mom! Jin! Please stop!"

Amelia winked at her daughter.

But Jin wasn't done. "What about ropes? Blindfolds? Ties of mana, perhaps?"

"Oh, those can be exciting," Amelia answered, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Mana-bondage is quite rare… but poetic."

"You've tried it?"

"I've had it... proposed."

Rina looked like she was about to faint.

Shizana glanced up from her meat bowl and commented in her soft, warm voice, "Sire Jin, your conversations are... rather stimulating tonight."

Jin chuckled and reached down to scratch her behind the ears. "Just making dinner a little more entertaining."

Nyx jumped onto the table, sat down neatly between two glasses of red wine, and began meowing loudly.

Naoko, unfazed by everything, continued eating her now-mismatched plate of sweets and meats. Her voice broke the chaos only once, cool and neutral:

"Rina, you're losing your composure again."

That was it.

Just that.

No judgment. No emotion.

Rena felt her soul sink deeper into the velvet chair.

Jin leaned close and whispered to her with a devilish grin, "Don't worry, my love. Maybe I'll tie you up with mana next time. For practice."

Rena stared at him in horror. "Jin!"

"I'll even ask your mother for tips," he said.

"You are insane," she whispered, cheeks blazing.

"I'm your husband," he replied. "You married into madness."

Amelia laughed into her glass. "Indeed she did."

While Jin was thinking inside, only a little bit remained.

Jin was trying to suppress his evil laughter, but his crimson red eyes were flashing, flashing more strongly than usual,

Naoko looked at her son, her cold silver eyes capturing everything, every move he made. 

She knew that her son and Sion wanted to do something, but that was none of her business as long as he didn't hurt himself. 

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Heat: Jin's questions were malicious in order to plant the seed of the idea of Yuri inside Amelia so that he could hear her opinion. 

 Sion: the time is now 😂

❤Thank you viorion2 and I also know that you do not like yuri but this is Sion's character. I can't edit it now., but I will try to redo the next chapter for you....