"Of course, I won't disappoint you."
Luna clenched her fists and pulled on the Ice Threads. In an instant, countless threads crisscrossed, forming an inescapable "nest."
Arlecchino glanced at it. "Letting the spider return to its nest isn't a wise choice."
"But today, I'm the one doing the hunting," Luna declared.
She leaped lightly, landing gracefully on a thread.
Pressing the stopwatch, she crouched low, then launched herself upward! She transformed into an uncatchable streak of light, ricocheting through the countless threads as she hurtled toward Arlecchino!
Arlecchino's brow furrowed slightly. She found it surprisingly difficult to track Luna's trajectory.
If she couldn't track it, she couldn't defend against it.
In that case, why not leap into the web myself? Arlecchino's figure flickered, dodging Luna's sudden assault. She snapped her fingers.
Blazing fire wove into threads, hooking and entangling Luna's Ice Threads.
Red and blue filaments of light intertwined in mid-air, and Arlecchino stood poised upon the crimson strands.
"Continue, Luna."
Arlecchino leaned back, hooking her scythe onto a crimson thread. She transformed into a streak of scarlet light and lunged forward!
Luna, instead of retreating, advanced to meet the attack head-on. Her pistol glowed with Thunder Shadow, and the bullets she fired ricocheted between the threads, sealing off both their escape routes.
The scythe's blade blazed with scorching fire. Each clash between them erupted in violent bursts of flame in the void.
Arlecchino's brow furrowed deeper. She could feel her strength waning against Luna's, putting her at a disadvantage.
Yet, she nodded slightly, thinking, Not bad.
Let the storm rage even fiercer.
Boom—! The scorching fire erupting from the scythe's tip engulfed Arlecchino. The brutal impact sent her sliding backward, her heels scraping a trail of sparks across the ground.
"Watch out!" Luna's voice was light and cheerful as she unleashed a series of Water Sword slashes.
The clear, crescent-shaped sword energy tore through the ground, instantly striking Arlecchino... or rather, her Echo.
Arlecchino had teleported behind Luna!
But her scythe sliced through an illusion.
In that brief moment, Luna had sensed her presence, creating a Phantom while simultaneously teleporting a short distance away.
"You know, 'Father,' I've adored you since the moment I first saw you."
Arlecchino smiled faintly. "You've never hidden your affection. Yet, in other matters, you prefer to keep things buried deep inside, hidden from everyone."
She raised her hand, and razor-sharp blades erupted from the ground, converging from all directions!
Ignite!
Luna summoned her Greatsword of Passion, unleashing its full power. With a single, sweeping strike, the blades shattered on impact, breaking into countless fragments that reflected their figures.
"You see me as your daughter, and while that pleases me, what are your true feelings for me?"
"Is it simply a 'father-daughter' bond, a willingness to become my possession? Or... do you harbor less than pure thoughts about me as well?"
Arlecchino replied, "I have always considered you my special child."
"That's not what I want to hear."
"But if you win, you can have everything you desire."
Everything. The word was vague, ambiguous, yet Luna knew that when Arlecchino said "everything," she meant truly, absolutely everything.
If she wanted to become the "Queen," she could. If she wanted the "King" to kneel before her, kiss her feet, offer his lips, and be locked in the basement, that too would be granted...
If she wanted Arlecchino's love, Arlecchino would try to give it.
The victor takes all.
The loser is left with nothing.
"Then let me seize this victory!"
With this one strike!
"It's time for the ovation!"
The blade flashed, radiating a brilliant glow that intertwined with the rising crimson flames! The last time, this very attack had resulted in a draw with Arlecchino, neither gaining the upper hand.
This time, she would use this move to claim victory!
Arlecchino fully unfurled the six wings behind her, gathering power. She could feel the cursed energy in her bloodline boiling. With this power—the trinity of her Vision, Delusion, and the curse's fire—she would answer Luna's decisive strike, a blow fueled by both power and heart!
Then, Luna and Arlecchino swung their weapons.
In an instant, everything in sight was incinerated, razed to the ground. The last remnants of the duel arena's ruins were pulverized, turning to dust.
In the end, the one left standing on the duel arena was...
Luna gasped for breath, wiped away the blood, and steadied herself.
Arlecchino knelt on the ground, blood streaming from her wounds.
The victor had been decided.
Clutching her wound, Arlecchino let out a faint, gratified smile. "It's been a long time since I've felt like this."
She had been just as battered when she challenged the previous Knave.
Though she was in a sorry state, the feeling was entirely different this time.
"...You've won, Luna."
Luna rushed to Arlecchino's side and helped her up.
"I know. Let me treat your wounds first."
Arlecchino didn't resist. She sat down, allowing Luna to remove her torn clothes, apply medicine, and wrap bandages.
Recalling the duel, she felt an unexpected sense of relief and ease wash over her.
"You've surpassed me."
She gently stroked Luna's hair.
"Because only then could I truly accept you, couldn't I?"
Luna nuzzled her palm and smiled.
"Yes."
"Of course. I'll take on your curse and burdens as well."
Arlecchino fell silent.
"Do you consider those treasures too?" she asked after a moment.
"No. Suffering isn't a treasure, and responsibility isn't some priceless gem. But since they weigh upon you, they belong to me now—"
Luna gently licked the wound on Arlecchino's cheek. "—Let me share them with you, Mother."
"..."
Luna had started calling her that occasionally since the last time.
Within the House of the Hearth, words like "Mother" carried a different meaning than they did in the outside world. They encompassed the darkness and cruelty of the House's past, its blood and pain.
Luna knew this perfectly well, yet she still chose to call her "Mother" instead of "Father."
But to Luna, she truly was a mother.
Her foster mother, after all.
At this point, Arlecchino wouldn't—couldn't—correct Luna's choice of address. Let her call her whatever she pleased. It wouldn't matter even if the other children heard.
Because from the moment the duel ended, Arlecchino had belonged to Luna.
Arlecchino could feel Luna's breathing quicken. Seeing this, she pulled Luna's face toward her and initiated a kiss.
"Let's head back first," Arlecchino said, her breath warm and shallow.
"Mhm. Should I carry you?"
"...If you don't mind the children seeing."
Luna laughed. "I wouldn't mind at all."
In fact, that was exactly what she wanted to do.
"But that would completely strip 'Father' of her authority, wouldn't it? I'm not that kind of bad daughter. Let's wait until the new 'King' ascends the throne to announce this."
Arlecchino shook her head. "Unfortunately, a good daughter wouldn't want to possess 'Father' for herself."
"Then let me be your bad daughter."
-
Back at the House of the Hearth.
The children, seeing Arlecchino and Luna covered in wounds, were so shocked that the bread fell from their hands. They could only stare blankly as the two walked into the bedroom.
Freminet exclaimed, "'Father' and Luna fought again?"
"Don't make it sound like domestic abuse. It was probably just a sparring match," Lyney said, shaking his head.
After all, Luna was the only one in the House who could keep up with Arlecchino—and even had the potential to surpass her.
"Still, this is the first time I've ever seen 'Father' so badly injured."
Freminet asked, "Don't tell me... Luna won?"
"That's impossible... or it should be."
But Luna was the kind of person who made the impossible possible.
The children fell silent.
From now on, they would have to change their perception of Luna once again.
-
Entering Arlecchino's bedroom, Luna glanced around curiously.
She rarely came here; their meetings always took place in the office. The room was lavishly decorated, but it felt more like a stage set designed to emphasize Arlecchino's identity as "The Knave."
"Since you've won the victory and claimed me, you can now make me do whatever you desire."
"Let me guess what you want right now."
Arlecchino's fingertip traced a light path down Luna's neck.
Luna's heart pounded. She truly did want to press closer to Arlecchino, to feel their bodies' warmth against each other—something she had always dreamed of.
But instead, Luna simply hugged Arlecchino.
"We can't do that kind of thing while you're injured. I'll hold back for now, until your body has fully recovered."
Arlecchino replied, "...I see. But that's an unnecessary worry."
"Then think of it as me wanting you to be ready. For the next few days, Mother, I want you to think only of me... think about doing that with me."
"I see."
So I'm to think of Luna every single moment?
"Is that okay?" Luna asked, blinking her eyes.
"Of course you can. It's your right."
Luna immediately smiled, pulling Arlecchino to sit on the bed and burying her face in Arlecchino's chest without hesitation.
"Peppy."
"Mm."
"'Father'."
"Mm."
Arlecchino gently stroked Luna's head.
"Mother."
"...Mm."
Arlecchino responded softly, lowering her head to kiss the crown of Luna's hair.
Luna wanted her to imagine, so as Arlecchino caressed Luna's skin, she pictured the moment their bodies would merge: Luna's flushed face, her unrestrained moans... She didn't feel her own heart race, only that the imagined Luna was endearingly pitiful. A touch more tenderness filled her eyes.
But to think about this constantly...
"Little Luna, you've given me quite a challenge."
"Then hurry up and recover," Luna said cheerfully.
Hurry up and recover.
Then... she could finally do what she truly wanted.