Being glared at by the maid lady, Aiden let out a sigh. Running away was not a solution, so he unfastened the seat belt and got out of the car.
"Yumiko."
Aiden raised his hand and greeted.
But Yumiko just glanced at him, coldly saying, "You still have the guts to get out of the car? No, that's wrong, you really do have guts, after all…"
As she said this, she looked at Mai, and just as she was about to say something more, Yuri also got out of the car.
"Very good!" Yumiko laughed, her smile very sweet. She gave Aiden a thumbs-up.
"Mr. Aiden, you're really something, no wonder… tsk, sir, go park first, you know where the spot is."
After saying this, Yumiko glanced at Mai and Yuri, then turned and left in a dashing manner.
At this time, even the dullest person could see something was wrong. Mai, watching the departing maid, was full of doubt inside.
Turning her head to Aiden, Mai lightly clenched her fists, hesitantly asking, "Aiden, what on earth is going on here?"
'What else could it be? At home I've already got the red flag standing firm, and yet I've brought back another colorful flag.'
But if he really had to explain, he truly didn't know how to start. Thinking it over, he said, "Let's go park first, by then… by then you'll all know everything."
Saying this, Aiden helplessly got back into the car.
Though she had many doubts in her heart, since Aiden said so, Mai gave up pressing further. At the same time, an ominous feeling vaguely rose in her heart.
'I hope it's not what I think.' Mai thought.
'But, if it really does happen like that, what should I do then?'
Thinking this way, Mai also got into the car.
And still not understanding the situation, Yuri looked around blankly, and finally, under the honking of the car behind them blocking the way, also got in.
Not long after, Aiden, moving smoothly as if familiar with the road, drove the car into the underground parking lot.
Seeing the lot filled with all kinds of luxury cars, both Mai and Yuri were a little shocked, especially Mai, at this moment, her ominous premonition grew stronger and stronger.
"Get out, I'll take you somewhere."
Parking the GTR into the slot with the matching plate, Aiden turned back to Mai and Yuri and spoke.
Since things had already happened, and had even been discovered by Yumiko, the maid who looked after the Kagura sisters' daily life, there was no point hiding it any further. Better to just lay it all out directly.
Anyway, sooner or later, they'd have to meet.
Just didn't know what kind of sparks would fly when they did.
Hopefully they wouldn't fight.
Mai was definitely a jealous jar, and the Kagura sisters… though unclear, they probably weren't any less.
'Another headache coming.'
Messy thoughts swirled in Aiden's head as he led the silent Mai and the still clueless Yuri into the shrine by elevator.
Afterwards, instead of going along the worship path to the main hall like the citizens and tourists who came to pray, he directly brought them to the office of the shrine.
At the office entrance, maid Yumiko was already waiting.
Seeing Aiden, Yumiko glared angrily at him, and before he could speak, she said, "The eldest lady and second lady are waiting for you in the main hall."
"The main hall… isn't it not allowed for outsiders to enter there?" Hearing Yumiko's words, Yuri asked doubtfully.
"If the eldest lady says it's fine, then it's fine." Yumiko glanced at her, her tone carrying dissatisfaction.
"Then may I ask, maid lady, who is your eldest lady?" Mai now wanted more than ever to know who the eldest lady in Yumiko's mouth was.
Also, she had clearly heard, the maid had also said "second lady."
'So…'
Mai's heart grew flustered.
Seeing Mai ask this, the maid cleared her throat, then seriously said, "Listen carefully, our eldest lady is the current head of the Kagura family, Kagura Maki."
———
The main hall of a Japanese shrine is the place where the so-called true body of the deity is enshrined. Generally speaking, no one except shrine personnel is allowed to enter.
However, Maki was the sole Shrine Maiden of Yata Shrine, and unlike ordinary shrines, Yata Shrine had not set up a separate high priest position. All duties were held by her alone, so her word inside the shrine was absolute.
And Yata Shrine did not enshrine any god. In fact, even inside the main hall, there was no deity's true body, but instead the Yata Mirror, one of the legendary Three Sacred Treasures, was enshrined.
At this time, inside a small room at the side of the main hall, Maki and Chizuru were sitting face to face.
But compared with Maki's still rather calm expression, Chizuru was grinding her teeth as she said, "That guy, that bastard, actually… actually brought that vixen into the shrine. Damn it, really too damn much."
"He must be here to show off, after all, that vixen's figure is so good."
"No, wait, maybe it's not his problem. It must be that vixen's fault. She must have made him bring her."
"Of course it's like that. With a body that good, she'd definitely flaunt herself, and then… and then make us… no, no, no, make you, elder sister, back off."
Listening to her younger sister complain, Maki slightly lifted her head, her face without joy or sorrow, as if she hadn't heard a word.
Only, if one looked carefully, they would surely see the faint trace of grievance in her eyes.
After that, she blew lightly on the hot tea in her hands, and said faintly, "Chizuru, calm down. Right now losing composure is fine, since only I am here, but later when Aiden and that vix… that woman come over, you can't be like this."
"The Kagura family has passed down for a thousand years, we cannot let others say we have no upbringing…"
"Of course, we also cannot let her look down on us. Kagura women also have tempers."
But just as Maki finished saying this line to hold up the scene, suddenly Aiden's voice came from outside the main hall.
"Maki, just now you said something about also having a temper?"
Aiden had only just arrived, and hadn't heard clearly, so his voice was full of doubt, carrying also a bit of caution. There was no intent of reproach.
But hearing his words, a trace of panic flashed simultaneously through the Kagura sisters' eyes. Chizuru hurriedly sat up straight, trying her best to look dignified and graceful.
As for elder sister Maki, she originally thought holding a teacup would make her seem more imposing, but thinking it over, not wanting to give Aiden too much pressure, she quickly put the teacup back on the table.
But just then, Aiden was already entering the main hall, walking toward their little room. In her fluster, she accidentally knocked the teacup over, and the steaming hot tea splashed onto the back of her hand.
As a fighter, the Shrine Maiden naturally couldn't be easily scalded, but the heat of the tea still hurt enough to make her frown. And this scene happened to be seen by Aiden as he came in.
Without any hesitation, Aiden quickly walked over to the pretending-calm Maki. With a flip of his wrist, a few tissues appeared in his hand. He squatted at her side, grabbed the hand that had been scalded, gently wiped away the tea water, then carefully examined it.
'Mm, no blistering, just very red… and red in an abnormal way.'
Not only the place splashed by hot tea was red, but the whole arm was flushed.
"Aiden… Aiden, I… I'm fine."
After all these days of being together, this was the first time the two had such close contact. Normally, she always strictly followed etiquette and tradition, never getting too close to Aiden. Even when whispering, there was always a meter or two of distance.
So, this was Aiden's first time touching her body, and also her first time being touched this closely by a man other than her father.
"It's fine then!" Aiden breathed a sigh of relief, mainly because Maki's tone sounded no different from usual, showing no rejection of his touch.
But he hadn't finished exhaling when behind him came a light humph.
At the same time, the room filled with an almost tangible sourness.
Cold sweat immediately broke out on Aiden's forehead. He had been so focused on worrying about Maki that he'd forgotten about Mai and Yuri behind him.
Yuri was easy to handle, being a naïve girl. But Mai was definitely a jealous jar. And at only around twenty, her jealousy was as strong as aged pickled vegetables.
"What are you 'hmph'ing for? That… Aiden caring for my elder sister is only natural, what business is it of you, you vixen?"
Originally Chizuru had wanted to call Aiden "that guy" like usual, but that would sound too distant in front of outsiders, so she simply used the respectful form like her sister.
"What business is it of me? I'm his girlfriend, tell me, does it concern me or not? And also, I'd like to ask, who exactly are you to Aiden?" From behind Aiden, Mai coldly stared at Chizuru as she spoke.
In front of Aiden, she was a gentle, considerate, sweet, kind woman, shy and easily flustered. But that was only in front of Aiden, and only when not threatened or provoked.
Now, hearing Chizuru's words, Mai's temper flared. Don't forget she was a fighter, and one with rich battle experience, someone who could risk life and death in combat. So she retorted without hesitation.
Tradition was tradition, but even the most traditional women in feudal society would show no mercy in palace or household struggles.
"We are…"
Mai's counter-question left Chizuru momentarily stunned.
Yes, who exactly were they to Aiden?
Like this woman before her, say they were his girlfriend?
Impossible that both could be.
And speaking just of elder sister… she herself wasn't happy with that. Besides, elder sister couldn't…
But if it was just herself, elder sister wouldn't be pleased either.
Seeing the conflicted look flash across Chizuru's face, Mai's lips curved in a smug smile, "What's wrong? Can't answer? Then go on, tell me, what exactly are you to Aiden?"