Under the effect of her invisibility spell, Shana moved with calm confidence, walking past dozens of Kamakiri family guards without encountering a single problem during her infiltration.
The deeper she went inside, the more strange things she noticed. The mansion was huge and luxurious, yet designed in a bizarrely intricate way. It was quiet, the curtains tightly drawn. Though a soft scent of incense filled the air, the atmosphere itself was suffocating—stifling in a way that made her uneasy.
If an ordinary person stayed here and inhaled that smell for too long, their mind would probably start to blur. It wasn't a powerful spell by any means, and it didn't affect Shana—but still…
Weren't these the same ingredients used in love charms?
A memory surfaced in her mind.
Along the hallway hung portraits of Kamakiri family heads—most of them women. Shana stopped before a painting of a family of three. The mother was breathtakingly beautiful, dressed in a white kimono like those worn at Japanese weddings. Her belly was round, suggesting she was pregnant. Beside her stood a young girl, presumably her daughter. The man's face, however, had been violently torn off the canvas.
Shana stared at it for a moment, thoughtful. She had to admit—the woman in that painting looked strikingly similar to Mina.
Then Shana's sharp hearing caught the faint sound of an argument nearby. Curious, she followed it toward a brightly lit grand hall. Inside were Haruna and Valko, both clearly upset and on edge.
"Haruna! Are you insane!? You can't say things like that!"
Haruna glared at him. "Why not? Why can't I? I love you, and you love me! What the hell are we so afraid of!?"
Valko clenched his jaw, muttering curses under his breath. Convincing someone as stubborn as Haruna was impossible.
"Haruna, listen—there are things you need to understand. We can't talk about that right now, okay? I have an entire empire my father left me. I can't throw it all away over… this!"
Haruna's eyes burned with disbelief. Instead of defending her, he was talking about his damn career.
Valko ran a hand through his messy hair, trying to sound calm though his voice trembled with urgency.
"Alright, listen. When Aunt Tomi asks, you have to say something good about me, okay? Tell her what happened that night was just a misunderstanding. Otherwise, I'll be—!"
"Be what?"
A sudden voice cut him off, freezing both Valko and Haruna in place.
Shana whistled softly and stepped aside as three women entered—Tomi, Miko, and Mina.
They couldn't see Shana, of course, but even she was taken aback by the shift in the room's atmosphere. Tomi and Miko's faces darkened instantly. Only Mina's expression stood out—she wasn't angry. Something about her felt… off.
Valko and Haruna stiffened as the women appeared. Valko stammered.
"Mother… Aunt Tomi…" Then his eyes darted toward Mina in panic. But Mina only looked at him with cold disdain before turning away.
Tomi's voice cracked like a whip through the room.
"Valko Jou! Explain yourself right now—what the hell is going on!?"
Valko flinched, trembling, frozen in place. He glanced at Haruna, desperate for her to help, but she was too shocked to speak.
"Aunt Tomi… actually…" He waved his hands nervously, pretending innocence.
"This is all just a misunderstanding! Those photos—they're Photoshop, they're not real!"
Haruna stared at him, horrified by how he could still lie so shamelessly. Mina only gave a dry, mocking laugh.
Tomi's brows furrowed. "A misunderstanding, huh?"
Beside her, Miko's face darkened too, but she still tried to defend her son-in-law.
"You heard him. It was just a misunderstanding. Those filthy tabloids twisted the truth to ruin our family's reputation!"
Tomi turned sharply toward Miko, frowning in disbelief. The blind protection of Valko was beginning to make her sick.
"Have you lost your damn mind!? That man married your daughter and still can't keep it in his pants—he even slept with her sister! The whole world is talking about it! Tell me, where's this family's dignity now!?"
Before Miko could respond, Tomi stormed forward and slapped Valko hard across the face, right in front of everyone.
"A-Aunt Tomi!?" Valko clutched his cheek in shock while Haruna instinctively ran to shield him.
Tomi looked from Haruna to Mina—the actual wife, who stood silently behind her. Why was Haruna defending Valko while Mina said nothing? The truth was obvious now.
Seeing Tomi's eyes harden, Valko panicked and tried to pull Haruna's hand away, but she clung to him desperately.
Tomi let out a bitter laugh, trembling with fury.
"You filthy pair of adulterers… and you still dare call this a misunderstanding?"
"Please, Aunt Tomi, let me explain—!"
Valko cried, shoving Haruna aside in panic. But Tomi slapped him again, harder this time.
Both Haruna and Miko shouted, "Aunt Tomi, stop!"
"Tomi! That's enough!"
But Tomi didn't care. She glared at Valko, her voice sharp and commanding.
"Listen to me, Valko. You only stand here today because you were sheltered by the Kamakiri family. I've ignored your shady little business tricks and all your nonsense out of family loyalty. But don't you dare cross the one line that can never be crossed—the honor of this family! Don't push your luck!"
Valko shook like a leaf as her words echoed through the hall. No one dared to speak. Even they knew she was right.
Tomi's eyes narrowed even further.
"Now stop with the childish lies. That night, everything happened inside Kamakiri's private resort. Outsiders couldn't possibly know the details unless there was truth behind it. Everyone's here—me, your mother-in-law, and your wife. So tell me, how long has this been going on between you two?"
Valko's trembling eyes darted around the room. Everyone looked at him differently now—even Mina. She just stared at him coldly, her expression unreadable. Valko could only imagine the disgust in her mind, and the thought alone crushed him. He couldn't afford to lose her—not over something like this.
Meanwhile, Haruna was still clinging tightly to his arm, which only made Valko despise her even more. Seeing him looking so pitiful, like a cat that had lost its tongue, Aunt Tomi, though furious, could only sigh deeply.
"Things have come to this point already. Any explanation would be meaningless now. But one thing I cannot forgive," she said sternly.
"is how you smeared Kamakiri's honor."
Valko's eyes widened in panic; his hands shook uncontrollably. He knew punishment was coming—but what kind, he couldn't tell. Still, the worst possible outcome flashed through his mind.
"Aunt Tomi, what do you mean...?" he stammered.
"What else could I mean?" she snapped. "The entire continent probably already knows you cheated on my niece. Even if I wanted to cover it up, it's too late now. And there's no way I'll let you stay beside her, dragging her name through the mud."
Her words hit him like thunder. Did she mean... forcing him to divorce Mina?
Valko's face went pale with terror. To him, that was far worse than being sentenced to death.
No... this can't be happening...
On pure reflex, Valko dropped to his knees and grabbed at Aunt Tomi's legs in desperation.
Everyone gasped—no one expected him to do something so pathetic.
"No, Aunt Tomi, please! I'm begging you! I can't— I absolutely can't divorce Mina! Please, no!"
"Huh? Divorce?" Tomi tried to pull her leg away, but he clung to her like a madman.
Even Haruna was stunned. He's begging to stay married to Mina? Humiliation burned through her veins. First, her intimate photos were leaked to the press—now the man she loved was groveling before another woman. Haruna stood frozen, consumed by pain and rage.
Then Valko shifted, abandoning Aunt Tomi's leg only to crawl toward Mina.
Mina's face tightened immediately—she recoiled as if afraid of catching a disease.
Valko clutched at her legs, his voice cracking, tears spilling down his cheeks.
"Mina! I love you! I swear, I only love you! I made a mistake—I lost control—but it's always been you! Please! Don't divorce me!"
"Stop it, Valko! Don't make a scene like this!"
Mina shouted, struggling to pull her dress away from his grasp. Aunt Tomi rushed forward to pull him off.
"What's gotten into you!?" she barked.
But Valko fought back, grabbing Mina's legs again, sobbing uncontrollably as he buried his face beneath her skirt.
"Mina! Don't leave me! Please, don't leave me!"
Mina finally stopped resisting then. She didn't push him away—just stood there, looking down at him with cold, empty eyes. She sighed softly, then turned toward Aunt Tomi.
"Aunt Tomi... this whole thing is painful for me as well," Mina said calmly.
"But no matter what's happened, Valko is still my lawful husband—under the protection of the Kamakiri family. And besides, our family law forbids divorce. I believe... we should show leniency toward him."
"Mina..." Aunt Tomi's voice trembled, and everyone else was stunned. They hadn't expected forgiveness from her—not after everything that had happened.
Even Valko looked up at her, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Something's not right..." Shana muttered under her breath, standing invisible in the corner. Her brows furrowed.
"She's lying."
Aunt Tomi frowned in confusion.
"Mina, are you sure? That boy humiliated you—cheated on you—and you still wish to spare him?"
"Aunt Tomi," Mina interrupted gently, "as I said, Valko is my husband. No matter his sins, we are descendants of the Kamakiri line. We must not break our family traditional law."
Aunt Tomi wanted to argue further, but seeing the unwavering determination in Mina's eyes, she finally gave in with a sigh.
"Very well. No divorce then. But his punishment will still stand. Valko will be confined in the mansion's basement."
"What? No!" Haruna cried out, horrified. "You're putting him in that filthy place full of rats!?"
Tomi shot her a sharp glare, pointing straight at her.
"This punishment follows the Kamakiri family code. And you—you're not even his wife. If Mina herself hasn't objected, how dare you speak against me?"
"But—!"
"Enough, Haruna!" Miko, Haruna's mother, snapped furiously. Her face darkened with shame. Even she couldn't defend her disgraced son-in-law any longer.
Haruna bit her lip, seething, but said nothing more—only glared daggers at Mina as she cursed silently.
"Guards!" Aunt Tomi called out. "Take him to the underground cell!"
Two burly men entered the room and moved toward Valko. Only now did he realize what was happening. He stumbled to his feet, trying to escape, but they grabbed him from both sides.
"Wait! The basement!? What do you mean!? Why there!? I'm the Kamakiri family's son-in-law! You can't do this to me!"
"Take him away—now!" Aunt Tomi ordered.
Despite his desperate kicking and shouting, Valko's hands were shackled, and he was dragged out of the hall.
"Wait! I'm sorry, Mina! Mina! You have to save me!"
His voice echoed through the mansion corridor until it faded completely. Mina finally exhaled in relief. She swayed slightly, as if about to faint, prompting Aunt Tomi to rush forward in alarm.
"Oh my God—Mina! Are you alright?"
"I'm fine..." she murmured, steadying herself.
From the corner, only invisible Shana chuckled softly.
"Brilliant acting," she whispered. "Right till the end."
No one could see or hear her, though. Everyone else truly believed Mina was simply heartbroken by the chaos. Miko turned away, pushing Haruna toward the exit. But before they could leave, Mina's voice rang out behind them.
"Wait."
Miko froze, turning back. Supported by Aunt Tomi, Mina straightened her posture and faced her mother squarely.
"Even though Valko has been imprisoned," she said calmly, "the scandal involving SCJ's food poisoning is still unresolved. It must be addressed... Haruna."
Haruna turned sharply, her tone laced with venom.
"What now?! What more do you want!?"
Mina only smiled faintly.
"I've already investigated. You allowed Valko to channel diseased pork into the Goten supermarket's meat processing plant. Even if he orchestrated most of it, the public only knows your face as the one who approved it. SCJ's reputation is in ruins. You must personally apologize to the victims in the hospital."
"What!?" Haruna exploded.
"You expect me to apologize to those filthy commoners!?"
But Tomi nodded in agreement with Mina.
"Yes, that's the only way, Haruna. We'll arrange a public press conference. Once you apologize sincerely, the public may calm down. Leave the rest to us—we'll ensure Valko takes the blame. You won't bear too much responsibility."
Haruna's eyes widened with outrage as she looked between Tomi and Mina.
She laughed bitterly, pounding her chest.
"Aunt Tomi—are you kidding me!? My face is already plastered all over the internet in disgrace! Isn't that humiliation enough!? And now you want me to go on camera to apologize!? You call that protection!?"
"That's already being generous with you!" Mina's voice turned sharp, cutting through the air.
"Approving the use of low-grade meat could land you two years in prison! All you have to do is apologize to the victims—and you can't even do that?"
Haruna's face turned red with fury.
"FINE! I WON'T! WHAT WILL YOU DO ABOUT IT!?"
"YOU WILL DO IT!"
"ENOUGH!" Aunt Tomi's voice thundered as she stepped between them.
She sighed heavily. "Haruna's image is already badly damaged. Let's give it a few days before addressing the public. Haruna, go to your room with your mother."
Though still fuming, Haruna could only obey, muttering "Bitch" under her breath as she stormed off.
The room fell quiet again. Shana smiled faintly in the shadows—she had just witnessed one hell of a show.