The estate had grown quiet again by the time I returned.
Word about the duel would spread eventually—this place thrived on whispers—but for now the corridors were calm.
My body ached, not the same way as after the Grade 1 curse. That had been survival pain. This was something else—deep bruising from pushing my body and invoking a vow once again without proper rest.
Still…
It's a good feeling that I managed to win, but I couldn't tell Ogi to stop abusing Maki and Mai; the motherfucker went down at the first bell. It gives me a bitter taste, like why wasn't there any resistance?
Slow steps carried me back to the small residence where Maki and Mai lived.
When I slid the door open quietly, the room was dim except for a single lantern near the wall.
Inside, the scene waiting for me made my shoulders loosen slightly.
Both Maki and Mai were asleep.
Not the restless half-sleep of someone in pain, but exhausted kind where their breathing had settled into a slow rhythm.
Maki lay on her back, one arm loosely draped over her stomach.
Mai had rolled slightly toward her sister, almost unconsciously curling closer.
Their bandages had been replaced with clean ones. The bruises were still visible, but they had been properly treated.
Beside them sat their mother.
She was leaning slightly forward and was carefully tracing her fingers through Mai's hair. Her touch was gentle and slow, as if afraid that even the smallest movement might wake them.
There was a faint smile on her face.
For a moment, she looked nothing like a woman trapped inside the Zenin clan. She just looked like a mother.
And in that moment, her figure overlapped my mother, then she noticed me. Her hand froze mid-motion and the smile vanished instantly, replaced with her usual indifferent face.
She quickly withdrew her hand from Mai's hair and straightened her posture, folding her hands neatly in her lap as she shifted into a perfect seiza position.
Her gaze dropped to the floor. She didn't look at me. Didn't dare.
Silence lingered in the room for a moment as I stepped inside and quietly closed the door.
I glanced at the two sleeping girls again then I looked at their mother. "Did they eat before they fell asleep?"
She nodded immediately. "Yes. They both finished their meals."
Her voice was quiet and respectful, with her gaze still on the floor.
I exhaled slowly, some tension leaving my chest.
A week with little food and water would have destroyed their stamina. Eating properly before sleeping would help their bodies recover faster.
Their mother remained completely still. Eyes down and hands folded. Like a servant waiting for instructions.
The silence stretched for a few seconds before she spoke again.
"…Did the talk go well?"
Her voice was careful; it the second time, she talked to me without me inciting it.
But I noticed the tiny pause before the word talk.
She didn't know. Of course she didn't.
A duel between clan members—especially one involving Ogi Zenin—wouldn't be casually discussed with the women of the household.
I looked back at Maki and Mai. Both of them were still sleeping peacefully.
Mai mumbled something unintelligible and shifted slightly closer to Maki.
"…Yeah," I finally said. "The talk went well." I didn't tell her I put her husband on the stretcher. The atmosphere wasn't right for that.
Their mother remained motionless. But I noticed something small. Her shoulders relaxed just a little but not enough for anyone else to notice.
"I see," she murmured softly. Her eyes stayed fixed on the floor as she said that.
After a moment I walked over and sat down near the wall across from them.
Once again silence stretched across the room and the quiet breathing of the two sleeping girls filled the room then their mother spoke again.
"…You shouldn't involve yourself with them." Her voice was softer this time, unlike what happened in the corridor. "It will only make things harder for them."
I leaned back slightly against the wooden wall. "Too late for that."
Silence again after that.
Her fingers tightened slightly against the fabric of her kimono.
"You don't understand this clan," she said quietly.
"Probably not," I admitted.
I looked at the two sleeping figures again. Maki shifted slightly in her sleep. Her brow furrowed faintly before relaxing again. Mai's hand had unconsciously grabbed the edge of Maki's sleeve.
"Hey, why do you still live here? Tolerating all the abuse with more pain waiting in the queue. Why not run away?" I know this is a foolish question, because if she ran away, they would kill her, but I still asked, wanting to hear her reply.
"..."
She didn't say anything to question, just continued to look at the floor.
Their mother's gaze flickered toward Maki and Mai for just a second before returning to the floor then she spoke in a very small voice.
"…Thank you."
I blinked and a smile forced into my face.
It was so quiet I almost thought I imagined it.
She didn't repeat it and didn't even look up, nor did she move from her seated position.
Just stayed in seiza, eyes lowered. But the meaning was clear....
Even in a clan like Zenin… Even in a life like hers… A mother was still a mother.
And that 'thank you' was enough answer to my question.
~~~
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