Chapter 52 – A Gentle Morning Before the Storm
The room was quiet.
Soft sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting golden patterns on the wooden floor. On the bed, Ruby and Minji lay asleep, breathing in sync, their bodies relaxed, tangled under a light blanket.
9:30 AM.
Downstairs, Lady Nina was lounging comfortably on the living room sofa, sipping tea. She glanced at the wall clock and raised an eyebrow.
Setting her cup down with a soft clink, Lady Nina exhaled deeply. The warm aroma of herbal tea lingered in the air as she glanced at the clock—9:30 a.m.
Only an hour and a half left until the meeting…
She stood slowly, brushing invisible wrinkles off her emerald silk robe. Her heels made soft clicks against the polished marble floor as she walked toward the staircase. The house was quiet—a little too quiet.
She ascended the stairs, one step at a time, her fingers grazing the cool mahogany handrail. When she reached the hallway, she paused in front of Ruby's room. The nameplate still had the faintly glowing golden engraving: Ruby Hale.
She raised her hand to knock—
But the door creaked open by itself.
Nina's brow furrowed slightly.
"That's odd," she murmured, voice barely above a whisper. "It's not locked?"
Carefully, she pushed the door open a little further and peeked inside.
---
The curtains were only partially drawn, allowing thin beams of morning light to streak across the wooden floor. The soft hum of the air purifier blended with the muffled ticking of the wall clock. The bedsheets were slightly tangled, and atop the mattress lay two girls—Ruby and Minji—fast asleep, limbs flopped over each other like lazy cats.
But it wasn't the sight of their messy sleep positions that caught Lady Nina's attention.
It was something at the foot of the bed.
Something moving.
A small, lion cub—its fur a shimmering blend of yellow-gold and soft ivory—was gleefully pawing at a blue rubber ball, batting it with its fluffy paws and occasionally chasing after it with playful grunts.
For a split second, Nina's brain refused to register what she was seeing.
Then—
"AAAAAAAAHHHH!!"
Her scream pierced the stillness like a blade.
Ruby's eyes flew open. So did Minji's. Both girls shot upright at once, hearts racing.
"What the hell?!" Minji yelped, clutching at her chest.
"Aunt Nina?" Ruby blinked, still groggy, then turned her gaze toward the door.
There stood Lady Nina—backed up against the wall, hand over her mouth, pointing a trembling finger at the cub. Her face had gone several shades paler than usual, eyes wide with pure disbelief.
Leo, completely unbothered, paused in his play. The tiny lion cub looked up at the stranger with big, round golden eyes and tilted his head innocently, as if to say:
"Why the scream, lady?"
Ruby let out a long sigh and rubbed her temples. "I swear… The one day I sleep in…"
She extended her hand.
Immediately, Leo perked up and pounced into her arms, tail flicking happily. He began licking her cheek with enthusiastic slurps.
"Okay, okay—calm down," she chuckled, scratching behind his soft ears. "You little sneak."
Leo gave a soft purr in response and curled into her lap like a golden ball of warmth.
Ruby looked up at her aunt, who was still catching her breath.
"Aunt Nina," she said gently, "this is Leo. He's my beast bond."
She paused a moment.
"He won't hurt anyone. He's family."
Nina's breathing slowed. She lowered her hand from her mouth, lips slightly parted in stunned realization.
A beast bond.
Her gaze lingered on the small creature now resting in Ruby's arms, and for a brief moment—just a flicker—something passed through her expression.
Sadness.
A flicker of memory. A face. A time long gone.
But just as quickly as it came, she blinked it away. Straightened her posture. Smoothed her robe.
"R-Right," she said, forcing a polite smile. "Of course. He's… adorable."
Ruby narrowed her eyes slightly. She didn't miss that hesitation.
But she said nothing.
Minji, meanwhile, had already flopped back into the bed with a groan.
"If one more person screams, I swear I'm jumping off the roof," she muttered, dragging a pillow over her head.
Ruby snorted.
Leo just yawned and nestled deeper into her lap, his tail twitching lazily.
And Nina—still holding that fleeting ache in her chest—turned and quietly stepped out of the room, leaving the door ajar behind her.
"Forget that," Nina said with a forced smile. "It's already 9:30. You both have a meeting in less than two hours."
That snapped Minji awake.
She sat up with half-lidded eyes, muttering, "Wait… what?" Then it hit her.
"Oh no. Oh shit."
She scrambled off the bed and ran straight to her room, yelling over her shoulder. "Why didn't you wake me up, Ruby?!"
Ruby chuckled, still holding Leo. "Because I was asleep too, genius."
She turned to the lion cub. "And you… when was the last time you had a bath?"
Leo gave an excited screech-like roar in reply, which made Ruby roll her eyes with a smile.
"Alright then. Let's get you cleaned up."
---
10:00 AM
Ruby sat at her dressing table, lightly dabbing her face with a towel. She didn't usually wear makeup, but today was different. It wasn't just another training session or routine check-in.
Ruby leaned toward the mirror, her eyes slightly heavy from a late night but still carrying that natural fire beneath them.
She kept her routine simple—just a touch of powder, a light cream to even out her skin, and her favorite citrus-scented moisturizer to wash away the fatigue lingering on her cheeks. No elaborate makeup. Just enough to feel like herself.
Her hands reached up to tie her hair—a daily gesture so ingrained she barely had to think.
But halfway through the motion, she paused.
Her fingers lingered in her hair, hesitating.
A voice echoed in her mind.
His voice.
> "Buns look good on you."
Clear as day. Moon's voice—teasing, warm, casual... but for some reason, it had stuck with her.
A beat passed.
And then, without even thinking, her lips curled into a quiet smile. Not a loud grin. Just a soft, content smile that only someone deeply affected would make.
Her hands moved instinctively, almost like muscle memory shaped by emotion.
She gathered her hair into a neat bun, twisting it smoothly, securing it in place with a practiced flick of the wrist. No pins, no clips—just a firm tie and a lingering memory.
She didn't question it.
She didn't want to.
---
Downstairs
The hallway lights were already on, casting a warm yellow hue across the wooden floorboards. Ruby walked with silent determination, her boots clicking softly as she passed the glass-paneled dining room.
On the table sat a sleek, jet-black keychain—her bike keys.
She scooped them up and turned toward the garage, but before leaving, she stopped in front of Minji's room.
Knock knock.
The door swung open almost instantly, as if Minji had been standing right behind it.
And there she was—draped in a flowing ancient-style Chinese robe, dark indigo with intricate silver thread patterns curling like wind across the hem and sleeves. The fabric shimmered like starlight, every fold and ripple catching the morning rays from the window behind her.
Despite the modest cut of the robe, it hugged her form in just the right places—elegant yet confident.
Ruby gave a low whistle. "Damn. Coming with me?"
Minji raised an eyebrow and gave her a look halfway between mockery and mild amusement. "Hah. No thanks."
She crossed her arms, lips curving with mischief.
"What do you think I am? A stray dog chasing your tail?"
She tilted her chin smugly.
"Xiao Clan sent a private car."
Ruby chuckled. "Of course they did."
Ruby smirked. "Fancy."
"Obviously."
And with that, they went their separate ways.
Ruby headed to the garage and hopped onto her bike. With a twist of the throttle, the engine roared to life. In seconds, she sped off—wind whipping against her face as she raced through the city streets.
---
The headquarters was bustling when she arrived.
Cars, armored vehicles, and even a few small spacecraft were lined up at the gates. Red-haired and white-haired figures were being ushered in—leaders, soldiers, advisors. Important people.
Ruby didn't wait for anyone.
She entered ahead of her designated group, ignoring protocol. She hated waiting in line. For her, it was pointless. A waste of time.
Inside, the Grand Meeting Hall opened up like a polished arena. Dozens of circular tables were spaced out evenly across the floor, with five chairs each. At the center, a long roundtable stretched out like a spine—white chairs on one side, red on the other and two black chairs also .
Ruby entered the grand meeting chamber in silence.
The hall was vast—vaulted ceilings lined with floating crystal orbs that gave off a soft, ambient glow. The clan banners hung high, swaying gently despite the absence of wind: a blazing phoenix for the Hale Clan, a silver-winged crest for the Xiao Clan.
Her boots made no sound as she walked across the polished stone floor. Without hesitation, she took her assigned seat—three rows from the center, close enough to matter, yet just far enough to be a subtle reminder.
She said nothing.
She simply sat—back straight, hands folded neatly in her lap—watching.
Eyes flicked toward her. She felt them—dozens of them—scanning her, measuring her, judging her.
Then—a hand touched her shoulder.
She turned.
Lyra Hale.
One of the most decorated and well-known heirs of the Hale Clan. Long crimson hair, perfectly tied into a braided crown. Impeccable white suit lined with red threads of authority. Her steps always deliberate. Her smile always practiced.
They shook hands.
The grip was measured, elegant—like two diplomats performing a choreographed gesture. From afar, it looked like a warm reunion. But Ruby knew better.
That glint in Lyra's eyes—cold, metallic, sharp—wasn't welcome.
It was resentment.
The kind that couldn't be masked, no matter how refined the smile.
And Ruby didn't return the warmth.
Just a nod. Courteous. Formal. Nothing more.
The kind of nod that says:
"We're family. But don't mistake me for an ally."
They both sat.
---
Across the chamber, the air shifted.
The white double doors opened in unison—precisely on time.
The Xiao Clan's entourage entered.
Tall, poised, and deliberate, each member wore flowing ceremonial robes of ivory and pale blue, embroidered with motifs of clouds and blades. Their white hair shimmered under the light, some tied in topknots, others cascading like silk.
Their arrival was like a single breath held by the room.
No one spoke as they took their seats—every movement synchronized, every footstep planned.
Ruby watched them closely. Her dark hair and simple red outfit stood in sharp contrast to both clans. She looked out of place.
Her gaze shifted—and found Minji.
Dressed in a royal-blue kimono, minimalist but regal, with the Xiao crest stitched just beneath her collarbone. Her hair was styled in a traditional bun, held in place with a sleek jade pin.
Minji moved like water—quiet, fluid, effortless.
She settled into her seat without a sound, legs crossed at the ankles, eyes lowered for just a moment. Then she looked up—and locked eyes with Ruby.
A pause.
Neither smiled. Neither nodded.
They didn't need to.
The look they shared spoke volumes: A silent pact.
A mutual understanding.
Two different worlds. One thread.
Then, as if on cue, both turned forward again—the meeting had yet to begin, but the real politics had already started.
The hall was nearly full now.
Guild representatives. Minor nobles. Independent allies.
Suddenly, Ruby felt someone sit beside her.
She turned.
James—in a peach-colored coat, paired with a soft ivory shirt and matching pants. He looked a little disheveled, like he had run part of the way here.
"Sorry, Ruby," he said with a crooked smile. "Got held up midway."
Ruby shook her head. "It's alright. I was waiting for you."
James glanced around, then noticed his name tag a few tables away.
"Looks like I'm seated over there," he said with a sigh. "Catch you later."
Ruby smiled and gave him a short nod.
She leaned back in her chair, gaze drifting across the hall again.
The meeting was about to begin.
And something in the air… felt heavier than usual.
To be continued…