Anne stared at the teacup for a few moments. Steam rose slowly. Finally, she let out a sigh, crossed one leg, and turned toward the garden.
"I confess, at first, having Elizabeth around was quite a challenge."
Asuka raised an eyebrow, curious, and remained silent as Anne continued, her tone now softer, confiding.
"As an aristocratic family, we learn early that there are things the world prefers to pretend don't exist. The supernatural isn't strange to us. So, her presence… didn't catch us completely off guard."
A small smile escaped her lips.
"Still, some rules were necessary. Horns, for example… should only appear among us. It's not wise to scare unsuspecting guests."
"Aren't you afraid she might attack someone?" Asuka asked.
"At first, I admit there was some concern. But she's far gentler than you might think—and, when necessary, perfectly discreet.
Anne let out a slight smile, her eyes roaming the garden.
"The staff have gotten used to it—they know when to intervene and when not to. Everything flows, quietly."
"No… with Kaido, it was different." Asuka crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow.
"Pfff… yes, you're right. That was unexpected." Anne sighed deeply, her face heavy with concern. "She's startled some guests before, but never crossed the line. Never like that."
Asuka's expression became serious, her fingers lightly drumming on the porcelain.
"So… she can lose control." Her shoulders tensed.
"Perhaps," Anne murmured. "I'll handle it. It won't happen again."
"Thank you, Lady Anne." Asuka relaxed as her tone softened.
"Just call me Anne, dear."
They sipped their tea in silence, steam rising softly into the air. Time seemed to slow, stretching quietly between one sip and the next.
"And Lili and Eliza… do they spar together?"
Anne's eyes lit up at the question.
"Yes. Eliza likes to teach her some techniques… and Emilie enjoys every moment." Anne paused briefly, laughing. "They argue, they laugh like children… I think I'm the mother of two little lunatics. It's nice to see her grow like this. Confident—even alongside someone so… unusual."
Asuka raised the cup to her lips, her eyes following Lili across the garden.
Eliza…
So that was it. That's how Lili
Anne watched her closely, as if she could read her thoughts in the expressions on Asuka's face. The corner of her lips lifted in a slight smile.
"I see why she likes you so much."
The comment took Asuka by surprise, and she raised her teacup in front of her face as if trying to hide.
- - -
In the immaculate garden in front of the porch, Kaido walked alongside Lili, the wide limestone slabs stretching evenly beneath their feet. The air smelled of freshly watered flowers, like a soft, expensive, refined perfume.
And for the first time since they arrived, he felt his shoulders a little lighter.
"Kaido… slow down, mon cher… are you running away from me?"
"I'm not running. Just keeping a safe distance." He replied with a smile, hands in his pockets.
She pressed a hand to her mouth, pretending to be shocked.
"Safe distance? Quelle cruauté!" She stepped closer. "I don't bite… unless you ask. Évidemment."
"You never stop, do you?" Kaido shook his head, unable to contain the smile.
With a proud air, Lili tossed her blonde hair before answering confidently:
"Stop? That's for those who don't know what they want… Meuh."
Kaido laughed, shaking his head as he turned to her, smiling—his gaze drifting past to Lili's shoulder, going deeper where Asuka watched them from the veranda. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and she immediately looked away, as if caught off guard. Kaido's smile wavered without him even realizing it.
But Lili noticed immediately. She stepped closer, leaning slightly toward him, studying him from the side, then murmured in a softer tone:
"Don't make that face, chéri… That makes me look like a villain."
Kaido crossed his arms, looking back to her.
"So… if you're not the villain, you'll answer two questions, right?" He held her gaze, waiting for her reaction.
Lili hesitated for a moment, eyes scanning Kaido, then a playful smile appeared. With a mischievous sparkle on her lips, she skipped past him in small ballet steps, as if dancing across the limestone slabs.
"Oui, très bien." She paused for a moment, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.
Kaido fell into step beside her, and they continued walking through the garden. After a moment, he asked thoughtfully:
"The jet, the reception when we landed… all that, it was a performance to impress Asuka, wasn't it?"
Lili looked at him, serious, rolling her eyes and tugging him by the arm to get closer.
"'Performance' is such an ugly word, Kaido. I prefer 'démonstration de classe'."
"So… it was to impress." Kaido raised an eyebrow.
"Hé hé! D'accord, d'accord… maybe a little." She gave a mischievous smile, then winked at him. "But mostly just a modest way to surprise everyone."
"Ha… You Europeans really have a funny way of defining 'modesty'." Kaido sighed.
Lili covered her mouth, stifling a laugh, she was enjoying herself.
"And you have an adorable way of talking nonsense without realizing it."
"Is that a compliment or a tease?"
"A bit of both."
Lili laughed, tilting her head to rest it on his shoulder. Kaido stole another glance past her, trying to spot Asuka, but she caught him immediately.
"Pff… you're that worried about her?"
"Well, when she finds out everything, she's certainly going to kill me." Kaido scratched the back of his neck.
"Oh, chéri, if she wanted you dead, you wouldn't even be here."
He turned to Lili, focusing on her eyes—those blue eyes shining with pure amusement.
"And you, do you want me dead?" he asked.
"Moi? For now…" Lili brought her hand gracefully to her chest.
She released his arm and took two steps forward, leaving him behind, hands clasped behind her back.
"As long as you keep your side of the deal… and don't tell anyone…" She glanced over her shoulder, a slow, mischievous smile appearing. "You'll stay alive."
"Is that supposed to reassure me?" Kaido laughed.
Lili approached again, too close, her face just inches from his—Kaido could feel the soft, expensive, refined perfume blending over the garden scent.
"Chéri…" Her smile widened. "You're too much fun to waste."
Kaido swallowed hard. He looked away, trying to regain composure, running a hand through his hair.
"What luck… I've become private entertainment now?" he murmured, trying to laugh, but the sound came out weaker than he intended.
Lili giggled and spun on her heels, almost skipping away into the shadows of the trees.
"Alors, monsieur interrogateur… what's the next question?"
The path ahead opened into a small roundabout, with a fountain dividing the route. Lili circled the fountain on the right side with animated steps, while Kaido walked on the left, slowly, one hand on his chin, thoughtful.
"Lili, do you know who attacked the Kazama dojo?"
Hearing the question, she stopped on the other side of the roundabout, visibly annoyed.
"Ugh."
"Lili?" Kaido asked, noticing she didn't answer.
She moved toward the left of the fountain, her pace slow and her expression heavy. She stopped in front of him, arms crossed and a hand to her chin, eyeing him with disdain.
"Don't you have anything more fun to talk about?"
"I really need to know, Lili. Asuka won't tell me, and everyone avoids saying who it was."
Lili stayed silent, just staring at him—eyes locked on his.
"You know…" Kaido continued carefully, "she let slip the name Feng—"
That name hit her like a snap. Kaido stopped speaking when he saw Lili's eyes widen for a brief moment. Then she turned her face away, nervously biting her thumb—completely out of control.
Punaise… t'es une idiote, Asuka.[1]
That was enough. Lili's reaction was all he needed. A crooked smile appeared on his face—not of relief, but of pure excitement.
"Hum… Feng Wei."
"Hein…?" Lili narrowed her eyes.
Her stomach tightened in immediate recognition. That smile—she knew it too well. It wasn't concern, it wasn't anger, it was anticipation.
"Non, non! Je connais bien ce sourire… et c'est hors de question.[2]"
Kaido blinked, as if he didn't understand what she meant. The smile gradually faded as he looked away, scratching his neck, forcing a casual air.
"What's wrong with my smile?"
Lili approached without hesitation, walking steadily until she was right in front of him, and placed a hand on her hip.
"Don't play dumb."
"I know that look, Kaido. You want to face him…"
Her hand rose slowly, resting gently on his cheek, forcing him to maintain eye contact.
"Haa… but Feng is out of the question, especially for someone like you."
"But I can't stand still if Feng shows up again, Lili. I won't let her deal with him alone."
Lili pinched his cheek as if scolding a child.
"Be careful what you promise, Kaido… some shadows never disappear."
"So they've faced each other?"
"Maybe 'face each other' isn't quite the right word…"
She gave a melancholy smile, looking away for a moment. Her gaze swept the garden, resting on Asuka, still speaking with her mother in the distance.
"The fact that Asuka didn't tell you anything says more than you need to know."
Lili stepped away, turning her back to him and taking a step forward, with an elegant but tense posture.
"Asuka is smarter than she seems," she said without turning. "She knows perfectly well you'd try to help… without thinking of the consequences. And now, seeing your enthusiasm, I understand why."
She paused, took a deep breath, then slowly turned to him, her serious gaze piercing his expression.
"Feng Wei is an extremely dangerous martial arts master. His style… is brutal. Focused on eliminating the opponent precisely, coldly… and, above all, painfully."
"That's exactly why I can't leave her alone," he said firmly.
"To help her, you'd first need to be at her level… and you're far from it."
"Wait and see when I defeat you."
"Hahaha! I'll be waiting for that day, mon amour." She winked mischievously, making it clear she wasn't just joking.
Kaido walked slowly, hands resting on the back of his neck with teasing smile.
"You'll see… one day I'll even defeat Eliza."
As he passed Lili, he suddenly felt his shirt being pulled. He looked back and saw her head down, hair partially covering her face. Seeing her like that made him uneasy.
"Lili… what's wrong?"
She hesitated, biting her lip, before murmuring almost to herself.
"I just wanted someone willing to do everything for me…"
Kaido fell silent for a moment, surprised by the confession. But before he could respond, Lili lifted her head Her cheeks flushed pink, eyes locking on his with a shimmering intensity. She bit her lower lip again, fingers grazing his chest as she leaned in, the space between them narrowing with every heartbeat.
"Eliza had no right to kiss you!"
Kaido began to step back, feeling the danger in her gaze. This was a Lili he had never seen before—vulnerable… and intense. He struggled to stay composed as his chest started pounding.
Before he knew it, he was pressed against a wall of hedges. He swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry, captivated by Lili's shimmering gaze and her flushed, inviting lips.
"Lili…" he tried to speak.
Her delicate finger rested on his lips, silencing him.
"Chuu!"
Before he could even draw a breath, Lili rose onto her tiptoes. She bunched the fabric of his shirt in her fists and pulled him down, closing the final inch between them. Her lips met his in an impetuous, hungry kiss—a decisive claim that left no room for doubt.
[1] Damn it… you’re an idiot, Asuka.
[2] No, no! I know that smile… and it’s out of the question.