The room still hummed with the aftertaste of celebration. Crystal glasses clinked, soft laughter danced in the air, and the scent of vintage wine and roses lingered above the long obsidian dining table. Rina's red wedding gown was slightly stained with wine, her golden eyes wandering in every direction as she swayed in her chair, a soft smile on her lips and a warm blush painting her cheeks. Beside her, Leona was completely defeated by the alcohol—her white hair tousled, blue eyes barely open, limbs slumped in what could only be described as an elegant collapse.
In contrast, Jinrotschy sat with an unnerving calm. His sharp suit, obsidian-black from collar to boots, clung to his frame with predatory grace. His scarlet eyes shimmered with mischief, his gloved fingers curling around a glass of non-alcoholic pomegranate and grape juice, untouched by the haze of wine clouding the others.
Across from him sat his mother, Naoko rotschy, still and unreadable. Her silver hair flowed like moonlight, her black dress perfectly fitted, eyes as cold and quiet as the sea before a storm. She sipped her wine as if it were water—no trace of change in her composed expression.
Amelia Amberheart, however, had begun to drift beyond poise. Her cheeks were pink from wine, her words softer than usual, her fiery hair spilling like silk across the back of her chair. She leaned slightly to one side, a flicker of warmth softening her usually sharp gaze.
Without warning, jin stood and placed his drink gently on the table. He stepped onto the chair, then with theatrical flair, onto the table itself.
Rina blinked, lips parted slightly as she tried to register what he was doing. Naoko didn't flinch—she only followed him with her eyes, expression void of emotion, calculating.
jin crouched down across from Amelia, elbows resting on his knees like a cat studying its prey.
"Well then," he began smoothly, his voice tinged with mischief, "Lady Amberheart... mind if I ask a personal question?"
Amelia lifted an eyebrow, not quite registering the weight of her own expression. "That depends," she said, her voice low, tinged with amusement and wine. "Should I be worried?"
jin tilted his head. "Depends. How vivid is your memory of your wedding night?"
Naoko's fingers froze for just a fraction of a second on her glass. She didn't speak. She didn't need to. She was watching.
Amelia laughed—a soft, throaty sound. "You mean if I remember how it was? Darling, we didn't wait until the wedding."
A beat of silence passed. Rina choked slightly on her drink, turning redder than her gown.
Jin blinked—then smiled wider. "Before the engagement too, perhaps?"
Amelia rolled her eyes, waving a lazy hand. "What do you think?"
"Charming," he said, and turned his gaze toward his new bride. "What do you think, Rina? Is this the romantic legacy you dreamed of inheriting?"
Rina, still holding his cat Nxy in her arms, tightened her grip on the squirming white fluffball and gave Jene a glare through dazed golden eyes. "Stop it…" she muttered, cheeks burning. "You're being awful."
"Oh, I'm only getting started," he replied brightly, crouching lower on the table. "Should I ask Lady Amelia for more... maternal wisdom?"
Rina looked horrified. "Don't."
But Jene leaned closer to Amelia, grinning with devilish charm. "Tell me, Lady Amberheart—was it a gentle first time? Or... more tempestuous?" He tilted his head, mock-innocent. "Did you two dance all night long?"
Rina bolted upright. "JIN!"
He turned just in time to dodge a flying piece of cake that whizzed past his shoulder. He laughed, backing away as Rina rose to her feet, cheeks flushed with a mix of wine and fury.
"Off the table!" she barked, pointing at him with one hand, still holding the struggling cat with the other. "Now!"
Jin placed a hand on his heart in mock heartbreak. "Ah, the newlywed rage. I must've touched a nerve."
Amelia, despite everything, let out a soft laugh and shook her head. "You're impossible."
"That's what they say," he replied, jumping down with feline grace and reclaiming his seat beside Naoko, who hadn't moved an inch.
He picked up his juice again and took a long sip.
"You didn't stop him," Rina hissed toward Naoko as she settled down beside her again, voice just above a whisper.
Naoko replied without looking. "He did not cross the line. Yet."
Rina clenched her jaw and turned away, eyes catching her reflection in her glass—messy hair, flushed cheeks, and the shimmer of a diamond wedding ring.
She looked down at Nxy in her arms, the cat now resting quietly with a resigned sigh. Then she looked across the table again—at Jene, relaxed and charming, as if none of this were new to him. As if this strange new life they had just stepped into were merely a game he had always known how to play.
And perhaps it was.
She wasn't sure anymore if she was the bride or just another pawn on the board.
........
Heat: After this, the real questions will begin. Jin and Amelia will test each other with provocative and bold questions.