Aiden's heart stirred, and he turned to glance back. But by then, the woman's figure had already vanished, he could only faintly hear her slightly playful, charming voice.
"I heard you're hiring a live singer here?"
At this mont, Aiden had already been pulled outside by Helena. After finishing her call, Helena noticed Aiden glancing back toward the bar and curiously asked, "Aiden, what's wrong? Don't tell you still want to drink? I already called the driver."
Aiden shook his head and said half-truthfully, "No, it's just that soone ca in asking if we needed a live singer."
"In that case, if we co to drink again tomorrow, we might get to hear her sing too!" Helena said happily. Her mother was a singer, and her own dream was to beco one as well, she loved music deeply.
"Maybe, but only if they can afford to keep her." Aiden shrugged. Ryon was poor, and since the bar wasn't even theirs, it might be hard to keep soone like that around. Still, they'd know for sure tomorrow.
In truth, he really wanted to go back inside to take a look, but just as that thought crossed his mind, a luxury car pulled up in front of them.
Waving at the driver who had just stepped out, Helena said to Aiden, "Aiden, get in."
So Aiden dismissed the thought and got into the back seat.
To his surprise, Helena got in too, and after closing the door, she placed her little dog, Amy, in the middle between them.
The driver seed a bit surprised as well. He glanced at Aiden through the rearview mirror but said nothing, only asking, "Miss, are we heading straight ho?"
"Take him ho first." Helena pointed at Aiden, then asked, "Aiden, where are you staying?"
"XX Hotel," Aiden replied casually.
"Then let's go there, driver."
With Helena's words, the luxury car slowly started moving.
As it did, Aiden looked once more toward the entrance of the bar, but no one ca out.
Maybe… he really would see her again tomorrow.
Aiden thought to himself, lost in thought.
Not long after, the car stopped in front of the hotel.
As Aiden stepped out, Shinichiro, who had been waiting at the entrance for a while, quickly rushed over and bowed respectfully to him.
From inside the car, Helena saw this scene and frowned slightly. As the daughter of a prestigious family, she imdiately recognized who Shinichiro was.
'The head of the Kagura Family's European Branch in France… and he's showing that kind of respect to Aiden!'
'How does he have ties with the Japanese Kagura family?'
While Helena was lost in thought, Aiden dismissed Shinichiro, then turned to her and said, "Thanks for the ride."
Helena pushed aside her curiosity for now and smiled nonchalantly. "You bought a drink, I gave you a ride ho. Seems fair to ."
Then she picked up little Amy, lifted one of her paws, and waved it at Aiden. "Amy, say goodbye to Aiden."
"Woof, woof…"
Amy, understanding human speech, barked twice obediently at Aiden.
Even Aiden, who wasn't usually fond of small dogs, couldn't help but smile. After waving back at both of them, he turned and walked into the hotel lobby.
Only after his figure disappeared from sight did Helena tell the driver to start the car again. However, as they left, Helena noticed that Shinichiro, the middle-aged man, was frowning, talking on his phone, and staring intently in her direction.
Unfortunately, the car door was already closed, otherwise, she might have heard what he said…
"Miss, Mr. Aiden was drinking tonight, and the one who brought him back was Helena, Douglas's daughter."
"Yes, that Douglas, from DOATEC…"
"Alright, I'll send her photo over right away…"
———
Back in his room, Aiden lay on the bed for a while before getting up to take a shower.
When he ca out, just as he was about to hand his dirty clothes to the maid waiting outside, his phone rang.
He went back into the bedroom and saw that the call was from Maki.
Aiden froze for a mont, then glanced at the clock. It was past ten at night. Japan and France had a seven-hour ti difference, aning it was early morning over there.
Had she not slept all night? Or was she having trouble sleeping again?
Answering the call, Aiden asked carefully, "Maki, why are you calling at this hour?"
"I suddenly woke up and couldn't fall back asleep, so I thought I'd ask how things are going over there," Maki said softly. Beside her, Chizuru was still fast asleep.
So she just woke up… Aiden sighed in relief and said, "It's been good, mostly thanks to how well you arranged everything."
'But I definitely didn't arrange for you to et Helena…'
Maki glanced down at the photo in her hand, a fax the maid Yumiko had just delivered. It showed Helena back in middle school.
Suddenly, Maki didn't feel like talking anymore. She felt irritated, why did she always end up facing opponents she couldn't easily beat?
What made her even more frustrated was that Aiden had only been gone for a few hours, and he'd already chard a beautiful woman. If he stayed there for a few more days, would he bring back a whole group of them?
Thinking this, Maki bit her lip and then said, "Aiden, can you co back a bit sooner?"
"What's wrong? I haven't even found the person yet!"
"Because… I miss you."
"What? Say that again."
Aiden froze for a mont. In fact, he hadn't clearly heard what Maki said, those words had been murmured so softly they almost sounded like a hum through her nose.
But getting her to repeat them was impossible, because right after saying that, the shrine maiden quietly mumbled, I'm going to sleep now, hung up, and tossed her phone aside.
She didn't have the courage to say that kind of thing twice.
Pulling the blanket over her head, she lay there for a while before peeking out again to look at her sister. The proud, cool-headed older-sister type was sleeping ssily, one leg draped over her, the blanket tangled and half-kicked away, and her silk pajamas had ridden up, revealing her smooth stomach… and a glimpse of her chest.
'So indecent-looking!'
Maki poked her sister's side with a finger, but she didn't stir.
"Sleeping like a rock… if Aiden and she ever… ugh, no, I shouldn't think about that."
A little envious of her sister's carefree attitude, Maki carefully pulled the blanket out from under her sister's leg, tucked her in, then picked up her phone again. She stared at the contact labeled "Brother-in-law," hesitated for a long ti, but ultimately didn't change it.
"Let's just leave it like that for now."
Putting her phone away, Maki lay back down. But this ti, she really couldn't fall asleep…
———
anwhile, on Aiden's side, feeling a bit puzzled, Aiden scratched his head but didn't think much of it, nor did he call back.
"Better let her have a good night's sleep."
———
[At the Yata Shrine, 7 a.m.]
As the alarm went off, a snow-white arm stretched out from under the blanket, groping around beside the pillow.
After a while, Chizuru still couldn't find the alarm clock, so she grumbled like she always did, "Sister, can you turn off the alarm for ?"
But to her surprise, even after a while, the alarm kept ringing.
With no other choice, Chizuru forced her eyes open, and was startled.
Her sister was sitting on the tatami, wrapped in a blanket, looking utterly dejected. Those usually beautiful eyes were now blank and unfocused.
No, Chizuru realized, her sister wasn't even looking at her.
"Sister… what's wrong?" Chizuru asked softly. In all her life, she had never seen her sister look this down before.
But Maki didn't seem to hear her.
Swallowing nervously, Chizuru crawled over, turned off the annoying alarm, and knelt in front of her sister, tilting her head up to look at her.
"Couldn't sleep?" Chizuru noticed the faint dark circles under Maki's eyes.
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