Irielle's employees watched her pace back and forth across the business floor, her boots striking hard against the polished wood.

Her sharp expression and furrowed brows made the room feel heavier with every step.

No one dared approach her; all of them knew that if they misstepped now, she looked like she might bite their heads off.

And yet, that same intensity also made them feel safer. The troublesome customers who often came to provoke or haggle always thought twice when Irielle was present.

The sheer force of her presence was enough to silence complaints before they were voiced.

Finally, she stopped pacing and sat down, dragging a deep breath through her nose. Her eyes closed, her shoulders lowering a fraction.

The employees exchanged glances, silently relieved. When she exhaled that long, steady sigh, it meant she had at least pushed her irritation down.

But the momentary peace shattered when the door creaked open.

A man stepped inside, tall, with the same shade of blond hair as Irielle.

His sharp gaze swept across the establishment with thinly veiled disdain, as if nothing here was worth his attention.

The employees stiffened, their instincts screaming that this was not an ordinary visitor.

His eyes landed on Irielle.

"I'm here to talk to you."

He said, voice smooth but heavy with authority.

Irielle did not move. Her eyes remained closed, her face still and cool, as if he didn't exist. She leaned back in her chair, deliberately ignoring him.

The man's lips twitched upward into a cold smile.

"If you insist on ignoring me, something bad may happen to your lover. You wouldn't want that, would you? After all…"

His voice sharpened.

"…our goddess has her eyes on your beloved human. I believer her name is Kana, right?"

The sound of that name shattered Irielle's composure. Her eyes snapped open, glowing faintly with restrained fury, and her glare locked on him.

Her voice was ice when she spoke.

"Father. What do you mean by those words?"

The room froze. Every employee stiffened as the weight of her words sank in.

Irielle rose slowly to her feet, her glare cutting through the air like a blade.

"I told you before—I want nothing to do with you, your goddess, or your precious rules. I left, and I'm not coming back."

Her father regarded her calmly, unshaken by her anger. With a sigh, he shook his head, as though disappointed in a stubborn child.

"Coming back or not is your decision. But make no mistake—you'll regret it. The goddess has issued a capture order for your beloved human. That much is not up for debate."

His eyes gleamed as he leaned closer.

Irielle's heart clenched, though her face betrayed nothing but rage.

"Why? Why Kana?"

She demanded, her voice low, dangerous.

"I don't know, and I didn't dare to ask either . Her interest is her own. But if you wish to understand the reason, you'll have to return."

Her father admitted, though his tone carried no uncertainty.

Her jaw tightened, her fists curling at her sides.

"Never."

Her father regarded her one last time, then turned toward the door.

"Then prepare yourself to lose her."

Without another word, he left, his presence lingering like a shadow even after the door shut behind him.

Silence pressed down on the room. Her employees shifted uneasily, but none dared to speak. They had seen enough to understand this was beyond them.

Irielle stood frozen for a long moment, her chest rising and falling with suppressed fury. The thought of Kana—of their goddess laying claim to her—made her stomach twist and her blood burn.

She hated it. Hated the way her father and that goddess treated lives like pawns in their games.

Finally, she forced herself to move.

"I'm leaving early. If you have a problem, then learn to resolve it on your own somehow. Don't call for me."

She muttered, her voice rough. None of her employees argued.

She stormed through the streets, her mind racing, her body vibrating with rage.

By the time she reached the house, her face was composed again, but the storm inside her had not calmed.

She went straight to Kana's room.

Kana was asleep, her expression peaceful, her body relaxed after the exhausting ordeal.

The sight eased Irielle's anger slightly, but her chest still tightened. She lingered by the doorway until Lysera, who sat in a chair by the bedside, turned to her.

"You're back early. What happened?"

Lysera said, her voice quiet, careful not to wake Kana. She noticed the tension in Irielle's shoulders.

Irielle hesitated, caught between the urge to bury it and the need to share. For a moment, silence hung heavy.

But then she looked at Kana again, and the memory of her father's words hit her like a knife. She couldn't keep this hidden.

"My father came to see me."

Irielle admitted, her tone tight.

Lysera stiffened, instantly attentive.

"And?"

"He said the goddess has set her eyes on Kana. She's issued a capture order."

The words left Irielle's lips bitterly.

Lysera's eyes widened, alarm flashing across her face before her jaw tightened. She looked at Kana, then back at Irielle.

"Why Kana?"

"He didn't know. He told me if I wanted answers, I'd have to return."

Irielle muttered, though her voice trembled with restrained fury.

Lysera narrowed her eyes.

"And will you?"

"No. I told him I'm never going back. Not to him. Not to her. Never."

Irielle said at once, the force in her voice shaking.

Lysera studied her silently, then gave a small nod.

"This feels like a complicated matter. If the goddess has issued an order, we can't take this lightly."

Irielle's eyes softened as she looked at Kana's sleeping face. She brushed a stray strand of hair away gently, her voice a whisper filled with quiet defiance.

"She's not taking her. No matter what it costs."

Lysera said nothing, but the look in her eyes carried the same vow.

Together, they kept watch, their shared determination binding them in silence.

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