The wine glasses clinked lightly, producing a sound akin to the bells in heaven.

The taste of the wine was elegant and subtle.

Natsuki Kuri sipped her wine gently: "This is really nice... When I was a child, I grew up in Hidden God Town and never had the habit of dining out. Since I became sensible, I always ate whatever my family brought to me without complaint, no matter how bad it tasted, how small the portion was, or even if it was something I disliked. Even now, to be honest, I still don't care much about anything."

"Fujiwara always said you were very obedient and cute as a child," Kawashima Miki said.

"In a big family, strict upbringing is a given..." Natsuki Kuri rubbed the rim of her glass with her fingers, thought for a moment, then said, "After leaving Hidden God Town, I went to high school in Tokyo. Under the guidance of my family, I began learning dining etiquette, knowledge of wines, the proper use of knives, forks, and spoons. I also learned how to select clothing, wear jewelry, and apply makeup. Even as a high school student, I had already firmly grasped these societal skills."

"In high school, all I knew was playing with sand at the beach," Kawashima Miki pressed her beautifully shaped lips against the rim of her glass.

Natsuki Kuri asked curiously, "Did you ever date anyone before? Like during your school days, someone you dated or wanted to date."

"No."

"Not even one?"

"Not even one," Kawashima Miki replied firmly, "To be honest, even when I had to use a bit of body language to entice senior officials and dignitaries, I never let anyone touch my body."

Meanwhile, the food was slowly being served.

Natsuki Kuri slightly tilted her head, forked an oyster from the cold dish into her mouth and asked, "How did you end up losing to Koriya?"

A hint of embarrassment appeared on Kawashima Miki's face: "Among all the people I've met, he's the only one who pretended not to know I was pretending and dared to lay hands on me directly..."

"Haha, a hunter disguised as prey encounters a more powerful hunter. Serves you right." Natsuki Kuri chuckled so much her mouth couldn't close, "But Koriya himself is a rascal, so it wasn't entirely unwarranted. When I was young, I thought he was really cute—charming looks, good personality, sweet talk, lots of heart-melting traits..."

The waiter brought the soup.

The conversation paused briefly, and resumed after the waiter left.

"It wasn't until I grew up that I realized how detestable his true nature was," Natsuki Kuri continued, "Inherently stingy, avoiding me since he couldn't play with me anymore. Not a skilled liar either, he could endure provocations, but the problem is he endured too much. At the very least, he should resist a bit, preferably by using a stick to whack my face..."

A waiter nearby looked over with a confused expression.

"Kuri!" Kawashima Miki signaled her to shut up quickly.

Natsuki Kuri obediently covered her lips with her hand.

Her nails were painted with transparent polish, looking like smooth jelly, tempting to lick.

Kawashima Miki reached out, gently holding her other hand on the table: "You and I trust each other. Right?"

Natsuki Kuri nodded concisely yet without reservation: "I like Miki the most!"

"We both like the same person and are equally willing to do anything for him," Kawashima Miki said, "Between you and me, it's a relationship where we could entrust our lives to each other... So can you tell me?"

Natsuki Kuri smiled slightly, then exhaled and said: "Tengu are born to fly freely in the sky."

Under the light of the night lamps, her expression was complex, with pride tinged by a bit of obsession.

Kawashima Miki looked at her, at a loss for words.

What is this person even talking about?

Raindrops kept sweeping across from the sea, hitting the glass windows.

The air was sticky, making it feel like the world was racing toward doom.

"I want him to stand tall, to show his majesty to the world, and to scold the creatures foolishly stirring in the dust," Natsuki Kuri looked at Kawashima Miki, whispering as if seeking affirmation, "To fly freely in the sky should be his life, rather than being tied down by human conventions. Right?"

Kawashima Miki's throat felt a bit dry.

She furrowed her beautiful brows, placing her hands on the table, fingers tightly interlocked.

No doubt about it.

As his wife, she would yearn for the Fujiwara Reya described by Natsuki Kuri.

Natsuki Kuri gently flicked the thin rim of the wine glass with her nails: "The education he received from childhood was all about becoming a decent and kind person. I'm not saying that's bad, but it limits him too much. In terms of his career, despite being in Tokyo for more than a year, he hasn't become the Demon King, and Asakusa Shrine is just beginning. Emotionally, he's dragging things with Rinko, stuck between the Kasahara sisters... "

Kawashima Miki was silent.

She wanted to muster a smile but failed.

The ceiling chandelier light swayed slightly amidst the wind and rain.

"If he didn't have to worry about his identity being exposed and could go all out, his path would definitely be much smoother," Natsuki Kuri propped one arm on the table, supporting her chin with her hand, and closed her eyes relaxing, "Tell me, wouldn't a world not controlled by Onmyo-ryo, a world in complete chaos, be more conducive to his growth?"

"But if you do so," Kawashima Miki bit her lower lip, "it will definitely damage your position in his heart..."

Natsuki Kuri's eyelashes trembled slightly.

After a moment, she slowly opened her eyes and glanced at Kawashima Miki: "You and he are in a stable relationship; this can only be done by me. It's okay, I am originally a bad woman."

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