Chapter 106: The Red Carpet (Is Just Grass)

Crown Prince Takahito is speaking.

He has been speaking for twenty minutes.

He is talking about economic stability and traditional values.

It is the most boring boss battle cutscene in history.

I am standing behind the gardening shed. My heart is hammering against my ribs like a frantic bird.

"Okay," Rika whispers, adjusting my earpiece. "Hiroto says the cameras are all on Takahito. Toujo is in position near the stage. Daiki says the Emperor is at the koi pond, just like he promised. He is feeding the fish."

"Feeding them?"

"Daiki says he is power-leveling them."

Of course he is.

I take a deep breath.

I am wearing midnight-blue silk armor. I have war paint on my face. I am Bloody Twilight.

"Time to end this cutscene," I mutter.

I step out from behind the shed.

I do not walk. I march.

It is a long walk across the Great Lawn.

At first, no one notices. They are all too busy pretending to listen to Takahito.

Then, a gasp.

It starts at the back. It is like a ripple in a pond.

People turn. They see me.

A girl in a dress that looks like a thunderstorm is marching across the sacred Imperial lawn like she owns it.

Takahito stops speaking. He sees me.

His face turns a magnificent shade of purple.

"Security!" he barks into the microphone. It screeches.

Three large men in dark suits start running toward me.

They are fast. I am in heels. This is bad.

Suddenly, a tray of champagne glasses flies through the air.

It is a beautiful, glittering arc of destruction.

It lands right in front of the security guards.

CRASH.

The guards slip. They slide. They go down in a pile of expensive suits and broken glass.

"OH NO!" Toujo screams, standing nearby and looking completely innocent. "I HAVE TRIPPED! THE HORROR! MY CATERING CAREER IS RUINED!"

He winks at me.

Good job, Toujo.

I keep walking.

I am close to the stage now.

I see Fuji.

He is standing behind his father. He looks pale, tired, and defeated.

Then he sees me.

His eyes go wide. He takes a small step forward.

I do not stop. I do not look at Takahito. I look straight at Fuji.

I give him my smallest, most dangerous smirk.

I am here to rescue you, Ice Prince.

Takahito is furious. "Seize her! Someone seize that insolent commoner!"

More guards are coming.

I need another distraction.

"Testing! Testing! One, two!"

It is Hiroto's voice. It is booming over the massive speakers.

He has hijacked the sound system.

"Ladies and gentlemen! We apologize for the interruption! We are experiencing technical difficulties due to EXTREME AMOUNTS OF AWESOME ON THE LAWN!"

A pop song starts playing. It is Hiroto's latest hit, Rebel Heart.

It is chaos.

Rich people are confused. Takahito is screaming.

And I just keep walking. I walk straight past them all. I head toward the koi pond.

I head toward the Final Boss.