The Snake in the Champagne Glass.

The Grand Gala was over, but in the streets of Shibuya, the party had left a bad taste in everyone's mouth. Everyone felt that something wasn't right. Mio's performance, her fall, and her tears, far from causing laughter, had generated a strange discomfort and unease. Rumors about the gala were on everyone's lips, but there was also another rumor, one that spread like wildfire on the internet, one that carried almost as much weight as the event itself. No one said it out loud, but a whisper was imminent.

Meanwhile, at the Shinomiya mansion, the atmosphere was relaxed and joyful. The Shinomiya family, along with Akira's parents, celebrated Seraphine's first victory over Mio with expensive champagne.

“ You destroyed her! ” Ryōma laughed, his cheeks flushed from alcohol. “ She ran away like a scared rat! ”

Seraphine was also there, holding a crystal glass, but at the same time she wasn't there. Her body was present, but her mind was still at the gala. She was pensive, her gaze lost in the bubbles of her drink. It wasn't a clean victory, she thought with frustration. Usually, a show like the one she had put on would have provoked massive booing from the crowd toward the newcomer. But that wasn't the case. There was silence. There was pity. The family felt they had won, but for a predator like Seraphine, it felt like a draw. The audience hadn't hated Mio; they had felt her pain and empathy, and all of that was a difficult shield to break through.

While Seraphine contemplated her next move, Akira watched her from afar. Raised among corporate sharks, Akira Takashima had keen instincts. Even to her, Seraphine did not seem like a simple businesswoman or an arrogant model. She seemed like a demon disguised as a fox. There was something inhuman about her perfection.

Seraphine, feeling Akira's gaze, looked up and made eye contact. Her blue eyes met Akira's. Slowly, Seraphine raised her glass in a mocking salute. Akira returned the greeting with a nod, somewhat awkward and stiff.

At that moment, Ren came up beside Akira. He gently took her by the arm and turned her around, putting her back to the blonde woman. “ Don't look at her so much. ” Ren whispered. “ There's something wrong with her, Ren. ” Akira murmured. “ I know. That girl is dangerous. ” Ren agreed, frowning. " Even for our family who hired her. She's unstable. Stay as far away from her as possible. "

Akira nodded, feeling a little safer with him nearby. But her father, Ryōma, didn't feel the same way. From the center of the room, he jumped up in excitement. “A toast!” he shouted. “To the future rule of Shinomiya and Takashima! Ren, come here!” Ryōma gestured for his son to come forward and toast alongside him. This impressed Ren; his father rarely shared the spotlight. Ren looked apologetically at Akira, but accepted more out of protocol than pleasure. He walked over to his father, leaving Akira alone near the windows.

While Ryōma spoke elegantly, Akira felt a sensation on her back. It wasn't a noise. It was atmospheric pressure. She felt as if a giant snake was slithering behind her, ready to strangle her.

" Your fiancé is obedient. That's boring. "

Akira tensed his muscles. He felt two cold hands touch his shoulders from behind. The touch was gentle, but the intention was so heavy that Akira felt like he couldn't breathe. It was Seraphine. Those hands on his shoulders were more than enough to make Akira panic. This woman... she was definitely a demon.

Seraphine tilted her head, bringing her lips close to Akira's ear, while everyone else looked at Ryōma. “ You have eyes that judge too much, dear. ” Seraphine whispered. Her words were laden with hatred and pent-up frustration. “ You have no right to look at me that way. ” She squeezed Akira's shoulders a little tighter. “ Even though your family paid a fortune for me to come and help you, make no mistake. I serve no one. I am far richer and more powerful than you and your pathetic family of technology assemblers. ”

Akira tried to move, but she was paralyzed with fear. “ And as for him... ” Seraphine looked at Ren. “ It would cost me nothing to take him away from you. I could snap my fingers and he would come to me. So be careful how you look at me next time. This is my first and last warning. ”

Seraphine let go of her and walked away with a soft laugh, blending into the crowd as if nothing had happened. Akira stood there trembling. She realized that Seraphine was no ordinary rival. She felt as if she were in a dark, empty room, alone. The fear of losing everything her status, her security, even her physical integrity hit her. She felt tears sting her eyes. She's a monster.

"¿Akira?"

Ren's voice pulled her out of that abyss. He had returned from the toast, noticing her pallor from afar. “ You're freezing. ” Ren said, concerned. “ What happened? ” Akira couldn't speak. Fear was still stuck in her throat. Without saying a word, and forgetting all the protocol and coldness that usually characterized her, Akira threw herself at him. She hugged him tightly, hiding her face in Ren's chest, desperately seeking the only safe haven she had left in that house full of predators.

Ren was taken aback, his arms in the air for a second, but when he felt her trembling, he lowered his hands and awkwardly returned her embrace. He didn't know what had happened.