Chapter 64:
Chapter 65 — The Weight of Choices
My New Home
◽Inside the House◽
Hedda continued to study Astrid’s face carefully.「Are you sure? Even if it means your sister has him all to herself?」Astrid nodded once, composed.「There’s no need for love. He’s here to fulfill a promise.」Hedda exhaled softly.「Okay… if you say so.」
Ingrid leaned into Psyc, her voice curious.「So what are you going to do?」Psyc’s hand rested possessively on her hip.「Give them a choice. Negotiate with those barbarians before I kill them.」Ingrid giggled.「Oh? Why do it that way?」Psyc chuckled darkly.「Self-defense. Looks better on camera when the news runs the headlines.」「Wow… you really are evil. You know that?」She traced idle circles on his chest.Psyc smirked.「I know. Now—let’s get a hotel room. I need to be well-rested before what I’m about to do.」「Sure. I’ll take you to one.」She glanced at Astrid.「So, little sister… can I borrow your man?」Astrid rolled her eyes.「Go ahead. No need to ask me.」
Ingrid released Psyc and rushed over, pulling Astrid into a hug.
「Don’t worry, Astrid. I’ll take good care of him.」She giggled.「When he comes back to you, he’ll know everything about you.」Astrid blinked, confused.「What?」Ingrid smiled knowingly.「Don’t worry. Secrets will stay secrets.」
She stepped back, linking arms with Psyc.
「So, Maryson—are we going now?」Ingrid asked eagerly.Psyc chuckled.「Call me Psyc. And besides—lunch and dinner would be better, don’t you think?」「Yeah, Psyc. You’re right.」She giggled again.Psyc glanced at the hovering drone.「Iris, make sure nothing bad happens—and record everything.」⟦I already am, Dad⟧ Iris replied smoothly.He then turned to Hedda.「See you tomorrow, Aunt Hedda.」「Alright. See you then.」Hedda smiled and waved.
Ingrid and Psyc left together, the door closing behind them.
Emil remained standing—disappointed.「Skal du virkelig la datteren vår dra med det monsteret?」(“Are you really going to let our daughter leave with that monster?”)Hedda sighed calmly.「Det monsteret er grunnen til at dette landet vil komme seg ut av søppelbrannen det er fanget i.」(“That monster is the reason this country will climb out of the dumpster fire it’s in.”)Astrid hesitated, then spoke.「Men mor… far har et poeng. Han er altfor ustabil.」(“But mother… father has a point. He’s far too unhinged.”)Hedda looked at her kindly.「Datter, grunnen til at jeg er i perfekt helse nå er på grunn av ham. Dessuten er han sønnen til min avdøde beste venn—så stol på meg når jeg sier at alt du så var en forestilling.」(“Daughter, the reason I’m in perfect health now is because of him. And he’s the son of my late best friend—so trust me when I say everything you saw was a performance.”)Astrid frowned.「Selv den delen hvor han skal ligge med Ingrid?」(“Even the part where he’s going to sleep with Ingrid?”)Hedda chuckled knowingly.「Ikke si at du er sjalu nå.」(“Don’t tell me you’re jealous now.”)Astrid looked away quickly.「Hva? Nei, det er jeg ikke.」(“What? No, I’m not.”)Hedda smiled.「Greit, hvis du sier det. Men nei—han og søsteren din kommer ikke til å gjøre det.」(“Alright, if you say so. But no—he and your sister aren’t going to do it.”)Emil clenched his jaw.「Og du er bare helt grei med det?」(“And you’re just okay with this?”)Hedda rolled her eyes.「Dere vet det kanskje ikke, men han er Keiseren av Militia. Og akkurat nå er landet der en av mødrene til barna hans bor, utrygt for dem.」(“You may not know this, but he’s the Emperor of Militia. And right now, the country where one of the mothers of his children lives is unsafe for them.”) She laughed—soft, sinister.Emil stiffened.「Vent… nei. Du mener ikke—」(“Wait… no. You don’t mean—”)Hedda’s gaze turned predatory.「Jo. Det er genialt i all sin enkelhet.」(“Yes. It’s brilliant in its simplicity.”)Aksel frowned.「Hva snakker du om?」(“What are you talking about?”)Hedda smiled at her son.「Ikke bekymre deg. Du finner ut av det i morgen.」(“Don’t worry. You’ll find out tomorrow.”)【Faen… hvis det er sant, da vil alt bli ødelagt.】(“Shit… if that’s the case, then everything will be ruined.”) Emil straightened.「Hvis dere trenger meg, er jeg på kontoret mitt.」(“If you’re looking for me, I’ll be in my study.”) He left the room.
◽Back in Japan◽
Shizuko and her siblings sat in the living room watching television, curled comfortably on the couch.In the kitchen, Hana and Hinata worked quietly together.
「So… a question. Why JJ?」Hana asked curiously.Hinata smiled faintly.「Unlike my family, he made me feel seen.」Hana hesitated.「You know he slept with you to get back at your brother, right?」Hinata giggled softly.「I know. But Hana… I come from a family that demands perfection. Girls aren’t even allowed to have friends from middle or lower classes.」【So she really was a bird in a cage…】Hana thought.Hinata switched tasks.「But JJ was different. He taught me I’m more than a rose under glass—I’m a person. I’m sure he did that for you too.」Hana laughed quietly.「Yeah… though his sex drive can be a bit much sometimes.」Hinata laughed with her.「True—but don’t you two have limits?」「Huh?」Hinata tilted her head playfully.「At least you have a safe word, right?」Hana paused.「No… we don’t.」Hinata sighed and faced her fully.Hana shifted uncomfortably.「Um… Hinata?」「Looks like I’ll have to teach you—and the others—the art of seduction.」Hana swallowed.「Isn’t it okay to just go at his pace?」Hinata shook her head.「No. He’ll get bored of that. If you don’t resist sometimes, what’s the point?」Hana blushed.「I was taught how to keep a man… not how to seduce one.」Hinata nodded knowingly.「Figures. Just remember—JJ’s like every other man. Sometimes you should be within reach. Other times, just out of it. That’s how you keep a bedroom alive into old age.」Hana hesitated.「How do you know all this?」Hinata scoffed lightly.「JJ left Japan not knowing anything about Akira. What do you think we did during that half hour?」Hana flushed, then composed herself.「So… you controlled the pace.」Hinata smirked.「Exactly. Outside the house, JJ’s strongest. Inside the house—it’s the mother of his children who holds power. The sooner you make it a home, the more sway you’ll have—so long as you don’t destroy the hierarchy.」Hana recalled Emiko’s words.「Ms. Mori said something like that too.」Hinata smiled.「She was right. Remember—wife first, mother second. Support him, don’t fight him. Do that… and he’ll become the husband you need.」
Hedda continued to study Astrid’s face carefully.「Are you sure? Even if it means your sister has him all to herself?」Astrid nodded once, composed.「There’s no need for love. He’s here to fulfill a promise.」Hedda exhaled softly.「Okay… if you say so.」
Ingrid leaned into Psyc, her voice curious.「So what are you going to do?」Psyc’s hand rested possessively on her hip.「Give them a choice. Negotiate with those barbarians before I kill them.」Ingrid giggled.「Oh? Why do it that way?」Psyc chuckled darkly.「Self-defense. Looks better on camera when the news runs the headlines.」「Wow… you really are evil. You know that?」She traced idle circles on his chest.Psyc smirked.「I know. Now—let’s get a hotel room. I need to be well-rested before what I’m about to do.」「Sure. I’ll take you to one.」She glanced at Astrid.「So, little sister… can I borrow your man?」Astrid rolled her eyes.「Go ahead. No need to ask me.」
Ingrid released Psyc and rushed over, pulling Astrid into a hug.
「Don’t worry, Astrid. I’ll take good care of him.」She giggled.「When he comes back to you, he’ll know everything about you.」Astrid blinked, confused.「What?」Ingrid smiled knowingly.「Don’t worry. Secrets will stay secrets.」
She stepped back, linking arms with Psyc.
「So, Maryson—are we going now?」Ingrid asked eagerly.Psyc chuckled.「Call me Psyc. And besides—lunch and dinner would be better, don’t you think?」「Yeah, Psyc. You’re right.」She giggled again.Psyc glanced at the hovering drone.「Iris, make sure nothing bad happens—and record everything.」⟦I already am, Dad⟧ Iris replied smoothly.He then turned to Hedda.「See you tomorrow, Aunt Hedda.」「Alright. See you then.」Hedda smiled and waved.
Ingrid and Psyc left together, the door closing behind them.
Emil remained standing—disappointed.「Skal du virkelig la datteren vår dra med det monsteret?」(“Are you really going to let our daughter leave with that monster?”)Hedda sighed calmly.「Det monsteret er grunnen til at dette landet vil komme seg ut av søppelbrannen det er fanget i.」(“That monster is the reason this country will climb out of the dumpster fire it’s in.”)Astrid hesitated, then spoke.「Men mor… far har et poeng. Han er altfor ustabil.」(“But mother… father has a point. He’s far too unhinged.”)Hedda looked at her kindly.「Datter, grunnen til at jeg er i perfekt helse nå er på grunn av ham. Dessuten er han sønnen til min avdøde beste venn—så stol på meg når jeg sier at alt du så var en forestilling.」(“Daughter, the reason I’m in perfect health now is because of him. And he’s the son of my late best friend—so trust me when I say everything you saw was a performance.”)Astrid frowned.「Selv den delen hvor han skal ligge med Ingrid?」(“Even the part where he’s going to sleep with Ingrid?”)Hedda chuckled knowingly.「Ikke si at du er sjalu nå.」(“Don’t tell me you’re jealous now.”)Astrid looked away quickly.「Hva? Nei, det er jeg ikke.」(“What? No, I’m not.”)Hedda smiled.「Greit, hvis du sier det. Men nei—han og søsteren din kommer ikke til å gjøre det.」(“Alright, if you say so. But no—he and your sister aren’t going to do it.”)Emil clenched his jaw.「Og du er bare helt grei med det?」(“And you’re just okay with this?”)Hedda rolled her eyes.「Dere vet det kanskje ikke, men han er Keiseren av Militia. Og akkurat nå er landet der en av mødrene til barna hans bor, utrygt for dem.」(“You may not know this, but he’s the Emperor of Militia. And right now, the country where one of the mothers of his children lives is unsafe for them.”) She laughed—soft, sinister.Emil stiffened.「Vent… nei. Du mener ikke—」(“Wait… no. You don’t mean—”)Hedda’s gaze turned predatory.「Jo. Det er genialt i all sin enkelhet.」(“Yes. It’s brilliant in its simplicity.”)Aksel frowned.「Hva snakker du om?」(“What are you talking about?”)Hedda smiled at her son.「Ikke bekymre deg. Du finner ut av det i morgen.」(“Don’t worry. You’ll find out tomorrow.”)【Faen… hvis det er sant, da vil alt bli ødelagt.】(“Shit… if that’s the case, then everything will be ruined.”) Emil straightened.「Hvis dere trenger meg, er jeg på kontoret mitt.」(“If you’re looking for me, I’ll be in my study.”) He left the room.
◽Back in Japan◽
Shizuko and her siblings sat in the living room watching television, curled comfortably on the couch.In the kitchen, Hana and Hinata worked quietly together.
「So… a question. Why JJ?」Hana asked curiously.Hinata smiled faintly.「Unlike my family, he made me feel seen.」Hana hesitated.「You know he slept with you to get back at your brother, right?」Hinata giggled softly.「I know. But Hana… I come from a family that demands perfection. Girls aren’t even allowed to have friends from middle or lower classes.」【So she really was a bird in a cage…】Hana thought.Hinata switched tasks.「But JJ was different. He taught me I’m more than a rose under glass—I’m a person. I’m sure he did that for you too.」Hana laughed quietly.「Yeah… though his sex drive can be a bit much sometimes.」Hinata laughed with her.「True—but don’t you two have limits?」「Huh?」Hinata tilted her head playfully.「At least you have a safe word, right?」Hana paused.「No… we don’t.」Hinata sighed and faced her fully.Hana shifted uncomfortably.「Um… Hinata?」「Looks like I’ll have to teach you—and the others—the art of seduction.」Hana swallowed.「Isn’t it okay to just go at his pace?」Hinata shook her head.「No. He’ll get bored of that. If you don’t resist sometimes, what’s the point?」Hana blushed.「I was taught how to keep a man… not how to seduce one.」Hinata nodded knowingly.「Figures. Just remember—JJ’s like every other man. Sometimes you should be within reach. Other times, just out of it. That’s how you keep a bedroom alive into old age.」Hana hesitated.「How do you know all this?」Hinata scoffed lightly.「JJ left Japan not knowing anything about Akira. What do you think we did during that half hour?」Hana flushed, then composed herself.「So… you controlled the pace.」Hinata smirked.「Exactly. Outside the house, JJ’s strongest. Inside the house—it’s the mother of his children who holds power. The sooner you make it a home, the more sway you’ll have—so long as you don’t destroy the hierarchy.」Hana recalled Emiko’s words.「Ms. Mori said something like that too.」Hinata smiled.「She was right. Remember—wife first, mother second. Support him, don’t fight him. Do that… and he’ll become the husband you need.」
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