I have an infinite number of shikigami

Fujiwara Reya leaned in, pointed in Kitagawa Ryoko's direction, and said a few words. Finally, he added, "Isn't this also a kind of NTR?"

"Can you be serious for a moment…" Yukino Ritsuko smiled wryly, feeling a headache, and reached under the table to pinch his thigh. Then she too glanced towards Kitagawa Ryoko, "I obviously came with them, but I've left them unattended. That's not right."

"Last night when you were happy, you didn't say it wasn't right."

"Nonsense!"

"How is that nonsense? Last night wasn't it vulgarity replacing purity, the crude winning over elegance. From the second time, you left everything behind, urging me to be a bit more forceful, quicker, and..."

Yukino Ritsuko clamped a hand over his mouth: "Say another word, and I'll freeze your mouth shut."

Under the White Pure robes, she looked gentle and graceful, with a smile that appeared simple and elegant. Even as she bantered with Fujiwara Reya, her demeanor remained consistently serene, yet there was an undeniable hint of lazy charm.

Fujiwara Reya raised both hands in a gesture of surrender.

It was only then that Yukino Ritsuko released him.

"Do you want to meet them in the afternoon?"

"What?" Yukino Ritsuko raised her eyes in confusion.

This must be reiterated.

With her head slightly tilted in puzzlement, she looked like the cutest in the world.

Fujiwara Reya held her hand and leaned closer, saying, "There's a garden party this afternoon. I'm afraid you might get bored in the palace quarters, so I planned to take you there. Of course, just a quick meeting with them will do. You'll still spend the night with me. Besides... don't you think a secret rendezvous at the garden party, away from prying eyes, sounds thrilling?"

Hearing this, Yukino Ritsuko lowered her head slightly.

She skillfully hid her embarrassment, fearing others might see, which made Fujiwara Reya feel happy.

"Will you join?"

"Mm."

"Sneaking around with me behind Ryoko's back?"

"Alright."

Yukino Ritsuko's response was as clear as it could be, merging into her beautiful smile.

Clearly, she still hadn't realized just how mischievous Fujiwara Reya could be, or she wouldn't have agreed so easily.

※※※※※

After the noon banquet concluded, the three ladies returned to the inner palace chambers.

In Kasahara Fumi's room, Mrs. Kasahara was examining the new dress brought by the maid. A long, trailing dress in vibrant red with a gold-decorated collar, sleeves embroidered with gold and silver threads over a red base, a cloud and phoenix patterned long overcoat, jade earrings, and a phoenix crown... the whole complicated set of attire laid across the table, captivating anyone who looked at it.

"This bright color, looks so festive." Mrs. Kasahara turned and said.

Kasahara Fumi sat in front of the mirror, staring blankly at her exquisite makeup.

By now, the room had been adorned in red all over, with red carpets spread across the floor. Large red embroidered balls hung from the ceiling, and various paper cuttings in red were pasted on the walls and furniture around them.

"This seems like a Chinese wedding outfit, called phoenix crown and cloud robe, right?" Mrs. Kasahara came behind her eldest daughter.

Kasahara Fumi shook her head, indicating she wasn't sure.

"Ah, let mom take a good look at the newlywed daughter…" Mrs. Kasahara laughed, cupping her cheeks.

Out of shyness, Kasahara Fumi instinctively shrank back, but she couldn't escape. Her mother held her face gently, inspecting it carefully as if examining a piece of silk carefully retrieved from the bottom of a box. Gradually, a charming blush, akin to being tipsy, appeared on the daughter's cheeks, making her infinitely enchanting.

As she looked on, Mrs. Kasahara suddenly sighed softly, "What a lucky kid."

"...Then why did you still let me marry?" Kasahara Fumi appeared slightly aggrieved.

"Oh, if you're that unwilling…" Mrs. Kasahara pretended to be deep in thought for a moment before flashing a mysterious smile, curling her lips a little, "How about this, let mom take your place tonight?"

"..."

Kasahara Fumi's jaw dropped in astonishment.

"Haha, just joking. How could I possibly compete with my daughter for a man..." Mrs. Kasahara pulled over a chair, sitting beside her eldest daughter, smoothed her hair with her hands, and looked at the cosmetics on the table, "May I use some?"

"Sure." Kasahara Fumi had no idea what her mother was thinking.

Mrs. Kasahara picked up a white porcelain bottle from the table, applied a few drops of perfume to her palm, and spread it on her temples.

"Extracted from lilies." She commented, then picked up lipstick from the table, evenly applying it to her full lips, and then pressed her lips together, seemingly finding the lipstick too thick. She used a little handkerchief with lace trimming to dab off a bit.

"Fumi."

"Yes?"

"Help mom with her eyebrows."

"Uh... I don't really know how."

"It's alright, it's just us, mother and daughter. It doesn't matter if it turns out ugly."

"Alright..."

Kasahara Fumi picked up the eyebrow pencil, carefully outlining lines on her mother's brows.

Mrs. Kasahara's face was elegantly bestowed, with double eyelids and phoenix eyes, and the line from cheeks to jawline was smooth, with an indescribable lyricism overall. Kasahara Fumi herself was also very beautiful, but in terms of aura, her reserved nature was slightly less captivating than her mother's innate nobility and allure.

The eyebrows were only halfway done when knocking came from outside the room.

"Fumi?"

It was Fujiwara Reya.

"What is it?" Kasahara Fumi paused her hand.

"May I come in?"

Without a second thought, Kasahara Fumi replied, "No!"

"It's fine to let him in too..." Mrs. Kasahara chuckled softly, sliding her hands into her daughter's belt, "Mom can always hide under the bed and won't get in your way, okay."