The conversation ended, but the effect remained.
No one raised their voice. No one argued uncontrollably. Even so, the atmosphere in the mansion changed completely. The silence that came afterward wasn't empty. It was full of unspoken things.
I remained standing still for a few seconds after admitting it.
Observing.
Waiting for a more direct reaction.
It came.
Just not in the way I expected.
"Alright," Rai'kanna said, running a hand through her hair. "I've understood enough for today."
She turned her back and started walking toward the corridor.
No rush.
Without looking back.
Lyannis let out a quiet sigh.
"I need some time too."
She didn't seem angry.
But she wasn't comfortable either.
Elara was next.
Before leaving, she looked at me.
"This isn't something small, Takumi."
Her voice was calm.
But firm.
"You should have said it earlier."
I didn't respond.
She gave a slight nod, as if she already expected that, and walked down the corridor.
Vespera was the only one who didn't say anything.
She passed by me in silence.
But for a brief moment, she stopped at my side.
"Hiding information alters decisions."
That was all.
Then she kept walking.
Now only Liriel remained.
She was still there.
Standing.
Looking directly at me.
The silence between us lasted longer than the others.
Heavier.
"You knew this would cause problems."
It wasn't a question.
"I knew."
"And you still didn't say anything."
"I didn't think I had to."
"You thought wrong."
Direct.
No exaggerated emotion.
But clear.
I held her gaze.
"Yes."
She watched my answer for a second.
As if measuring it.
Then she took a deep breath.
"It's not about you being with her."
That made me pay closer attention.
"It's about you hiding it."
I didn't respond.
Because I had no argument.
"That breaks trust," she continued. "And trust isn't something you can fix quickly."
Silence.
She wasn't speaking with anger.
And that made it worse.
"You lead this group," Liriel said. "Or at least act like you do."
"I don't—"
"You do."
She cut me off.
Without raising her voice.
"So start acting like it."
More silence.
I didn't try to argue this time.
There was no point.
She looked away for a moment, as if organizing her thoughts.
Then back again.
"You complicate simple things."
"It wasn't that simple."
"It was."
Immediate response.
"You could have said it before. That's it."
I ran a hand over my neck.
Thinking.
"Maybe."
"Not maybe."
She took a step back.
"It's already done."
That sounded like closure.
But it wasn't.
"Fix it."
"How?"
She looked at me again.
More directly.
"By being clear."
Simple.
But heavy.
After that, she turned and started walking.
Without hesitation.
Without waiting for an answer.
Now I was alone.
The silence returned.
But different from before.
Now it didn't pressure.
It just… left space.
To think.
I stayed there for a few minutes.
Going over everything.
Not the part where I admitted it.
But before that.
Where I could have said something.
Where I could have avoided this.
It didn't matter anymore.
I knew that.
So I moved.
I went inside the mansion.
The interior was quieter than usual for that time.
The lights were still on, but there was no conversation. No sound coming from the rooms. No movement in the corridor.
Each one had isolated themselves.
I went upstairs.
Reached the room.
Stopped at the door.
Held the doorknob.
And before I even opened it, I heard it.
"No."
The voice came from inside.
Rai'kanna.
"Not today."
I didn't need to ask why.
"Don't even try," she continued.
Direct.
From the other side of the door.
"You're sleeping somewhere else."
Silence.
I didn't insist.
I let go of the doorknob.
Stood still for a second.
Then turned.
Went downstairs again.
No rush.
No expression.
I went to the living room.
The couch was empty.
Simple.
Enough.
I stood in front of it for a moment.
Observing.
It wasn't the first time I slept there.
But this time…
The reason was different.
I grabbed a folded blanket from the corner.
Sat down.
Then lay down.
The ceiling was in front of me.
Silent.
Still.
I closed my eyes for a moment.
But didn't sleep.
My mind was still active.
Going over everything.
The words.
The looks.
Especially Liriel's.
And Scarlett's.
This wasn't over yet.
I knew that.
But for now…
This was the consequence.
And I had no reason to avoid it.
The couch wasn't uncomfortable.
But it wasn't where I should be.
Still…
That night…
It was exactly where I needed to be.