Pov Author
The hall was drenched in sea-green and soft white.
It shimmered, almost alive—light spilling across curved pillars, gliding over marble floors, catching on glass and silk and jewels. The ceiling stretched impossibly high, painted like a moving sky, waves of teal and silver drifting like an ocean suspended above them.
Anna thought it looked like a wedding for the sea.
She hated it.
It felt wrong that something so beautiful could exist on a night like this.
She walked in beside Renji, her steps steady only because she forced them to be. Inside, it felt like someone had reached into her chest and torn something out—not cleanly, not mercifully. Just ripped it free and left the edges raw.
Because somewhere in this room—
No.
Not somewhere.
Across this room.
Shou Feng was about to promise himself to someone else.
Someone who wasn't her.
Anna kept her eyes moving. If she stopped, even for a second, she knew she'd break. So she looked anywhere else—everywhere else.
Mong stood near one of the long tables, laughing loudly with a group of nobles. Not the polite kind of laugh people used at events like this. Real laughter. Shoulders shaking, head thrown back.
Anna stared at him for a second too long.
What could possibly be funny tonight?
A joke? A story? Something stupid and ordinary?
How were people still… normal?
Her gaze shifted.
Yuvan stood a little farther off, surrounded by administrators and officials. They nodded at everything he said, their expressions sharp and calculating. Too eager.
Anna almost snorted.
Adults only nodded like that when they were getting something out of it.
Deals, favors, advantages—always something.
Even here. Even now.
Nothing stopped.
Nothing paused.
The world didn't care that hers was falling apart.
Her eyes kept moving.
And then—
Kiyoshi.
He stood near the far side of the hall, speaking with Kitsune. Around them, a group of figures lingered—strange, quiet, watching. Their eyes weren't right. Different colors, shifting like reflections in water.
Gods.
They had to be.
And her father stood among them like he belonged.
Like this was his world.
Like it had always been his world.
Something twisted in her chest.
Then, slowly, against her own will, she started searching.
Because there was one face she hadn't seen yet.
And she knew—
She knew it would hurt the most.
That's the thing about people.
We walk straight toward the thing that's going to destroy us.
Like we don't know any better.
Or worse—
Like we do.
She found him.
Her breath stopped.
Shou Feng stood near the center of the hall, surrounded by soft light and people who mattered. His hand rested on Naka's waist, steady, possessive—like she was something precious, something chosen.
Something his.
Anna's vision blurred.
Her throat burned.
That's supposed to be me.
The thought rose up sharp and violent, but it never made it past her lips. No scream. No sound.
Just silence.
She stood there like a ghost watching her own life happen to someone else.
Then her focus shifted.
Because Shou Feng wasn't alone.
He was speaking to someone.
Anna frowned slightly, trying to see past the blur in her eyes.
The figure had almond-shaped eyes, thoughtful, sharp—like they were always calculating something just out of reach. Their expression was tight, focused, almost familiar—
And then they turned.
And the voice—
The voice hit her mind like a crack of thunder.
Nahan.
Everything inside her went cold.
Lord Kazan.
Her stomach dropped so fast it felt like she'd been pushed off something high.
No.
No, that wasn't—
He was dead.
Shou Feng had killed him.
For her.
He was supposed to be gone.
Buried in the past, sealed away with everything else she didn't want to remember.
But he was there.
Standing.
Talking.
Alive.
Like none of it had ever happened.
Like he hadn't—
Anna's thoughts shattered.
Her body moved before her mind caught up.
Backwards.
One step.
Then another.
Her heel caught on something—someone—and she almost crashed, but a hand caught her arm, steady and firm.
Renji.
He looked at her face first.
Then followed her gaze.
His expression shifted as he took it all in—Shou Feng, Naka, Kazan.
There was a pause.
Then he let out a low whistle.
"Well," he muttered, voice dry, "they really went all out with the guest list. 'Bring your worst memories, your exes, and—oh look—bonus undead villains. Free entry for emotional damage.'"
Anna would've laughed.
On any other day, she would've.
But right now, she couldn't even breathe properly.
Renji's hand tightened slightly on her arm.
He pulled her closer, not enough to draw attention—but enough to ground her.
She was shaking.
Badly.
Her teeth clicked together, the sound small but uncontrollable.
"Hey," he said quietly, leaning just enough that only she could hear. "You've officially done your social duty. You showed up, you looked miserable—very convincing, by the way—and now we can leave before this turns into a full tragedy."
"He's going to—" Her voice cracked mid-sentence.
Renji's expression changed.
Not dramatically.
But enough.
"If he touches a single hair on your head," he said, voice going flat in a way that made something in the air shift, "I will personally make sure tonight becomes his last event."
She looked up at him.
There was no humor in his eyes now.
Only something cold. Certain.
"I'm still the God of Death," he added, almost casually. "Titles don't just… go away. I can still collect. Very efficiently."
A weak breath left her.
She nodded.
Swallowed hard.
"I just… need a minute."
Renji studied her for a second, then released her.
"Balcony's clear," he said. "I checked earlier. Dramatic breakdowns are best enjoyed with fresh air."
Despite everything, the corner of her mouth twitched.
Barely.
But it was something.
He didn't follow her.
But she could feel his gaze on her back the entire way.
The balcony was quiet.
Cold air rushed against her skin the second she stepped outside, cutting through the suffocating warmth of the hall.
Anna inhaled sharply.
Then again.
And again.
Each breath felt like dragging herself back from somewhere too deep.
Her hands trembled as she wiped at her eyes.
No.
Not here.
Not now.
She refused to fall apart here.
She forced everything down—every memory, every image, every sharp, tearing feeling—and locked it somewhere behind her ribs.
It didn't disappear.
It never did.
But it stayed quiet.
For now.
"You okay?"
She froze.
Then turned.
Kiyoshi stood there, watching her.
Her chest tightened.
For a second—
Just a second—
She wanted to break.
To grab him and say everything.
No, I'm not okay. My life is a mess, my past is standing inside that room, and everything I thought I had is slipping through my hands. What do I do?
But instead—
"I'm fine," she said.
The lie came out smooth.
Easy.
Too easy.
He smiled at her.
Soft.
Proud.
"You're strong," he said.
She didn't answer.
"You're handling all of this better than most people could."
She nodded faintly.
Then—
"You're my daughter."
The words hit harder than anything else that night.
Her head snapped up.
"What?"
Kiyoshi's smile didn't fade.
But his eyes—
His eyes were wet.
"Anna," he said gently, "you really think I'd forget my own daughter?"
Her breath caught.
"What kind of father do you think I am?"
Something broke.
Not loudly.
Not violently.
Just—
Quietly.
She stepped forward and hugged him.
Hard.
"Dad."
He held her just as tightly.
"I missed you," he murmured. "My heart."
Her fingers clenched into his clothes.
"I missed you too," she whispered. "I thought… I thought you forgot me."
A soft, shaky laugh left him.
"Never," he said. "Not you. Not ever."
They stayed like that.
No words.
No explanations.
Just holding on.
For five minutes—
Or maybe longer.
Time didn't feel real anymore.
Finally, he pulled back.
His hands rested briefly on her shoulders.
"Go," he said gently. "You should be inside."
She nodded.
Wiped her face.
And walked back in.
She didn't make it three steps.
Before she ran straight into him.
Kazan.
He stood beside Renji, mid-conversation, his posture relaxed—but the moment his eyes met hers—
Everything changed.
His expression froze.
Then—
Recognition.
Sharp.
Immediate.
His eyes widened slightly, like he'd just found something he thought was gone forever.
Anna's body locked.
Run.
The instinct screamed at her.
But she couldn't move.
Renji noticed.
Of course he did.
His gaze flicked between them once—quick, assessing.
Then he smiled.
Too easily.
"Anna," he said, gesturing her over like this was nothing. "Perfect timing. Come meet Lord Kazan. Apparently, he's very interested in meeting our… talented acquaintances."
She walked toward them.
Each step felt wrong.
Heavy.
Like walking into something she couldn't escape.
"Anna, this is Lord Kazan. Lord Kazan—Anna."
Kazan looked at her.
Not casually.
Not politely.
He studied her.
Like he was trying to confirm something.
Like he already knew.
"What does little Anna do?" he asked.
His voice was smooth.
Controlled.
Familiar in all the worst ways.
"She's a healer," Renji answered before she could.
"Ah."
Kazan's gaze didn't leave her.
"And who taught you?"
Anna swallowed.
"Kiyoshi."
For a brief moment, Kazan glanced across the hall toward Kiyoshi.
Then he nodded slowly.
"Then you must be very talented."
Anna opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Her throat refused to work.
Her lungs felt tight.
She couldn't breathe properly.
Couldn't think.
Couldn't move.
She just stood there—
Frozen.
Trapped between past and present.
Between a man who should be dead—
And a life that was already breaking.
Then—
The gong rang.
Deep.
Loud.
Final.
Every conversation in the hall stilled.
All eyes turned toward the stage.
Shou Feng and Naka stepped forward together.
Side by side.
Perfect.
Untouchable.
Anna didn't move.
Couldn't move.
She stood there—
Between a dead man and a broken heart.
And the ceremony began.
---
To be continued…