"Three seconds. Stop now, or I’m calling Lady Alessia. Don’t want to rot in Cherryfall Dominion’s prison? Get off her. Take your filthy hands away. And kindly roll on out of here."
The voice dripped with playful mockery—like a seasoned stage comedian. Just hearing it told you exactly who she was.
Still, her words carried weight. After all, she was nobility of the Cherryfall Dominion.
The soldiers, eyes bloodshot from the frenzy, spat once and stomped off, muttering resentfully.
"Trash! Next time you act tough, we’ll toss you straight into the Infected Zone!"
"..."
They hurled threats, then acted like nothing happened.
They’d gotten their thrill. Kanata was left battered.
Her neatly combed hair was now a tangled mess. Her uniform torn in multiple places, stained with seeping blood. White stockings riddled with holes.
To those self-styled "righteous enforcers," Kanata Himemiya’s gender meant nothing. They just needed an excuse to vent—a moral high ground to feel superior.
Attacking a "sinner" satisfied that need effortlessly.
"Oh my~ You look quite the mess… yet strangely endearing."
The one who halted the violence approached Kanata with theatrical flair, handkerchief in hand.
"T-thank you… for earlier…"
Kanata wiped blood from her lip, still hissing through the pain. Her body screamed—ribs likely broken. Finishing today’s work? Impossible.
As a third-class soldier in the Cherryfall Dominion’s Imperial Guard logistics division, her days meant warehouse drudgery: counting incoming supplies, loading conveyor belts—monotonous, soul-crushing.
Unpacking crates, portioning equal rations, labeling names, delivering to rooms.
She tried to stand. No strength left.
"Damn it…"
Fall again, and she wouldn’t rise today.
"Careful."
She tumbled into a warm embrace—caught.
"Take the day off. I’ll handle the paperwork."
A gentle smile. Short silver hair. Unmistakable elegance. Sea-green eyes slightly narrowed, lips curved upward—a girl gazing at Kanata with tender intent.
Any naive, sheltered girl would’ve felt her heart flutter.
"Thank you… Miss Gen."
Gratitude was all she had.
"We’re childhood friends. You used to call me Ichiko. Suddenly switching to 'Miss Gen'… feels odd. Or… are you angry with me?"
Kanata didn’t want to talk. Resentment simmered.
Back then, Ichiko had watched silently as Kanata and her sister were humiliated—because Kanata hadn’t settled her gender yet, dressed as a boy.
Ichiko Gen: Falling Cherry City’s infamous playgirl. A new female companion weekly.
No one was ever her one and only. Maybe no one ever could be.
Why the sudden kindness now? Just lust. Pathetic.
"You’re overthinking it… Miss Gen, esteemed daughter of the Minamoto Clan. Someone like me? Far beneath you. Besides… you’re just lusting after my body, aren’t you?"
These hands had touched countless others. This tenderness, doled out to many "shes." Kanata hated fickle hearts.
Disgust surged. She tried to pull away.
Ichiko read the impatience on her face, pressed her shoulders gently. "Wait. Whatever Alessia’s paying for your company tonight—I’ll double it. Triple it."
"..."
Was this an insult?
"None of your business. My affairs with Alessia are mine alone. Don’t forget—who lent me money when Nozomi was dying? Not you. *Her*."
Painful memories sharpened her tone. This seemingly perfect, gentle girl? Utterly hollow.
In Kanata’s eyes, even the tyrannical Sovereign Alessia ranked higher than Ichiko.
"Fine… Didn’t expect you to hold such a grudge."
Ichiko shrugged, released her.
Smooth sailing had always been hers—rejection rare in love. Yet here, tripped by Kanata Himemiya.
Frustration flickered… then curiosity. A spark of challenge.
"My number. Take it. Call anytime—I’ll come running. After all… we’re childhood friends."
She slipped a card into Kanata’s pocket.
"I’ll speak to the infirmary doctor. She’s kind. Won’t refuse treatment. Bill it to my account."
"..."
Kanata stayed silent.
She watched the retreating figure, utterly unreadable.
"Tonight… looking like *this*… how can I possibly attend to the Sovereign?"
How to solve the one problem that truly mattered?
