The tension in the Morinaka mansion had not vanished—it had only dulled into silence. Days passed, and still, Naoko and Himeya kept their distance from Liryssa. The once-lively evenings filled with laughter had become hushed, careful affairs.
Liryssa, however, did not retreat.
Each morning, she rose early and trained alone in the garden courtyard, using elegant yet unfamiliar underwater martial arts adapted to surface life. Each movement was fluid, precise, and beautiful—drawing the curious eyes of the attendants, then the servants, and eventually some guards.
She visited the village market with Shisui, always polite, always kind, offering warm greetings to confused civilians who had only heard rumors of the "foreign bride." Some were skeptical, but many were charmed by her sincerity and soft-spoken wisdom.
Still, Naoko remained cold. Himeya watched silently, her expression unreadable.
Then one evening, while walking past the training hall, Liryssa paused. Inside, Naoko was practicing her kenjutsu alone. Her strikes were fierce—each swing of her blade infused with frustration and emotion.
Liryssa waited until Naoko noticed her.
"I'm not here to interrupt," she said softly. "But… I would be honored if you trained with me. Even if only to beat me into the ground."
Naoko scoffed. "I don't want your honor, Princess. I wanted clarity. I wanted answers. I wanted him to choose."
Liryssa bowed. "Then let me earn my place—not as a wife, but as a comrade. Let us train."
After a long pause, Naoko tossed her a wooden blade.
"Fine. But don't expect me to go easy on you."
Their sparring lasted nearly an hour. Liryssa was agile and reactive, but Naoko's speed and experience dominated the match. Yet, Liryssa never backed down, never gave up. And by the time the match ended, both women stood breathless, sweat-covered… and smiling.
Himeya watched from the hallway, eyes wide with surprise.
Something was changing.