It was right in the middle of the lively banquet. Downstairs, the hall was bustling with people coming and going, and even upstairs, there was a steady stream of guests passing by.

From below came bursts of cheerful noise, mixed with the footsteps of waiters moving up and down the stairs. After giving Eriri a cold, sidelong glance, Yukino stepped back two paces and turned to continue toward the restroom.

The physical closeness between the two of them, void of any trace of intimacy, vanished in an instant.

She really did look like she was simply going to the restroom.

Eriri couldn't stomach the implied mockery. She quickly caught up.

"If something goes wrong with this matchmaking banquet, the cooperation between your family and the Spencer family will collapse, won't it?"

Folding her arms, she followed unhurriedly.

"I've heard your family's been negotiating loans with quite a few banks lately. Without a wealthy, stable in-law family to inspire the banks' confidence, do you think your family can still leverage enough funds from them?"

The two beautiful girls soon reached the restroom area, standing before the mirrors by the sinks. Neither of them went inside — instead, they casually began washing their hands.

"I'm not as awful as you," Eriri said lightly. "As long as you tell Tomoya and Kasumigaoka the real reason you approached them, stop lying to and playing with them, and admit you were wrong, I'd be more than happy to see my cousin Eric return to the banquet."

Yukino nodded slightly.

"So the disappearance of today's star — your cousin — was indeed your doing."

Of course it was.

Eric loved street racing, and though he was legally an adult, he had the self-awareness of a spoiled, overgrown child — self-centered and willful. Eriri had merely dropped a few hints about Yukino's past, and the childish young master had immediately lost interest.

After making a token appearance at the banquet, he'd claimed his clothes had been stained with juice and needed changing. Moments later, he slipped out the hotel's back door.

By now, he was probably halfway to some remote hideout.

Of course, Eriri had no intention of admitting any of this.

She smiled again, her confidence restored.

No matter how much Yukino had changed lately, no matter how much the chatter on the school's online forum tried to paint her in a better light, Eriri had always felt — and would always feel — a deep aversion and wariness toward her.

This woman was malicious, devious, and utterly rotten to the core. She might have a flawless face, but if you split her heart open, you'd find nothing but pitch-black venom inside.

If Tomoya and Kasumigaoka didn't see it, then Eriri would make sure to tear away the mask herself.

Yukino lowered her gaze, rinsing her hands.

"If this banquet were to truly fall apart, the Spencer family's plan to enter the Japanese market through ours would also be significantly delayed."

Eriri gave a short, derisive laugh.

"Even so, your family would be far more anxious than theirs."

Technically, she wasn't wrong.

Right now, the Yukinos' biggest problem was a lack of funds. They were in no position to waste time.

But Yukino's tone remained calm.

"I'm curious — do you really think the Spencer family wouldn't be able to find out about your little tricks?"

A flicker of unease crossed Eriri's expression, but she forced herself to retort.

"And what if they did?"

Ever since waking up to this hellish "game" of a world, Yukino had never planned to follow her parents' path — that of a decorative vase who didn't have to be exceptional, only inoffensive.

She was prepared to work and sacrifice for her family, but not in such a low-yield way as marrying for profit.

She thought her current approach — showing up at this matchmaking banquet just to play the part of a good-luck charm, and bolting at the first sign of trouble — was already a sign of her lack of "family honor."

But compared to Eriri, who had been spoiled into reckless disregard by her parents and relatives, Yukino's own behavior looked almost dutiful.

And for just a moment, she found herself almost… envious of Eriri's unrestrained willfulness.

From the moment she was born, Yukino had never once been able to indulge herself so freely.

She wasn't the kind of person who could create chaos and then expect others to clean it up without consequence.

Eriri took out her phone, smiling sweetly.

"Call Tomoya and Kasumigaoka. Tell them about your dirty little schemes, admit you were wrong, and apologize sincerely. If you do that, I can…"

She didn't finish, because Yukino cut her off.

"Eric is still nearby, isn't he?"

Eriri froze for a moment, then quickly raised her voice.

"Ha? Don't be stupid. He obviously got in his car and—"

Yukino's lips curved in a cold, knowing smile.

"If that's true, why are you so certain you can get him back the moment I call?"

"There are only two possibilities. One: you're lying, and no matter what I say, Eric was never coming back. Two: he's still close by, and neither of you ever intended for him to disappear for good."

"My guess is he's simply making a show of protest to his family, politely signaling to mine that he isn't interested."

Eriri bit her lip. Every word Yukino spoke hit squarely on target.

Yukino sighed softly.

"In that case, it seems the outcome won't change whether I apologize or not."

Eriri's composure cracked.

"Fine! I'll call him right now, tell him to leave the area entirely, fly back to England—"

"You won't. And he won't, either."

Yukino tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her long lashes lowered like the quiet unfurling of a flower.

"There's a big difference between the star of a matchmaking banquet disappearing for twenty minutes and vanishing for good. The first can be smoothed over to preserve friendly relations between the two families. The second would almost certainly turn us into enemies."

"You may be willful to the point of foolishness, but you're not stupid. Otherwise Eric wouldn't have hidden somewhere near the hotel instead of leaving outright."

Eriri braced her hands against the sink, glaring at her.

In just a few sentences, Yukino had completely overturned the advantage Eriri thought she held.

With hands still damp from washing, Yukino casually patted Eriri's cheek.

"Next time you target me, make sure your plan is at least a little better."

Her voice carried none of the warmth it once did — only a faint, icy note of mocking resignation.

"My opinion of you is already so very low, Eriri."

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