Rika and Kaiser's date was over. They decided not to take their usual luxury car but just walk home instead.
As they walked side by side, the city lights casting a golden hue over the quiet streets, Rika's phone buzzed in her bag. She hesitated, the name on the screen making her heart drop.
"…It's my stepmom," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kaiser looked at her, concern flashing in his eyes. "You okay?"
She didn't answer right away. Instead, she took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Yeah. Just… give me a second."
Kaiser nodded and stepped slightly ahead, giving her space.
She answered.
The voice on the other end was cold, sharp. "Where the hell are you have you? I've been trying to call you , why aren't you home yet?"
No "hello." No "are you safe?" Just demands.
Rika swallowed her frustration. "If you are calling to ask me to return home. I don't live there anymore. Just letting you know that."
Her stepmother scoffed. "That's not my concern, I don't care where you live , or whether you are alive "
Rika was not surpised to hear that. " It doesn't matter where you live. We need you back. Your father wants blood—he needs blood."
There it was again. Not her name. Not her presence. Just her blood.
"I'm not doing this anymore, no more of this foolishness, I'm done listening to you and watch as you and your daughter walk over me" Rika said, her tone firm.
"What?"
"I'm not giving you anything. Not my time, not my effort. And definitely not my blood."
There was a pause, then a venom-laced voice from the background—her stepsister, no doubt. "Selfish and ungrateful bitch, after all we've done for you, we gave you home, we gave you food and this is how you repay us."
Rika clenched her jaw. "You can call me whatever you want. I don't care anymore. Because my blood… no my life doesn't belong to you. It belongs to someone else now."
Before they could fire back, she hung up.
Silence settled over her, heavy and thick.
Kaiser had turned around, watching her quietly. She didn't look at him. Her fingers tightened around her phone, her lips pressed into a thin line.
He stepped closer. "Rika…"
She shook her head. "I'm fine."
"No, you're not." He gently touched her arm. "Talk to me."
She stared at the ground, her voice low. "I thought I'd feel better. I thought… saying it would give me peace. But all I feel is… tired. Like even cutting them off takes a piece of me."
Kaiser slid his hand down and laced his fingers with hers. "Then let me carry the rest."
She looked at him, eyes shining.
"I'm serious," he said softly. "You've been carrying this crap for way too long. That pain, that anger… it's not yours to keep. You deserve better than people who see you as a resource."
Rika laughed bitterly. "You make it sound so simple."
"It's not," he admitted. "But you're not alone anymore. You've got me. And this—" he gently squeezed her hand, "—is real. Not just because I said it is, but because I'm gonna keep proving it."
Her lips trembled. "You're such a cheeseball sometimes."
"And you love it."
She sniffled a small laugh, wiping at her eyes. "I'm trying not to."
He smiled, then leaned in and kissed her forehead. "Good luck with that."
They walked the rest of the way home in silence—not the heavy kind, but a calm, healing quiet. And though the moment earlier had been ruined, Kaiser's presence slowly pieced it back together.
By the time they reached the gates of the estate, Rika leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Kaiser glanced down at her. "For what?"
"For being the first person who didn't take something from me… but gave something instead."
He smiled. "Then get used to it. I'm just getting started."
**Cut Scene – Rika's Stepmother and Stepsister**
Inside a dimly lit, lavish home filled with cold air and colder hearts, Rika's stepmother slammed her phone onto the table, her lips curling in disbelief.
"That girl… how dare she talk back to me like that?" she growled.
Her daughter, arms crossed and eyes narrowed, scoffed. " She is a fool."
"She was never supposed to walk away. We raised her. We made her useful. And now she spits in our faces?"
The stepmother's eyes burned with fury. "Track her number. I don't care what it takes. She's coming back—whether she wants to or not."
---
**Cut Scene – Family Dinner**
The dining room was lively, filled with laughter and the delicious aroma of a royal feast. Reina, the queen, sat with her usual grace, watching the family with soft eyes.
"So," Reina began with a warm smile, "how was your date today, Rika? Was it fun?"
Rika perked up, her cheeks faintly flushed from the attention. "It was very fun! We went to so many places, ate all kinds of foods…"
She paused, then smirked mischievously. "Oh, and Kaiser was really good in bed."
The entire table froze.
Kaiser's fork clattered onto his plate. "*What the hell—* Hey! Nobody asked you that!" His face turned a shade of red even the palace curtains couldn't match. "Where did you even get that insane idea?!"
Rika burst out laughing at his panicked expression, nearly doubling over. "You should've seen your face!"
The rest of the table erupted into laughter, unable to hold it in. Even Reina chuckled behind her wine glass.
As the noise settled down, Rika looked down at her plate with a softer smile and murmured, "But seriously… it was really fun."
Her voice was lighter. As if a burden had been lifted from her chest.
Everyone quieted for a moment, sharing a look. Then smiles returned.
Jin leaned forward and playfully nudged Kaiser's back. "Guess you're not really a boring, huh?"
Kaiser nearly choked on his food. "I was never a *boring* boyfriend, thank you very much!"
Laughter broke out again, echoing through the halls. For a moment, everything felt perfect.
---
**Next Morning – Kaiser's Room**
Sunlight poured in gently through the curtains, brushing Kaiser's face as he slowly opened his eyes, groaning softly from the brightness.
"Mmm… too early…"
Then—**BOOM.**
"*Oof—!*" Kaiser jolted upright in pain as Hana suddenly landed on his stomach like a giggling missile.
"HANA!!"
Hana laughed adorably, sitting triumphantly on his chest. "You're awake now, big bro!"
Still wincing, Kaiser sat up and gently picked her up with one arm. "I swear… Rika's turning my sweet little sister into a menace."
He flicked her forehead lightly, and she squeaked with laughter before squirming out of his grip and sprinting out of the room, giggling down the hallway.
"Trouble! She's gonna be trouble!" he called after her, shaking his head.
As the door slowly creaked, he turned—and there stood Rika, leaning casually against the frame, arms crossed and a devilish smile playing on her lips.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," she said sweetly.
Kaiser narrowed his eyes. "Don't tell me you put her up to that."
Rika tilted her head innocently. "Me? Influence that adorable angel? Never."
She stepped closer and plopped herself beside him on the bed.
"I was gonna be nice and wake you up with a kiss," she teased, "but Hana offered a more explosive plan."
He sighed dramatically. "Of course she did."
Then she suddenly leaned in, brushing a soft kiss on his cheek. "Good morning for real."
Kaiser blinked, momentarily stunned. "…I'm both scared and flattered."
Rika grinned. "That's the perfect balance, don't you think?"
Just as Kaiser reached out to pull her closer, Rika jumped up. "Nope! Breakfast is waiting, and you're going to be late!"
She dashed out the door before he could respond, her laughter echoing behind her.
Kaiser groaned, grabbing a pillow and tossing it at the door. "She's chaos… in a pretty dress."
But he couldn't stop the smile forming on his face.
Great! Here's the continuation with:
1. A cut to Rika stepping outside into the fresh morning.
2. A tense update from her stepmother and stepsister, who are closing in.
3. A heartfelt moment between Reina (the Queen) and Rika, gently addressing Rika's past and her place in their family now.
---
**Cut Scene – Outside the Palace**
Rika stepped out into the palace garden, the morning breeze gently playing with her hair. The cherry blossoms danced in the wind, and birds chirped peacefully overhead. For the first time in a while, the air felt kind.
She stood still for a second, eyes closed, soaking in the sun.
A faint smile touched her lips—until her phone buzzed.
Unknown number. She frowned and slipped the phone back into her pocket without answering.
**Cut Scene – Royal Garden, Later That Morning**
Rika sat alone on a stone bench under a blooming wisteria tree, sipping tea from a delicate porcelain cup. The peaceful silence was broken by the soft rustle of fabric as Reina approached.
"Mind if I join you, Rika?"
Rika looked up and quickly stood. "O-Of course, Your Majesty—"
Reina chuckled, waving her hand gently. "Please. Just Reina."
Rika blushed and nodded, sitting down again. Reina sat beside her, looking ahead at the flowers.
"Isn't it funny how the most beautiful things bloom after the hardest winters?" Reina said softly, voice like a warm breeze.
Rika glanced at her, eyes uncertain. "I… I guess so."
There was a pause before Reina spoke again.
"I saw your face at dinner. That joy wasn't just about the date. It was something else, wasn't it?"
Rika hesitated, her fingers tightening slightly around her cup.
"…It was the first time I laughed without feeling guilty," she admitted in a whisper. "The first time I felt… free."
Reina gently placed her hand over Rika's.
"You're not a guest here, Rika. You're not a tool, or a pawn, or someone who needs to earn their worth."
Rika blinked, stunned.
"You're family," Reina said. "And no matter what ghosts try to drag you back, we'll protect you."
Tears welled in Rika's eyes, but she quickly wiped them away, forcing a small smile.
"Thank you… Reina."
Reina stood with a smile and reached out her hand.
"Come on. Let's go make sure Kaiser isn't trying to cook breakfast. Last time, he nearly burned the kitchen."
Rika laughed softly, placing her hand in Reina's.
For once, home didn't feel like a lie.
**Cut Scene – Palace Front Gate**
The peaceful morning shattered as a shrill voice pierced the air outside the grand palace gate.
"RIKA!!"
"I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE, YOU UNGRATEFUL LITTLE—COME OUT HERE!!"
Rika's stepmother stood outside, her hair disheveled, her lipstick smudged from rage. Her heels clicked furiously on the stone pavement as she slammed her fists against the locked gates, drawing the attention of every guard in the vicinity.
"DO YOU THINK YOU CAN HIDE BEHIND THESE WALLS FOREVER?! YOUR LIFE BELONGS TO US! YOU BELONG TO US!!"
Behind her, the stepsister leaned against the car door, arms folded, watching with a twisted smirk.
Yuki, who was just passing by with a tray of tea, froze in place, her eyes looking at who was disturbing their peace.
" Is that…?"
She peeked over the hedge, and when she realized who it was—she was surprised that she was able to find Rika quick.
" noisy. " she said without any emotion
---
**Cut Scene – Kaiser's Living Room**
Rika, Reina, Hana, and Kaiser were still walking back from the garden when they heard the hurried footsteps.
" Your highness, it seems there's an animal outside going crazy " said Yuki
Everyone froze.
"What did you just say?" Reina asked, her voice low but deadly calm.
"She's at the gate! Screaming! She's going crazy!"
There was a beat of silence.
And then—
**Sora** exploded into motion.
Before anyone could react, he had already stormed past them, his expression unreadable… but his eyes—
They were sharp. Cold. Deadly.
The room fell into a stunned silence. Jin stood slowly. "I've seen that look before…"
"He's going to kill her," Kaiser muttered.
" Brother is angry ". Hana said giggling.
But Rika stood frozen, her hands trembling slightly.
"Rika…" Reina gently stepped closer to her. "Do you want to face her?"
"…No." Her voice was small. "Not now. Not like this."
Reina nodded once and turned to the guards.
"Don't dare open the front. Rika follow me. I'll go talk to them."
---
**Cut Scene – At the Gate**
Sora reached the gate like a shadow of death, the guards parting wordlessly as if sensing the storm about to hit.
The stepmother saw him and laughed bitterly.
"Ah, the little prince. What, here to protect your new little pet?"
Sora didn't flinch. He slowly walked up to the bars, staring at her and said " Get your filthy hands off our gate. " she didn't remove them, she said " Huh ."
"You dare come to our home… after what you've done to her?" Sora said with cold voice
She hissed, "She belongs to *me*. That girl is ours. I don't care how fancy your walls are—she has no right to walk away."
Sora tilted his head slightly.
"Then let me be clear," he said, voice like ice. "If you ever—*ever*—raise your voice at my sister again… I'll make sure you never raise it at all."
The stepmother flinched, clearly unsettled by his tone.
Behind Sora, Rika and Reina had arrived. Reina took one look at the madness and signaled the guards.
**Reina**, The Queen.
Elegant and calm, she walked forward with two royal guards beside her, her presence commanding silence with every graceful step. The wind caught her long hair as she came to a halt just a few feet behind the gate, where the stepmother stood fuming.
"You are making quite the scene," Reina said, voice smooth like silk… but layered with steel.
The stepmother sneered, pointing a finger at her. "You have no idea what you are doing. That girl *belongs* to me. She's my daughter —my *responsibility*! And I demand you return her to me immediately."
Reina raised an eyebrow, her face unreadable.
"Belongs to you?" she repeated slowly. "You must be confused."
"I'm her mother—!"
"No," Reina cut in, softly but firmly. "You're the woman who exploited her. Used her. Hurt her."
The stepmother's face twitched with rage. "You don't know anything about our family—"
"I know enough." Reina stepped closer, her gaze sharp. "I know what she's been through. I know the pain she hides behind that smile. I know how she flinches at raised voices… and how her hands tremble when she thinks no one's watching."
The stepmother faltered, momentarily thrown off.
Reina's voice lowered, but it only made her more terrifying.
"You do not own her. You never did. And from the moment she stepped foot in this house, she was *mine* to protect."
There was a pause. Then Reina looked her dead in the eye and said—
"Rika is *my* daughter now."
The stepmother's mouth opened, but no words came out. Her face contorted in fury, her pride shattered by the cold, elegant truth laid bare before her.
"She has a real family now," Reina continued, "One that loves her. Cherishes her. And we won't let monsters like you anywhere near her again."
"You… you can't do this…"
"I *have*," Reina said simply.
With a wave of her hand, the guards stepped forward.
"Escort them away. If they resist, arrest them for disturbing royal grounds."
As the guards approached, the stepmother tried to scream more, but her voice was drowned out by orders and movement. The stepsister glared silently, locking eyes with Sora one last time.
Before leaving, she whispered, "This isn't over."
Sora didn't even blink.
"I know," he said coldly. "But next time… don't knock. I'll be waiting."
---
**Cut Scene – Just Inside the Palace*
Rika, Her legs felt weak, her breath caught in her throat. "My daughter," Reina had said. *My daughter…*
Those words echoed in her mind, louder than the screams from outside.
Tears welled up in Rika's eyes, falling quietly down her cheeks. For so long she had wished—*prayed*—for someone to say those words… and *mean* them.
She clasped a hand to her mouth, unable to stop herself from crying. But this time… they weren't tears of pain.
They were tears of *healing*.
Suddenly, a soft voice spoke from behind her.
" are you surprised ?"
Rika turned quickly to see **Kaiser** standing there, his arms folded, leaning against the wall casually—but his eyes… they were gentle.
" We always knew the Queen had it in her," he added with a tiny smile.
Rika wiped her tears quickly, embarrassed.
Kaiser walked up to her slowly and placed a hand on her head, ruffling her hair just once.
"You deserve it," he said.
Rika's lips trembled. "She… really called me her daughter…"
Kaiser pulled back, his voice unusually soft. "You are. Not because she said it—but because she *means* it."
Just then, **Reina** entered the hallway, surprised to see Rika there with wet cheeks and red eyes.
"Rika?" she asked, concerned. "Are you okay—?"
Rika didn't say a word.
She just *ran into Reina's arms*, burying her face into her shoulder.
she whispered between sobs. "Thank you… thank you for protecting me… thank you for calling me your daughter…"
Reina's eyes softened, and she wrapped her arms around her tightly.
"You are my daughter," she said without hesitation. "And I will protect you with everything I have. Always."