Erina bowed deeply to her father, Azami, with a polite smile and said. "I'm sorry, Father... I've become a bad girl, so I can no longer follow your wishes."
Azami stared at her with cold, emotionless eyes. "Erina, you've abandoned your father for a man? How rebellious... what a bad girl you've become."
Erina, holding Sui's hand, blushed faintly but kept her gaze steady, despite the fear her father had always instilled in her. "I like Sui very much," she said softly but firmly. "Even though you're my father, if I have to choose between the two of you... I will choose Sui. Even if it makes me a bad girl."
Sui, sensing the tension, grinned mischievously, clearly trying to provoke Azami. "That's right. Soon, I'll make Erina my wife, and eventually a mother. Maybe one day, we'll visit you with our child in our arms, bearing gifts. Whether or not you approve... well, you'll find out."
Erina's face turned crimson at Sui's bold words. Embarrassed and flustered, she gave him a sharp pinch, annoyed but unable to hide her shyness.
Meanwhile, Hisako, standing by, clenched her fists in excitement, struggling to contain her glee. Sui's words, while seemingly outrageous, had a gratifying effect. Any other father might have punched him by now, but seeing him say this to Azami filled Hisako with a sense of relief. She had always suspected that Azami had caused unspeakable harm to Erina in the past, and she now wholeheartedly supported Erina's choice to rebel.
As if on cue, the sound of slow, deliberate applause echoed from the doorway. In walked Leonora, elegantly dressed in purple and wearing high heels. She was followed closely by Senzaemon, and Alice peeked from behind them.
"Well said!" Leonora exclaimed, smiling brightly. "Though Sui's words may be a bit impolite, if anyone had dared say something like that to me, I would have beaten them to a pulp. But, considering it's directed at you," she said, casting a sharp glance at Azami, "I wholeheartedly support it~"
Sui blinked, momentarily speechless.
"Director! Mrs. Leonora! What brings you here?" Hisako asked in surprise, clearly not expecting them to show up.
"I've been receiving reports ever since Azami set foot in the building," Senzaemon replied, his voice calm, his hands tucked inside his sleeves.
Alice, unable to contain her curiosity, leaned forward, asking with wide eyes, "Mom, why would you scold someone for saying that to you?"
Leonora crossed her arms and huffed. "Because a certain scoundrel once kidnapped my sister-in-law, brought the child back years later, and forced us to recognize the child. That kind of man is shameless! He deserves to be punished severely!"
Alice suddenly felt a twinge of guilt, as she had secretly entertained thoughts of doing something similar with Sui in the future. Her face reddened slightly.
"Alice, is something wrong?" Leonora asked, noticing her daughter's odd expression. "You'd better not turn into a bad girl like Erina-chan, getting kidnapped by a man and thinking about babies before you're even an adult!"
"Y-Yes, I understand," Alice replied quickly, nodding like a child being scolded.
Erina, overhearing their conversation, blushed even more, feeling utterly embarrassed. "A-Auntie, what are you saying?"
"Oh, don't worry, Erina-chan!" Leonora smiled warmly. "This time, Auntie fully supports you! Go ahead, be a bad girl and give Sui a baby! That'll teach your bast…
bad father a lesson!"
Erina was utterly flustered, unable to comprehend what was happening. Why was her aunt supporting her rebellion and even encouraging her to have a baby?
Senzaemon, addressing Azami directly, broke the strange atmosphere. "It's been a long time, Azami. I didn't expect you to come here in person to meet me. How... honorable," he said coldly.
Azami glanced at him and smiled faintly. "It's good to see you too, Father. And Leonora."
"I warned you not to use the name Nakiri," Senzaemon replied, his voice icy. "Leave."
"No matter what, I am still Erina's blood relative," Azami said calmly, ignoring the cold reception. "It saddens me to see her in the company of such bad influences. I will bring her back onto the right path, where she belongs."
Senzaemon's eyes narrowed. "Handing Erina over to you was my gravest mistake," he declared. "I will never allow her to return to your control again."
"And you think a kid is better suited to be with her than her own father?" Azami asked, casting a disdainful glance at Sui.
Leonora quickly interjected, smiling as she hugged Sui's arm and rested her head against it. "Actually, my husband and I have already discussed the matter of these two children. Sui will be Erina-chan's husband. So, it's only natural that she'll listen to her husband in the future."
"Besides," she added with a smirk, "we all like this boy. He's cute, gentle, and considerate—far better than someone like you, Azami."
Azami's eyes grew colder as he turned to Leonora. "I don't recall agreeing to Erina's marriage. What gives you the right to decide?"
Leonora's face darkened, her eyes glinting with malice. "Do you, a man who was disowned, have any right to decide anything?" she retorted, her voice laced with venom.
Sui, standing between them, felt a chill run down his spine. He hadn't expected his mother-in-law to have such a fierce side.
Azami stared at her for a long moment, then suddenly chuckled. "Leonora, you haven't changed a bit," he said softly, almost as if amused.