The television did not turn off.
No one dared to touch it.
Inside the Tohsaka Estate's grand living hall, the air had gone completely still—like the entire world had forgotten how to breathe.
On the screen—
There was nothing.
No battlefield.
No forest.
No enemy.
Only a vast, empty crater where something once existed.
Where someone once existed.
Gone.
Not defeated.
Not destroyed.
Gone.
Akane Tohsaka stood frozen.
Her body hadn't moved since the moment the light consumed everything.
Her hands trembled slightly at her sides.
Her lips parted.
"…R…Raphael…?"
The name slipped out like a fragile prayer.
Her eyes remained locked on the screen, wide and unblinking—as if looking away would somehow make it all disappear.
But it didn't.
Because she had seen it.
She had seen him.
Not the boy from her memories.
Not the quiet, awkward child who once stood beside her in the rain.
But something else.
Something… radiant.
Something terrifying.
Something—
Beautiful.
Her cheeks flushed faintly.
Her heart began to pound.
Faster.
And faster.
And faster.
"Th-that's… really him…?"
Her voice shook.
Not from fear.
But from disbelief.
From overwhelming emotion.
From something she didn't even know how to name anymore.
Her fingers slowly rose to her chest—
Clutching the fabric of her white dress tightly.
"…He's… amazing…"
The words escaped her without restraint.
Without hesitation.
Without shame.
Her eyes shimmered.
Not with tears.
But with light.
With admiration so intense it bordered on reverence.
"I always knew he was kind…"
Her voice softened.
"…but I didn't know…"
A small, breathless laugh slipped past her lips.
"…he was this cool…"
Behind her—
Something cracked.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
Samuel Arzenon stood a few steps away, completely motionless.
His expression—
Was no longer smug.
No longer arrogant.
No longer amused.
It was twisted.
Tight.
Unstable.
His eyes were locked onto the screen.
"…What… the hell…"
His voice came out low.
Unsteady.
Almost… hollow.
That explosion.
That power.
That presence.
It replayed in his mind again and again.
The way Azravael—an existence far beyond ordinary mages—had been erased like nothing.
The way reality itself seemed to bend around Raphael.
The way he stood there afterward—
Calm.
Unbothered.
Untouchable.
Samuel's hand clenched slowly.
"…No…"
A faint tremor ran through his fingers.
"…That's not possible…"
His teeth gritted.
"…That's just a fluke…"
But even as he said it—
He didn't believe it.
Not even a little.
Because deep down—
He understood.
That wasn't luck.
That wasn't coincidence.
That was power.
Absolute.
Overwhelming.
Unreachable.
And the worst part—
His gaze shifted.
Slowly.
Toward Akane.
Toward the way her eyes sparkled.
Toward the way her body leaned slightly forward.
Toward the way she looked at the screen—
At Raphael—
Like he was the only thing in the world that mattered.
Something ugly twisted inside his chest.
"…You're joking…"
His voice darkened.
Low.
Dangerous.
"You're looking at him like that…?"
Akane didn't respond.
Didn't even acknowledge him.
As if he wasn't there.
As if he had never been there.
Her entire world—
Was focused on one person.
Samuel's eye twitched.
"…Akane."
No response.
"…Akane."
Still nothing.
Her lips moved slightly.
A whisper.
Soft.
Barely audible.
"…He came…"
Samuel froze.
"…What?"
Her eyes shimmered even more.
"…He really came…"
There was no logic in her voice.
No reasoning.
Only feeling.
Pure.
Unfiltered.
Uncontrollable.
Joy.
Relief.
Disbelief.
"…He's alive…"
Her shoulders trembled.
"…He's really alive…"
And then—
She smiled.
A small smile.
Fragile.
Beautiful.
Real.
"…And he's stronger than anyone…"
Something inside Samuel snapped.
"STOP IGNORING ME!!"
His voice exploded through the room.
Sharp.
Violent.
Uncontrolled.
Akane flinched slightly—
But she still didn't turn to him.
Didn't give him what he wanted.
Her gaze remained forward.
On the screen.
On Raphael.
That alone—
Was enough.
Samuel's breathing grew heavier.
"…That bastard…"
His nails dug into his palm.
"…That worthless trash…"
His voice trembled.
"…He was supposed to stay weak…"
His eyes darkened.
"…He was supposed to stay beneath me…"
Silence.
Then—
A quiet realization crept in.
Cold.
Unforgiving.
"…I can't beat him…"
The words slipped out.
Barely audible.
But real.
Terrifyingly real.
Because for the first time in his life—
Samuel Arzenon felt something he had never truly experienced before.
Not anger.
Not pride.
Not lust.
But—
Fear.
Meanwhile—
Akane finally moved.
Just slightly.
Her hand pressed against the screen.
Fingers trembling against the image of the boy she once knew.
"…Raphael…"
Her voice was soft.
Warm.
Alive.
"…Where have you been all this time…?"
A tear slid down her cheek.
But this time—
It wasn't from despair.
It wasn't from pain.
It wasn't from hopelessness.
It was something else entirely.
Something she hadn't felt in a long time.
Hope.
Four days remained.
The wedding was still approaching.
The cage was still closing.
But now—
Everything had changed.
Because the boy she loved—
Was no longer weak.
No longer powerless.
No longer someone the world could ignore.
Raphael Arzenon had stepped onto the stage.
And without even realizing it—
He had set the entire world on fire.
Again.
The silence did not last.
It couldn't.
Because for someone like Samuel Arzenon—
Silence was unbearable.
His breathing was uneven.
His gaze still fixed on the now-dark television screen, as if trying to deny what he had just witnessed.
"…No…"
His fingers twitched.
"…No, no, no…"
That image—
Raphael standing there.
Untouched.
Unshaken.
Untouchable.
It replayed in his mind like a curse.
And worse—
Akane's reaction.
Her eyes.
Her smile.
The way she had completely ignored him.
That—
That was something he could not tolerate.
His hand moved suddenly.
He pulled out his phone.
Without hesitation.
Without restraint.
The call connected instantly.
A brief pause—
Then—
Roy Tohsaka's voice echoed through the line.
"Samuel Arzenon. To what do I owe the call at this hour?"
Samuel didn't waste time.
"Speed up the marriage."
Silence.
Then—
"…Explain."
Samuel's tone turned sharp.
Cold.
"Tomorrow."
Another pause.
Longer this time.
"…That is rather sudden," Roy replied calmly. "The preparations—"
"I don't care about preparations."
Samuel's voice dropped.
Dangerously.
"I want the wedding to happen tomorrow."
The air itself seemed to tighten.
Behind him—
Akane's body stiffened.
Her eyes widened slightly as she turned her head.
"…What…?"
She had heard that.
Every word.
On the other end—
Roy Tohsaka exhaled slowly.
"…I see."
No hesitation.
No concern.
Only calculation.
"…Very well. It will be done."
The call ended.
Just like that.
A decision made.
A life altered.
Without her consent.
Akane's hands trembled.
"…You—"
Her voice shook.
Low.
Furious.
"What did you just do…?"
Samuel slowly lowered the phone.
Then—
He smiled.
That same arrogant, infuriating smile.
"It seems," he said casually, "we'll be husband and—"
SLAP.
The sound echoed sharply through the room.
Samuel's head snapped to the side.
For a moment—
Silence.
Akane stood there.
Her hand still raised.
Her entire body trembling—not from fear—
But from rage.
Pure.
Unfiltered.
Unrestrained rage.
"Don't you dare…" she hissed.
Her voice was shaking—
But her eyes were burning.
"…call me that."
Her gaze pierced into him.
Sharp.
Merciless.
"You ugly pig."
Samuel slowly turned his head back.
His expression—
Darkened.
A flicker of anger crossed his face.
"…Ugly…?"
His voice dropped.
"…Now I'm ugly?"
His eyes narrowed.
"…Because of that fucking Raphael Arzenon?"
Akane didn't hesitate.
Didn't flinch.
Didn't hold back.
In fact—
She smiled.
A small.
Cruel.
Absolutely shameless smile.
"Of course."
Her voice was calm.
Almost amused.
"You were already hideous in my eyes."
She stepped closer.
Looking him directly in the eyes.
"But compared to my beloved Raphael Arzenon?"
Her smile widened slightly.
"It's like night and day."
Her gaze sharpened.
"You're just an ugly rapist."
Her voice softened—
But it cut deeper than any blade.
"And he…"
A faint blush crossed her cheeks.
"…is a handsome, gentle mage."
Something inside Samuel snapped.
Completely.
"DAMN YOU, WOMAN!!"
His voice exploded through the room.
Raw.
Uncontrolled.
"DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHO I AM?!"
His chest heaved.
His eyes burned with fury.
"We mages follow bloodline importance!"
He stepped forward aggressively.
"I am an elite of the Arzenon family!"
His voice rose.
Pride.
Arrogance.
Desperation.
"All the way since 10 AD—for over two thousand years!"
His hand clenched tightly.
"We have connections with entire nations!"
His voice trembled with rage.
"With power!"
And then—
He pointed at her.
Accusing.
Furious.
"And you want to throw it all away…"
His voice cracked.
"…for trash like Raphael Arzenon?!"
His breathing became heavier.
Unstable.
"Are you out of your mind?!"
Silence.
Akane didn't respond.
Didn't argue.
Didn't even look at him anymore.
She simply—
Turned.
And walked away.
As if he didn't exist.
That—
That was the final straw.
"YOU—!!"
Samuel grabbed the nearest object.
The remote.
And hurled it.
CRASH.
The television shattered.
Glass scattered across the floor.
The image of Raphael—
Gone.
Destroyed.
Erased.
Samuel stood there.
Breathing heavily.
His chest rising and falling.
His hand slowly moved to his hair—
Gripping it tightly.
"…Damn that girl…"
His voice dropped.
Low.
Dark.
Cold.
"…It seems…"
A twisted smile formed on his lips.
"…I'll have to remind her."
His eyes gleamed with something vile.
Something inhuman.
"…who she belongs to."
A pause.
Then—
A whisper.
Not a threat.
A promise.
"…Tonight."
Tohsaka Estate — Inner Office
Akane didn't stop walking.
Not once.
Not until she reached her father's office.
Her steps were sharp.
Heavy.
Filled with emotion she could no longer suppress.
She didn't knock.
She opened the door.
And froze.
The room—
Was filled.
White marble floors.
Golden decorations.
Expensive furniture.
And—
Women.
Twelve of them.
Beautiful.
Dressed lightly.
Too lightly.
Their faces flushed.
Their eyes avoiding hers.
At the center—
Roy Tohsaka sat calmly.
Completely unfazed.
As if this was normal.
As if nothing about this scene was worth acknowledging.
Akane exhaled slowly.
A tired.
Disappointed sigh.
"…I see."
Her voice was flat.
Cold.
"So while I've been crying all day…"
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…you've been busy."
A pause.
"…sleeping around."
The maids flinched.
Some turned away.
Others lowered their heads in embarrassment.
But Roy—
Didn't react.
Not even slightly.
"So what?"
His tone was casual.
Indifferent.
"A man has his needs."
He leaned back slightly.
"Surely you can understand that."
Akane's hands clenched.
"…Bullshit."
Her voice sharpened.
"That kind of thinking…"
Her eyes burned.
"…is exactly why Samuel gets away with rape."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Roy sighed.
As if this conversation was beneath him.
"And you are a woman."
His gaze met hers.
Cold.
Detached.
"It is your role to bear children."
A pause.
"To serve your purpose."
Akane's anger surged.
"That's sexist as hell!"
She stepped forward.
"I'm talented!"
Her voice rose.
"I could become an incredible mage!"
"Not happening."
The words cut through her instantly.
Flat.
Absolute.
Her eyes widened.
"…Why?"
Her voice cracked.
"Why not?!"
Roy exhaled slowly.
As if explaining something obvious to a child.
"…Because of your element."
Akane froze.
"…You already know."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"You were born with something no one else in history has possessed."
A pause.
"The element of Time."
Silence.
Akane didn't respond.
Because it was true.
She had always known.
And she had always hidden it.
"That power," Roy continued, "gives you the highest natural affinity to temporal phenomena."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Which means…"
His voice lowered.
"…your children may inherit it."
Akane's heart sank.
"…So that's it…"
Her voice became quiet.
"…you're selling me off…"
Her hands trembled.
"…for breeding."
Roy didn't deny it.
Because to him—
There was nothing to deny.
Akane looked down.
Her voice dropped.
Soft.
Broken.
"…Father…"
A pause.
"I thought…"
Her lips trembled slightly.
"…you loved me."
Silence.
Then—
"I don't."
The answer came instantly.
Without hesitation.
Without emotion.
Akane's world cracked.
"I only used your mother to create a powerful child."
His voice remained calm.
Detached.
"As mages, we do not concern ourselves with love."
Akane's eyes lowered.
Not shocked.
Not surprised.
Just—
Tired.
"…I see…"
But then—
Roy spoke again.
And this time—
Everything changed.
"…After all," he said calmly,
"…you are a Fae hybrid."
Akane froze.
Completely.
"…What…?"
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"…What do you mean…?"
Roy leaned back.
Unbothered.
"Your mother was a high-ranking Fae spirit."
A pause.
"One who embodied the natural elements of the world."
Akane's breath caught.
"…No…"
"I seduced her."
His voice remained flat.
"And you were born."
Silence.
Absolute.
"…You are sixty percent Fae."
A pause.
"Forty percent human."
Akane's body trembled.
Her mind struggled to process it.
"…Then my element…"
Roy's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…is not just rare."
A pause.
"It defines you."
He looked directly at her.
"You are not merely a mage."
Silence filled the room.
Even the maids didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Didn't speak.
"…You are," Roy finished calmly,
"…the Fae Spirit of Time."
The words lingered.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Unescapable.
Akane stood there.
Silent.
Still.
Her entire identity—
Shaken.
Who was she?
A daughter?
A tool?
A mage?
A monster?
Or something else entirely?
The answer—
Had just begun to unravel.
End of the Chapter.