Germa Kingdom, Royal Palace. Inside a spacious bedroom, in front of a wall adorned with large photographs, Sephiroth walked to Reiju's side.
He raised his right hand and gently placed it on the young girl's shoulder.
"Whether Judge likes it or not is his business..."
"Whether you like it or not, that's what's most important, right?"
"My opinion isn't important..."
"In front of Father, I don't even have the right to refuse."
As she spoke, Reiju sighed softly.
She turned her head slightly and glanced at the young man's right hand resting on her shoulder.
Does this guy really have the right to say such things to me?
It's clearly all because of him that I'm being treated like merchandise, being used by Father for a transaction.
No!
Perhaps in Father's eyes, I was just a tool all along!
Even if I wasn't given to Sephiroth today, I would sooner or later be used as a tool for a political marriage and given to someone else...
Thinking this, a sense of self-abandonment couldn't help but rise in Reiju's heart.
She actively opened her arms and embraced Sephiroth beside her, resting her cheek on his chest.
She whispered softly:
"Do you want me...?"
"Will you stay and keep me company tonight...?"
Hearing this, Sephiroth couldn't help but look down at the young girl in his arms.
Through the perception of Observation Haki, he clearly understood what kind of mood she was in to say these words.
He raised his right hand and gently stroked the soft, pink, medium-length hair of Reiju in his arms.
Sephiroth began to ponder in his heart.
Reiju's current state was clearly due to a major blow to her inner self, causing her to fall into a state of confusion and chaos, leading to this self-abandoning behavior.
At this moment, her heart was at its most fragile and sensitive state!
But...
As the instigator of everything, Sephiroth seemingly didn't have the right to comfort Reiju with kind words; it would only make him look very hypocritical...
Finally, Sephiroth scooped up the young girl in his arms with both hands and gently laid her flat on the large pink bed.
Immediately after, Sephiroth unbuckled the two swords from his waist, climbed onto the bed, propped himself up on the quilt with his left hand, and gently stroked Reiju's fair and tender cheek with his right hand.
Reiju was completely unmoved by his extremely frivolous actions.
She kept her eyes open, staring blankly at the ceiling, as if she had lost hope in life.
Her entire being was numb and empty, like a marionette.
Sephiroth lowered his head slightly and gently kissed Reiju's soft lips, which were painted with light pink lipstick.
Then he whispered softly:
"Although I'm very fickle, I will make you happy in the future..."
When Reiju heard this sentence, a slight ripple appeared in her heart, which had been as still as a lake.
Happiness!?
That was something she had once possessed when her mother, Sora, was still alive. However, ever since her mother passed away, that feeling had vanished.
With a cold father and three heartless younger brothers, Reiju had never felt any family affection or happiness in this cold home. Deep down, she had always yearned for the feeling of being cherished and cared for.
Gradually, no matter how much Reiju pretended not to care, under Sephiroth's gentle and skilled techniques, she ultimately couldn't remain indifferent any longer. A hint of moisture gradually appeared in Reiju's eyes.
She looked at Sephiroth, who was pressing down on her, and whispered softly, "Can you really make me happy?"
"Of course."
After receiving the affirmative answer, Reiju opened her arms and tightly embraced Sephiroth, as if wanting to completely merge him into her own body. Since there are no other options for my future, I might as well try to trust this man! Reiju thought silently.
The morning sun shone obliquely through the window. Birds in the trees happily searched for food by drilling into tree holes.
Sephiroth, lying on the soft, large bed, slowly opened his eyes and saw Reiju sitting on him. "Good morning! You look very energetic!"
A gentle smile appeared on Reiju's face. After what happened last night, although she hadn't fallen in love with him, she had begun to mentally prepare herself to try and accept him, so that she could win his favor. "Because I'm with you!"
Sephiroth smiled, sat up, and hugged Reiju. After lounging in bed for two hours, Sephiroth finally got out of bed and got dressed with Reiju's help.
Due to the relationship with Reiju, when the specific matters were discussed later, Sephiroth was significantly more lenient with the demands Judge made, and Judge secretly thought that giving away this daughter was not a loss. After three days, the specific cooperation details between the Umbrella Corporation and the Germa Kingdom were finally finalized.
During this time, whenever Sephiroth was with Reiju, he would always say sweet words to make her happy. Reiju, who had no experience with the harshness of romance, unknowingly fell for him and gradually came to like him.
Or perhaps, this was actually a choice she made herself…
After dealing with the matters of the Germa Kingdom, Sephiroth took Reiju and Baccarat directly back to Sky Island. Four months later, the two hundred mass-produced WM-1 mechs, twenty mass-produced WM-2 mechs, and five experimental WM-2 mechs produced by the Umbrella Corporation began to be delivered to the Germa Kingdom one after another.
As a result, the ambitious Vinsmoke Judge immediately launched wars against the non-World Government affiliated countries in the North Blue, making the already chaotic situation in the North Blue even more turbulent, while the Umbrella Corporation hid behind the scenes, quietly making a fortune…