In an ornately decorated yet elegant room at the Kasumioji Residence, several maids were helping a young boy put on a wide purple ceremonial robe.
Step, step, step...
Kumoi pushed the door open and walked in.
"Oh, Kannogi-sama, this robe suits you perfectly." Kumoi praised.
Hearing Kumoi's voice, the boy named Kannogi kept his body still, allowing the maids to dress him, but turned his head to ask Kumoi: "Will Ruri really come? I don't want to have the wedding alone."
The boy called Kannogi was Rurichiyo's fiancé, Kannogi Shu of the Kannogi Clan.
"You need not worry about that, Kannogi-sama. Princess Rurichiyo is merely visiting the 10th Division. She will surely return before the wedding begins." Kumoi replied without a hint of concern.
"Is that so? You seem very confident?" Shu asked curiously.
"Of course. Today, all the nobles of the Soul Society will send representatives to attend the wedding. I've also spread the news throughout the Seireitei that Princess Rurichiyo is a guest at the 10th Division. If she doesn't appear today, then everyone will understand that the 10th Division has detained her."
"Even the Captain of the 10th Division, who also holds the position of Vice-Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, would not be able to bear such a responsibility." Kumoi said somewhat proudly.
Hearing Kumoi's explanation, Shu said nothing more, merely glancing at the red robe on the clothes rack beside him.
That was the dress Rurichiyo was supposed to wear for today's wedding.
To be honest, Shu's feelings were very complicated right now. Earlier, Kumoi had told him that Rurichiyo had gone to visit a friend at the 10th Division, but the 10th Division's Captain, Hitsugaya Toshiro, had taken a liking to her and forcibly detained her there. Kumoi himself had to go to the 10th Division to force its Captain to agree to release her on the wedding day.
Shu didn't really believe Kumoi's story. Because he had liked Rurichiyo since childhood, he had always paid close attention to the affairs of the Kasumioji Clan over the years, and he had noticed Kumoi's ambitions.
In fact, knowing Rurichiyo as well as he did, Shu was certain she would never agree to this wedding. It was very likely all just Kumoi's scheme.
But in the end, Shu did not refuse the wedding, because he loved Rurichiyo too much and deeply believed that if he treated her well after they were married, he would eventually win her over.
"Kumoi-sama, Captain Hitsugaya has arrived with the Princess!" a guard rushed in to report.
'How about that? Didn't I tell you? Even that Hitsugaya Toshiro had to obediently send Princess Rurichiyo back under my plan.' Kumoi glanced at Shu with some satisfaction, then left.
In a reception room at the Kasumioji Residence, Toshiro and his group were resting.
"Oh my, Hitsugaya-dono, your visit brings great honor to this humble abode." Kumoi walked in, smiling broadly.
"Kumoi..." Toshiro's eyes narrowed.
After greeting Toshiro, Kumoi turned to Rurichiyo: "Princess, since you've returned, you should hurry and prepare. The wedding will begin shortly."
Rurichiyo did not answer Kumoi directly. Instead, she looked at Toshiro: "Toshiro..."
"Go ahead, Rurichiyo. It'll be okay." Toshiro nodded.
"Hinamori, Matsumoto, you two stay close to Rurichiyo for now and protect her." Toshiro signaled to Rangiku and Momo.
"Oh my? Hitsugaya-dono, what is the meaning of this? Could the Princess encounter danger even in her own home?" Kumoi said with a darkened expression.
"Of course. Actually, Mr. Kumoi, you might not know this, but just the day before you came to the 10th Division to take Rurichiyo away, a large group of criminals infiltrated the 10th Division, attempting to kidnap her."
Toshiro looked at Kumoi with some sarcasm, specifically emphasizing the words 'the day before'.
"Is that so?" Stared at by Toshiro, Kumoi's expression remained unchanged, but he unconsciously clenched his right hand.
Toshiro continued, "Fortunately, the 10th Division's defenses are still relatively tight, so the criminals did not succeed. However, since they failed last time, they certainly won't give up easily."
"And since those criminals dared to break into the heavily guarded 10th Division, let alone the Kasumioji Residence, that's why I want Hinamori and Matsumoto to provide close protection for Rurichiyo. What do you think, Mr. Kumoi? Surely you won't object to this?"
Toshiro picked up a cup of hot tea and gently blew on the rising steam.
Due to personal habit, Toshiro didn't like drinking tea that was too hot.
Hearing Toshiro's words, Kumoi was cornered and didn't know what to say.
'It seems Hitsugaya Toshiro already knows that the people who infiltrated the 10th Division to target Rurichiyo were sent by me. Probably those two, Kenryu and Enryu, told him.' Kumoi thought to himself.
'But... Hitsugaya Toshiro probably doesn't have any evidence, otherwise he would have acted already. Besides, Kenryu and Enryu don't know about the Bakkoto either. So... the situation isn't dangerous.'
'Since he wants to send people to follow Rurichiyo, let him. I don't plan to act against Rurichiyo during the wedding anyway. Now that she's back at the Kasumioji Residence, there will be plenty of opportunities to deal with her later.'
'And this happens to divert his attention, so he won't notice the Bakkoto handover with Amagai.'
Thinking this, Kumoi immediately spoke: "Since Hitsugaya-dono wants to send people to protect Princess Rurichiyo, I thank you for your kind intention."
"Someone, take the Princess to prepare."
Kumoi called out.
Then a maid walked in and led Rurichiyo away to change into her wedding attire. Kenryu, Enryu, Momo, and Rangiku also followed.
After Rurichiyo left, Kumoi did not leave. Instead, he looked seriously at Toshiro.
"Hitsugaya-dono, I know that the Princess has some affection for you, so you and the Princess are not too pleased with today's wedding. But I also know that you, as the Vice-Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, will surely uphold the rules of the Soul Society and will not disrupt today's wedding, right?"
Although Kumoi's attitude was very respectful, his words were full of warning.
"Hmph! Are you threatening me with the rules of the Soul Society, Kumoi?" Toshiro's gaze turned icy cold.
Under Toshiro's gaze, Kumoi immediately felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, his whole body cold.
"No... this old man doesn't mean that." Kumoi broke out in a cold sweat.
Then, as if sensing something, Kumoi's courage bolstered, and he said: "Actually, to maintain order at the wedding, I specifically invited Captain Sui-Feng of the 2nd Division to come with her troops."
As soon as Kumoi finished speaking, Sui-Feng walked in with her Lieutenant, Omaeda Marechiyo.
"Hitsugaya? You're here too?" Sui-Feng greeted.
"Captain Hitsugaya, hello." Omaeda quickly stuffed his half-eaten green onion pancake into his bosom and greeted Toshiro.
"Mm, Sui-Feng, Omaeda, hello to you too." Toshiro replied.
"Mr. Kumoi, I have already positioned the Onmitsukido in the shadows. If anyone tries to disrupt the wedding, we will immediately eliminate them!" Sui-Feng said to Kumoi.
"Is that so? Then thank you very much, Captain Sui-Feng." Kumoi said gratefully, then glanced at Toshiro with some provocation, as if thinking that with Sui-Feng present, Toshiro wouldn't dare to disrupt the wedding easily.
"Heh..." Toshiro chuckled noncommittally and subtly exchanged a glance with Sui-Feng.