Just as I was about to introduce myself, the door from the back room of the bar opened. Bringing another realization, and evidence of my stupidity, the person walked through that door. Wearing her traditional black kimono, moving with her usual royal grace, my grandmother, Kouzuki Miya.

“Maya, you should’ve told me you will come,” she said, addressing the… other… Lady Kouzuki in the room. Then she noticed me, and smiled warmly. “Oh, Tian, have you decided to visit this old woman?”

Just like that, after hearing her words, Kouzuki Maya fainted.

***

“So, dear sister of mine, tell me. When exactly have you planned to tell me about something so important?” Said now awake Kouzuki Maya, whom I knew previously as Lady in White, and, apparently, the identical twin of my blood grandmother, Kouzuki Miya, Lady in Black.

“I was planning to orchestrate a meeting between the two of you in one of Tian’s visits.” My grandmother responded nonchalantly, as if it was a normal thing to do. Well, I suppose for people at their level it was.

The three of us were currently sitting around the table. The twins, and wasn’t that one hell of a surprise revelation to the stupid me, were talking, more like bickering even. And together, both of them behaved in a radically different way than I was used to. Well, I guess they were close sisters, so outer masks were useless in their talks.

As for me, I was keeping my mouth busy with sipping the tea, which both of them were taking turns to pour into my cup, making me wonder how much tea my body will be able to take.

The last person present, discounting the hidden shadows and the bartender, was a deathly pale Yin. She stood at attention with an incredibly complicated expression on her face, and she kept glancing at me. Her black eyes were full of disbelief, shock, fear, and regret. I guess the realization of offending me, the young master Long Tian, finally dawned upon her. Serves the bitch right…

I caught myself right there. This was a dangerous path to follow. Also… this was another stupid and rash thing to do. This not-so-innocent girl wasn’t the cold, ruthless bitch that tried to kill me on many occasions. Now that I think about it, she always treated it as a personal matter, never involving either the Su clan or Lady Kouzuki. I would never be able to confirm or deny my conjecture, but, considering that Yin had a connection with Olivia, and what I did to my curious stray in the first round… Yeah. Also, I couldn’t just project my dislike of Su's first bitch onto Olivia's friend.

And so, on behalf of my girlfriend’s face, I decided to spare this girl already. Not that she needs to know it for a while longer. Her attitude can use some work.

“I told you, he doesn’t want to get involved in our matters.” The raised tone of my grandmother reached my ears. “Can you take the responsibility if he decides to just disappear? Like Chen did? I just got my grandson back, even if you are my sister, I wouldn’t forgive you easily if that happens.”

“And that’s why I said we need to ask for the boy’s opinion.” Lady Kouzuki, the white one, responded, trying to placate her conversation partner. “ He is my blood as well, I wouldn’t do anything to harm him.”

I should’ve paid more attention to their conversation, since I felt completely lost right now.

“What is there to ask? He is Long Tian, my grandson. If he doesn’t want to get involved in clan business, it’s his choice. As long as I breathe, the Long clan will always support him in every way.” I still had no idea what they were talking about, but Lady in Black’s words started to sound heated.

“And what am I supposed to do then? You know it as well as I do. All of it was a marriage agreement between two families. We both married Hào, and my kids were supposed to be the future of Kouzuki's direct bloodline.” The Lady in White's response sounded about as heated as well. “Everything is Hào’s fault. You had Chen. Now you have Tian, and I am all alone. My younger brother was as useless as Hào, if not worse. He had only one daughter, and she had only one daughter as well.”

“Then force her to procure an heir, what do you want to involve Tian for?” Kouzuki Miya.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“You think I haven’t tried it yet? The girl refuses adamantly, she even threatened to commit suicide if I pushed her harder. Her being as straight as a pretzel doesn’t help, either.” Kouzuki Maya.

The two were glaring at each other, while I had a hard time to comprehend their words.

“Grandmother, Lady Kouzuki.” I called out. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but it seems to involve me in some way, so I can’t help but feel curious. What exactly are you talking about?”

I felt two gazes landing on me at the same time. Ugh, the weight almost felt unbearable. The Lady in Black sighed, and turned back to her sister.

“This… foolish old fossil, wants to involve you into the politics of the Kouzuki family.” She spat the short answer.

Hm, this wasn’t something I looked forward to. Yet, it felt like there was more to the situation than just that.

“I… still fail to understand,” I sighed.

“It’s not a surprise you don’t. It’s the inner clan politics and requires specific knowledge.” The Lady in White decided to tell me. “The Kouzuki family has a strict patrilineal succession. And you, being the grandson of my dear sister, are the only man in the direct line. Long story short, this makes you an heir apparent.”

“And you want me to assume this position?” I asked for clarification. “Why?”

“Because I’m tired of in-fighting in my family,” Kouzuki Maya replied to my question. “The branch family elders are too busy in their struggle for power, and I am too busy fighting with them all, to properly lead the family forward.”

The Lady in White, for the first time in my memory, sounded completely exhausted.

“And my inclusion will help you with it, how?” I continued my questioning. “I am sorry, but I neither have the necessary experience to lead a major family, nor any ambitions to do so.”

“You will only need to exist, this will be enough. It’s not a wide-spread knowledge, but for the Three Families, blood is everything. You have the direct bloodline of my Kouzuki family, so your word is a law for the branch families,” Lady Kouzuki clarified. “As for you not wanting to rule, it’s fine as well. You can leave the day to day management to me, or to your future wife.”

I listened to her words, missing dearly the presence of Bella by my side. I really could use some advice right about now. This was… an incredible opportunity, however I looked at it. For the small price of being officially involved in the clan business, I, essentially, would get not only the backing of the Kouzuki clan, but an ability to use it at will. I sighed, feeling my greed burning inside.

“Don’t let her mislead you, Tian.” I heard my grandmother’s voice. “She wants to involve you in her mess, to make it easier on herself. All the while not offering any benefits to you whatsoever. You have blood of both families inside of you. Yet, you are Long Tian, not Kouzuki Tian. While, as Long Tian, you still can use Kouzuki clan resources at your will. Whether you choose to play along with her or not.”

Huh, as expected of Kouzuki Maya, she actually managed to scam me, and even make me happy while doing so.

“Miya…” Lady in White’s tone was full of blame. “I almost got myself a grandson, if only in name, and you couldn’t keep your mouth shut for a moment.”

Her earlier words played in my mind. ‘I am all alone’, said with so much loneliness in them. Then my memory showed a quick slideshow of every moment where the Lady in White helped me in the first round. I owed her so much, just as much as I owed the Lady in Black, and yet, when she asked for my help, I only thought about the ways to refuse.

“I have a question.” I raised my hand. “How many people know about the name Shinji, and its relation to the Long Chen?”

A stupid and rash idea, just the kind I was so used to as of late, started forming in my head.

“Four in total. Me and my sister. Our husband. Long Chen. Now you. Still four.” My grandmother counted, leaving Yin, bartender and shadows out of her count for some reason.

“I have a stupid idea, and I would love to hear your thoughts about it, oh wise ladies,” I started. “If, In the capacity of Long Tian, I decide against getting involved in anything, it would be fine, right?”

I got a nod from both colored ladies as an answer.

“And if I want to help the Lady in White, all I need to do is exist, right?” I asked another question.

Once more, two nods. The sheer stupidity of my next words made me doubt my existence thus far.

“Kouzuki Shinji, grandson of Kouzuki Maya, greets my elders,” I bowed my head. Then I turned my face to the Lady in White. “Nice to meet you, Grandma.”

I could see how a shudder went through Kouzuki Maya. Grandma, I corrected myself, and a single tear fell from her eye. Those two really had similar reactions. Then I turned to Kouzuki Miya, my grandmother.

“I apologize if it offends you, grandmother,” I apologized. “But no one deserves to be alone. Especially my family.”