Volume 12 - Yomi-no-kuni: Chapter 157 – Rinraku

The Imperial Princess approached from the corridor, flanked by two Dark Celestial Maiden Guards. They were now just outside Lily’s room—their voices clearly audible through the door.

“How is Lily? Any signs of unusual behavior?” the Imperial Princess asked.

“She’s remained inside the whole time. No abnormalities detected,” one of the guards replied.

Inside the room, Lily and Rinne slowly pulled apart, their lips parting with reluctance.

“Senior Sister, it’s… it’s her. The Boundless Imperial Princess is here!”

“There’s no need to explain, Lily,” Rinne whispered. “Even while asleep within the mirror, I knew everything that happened outside.”

“Huh…?”

The footsteps drew nearer, just moments from reaching the door—while Lily, breathless and disheveled, remained beneath her straddling senior sister.

“Lily, you’ll have to endure,” Rinne said solemnly. “My spirit energy is low, and I used much of it to break the seal. With all I’ve stored during my slumber, I can help you escape—but only once. Just this once.”

“What about you? What happens when your energy runs out?” Lily asked, more concerned for her than for herself.

“I… it’s nothing you need to worry about,” she replied softly, her gaze tinged with sorrow. “At worst, I’ll just fall asleep again.”

“Then… how will you wake up again?”

“Well… the catalyst that awakens a spirit is unpredictable,” she murmured.

“What?” Lily’s heart clenched. After everything they’d been through to bring her back, she couldn’t bear the thought of losing her again.

By now, several figures had gathered just outside the door.

“Remember, Lily—this power is one-time only. I’m returning to the mirror now.” With a cold glance toward the door, she ran a hand through her hair and moved to rise.

Lily stared at her, fear welling up that she might sink into slumber once more. She made up her mind—she wouldn’t let her senior sister act unless it was absolutely necessary. Whether she could truly stop the Imperial Princess in one strike didn’t matter—Lily’s trust in her was absolute.

After their long-awaited reunion, her senior sister was already preparing to leave again. Lily cast a lingering, disdainful glance toward the door, then turned back—her eyes filled with longing. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around her senior sister’s neck and pulled her in for a deep, passionate kiss.

Her senior sister was momentarily taken aback—but quickly melted into the kiss, responding with equally intense emotion. Even as the door creaked open, the two remained locked in that kiss—unwilling, perhaps unable, to let go of each other.

The door creaked open slowly, letting dim light spill into the room. The Imperial Princess stood tall in the doorway, her expression unreadable, flanked by two silent Dark Celestial Maiden Guards.

A distinctly feminine aura lingered in the room—an unmistakable atmosphere of intimacy hanging thick in the dim air.

Inside the dimly lit chamber, they found Lily draped in a crimson wedding dress, as disheveled as her tousled hair. She leaned against the low bed in a languid pose, one hand gripping the rail, the other casually adjusting her clothes. From the parted folds of her skirt, her smooth, pale thighs were clearly visible.

Lily looked drained, her cheeks flushed and her eyes unfocused. Damp strands of sweat-soaked hair clung to her parted, full lips, and each breath she exhaled seemed to carry a visible trace of heat.

When Lily met the Boundless Imperial Princess’s gaze, there was no trace of fear or hatred in her eyes—only a quiet, genuine coldness, tinged with the fatigue of frustration.

Despite her disheveled state, there was an unfamiliar, mature allure to Lily’s appearance—like someone who had just weathered a violent storm.

When they took in Lily’s condition, the disarray of the room, and the lingering scent of femininity in the air… The Boundless Imperial Princess froze in stunned disbelief.

“Who? Who entered this room?!” she shouted, her fury surging so violently that the entire chamber quivered under the weight of her anger.

“No one!” The two Dark Celestial Maidens exchanged glances after seeing Lily’s expression. As women themselves, they understood exactly what had occurred. Their eyes met—wide with fearful innocence.

“Your Highness, no one has entered this room tonight. Lyn-hime never left—she’s been inside the entire time!”

“Silence!” she snapped, flicking her hand. A violent burst of energy hurled the two guards across the room, slamming them into the far corner.

She stormed toward Lily, but Lily made no effort to respond. Her movements were slow, almost indifferent—she didn’t bother hiding anything, nor did she seem inclined to explain.

The Imperial Princess’ shoulders rose and fell with ragged breath as her fury turned into a suffocating force, pinning Lily to the bed. Lily stared back, her hair disheveled, chest rising and falling with heavy breaths—her entire appearance far too incriminating.

“You—what did you do?! What exactly happened here?!” the Boundless Imperial Princess demanded, seething. But Lily remained calm, unmoved.

Her eyes settled on Lily’s chest, slick with sweat and tangled hair. With a flick of her hand, she lifted the fabric—only to find that beneath the ceremonial wedding dress, there was no undergarment at all.

“What…?” She reached out and placed her hand on Lily’s chest, sensing the spiritual fluctuations coursing through her body. “How… how is this possible? You… you neutralized the Fragrance-Breaker Pill?! What did you do?!”

Lily simply met her gaze without fear, a grim yet seductive smile playing at her lips.

The Imperial Princess’ eyes dropped to Lily’s waist, then lower. A sudden tremble ran through her as she swiftly lifted the folds of Lily’s skirt.

Beneath the scarlet folds of her wedding dress, on the pristine white fabric of her undergarments, bloomed a small bloodstain—like a lone Higanbana flower blossoming on a remote, wind-swept peak.

It was the hundredth Higanbana flower—delicately marking Lily’s wedding dress with its final, symbolic bloom.

It was the sign of a maiden’s transformation into a woman—her chastity willingly surrendered, and now symbolized by that crimson bloom on the snow-white cloth.

In that moment, the Boundless Imperial Princess understood everything.

“You… What have you done? What did you really do?”

Looking at Lily’s blissful fatigue, it was clear—this wasn’t something she had done to herself. She had been held, cherished, ravished by a true lover. Yet Hekiraku City had been tightly guarded all night. The protective formation remained undisturbed. There were no signs of intrusion. How could anyone have gotten in?

How could anyone have infiltrated the very heart of Hekiraku City—right beneath her watch—on the eve of the royal wedding, and dared to do this to her bride…?

“Who was it? Tell me—who was it? How did she get in? Where was she hiding? Who touched you?!” The Imperial Princess seized Lily by the front of her clothes and shook her violently.

But Lily’s gaze remained steady, filled with silent resolve. She turned her head away, refusing to respond.

“You… wretched b̲i̲t̲c̲h̲!” With a sharp crack of her hand, she struck Lily hard, sending her crashing to the floor. “Why? Why would you do this? You… How dare you! How dare you betray me?! How dare you humiliate me so brazenly?!”

Her fury shook all of Hekiraku City. Even the Boundless Abyss itself began to tremble. Countless Yomi experts, allowed passage into the Rinpeki Stage, turned in alarmed confusion toward the trembling city.

“Your Majesty,” Chiya said anxiously, walking beside the Queen along the suspension bridge within the Rinpeki Stage, “I sense a powerful surge of dark energy—pure rage—rising from Hekiraku City. What’s going on?”

Queen Kaguya’s expression was equally troubled, though she had no idea what had occurred. “Lynne… please don’t let this be because of you…”

Behind them, Shikigami bearing the bridal dowry followed in solemn procession. From the firmament, vivid red Higanbana flowers began to fall—scattering into the Boundless Abyss and drifting through the ethereal Rinpeki Stage, casting a veil of sorrow over the land.

Rei reached out with a pale hand and caught a single falling bloom.

“Lil’ Lily?” she murmured, eyes fixed on the trembling Hekiraku City, her thoughts growing heavy with unease.

The Boundless Imperial Princess was forced to face the almost unthinkable truth: Her fiancée—once the most beautiful and pure maiden across all three realms—was still as breathtaking as ever, now with a deeper, more mature allure. But she was no longer untouched.

She, the Boundless Imperial Princess, was one of the mightiest rulers of Yomi—the only one who dared to openly defy the Madam. As the strongest Supreme God, her forces and allies held more power than even the armies of the ruling Madam. Even the Eight Thunder Gods had turned from the Madam, offering only the barest obedience to her rule.

Yet despite her unrivaled power, her bride had been claimed—on the very night before their grand wedding. How could she possibly accept such a disgrace?

She was already overwhelmed—driven by emotion and prone to extremes. And Lily… Lily was the only woman she had ever truly desired.

It wasn’t love—at least, not in the purest sense. It was obsession. She wanted to possess Lily… to conquer her completely. And yet, even though Lily was now in her grasp, she could no longer truly call her hers. How could she possibly accept that?

“Tell me!” she demanded, unsheathing her pitch-black katana in a flash and pressing its cold edge to Lily’s chest. “Who was it? What really happened?”

But Lily merely stared back, her eyes laced with subtle contempt—and said nothing.

“Don’t test me! I’ll kill you right here!”

“Then kill me,” Lily replied calmly. “But know this—I don’t regret anything.”

“Your Highness…” one of the Dark Celestial Maidens approached hesitantly and knelt. “The wedding celebration is about to begin. The guests… the experts are arriving. What are your orders?”

At those words, the Imperial Princess’ expression darkened further. The wedding was meant to be a grand display—an assertion of dominance, a show of strength to the entire world. Yet this humiliation had taken place right under her nose.

“You wretched b̲i̲t̲c̲h̲… this is all your fault…”

Suddenly, she doubled over, coughing violently as pain wracked her body. A splash of blood hit the dark floor as she convulsed, unable to suppress it any longer.

Though Lily held no affection for the Imperial Princess, a flicker of concern stirred in her heart—because that face, after all, was identical to Sister Shimizu’s.

‘No… no, she’s not Sister Shimizu. They only look alike. She’s not her…’ Lily reminded herself again and again, clinging to her resolve. This was the same cruel woman who had forced the Fragrance-Breaker Pill down her throat.

“Your Highness!” The two Dark Celestial Maidens rushed to her side, supporting her frail form.

After a fit of violent coughing, her face turned deathly pale. Trembling, blood staining her lips, she lifted her gaze toward Lily—eyes burning with loathing. “Seize her. Lock this b̲i̲t̲c̲h̲ away! The Rinpeki Stage… is now renamed the Rinraku Stage. This wedding will become her execution. Let all of Yomi witness the price of betrayal!”

“I will execute you—before every guest, every onlooker. You will die for this.”

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