The dining room fell silent, only the discreet clink of cutlery against fine porcelain broke the quiet. Eliza savored her food with a refinement that made the others uneasy. There was too much calm in her movements. She nibbled her fork while keeping her eyes locked on Kaido—a small gesture, but unsettling enough not to go unnoticed.
Still slightly hunched, Megumi shifted her eyes between Eliza and the food in front of her. She hesitated for a moment. Then, with a determined motion, she pierced the salad with her fork, brought a piece to her mouth, and in the next instant, her eyes sparkled.
"Mm!" she murmured, unable to hide her excitement. "It has matcha vinaigrette… it's delicious! Now I even want some matcha tea!"
The comment shattered the quiet. One by one, all eyes turned to her, the enthusiasm caught them off guard.
"Matcha tea, huh…" Eliza repeated, setting her cutlery down.
Megumi froze. She swallowed hard, her body instinctively bracing for a reaction that never came.
But realizing that Eliza wasn't looking at her with hostility—in fact, she seemed genuinely interested—Megumi took a deep breath, straightened slightly, and gathered her courage:
"Y-you like matcha too?"
The table sank back into silence.
Surprised looks crossed, as if they had just witnessed someone challenging a wild beast empty-handed. Anne placed her napkin delicately on her lap, watching the scene with a tender, almost amused look, savoring the unexpected moment.
Pale but resolute, Megumi held her look on Eliza, while everyone admired the silent courage of someone who had until then been frightened.
Eliza smiled at Megumi with a gentle expression.
"Yes, I do. How can I put it…" she said, glancing at Kaido, "Matcha is delicate, deep, with a subtle sweetness. It lingers on the tongue… like a memory."
Megumi blinked several times, unsure of how to feel. The tension in her body eased, and before she realized it, a nervous smile slipped out.
"Exactly… that's it! I also think matcha… has a calming taste. I always drink it before exams—it helps me focus!"
Eliza rested her chin on her hand, studying her intently. Her feline yellow eyes stayed locked on Megumi, but without the previous tension.
"Interesting… you have more than good taste," she said, laughing softly. "I like you, little one."
Megumi blushed to her ears. Seeing Eliza respond as if it were a normal conversation excited her even more.
"Th-then… maybe one day, if you want, we can have it together! Matcha tea, of course!"
Kaido and Asuka remained speechless, while Lili covered her mouth with a napkin to stifle her laughter at the absurdity of seeing Megumi invite a vampire for tea.
Eliza picked up her glass and swirled the wine gently before replying:
"Yes, that can be arranged. But…" Her voice lowered, and her eyes gleamed with intensity. "One day, you should also try my favorite delight."
Megumi swallowed hard, still smiling but hesitant.
"Wh-what?"
Eliza licked her lips lightly and leaned closer.
"Fresh blood, ma chérie. An incomparable taste… a delight no leaf, no tea, can surpass."
Megumi's heart nearly stopped. She gripped her fork tightly, trying not to tremble. A hush fell over the table, even Anne sighed, as if already anticipating the conversation's direction.
"Elizabeth! You can't say something like that." Anne's glance hardened.
Eliza, indifferent, shrugged and took a sip of her wine.
"I merely spoke of what I enjoy. Nothing more."
Lili rested her elbow on the table and, with a sly smile, commented:
"Ma sœur…" she glanced at Eliza, "don't get too carried away, or you'll scare the poor girl."
Megumi's eyes widened as if she'd been exposed, clutching her glass with both hands, hiding behind it.
Asuka, feigning surprise, brought her hand to her mouth:
"Are?! After all, aren't you worse than a vampire?"
"Tss… Mind your own business, Kazama!" Lili pointed her finger at her.
"Just stating the truth…" Asuka shrugged.
Lili narrowed her eyes, rising from the table.
Tss… I don't like this.
Eliza chuckled softly, as if enjoying the best show at dinner.
"Emilie," Anne scolded. "Sit. What kind of manners are those?"
A blush covered Lili's cheeks, this time purely from embarrassment. She huffed and sat down immediately, as if she had been given an invisible tug.
"Oui…" she whispered, her lips tight in indignation.
Her mother's sharp gaze, Eliza's suppressed laughter, and Asuka's brazen provocation… everything seemed to turn against her.
Tss… you're getting too bold, Asuka.
Très bien. Don't cry later for what's coming.
After all… the stage is already set.
Then, glancing at Kaido, a spark of confidence reignited. She bit her lip, a mischievous smile forming.
… and the actor is mine.
Without hesitation, she speared a piece of food on her fork, placed her other hand delicately on his face, and pulled him close.
" Aaahm…," she said softly, almost instructively. "Open."
Kaido, blushing to his ears, swallowed hard. He had no time to react—he simply obeyed. He opened his mouth and allowed Lili to feed him. Asuka couldn't watch, leaning forward, annoyed.
"Aho! What's gotten into you today? You're acting like a complete fool."
"Cough! Cough! Hu-cough!" Kaido choked on the food. "I-I—"
"Shh…" Lili placed her index finger on his lips, raising her gaze to Asuka, triumphant smile in place.
"We're eating, Asuka. Don't ruin our appetite."
"Huh?! How rude!" Asuka jabbed her fork into the meat forcefully, pouting.
Lili kept her finger on Kaido's lips, staring at Asuka with a wide, wicked grin. Eliza leaned back in her chair, delighted with the spectacle.
"He-he… what a show!"
Kaido looked at Asuka, worried.
Oh no… what do I do?
I don't want to see her like that again…
He glanced at Lili, trying to convey his intention without words.
Please… go easy on her.
Seeing his dejected look, Lili rolled her eyes and withdrew her finger from his lips.
"Bah… toujours si dramatiques."[1]
Asuka watched the two silently. Lili's smile. Kaido's dejected look.
What does she have… that I don't?
She lowered her eyes to the plate. Then to Kaido.
I can be considerate too.
I'll prove it now.
She raised her fork, spearing a piece of meat. She leaned over the table, stretching her hand toward him.
"Kaido," her voice firm. "Open."
Kaido turned to her, surprised. Hesitated for a second… then opened his mouth.
But in the next motion, Asuka's hand faltered.
"Ita—"
The tip of the fork grazed—and lightly pierced his lip. She recoiled so quickly she nearly knocked over her chair.
"I… I didn't mean to… it was an accident!" she stammered, blushing.
His lip began to redden, a drop of blood trickled, staining the tablecloth. Lili, theatrically, brought her hand to her mouth.
"Mon dieu, what a mess, Asuka." She commented playfully, stretching her hand with a silk napkin to clean Kaido's wound.
But her smile died instantly when she heard the slow sound—a noticeable lick of the lips, accompanied by a deep sigh. Everyone turned to Eliza.
Her eyes now gleamed crimson, miosis-locked on Kaido, as intense as her first attack, causing everyone to jump out of their seats.
Eliza rested her elbow on the table and chin in her hand. Her eyes twinkled with mischief, lips curved in a seductive smile.
"I could use a drink."
Anne immediately lost her composure.
"Elizabeth!"
Eliza blinked, and in an instant, everything returned to normal. An innocent, almost childlike smile appeared on her face.
"Oui, maman?" she said, delicately picking up a piece of bread. "I'm just hungry…"
Anne brushed her brow, trying to regain composure. Desmond, hearing the commotion, entered the dining room and approached silently, attentive to every gesture.
"Do you need assistance, madame?"
"Merci, Desmond. No, everything is fine." Anne exhaled and turned to the group. "Everyone, please, sit down."
Lowering her voice to him, she added:
"Desmond, please take care of Kaido's lip."
"It's just a scratch, mam," Kaido replied, lightly touching his lip. "It's not bleeding anymore."
Anne sat back down, now more relaxed.
"Very well. Everyone, continue lunch."
Anne shot Eliza a firm glance. She chewed her bread slowly, eyes still fixed on Kaido, as if nothing else mattered.
"Eliza, my dear…" she called, in a controlled tone. "Please, enough of scaring the guests."
Eliza chewed more slowly, sighing exaggeratedly, almost theatrically.
"'Scaring?'" she repeated, placing her hand on her chest, feigning offense. "I did nothing…"
She then crossed her arms, leaned back lazily, with a sly smile.
"I haven't even shown my horns."
Hearing this, everyone froze. Mother and daughter simultaneously hit their foreheads in disbelief. Megumi's eyes widened, and she dropped her cutlery in astonishment. Kaido remained still, eyes wide, unsure if he had heard correctly. Asuka pushed her chair back, tense.
"Hee… uso desho?"[2]
"C'est pas possible…" murmured Lili, incredulous.
Anne shook her head, tired, resigned.
"Elizabeth, you truly are impossible."
Seeing the incredulous faces, Lili found it amusing and began to giggle softly. The situation was so hilarious that, gradually, she couldn't contain herself and burst into laughter.
"Emilie don—" Anne tried to scold her, but it was so out of the ordinary that she ended up laughing too.
Eliza couldn't hold back either and joined the laughter. The dining room filled with the laughter of the Rochefort ladies.
- - -
The laughter continued for almost a minute—loud, free, almost indecent for a formal dining room. Only when breath began to fail did Anne manage to compose herself.
She brought the napkin to her lips, straightened her back, and cleared her throat lightly, regaining her posture.
"Enough," she said firmly, still with a trace of laughter in her voice. "Let's maintain at least a minimum of decorum."
Silence fell again, almost awkward. Asuka stayed still for a moment. Then lifted her gaze, first toward Lili.
"I don't find anything funny about a demon," she said sharply, pointing at Eliza. "Nothing at all."
"Demon?" said Eliza, with a thin and teasing smile. "You're bold… or do you even know your family's connection to demons?"
"My family… has nothing to do with demons."
Eliza laughed melodiously, with a sparkle of amusement in her eyes.
"Oh, silly girl." she said, tilting her head. "After all, the Kazama and Mishima walk side by side, don't they?"
Asuka stood quickly, placed a hand on her hip, trying to disguise her discomfort with a smile, and extended the other hand pointing at Eliza.
"It doesn't matter," said Asuka, voice firm and cutting. "You're nothing but a demon."
"Huh… nothing but a demon?"
Eliza rose slowly. Her expression turned serious, a scarlet glow appearing along the sides of her head. A soft crackling sound echoed in the room, and two elegant black horns appeared, reflecting the sunlight streaming through the window.
Asuka stepped back, knocking her chair over. Eliza assumed a haughty expression and smiled proudly.
"I, my dear, am far more elegant than those destructive, tragic beings."
She ran a fingertip over one of her horns, as if displaying a rare jewel.
"They scream, destroy, and suffer. I… appreciate, enchant, and sleep."
Eliza sat back down, crossed her arms, and wore a cruel smile.
"Don't confuse elegance with decadence, petite japonaise. I control who I am."
Kaido swallowed hard, eyes still wide.
"A-and… Eliza… what was that in the hall?"
Eliza blinked, clearly caught off guard by Kaido's question. For a moment, her pride disappeared—and with it, her horns—as a look of disbelief crossed her eyes.
Lili, sitting beside him, couldn't contain herself, bursting into laughter.
Eliza quickly regained her posture, with a childish smile.
"Do you… want another kiss?" she asked teasingly, trying to hide her surprise.
Kaido blushed instantly, looking away. Unhappy with his reaction, Lili narrowed her eyes and pinched his waist.
"Ita! Ita!" Kaido murmured softly.
"Silence." Lili replied seriously, turning to Eliza. "Et toi, n'y pense même pas!"[3]
"Please, calm down," Anne sighed.
Megumi, still surprised, timidly raised her hands.
"Hmm… Miss Eliza?"
Eliza turned to her with a warm smile.
"Yes, little one?"
Megumi took a deep breath, gathering courage, asked:
"Could you... could you show your horns again?"
The sound of cutlery falling onto plates was immediate. Everyone froze, staring at her.
[1] Always so dramatic.
[2] No way, right?
[3] And you, don’t even think about it!