The Engagement Party — The Fall of Two Houses
The Kurosaki family banquet hall glittered with crystal chandeliers and forced smiles.
The engagement party had begun.
Keith Argus Yamamoto stepped inside quietly.
A perfectly tailored black suit hugged his lean frame. His blonde hair was neatly combed back, and thick glasses hid his eyes, dulling what would otherwise draw too much attention.
Still—
He was handsome.
Too handsome.
Whispers followed him as he walked.
Keith's gaze paused when he spotted Tomoko Suzuki and Sonoko Suzuki.
He approached them calmly.
"Good evening," Keith said with a gentle smile.
"You both look beautiful tonight."
Tomoko froze for a second—then smiled warmly, her heart skipping.
Sonoko flushed instantly.
"T-Thank you, Keith," Sonoko said, trying to sound normal and failing.
Keith nodded and moved on, unaware of the number of eyes still following him.
The Announcement
At the center of the hall, Harumi Kurosaki stood beside Kazuto Amamiya, their fingers intertwined, laughter light and carefree.
As if nothing had happened.
Rin Kurosaki raised his glass.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he announced proudly,
"Today, we celebrate the engagement of my daughter, Harumi Kurosaki, and Kazuto Amamiya!"
Applause erupted.
Some clapped enthusiastically.
Others—shareholders and investors who had suffered heavy losses in recent days—clapped in relief, believing stability had returned.
Keith clapped too.
Clap.
Clap.
The sound echoed.
Too deliberate.
The room slowly quieted.
Keith stepped forward.
"Rin Kurosaki," Keith said calmly,
"Before this engagement, may I ask—what about my engagement to Harumi Kurosaki?"
A murmur spread.
Rin frowned and laughed arrogantly.
"That?" he scoffed.
"It was arranged by my late wife. She's dead now. That engagement doesn't count."
Harumi stepped forward, eyes full of disdain.
"I never loved you," she declared loudly.
"I would never marry a poor nobody."
Laughter followed.
Keith turned toward Kazuto and his father.
"You both knew about this engagement?" he asked quietly.
Kazuto smirked.
His father sneered.
"Know your place, trash," Kazuto said.
"People like you should stay silent."
Keith closed his eyes for a brief moment.
Then he sighed.
"Harumi," he said softly,
"Give me back the necklace my mother—Kaori Yamamoto—gave you."
Harumi's lips twisted.
"Tch."
She grabbed the necklace from her neck and threw it to the floor.
"Take your trash back."
The sound of metal hitting marble echoed.
Keith bent down, picked it up carefully, and held it close.
"At least you're still with me," he whispered.
"Mom."
No one realized—
That necklace was worth over one trillion yen.
The Doors Open
BOOM.
The massive doors of the banquet hall swung open.
Guards in black suits entered first—each bearing a silver crest.
A crest known by every elite family in the world.
Runcandel.
The room froze.
Then—
Darius Runcandel and Clara Runcandel entered.
The temperature seemed to drop.
Whispers exploded.
"R-Runcandel…?"
"Their family still exists?!"
"The strongest house in the world…!"
Rin Kurosaki and Kazuto's father rushed forward nervously.
"Lord Darius! Lady Clara!"
"We are honored—!"
They were ignored.
Darius walked straight past them.
Clara followed.
They stopped in front of Keith.
Darius gently patted Keith's head.
Clara's eyes landed on the necklace in Keith's hand.
Her smile sharpened.
So that was why he had come.
The World Watches
Cameras flashed.
The press—already present—had gone live.
All of Japan was watching.
Darius turned slowly.
His gaze locked onto the Kurosaki and Amamiya families.
Cold.
Dead.
The entire hall felt like it had been plunged into winter.
Clara smiled sweetly.
"So," she said softly, her voice carrying everywhere,
"my grandson is trash?"
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Keith lifted his hand and removed his glasses.
Sapphire-blue eyes were revealed.
Deep.
Ancient.
Beautiful.
Gasps echoed through the hall.
"One word passed through every mind:
Beautiful."
Clara placed a hand on Keith's shoulder.
"Allow me to correct something," she announced.
"This boy's true name is—"
Keith Argus Runcandel.
Heir to the Runcandel House.
The world stopped.
Tomoko Suzuki's breath hitched.
I knew it.
Darius took a step forward.
"From this moment," he declared,
"the Runcandel family will ensure that the Amamiya and Kurosaki families regret being born."
They turned.
And left.
One by one—
Shareholders fled.
Investors withdrew.
Allies cut ties.
The banquet hall emptied in minutes.
Harumi collapsed.
Kazuto trembled.
Rin Kurosaki and Kazuto's father felt their legs give out.
One thought echoed in their minds.
We're finished.
No one would save them.