WOUNDED HEART [ ✓ ] | Jujutsu Kaisen

Chapter 11: Society's Judgment

"Shomo-hiko, I have a favor to ask," Reimi spoke.

She decided to have a visit to the palace so she can talk with her supposed-to-be future husband. This is the only way left. If her parents didn't agree, then she will ask him herself.

"What is it?" Shomo-hiko politely asked.

"Please marry Asukabe-hime instead." The young man was surprised to hear her request. "She wanted to live in the palace and marry you more than anyone else. If you may allow her, let her prove it to you."

"The rumors must be true, then."

"What rumors?"

"You were secretly seeing another man. There are others who also mentioned that you were planning to run away with him."

"What?" she questioned, her eyebrows furrowed. "I, I will never do that."

"You should hear it yourself. People are talking about you everywhere."

Reimi asked her maids if they can walk on their way home. They hesitated but she managed to convince them by saying she wanted to buy the books she failed to purchase yesterday. She wanted to hear the rumors around.

Seems like people doesn't have anything to do with their lives except to gossip.

It only took her one step towards the market when she heard people talking behind her. Reimi stopped and sat on a bench that's near to them.

"Isn't she Fujiwara no Fuhito's daughter to Michiyo? The oldest one, the one who is supposed to marry Shomo-hiko," she heard them whispered.

"Most likely. Look at her clothes and hair accessories. It's too pleasing for a hustler like her."

"Lower down your voice! Her maids might hear you and worst, she herself!" Reimi's maid approached her and tried to cover her ears but she signaled them that it's okay.

"But it's true! One of their workers said she ran away yesterday saying she'll buy new books but when she arrived at their home, she brought nothing. Remember what the peasant said about the white-haired man?" they continued.

"He saw him talking to someone who wears a high-end clothing and rare shawl. The woman was confessing, right? Then as a reply, the man gave her his sword."

"It would be very sweet if only she is not engaged with Shomo-hiko."

"Hey! Hey! Have you heard the latest news already?" a new woman at their age said. Based on her dress, she must be a courtmaid in the palace. "Reimi-hime, Shomo-hiko's betrothed, called off the wedding."

"What? Then it is true!" the two exclaimed as if the topic of their gossip isn't there.

"That's not all. She even tried to kill her little sister last night!" Reimi's eyes widened.

News travels as fast as the wind, indeed. But who could have spread that? Only she, her sister and parents, and a few of their guards know about the incident. Could it be that...?

"It... It all makes sense now!" one of them said. "Apparently, someone saw her talking to a man yesterday. They exchanged words and items. It doesn't look like they're just trading because it's too romantic."

"Are you saying that she had an affair?"

"And her sister must have discovered it so she tried to silence her. She's planning to marry Shomo-hiko while being in love with another man! How shameless! I'm glad she called it off."

"How dare you talk ill of my lady in front of her?!" one of her maids yelled to the three of them. Reimi stood up and held her as she was about to charge towards the three. "You do not know the real story so it is better for you to shut your mouth."

"Tell us, then."

"I do not have any time to explain for peasants like you. You can talk and gossip about me but I will never bother. I pity you because you resort to such petty habits," Reimi claimed before leaving but she gazed at them first. "After all, rumors are carried by haters, spread by fools, and accepted by idiots."

"She even have the guts to tell that to us. Talking to us like that, who does she think she is? She's not even married to Shomo-hiko yet. Good thing her family is powerful, without them, she'll be as weak as a kitten. But I wonder, what will happen if they learn that she's causing shame to them?"

"Please don't mind them, my lady. They do not have anything to do with their lives," one of her maids said.

"I know. If anything, I am disappointed with myself because I chose to listen to their nonsense accusations," she replied. "Let us go home already."

"I have a bad feeling about that, my lady," the other maid said. "What if your parents already knew about it?"

"I just need to explain to them."

However, as soon as she came home, her mother's palm greeted her right cheek. She held it and looked at her mother with teary eyes.

"Leave," her mother demanded. She was about to say something but she cut her off. "I said, leave! How dare you ruin our reputation just like that? This is beyond being rebellious, Fujiwara no Reimi!"

"First, you were trying to be a man. Second, you tried to kill your own sister. Third, you cancelled your wedding with Shomo-hiko and now...this?!" her mother continued. Reimi looked down and bit her lower lip as she was trying to hide her teary eyes. "You are in a relationship with another man. Then someone saw you shouting to vendors a while ago. Just how much are you going to ruin our family's name?"

"They were spreading rumors about me, Mother. I could not just remain silent and let them tell lies," she defended.

"A rumor or not, as long as many people believes it, it does not matter. You told us that you wanted your little sister to marry Shomo-hiko instead, we will allow that. In the end, she is our only daughter."

Reimi froze when she heard that. She blinked so many times trying to comprehend it.

"From now on, Fujiwara no Reimi does not exist. Pack your things and leave while there are no people around, peasant." She tried to watch her mother walk away from her but her visions were blurred due to the tears blocking her sight.

She did all they wanted. She did what her parents told her. She did what her sister wished for. She became what the society gave her.

But when she tried to became herself, this happened.