Status Updates From 陰熒一體 (後宮之烏, #5)

A sob left Jusetsu’s lips-a sob that soon turned into a wail, then into a scream. She couldn’t stop. No matter how much she tried and how much she screamed, the pain burning inside her chest was never going to fade away.

With shaking hands, Jusetsu gathered them up. It hurt to breathe. She didn’t even know how to breathe anymore.

“Sometimes, you make me feel as if I’m looking in a mirror. If you’re happy, I’m happy. If you’re struggling, I can’t stay calm. That’s why, as much as I want to save you, the thought of having to send you away makes me feel like part of me is being taken away. It hurts.”

I either die or I run.
“I’m going to have to leave Sho…” she whispered.
Once she did that, she’d probably never be able to set foot in the country again. And that meant never seeing Koshun again either.
Suddenly, a pain shot through her chest, like she inhaled some icy winter air. She stopped breathing and hunched over, clutching at her chest.

“Shin,” said Ryo, staring intently at his old brother. “I don’t think you should get closer to that Raven Consort person.”
“…What makes you say that?”
“She’s scary.”
Ever since he was little, Ryo had had remarkable sixth sense. Fear was written across his face.
“There’s something terrifying about that consort…” he said.

I love how the winter sovereign always describes the summer sovereign using imagery like snow and cold while the summer sovereign always describes the winter sovereign using imagery like fire and warmth.