"Of course..." Gan'an Shinomiya continued. After all, he knew full well that claiming it was a misunderstanding would never convince the Doma Family. The reason he had gone to such lengths to explain was merely to minimize the fallout. "A mistake is a mistake. Even if this unfilial son acted on impulse, still..."
"So..." Before he could finish, Sogo Doma cut him off. "Your Shinomiya Family wants to put on a little performance of carrying thorns to beg forgiveness? So that my... our Doma Family will go easy on you?"
"..." Well, Gan'an Shinomiya had indeed entertained that thought. Although he had coldly ordered Azure Dragon Shinomiya to commit seppuku as an apology, the man was still his biological son.
Originally, he had thought that Sogo Doma was still young. Young people might have tempers, but they cared even more about saving face. If he humbled himself and put on a show of suffering, perhaps the boy would forgive his unfilial son? As long as Sogo Doma, the "victim," forgave Azure Dragon Shinomiya, Keiryu Doma would have no reason to make trouble for the Shinomiya Family no matter how unhappy he was...
"My worthy son-in-law is overthinking things..." It had to be said that Gan'an Shinomiya truly deserved to be the head of the Shinomiya Family. Even after Sogo Doma exposed his faint hope to his face, his smile did not diminish. "Since this old man had this unfilial son tied up and brought here, I had already prepared myself to accept any outcome. After all, my worthy son-in-law is the victim. It's just that..."
Yet before he could finish again, Sogo Doma interrupted, "Are you about to say that even a condemned criminal has the right to defend himself?"
"..." Gan'an Shinomiya choked. Was this kid a worm in