"Huh?" Herta said under her breath, "Wait a minute... Did you do that to Master at the wake?" You then saw a fury enter the eyes of the goddess. "You bitch..."

What followed was a light show from the Goddess of Artifice and a screech from the kitsune spirit. You made sure to protect Yumi from Herta's power as it was shot here and there, scattering any ghosts that decided to watch this battle. To the credit of this kitsune spirit, she could dodge Herta's attacks— for a while at least. Eventually she was shot down, and rendered immobile as you and Herta towered over her form.

"You attacked Master," Another beam of concentrated divine energy was thrown, dangerously close to the spirit's head. "You insulted him," Herta, despite her calm words, was expertly crafting enough divine energy to overwhelm the entire building. "But worst of all, you tricked him. Therefore I, as the Goddess of Creation, condemn you to eternally suffer-"

"Mother?" Ayane exclaimed as she saw the scene unfold.

The spirit woman, once wide eyed and trembling, gleamed with recognition at the form of your fox wife.

"Did I not tell you to never show your face to me again until you improve your life?" The ghost, despite everything, still said this with a bite to her tone. She glared at Ayane.

This was gonna be interesting.

After some explanations, you find that this spirit is actually Sumiko : The first wife of Hisashi and mother of Ayane and Ai.

You could see the resemblance between her and Ayane. Though her bust was more like Bertha's, if slightly smaller. You wondered if Ayane was gonna end up with such a big rack...

She was much like your own kitsune wife in personality... if Ayane were to have no warmth in her.

Her way of doing things was sobering enough to make you annoyed.

"A disappointing as always, are you? After your failure to woo the Yasuda brat you fell into a spiral of self-pity, confirming what I already suspected you to be. Unless you've come here to tell me you are now the first slave-wife of the Emperor himself..."

"I missed you too, mother." Ayane herself didn't seem very affected by the cruelty of her mother's words.

For every time Sumiko insulted Ayane, you were tempted to let Herta finish exorcising her. It was only after Ayane practically begged you to spare her with a glance that held your tongue from letting the order out.

"Of course, that is not to say I am not happy," Said a still frowning Sumiko. "You have grown up to be a good woman. And to that extent, I am proud of you."

"Thank you, mothe-"

"A few decades too late, but I'll take what I can get." She said.

You really didn't feel like hearing her throw insults against your wife.

"Why did you make me see those things?" You asked her, now feeling like you just wanted to be done with her.

"Excuse me?" She said dryly.

"The flowers. Why did you make them look red to me? Was it some sort of test? An insult?"