The broken moon shines brightly as Weiss singing. She stands alone on a large, empty stage, singing a wordless aria, her arms outstretched. She is perfectly positioned below the center of the painted emblem of Atlas that dominates the stage

"I'm not your pet, not another thing you own.
I was not born guilty of your crimes.
Your riches and your influence can't hold me anymore.
I won't be possessed,
burdened by your royal test.
I will not surrender.
This life is mine."

Weiss concludes her song and bows while the audience applauds. She looks up to the balcony above stage left where her father and brother are watching. Jacques Schnee remains seated, not applauding, while Whitley Schnee is standing, giving a slower-paced, sarcastic clap. Weiss looks back at the audience, all clapping still in their seats. She turns and walks backstage, her feigned smile replaced with a frown. Weiss used to enjoy singing. It was her passion yet that passion slithered away as it seemed that the more she sang, the more demand from her father.

After the performance everyone transferred to the charity party, Weiss follows her father no longer used to being on stage as you were no longer there to tell her about your experience. Jacques is conversing with a man in glasses and a gray-haired woman in a green dress.
They are laughing.
Weiss, behind her father, looking at the floor with her hands held primly behind her back. Whitley stands similar further behind their father, only his gaze is directly on him, "That's precisely my point. We offer Faunus the exact same wages given to the rest of our mining staff. Their argument's completely invalid right out of the gate."
"Well, I think the bigger issue here...is our society as a whole." The man with glasses states.

Jacques scoffed at him, "Why, you mean Atlas?"

As they converse, Weiss looks over to the largest painting on the end of the ballroom, depicting Beacon Academy with its Cross Continental Transmit tower still standing.

"Atlas, Mantle... You can't deny the economic disparity between the two. When Lieutenant (L/n) was here, we had everything under control. If she saw Mantle the way it is now, you would know she will-"

"I mean, what exactly are you suggesting?" The lady with gray hair cuts him off. "I'm just saying I don't think it's necessarily an issue of compensation as much as it is one of opportunity..." Weiss got bothered that the woman was thinking negative about you and wanted to get out of the situation. Weiss starts to step away, only to have her forearm grabbed by her father, who doesn't even turn around. Weiss halts, startled as her father pulls her back, and turning to face her, "Where are you going?"

Weiss, with a meek expression, muttered, "I'm... just a little thirsty."

"Sweetheart, we have people for that."

He lets go of Weiss and begins to raise his arm to call over a waiter. Weiss stops him by grabbing his forearm, prompting a sideways glance from Whitley. "What? No, I can get it. I'll be right back, I promise."

The two lock gazes as the conversation next to them continue. "Look, no one asked them to move here. And if Lieutenant (L/n) cared, she wouldn't have left Atlas, to begin with, going to Vale because she wanted to and look what happened."
"But companies like the SDC promised jobs She was there temporarily."

Jacques decides to let Weiss go and turns back to his companions. "I'm sorry, I tuned out for a second, but sounds like I'm the good guy again?"

Jacques and the businesswoman share a laugh. Weiss moves across the room to look at the painting of Beacon Academy. She has barely reached it when Discounted Neptune (I mean) Henry Marigold speaks to her. "It's beautiful. You two match."

Weiss stands with her arms crossed, maintaining a cold expression throughout most of the conversation. "Yes, it's a lovely painting."
"So, that was my attempt at breaking the ice. How am I doing so far?"

Weiss sigh, "You are leaving a lot to be desired."
"Well, I've always appreciated honesty. Henry. Marigold." He offers our his hand to her.

Weiss turns her head to look at him. "Weiss Schnee." She lightly places her fingers across his in a very loose handshake.

"I know I saw your performance."
He cringes at himself as he clears his throat, "Obviously. You were wonderful. And I promise I'm not just saying that 'cause you're pretty."

Weiss turns her attention back to the painting, and there is a brief silence between the two. "Honesty, remember? So, you thinking about buying it?"

Henry begins to rattle the railing as he speaks. "No. I don't think so."

"Yeah, kinda pricey for a painting." Weiss had annoyance in her voice, "It's to raise money."

"Oh, really? For what?"
"For what?" Weiss throws him a disgusted look. "Heheh, I'll admit, I only come to these things for the food and drinks." He reaches out and takes a champagne flute as a waiter walks by, "And the extraordinary company. Of course."

As he sips his drink, Weiss shifts her stance to face him, "So what, is it another Mantle fundraiser or something?"
"Get. Out."
"What?"
"Get out, or I will have security escort you out."
"But I haven't done any-"
"Leave!"

Weiss takes on a more aggressive stance as she raises her voice. He stares at her in disbelief before obeying, "Pfft, whatever."

She watches him walk away, and once he is gone, she turns back to the painting, crosses her arms, and closes her eyes.

Weiss' eyes are open again as if she had just been observing the painting, and she once again closes her eyes. The chatter of the party guests grows louder, but one voice stands out among the rest.

"But really, does it come as any surprise, what happened to Vale?"

Weiss opens her eyes and turns slightly, peering over her shoulder at the woman, "It was a long time coming if you ask me. Don't get me started with that no good Lieutenant; she probably caused the mess to begin with."
"Honey..."

The Trophy Wife's Husband places his hand on her shoulder, trying to shush her, but she shakes it off, leaving him to glance around the room with a forced, nervous grin. "What? You said the same thing last night. If they're so arrogant to think they can get by without proper kingdom defense, then I say good riddance. I hope that woman gets what she deserves."

While she talks, her Husband drops the act and heaves a silent sigh. The Trophy Wife's rant is cut off by a voice shouting angrily across the room at her. "Shut up!"

The room falls silent, and all of the party-goers turn to look at her, "Weiss?"

Her voice still raised, Weiss angrily gestures to the guests while she speaks, "You don't have a clue! None of you do!"
"Excuse me?"

"You're all just standing around talking about nothing! Worrying about your hair, your money, your stupid problems that don't mean anything! Even (Y/n) was trying to get it through your skulls for so long!"

Her father quickly approaches her while Whitley looks on with a faint smile on his face, "Weiss, that's enough."

He grabs her wrist, and she immediately begins struggling to pull away, "Let go of me!"
"You're embarrassing the family!"
"I said, let go!"

Weiss breaks free her father's grasp with a harsh tug, but in the process, she loses her balance and collapses to the floor. Suddenly, a glyph manifests next to Weiss, and a Boarbatusk is summoned. She looks at it with wide eyes, her jaw-dropping. The Boarbatusk Summon charges toward the Trophy Wife. "Please, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, just leave me alone."

It leaps toward her and her Husband, jaws wide open, but it is shot down by James Ironwood before it can reach her.
"Arrest her! What are you waiting for? She's insane, and she should be locked up."

"She's the only one making sense around here." James turns to Jacques, "Thanks for the party, Jacques."

The general casually makes his exit. Still, on the floor, Weiss looks up to see her father turn to glare at her.

Time Skip
Weiss Schnee sits on her bed in her room with her head bowed and her hands folded in her lap. Jacques Schnee paces in front of her, "Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable."

Jacques suddenly stops, then turns and points at her, "Do you have any idea what your stunt cost us?"
"I-"
"And don't think I'm just talking about Lien here! Our reputation! Our... our..."

Jacques sighs angrily and holds his head, unable to come up with the words to finish expressing the gravity of her mistake. Weiss waits for a moment before speaking, "I want to leave."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I said I want to leave. I don't want to stay here anymore. I don't want to stay in Atlas anymore!"
"Young lady, I don't give a damn about what you want! This isn't about you. This is about the Schnee family name and your apparent insistence on dragging it through the mud!"

Weiss stands up from the bed, "I have done nothing but fight to uphold the honor of my family name, a name that you married into!"

Jacques slaps Weiss hard on her left cheek, sending her head to the side as she gasps in reaction. She puts her hand on her cheek and turns to face her father, looking at him a little incredulously as she lowers her hand. He looks right back at her, unrepentant. When he begins speaking again, his voice suddenly sounds calm yet intimidating, "This behavior of yours is incredibly disappointing. You must have picked that up from that woman. You couldn't possibly understand the lengths I've gone to in order to keep this family where it is. You think running off like your sister is going to make the Schnee name stronger? You're wrong. Siding with her only divides us."
"I'm not siding with anyone. I'm doing what I feel is right, and that does not include wasting my time up here..."

Jacques walks away, rolling his eyes as his daughter finishes her rant. "...with these clueless people in Atlas. The Schnee family legacy isn't yours to leave. It's mine, and I'll do it as a Huntress." Jacques stops and slowly turns to face her again. As he speaks, he moves to stand in front of his daughter, peering down upon her.

"No... you won't. You're not leaving Atlas. You're not to leave the manor grounds unless I specifically allow it. You are going to remain here, out of sight and out of trouble, until you and I come to an agreement on your future."
"What?!"

"Your presupposition that you can simply have whatever it is you want is a clear sign of our failure as parents. But from now on, I'll be giving you the full attention you require, starting by keeping you where I can see you."

With that, Jacques turns once more and walks away, "You can't just keep me from leaving!"

Again, he stops and turns to look at her, "I can, and the staff here will make sure of it."
"So now I'm just your prisoner?!"
"You are my daughter. You're a child, and children are grounded when they misbehave and keep people who are bad influences away from you."

He walks away, and this time, he continues walking even while his daughter speaks, "This is only going to make things worse, Father. People will ask questions! They'll want to know why the heiress to the Schnee Dust Company is suddenly nowhere to be found!"

Her father stops in front of the door and faces her, "Which is why you are no longer the heiress to the Schnee Dust Company."

Weiss takes a step back, stunned, "Excuse me?"
"Clearly, the trauma you endured at the fall of Beacon was too much for you. Which is why you've generously revoked your claim to the company and its earnings and passed it on to your brother Whitley."

Weiss stares at Jacques, breathing heavily as she digests the news, "It's time to wake up and face reality."

Jacques turns and leaves. Through the open door, we see Whitley waiting and having been eavesdropping. Jacques turns to the left without acknowledging his son.

Weiss takes a moment to deal with her emotions and then steps out into the hall with her fists clenched, calling out to her brother, who is moving down the hallway in the opposite direction his father had gone.
"Whitley?!"

Whitley turns around with a small smile, "Yes, sister?"

Weiss walks to her brother and crossing her arms, "Did you know about this?"
"About what?"
"You never liked Winter. You never liked me. But you've been nothing but supportive since the moment I came back."
"If being kind to my big sister is some crime, then I suppose I'm guilty."

Weiss' eyes widen with realization, "You wanted this to happen."

"It's foolish not to do as Father asks." He leans forward, his feigned innocent smile changing into a threatening and angry expression. Weiss stares with a look of hurt and betrayal. "I can't believe you."
"Don't worry, Weiss. The Schnee family name is in good hands." Whitley turns and walks away as Weiss staring after him.

Weiss returns to her room, collapses face down across her bed and cries. A second or two later, Weiss lifts her head and tightens her fist, a determined look in her eyes.

She walks to the window and pulls the curtains shut. She moves her bed over several feet, pushes a desk and kicks aside a low glass bench at the foot of her bed. A wide shot shows the furniture askew. A cushioned stool is on its side on the floor, and a long white box marked with the Schnee snowflake symbol rests on her vanity. She approaches the table and opens it to reveal Myrtenaster and Dust vials inside. She lifts her weapon and poses with the blade held vertically in front of her face. "Remember, Weiss, everything I'm teaching you will come back to you one day."

Jacques enters his office, enraged after what happened with his daughter, "She doesn't know anything." As he sat down on his seat, something scared him, "I will destroy everything you had cut corners for." Your voice clear as day was in his office, yet he knew you weren't there, since the fall of Beacon you were nowhere to be found, his mind began to wonder, 'What if you came to Atlas?'
'If you speak to the council, your words will be absolute; even if Ironwood got in your way, you would overthrow him as soon as possible without hesitation.'

End of Vol. 4 Chapter 6/7
More coming soon
Michaelis~