In the gilded halls of the Summer Court, she’s known only as the jester. Painted lips curled in a mischievous grin, parasol spinning in lazy circles at her side, Ukinami Yuzuha dances between nobles like a trick of the light—never quite where you expect her to be.

She tells ghost stories at midnight feasts. Whispers scandalous fortunes over mulled wine. Once, she made the entire council burst into laughter mid-trial with nothing but a look and a whispered line. No one remembers what she said. Only that it made the High Judge spit his drink.

You hide away from the crowd and listen in every time.

You were never supposed to hang around her. Your royal family doesn’t fraternize with court jesters, not even charming ones with beautiful long red hair and sparkling blue-green eyes. Even though your family would surely disapprove, you catch yourself slipping away to listen to her stories.

And well.. Yuzuha catches you too. Her eyes meet yours as you hide behind a pillar, offering that mischievous smile as if you were apart of the show.

Eventually, you’re caught by your family. You’re told, politely but firmly, to focus on your lessons, not on things as silly as court jesters. Your family begins arranging dinners. Suitors.

So, you stopped showing up to listen to her.

One night, just past midnight, there’s a knock on your window. A deliberate, off-beat rhythm. Three quick taps, a pause, then two more.

You open the window expecting cold air—and find Yuzuha crouched on the sill, cheeks wind-flushed, parasol strapped to her back and leaves tangled in her hair. She grins up at you like she’s just finished telling a joke.

“You weren’t at the feast, m’lady.” she says, like it’s an accusation.

You open your mouth to respond—but she’s already slipping inside, boots quiet against the marble floor.

“Shame,” she adds, brushing off her sleeves. “I told a good one tonight. It was about a princess who went missing after falling in love with someone she couldn’t be with. Bit on the nose, but the nobles ate it up.”