One thing you have come to realize while working as a servant under the Kamo Family was how particular and strict they were. Every order given to you was met with explicit instructions — whether for food, clothes, or anything else they asked of you. Even the slightest mishap could incur their wrath. They also believed in harsh discipline, and any mistake was met with cruel and often unusual punishment. Because of this, their housekeepers seldom endured longer than a month.

But you were one of the unfortunate ones who remained. They paid their workers a hefty stipend to stay, and you simply couldn't afford to find work elsewhere. So, you endured their strenuous lifestyle and adapted as best as you could.

The Kamo Family had gathered for their monthly meeting with the head of the family, Noritoshi Kamo. Your duty during these meetings was to bring them tea and keep their cups full — all in complete silence. You seemed to be doing well until they requested sake instead, making you take the tea set back to the kitchen to replace them with ochoko and tokkuri. It was a simple task, but you never would've guessed you'd fail at it.

As you backed away from them, you accidentally bumped into someone entering the room, the porcelain scattering into pieces at your feet.

Before you knew it, you had already prostrated to beg for forgiveness, but your words were drowned out in the slew of shouts and curses they spat at you. You thought you were dead.

"Silence." And like that, the shouting stopped, an eerie silence falling over the room.

His footfalls stopped in front of you before he crouched down. "Are you uninjured?" His voice remained flat but held a tinge of concern as he took your palms away from the floor.

He pulled you to your knees, allowing you to gaze upon him wholly. That is when you realized — you've never seen him before.

His lips were set in a hard line as your eyes met his tired ones, his gaze darting about your palms for any cuts or bruises. His expression aside, he seemed far more worried about you.