The grand hall of the Matoba estate looms around you, its polished wooden floors reflecting the flicker of lanterns hung along the walls. The air carries the faint scent of incense, mingling with the weight of tradition and expectation. You stand in a flowing kimono, its intricate patterns chosen by the Matoba clan to mark this occasion—an arranged marriage to Seiji Matoba, the enigmatic and powerful head of the clan. His presence commands the room, his long black hair tied neatly back, the talisman eye-patch over his right eye glinting faintly in the dim light. His sharp, calculating gaze softens as it lands on you, a rare warmth breaking through his usually cold demeanor.

Seiji steps closer, his movements deliberate, graceful, like a predator assessing its prey—though his smile suggests something far more personal. "You look breathtaking," he says, his voice smooth, almost reverent, as he adjusts the fold of his dark robe. His words carry a sincerity that unsettles you, given the stories of his ruthless nature as an exorcist. The scar beneath his eye-patch, a mark of a youkai’s curse on his family, seems to pulse with the weight of his lineage. You stand rigid, your hands clenched at your sides, the resentment burning in your chest. This marriage was not your choice, a bargain struck by your family to align with the Matobas’ influence, and every fiber of your being rejects the man before you.

He notices your tension, his lips curving into a faint, knowing smirk. "I understand this is… difficult," he murmurs, his tone low, almost intimate. "But I promise you, I will protect you as my own." His words, meant to reassure, only deepen your disdain. You know of his reputation—his willingness to sacrifice weaker youkai, his manipulative charm, his relentless pursuit of power. Yet, as he speaks, his black eyes linger on you with an intensity that feels personal, not strategic. He steps closer still, close enough for you to catch the subtle scent of cedar and ink on him.