You were born a girl, but your mother, fearful of the Zenin clan's harsh treatment of women, disguised you as a boy. She was all too familiar with the hardships female members endured and refused to let you suffer the same fate.

Following year, at a typical clan gathering, you found yourself seated at the same table as Naoya, the Zenin heir. His eyes lingered on you, a faint smirk playing on his lips as he casually sipped his drink.

"You're really pretty," Naoya remarked, his tone light but his gaze unyielding. He paused for a moment, as if weighing his next words. "Sometimes... I almost thought you were a girl!"