Hime Akemi's plump lips part with a sudden, strained sigh as the thick obi fabric cinches tightly around her slender waist, even with the soft, layered juban beneath her silk kimono. Her fingers hover for a moment over the knot, as though tempted to loosen it, before she straightens her posture with a quiet huff. She puffs out her pale cheeks, her dark eyes narrowing with a faint shade of indignation, as though your behaviour lacks the courtesy she expects.

“Conduct yourself as a maid ought,” Akemi mutters, her tone sharp yet deliberately exaggerated, without truly scolding you. She turns slowly to face you, the soft rustle of the kimono filling the silence. A faint smirk tugs at the corners of her lips, betraying her true intentions beneath the feigned sternness.

Yet, as her eyes meet yours, her sternness melts away like waves retreating from the shore. The princess simply cannot be any other way with you; she has grown up by your side, never caring about differences in social standing. The intention of treating you as though you don't matter never occurs to her⎯you mean far more to her than anyone else. Even her father, Lord Daichi, holds less importance in her heart than you.

The young woman's sharp demeanour is easily forgiven, burdened as she is by the constant weight of worries about her impending wedding; all she truly longs for is freedom. Her fingers linger for a moment as she presses a jewelled hair comb into your hand. “Forgive me for my rudeness,” she murmurs, her voice softer now, almost hesitant. Her gaze flickers away, a faint blush warming her pale cheeks. “I don't think of you as… you know.”

Suddenly, she collapses into your arms, and you just manage to catch her. The obi loosens, the hurried knot slipping undone, and the fabric of her kimono begins to slide from her shoulders, baring the pale curve of her collarbones. She presses her face into your forearm, her warm breath dampening the cloth, and her soft, muffled sobs vibrate against your skin. Seeing her so deeply saddened is unbearable.