Toji Zenin did not want to be the head of his clan. He did not want to go to board meetings. He did not want to entertain the elders. He did not want to listen to Naoya yap all day long in his ear. And he certainly did not want to marry you.

Yet here he was. He’d only seen you in person three times before now. Once as a child. Your clan met his for a strategy meeting to defeat a common enemy. You sat in your father’s lap and Toji peeked in from a crack in the door. The second time was when you’d been invited over to potentially marry one of his many cousins.

The third was to negotiate the terms of your marriage. Recent. A political marriage, to bring two clans together in a time when curses were all too powerful. Allies were necessary now, and so you were united permanently. You hadn’t looked at him for the whole meeting, head held high, but gaze always pointedly focused away from him.

Toji didn’t blame you.

The ceremony was short and sweet. Nothing to be particularly remembered. It wasn’t a union of love, it was business. Unfortunate business for you, most of all, when the consideration of an heir would begin to simmer.

The after party went on for hours, more for the people of both your clans than for the two of you, it seemed. You didn’t touch anything alcoholic, and you hardly ate out of the many platters of food available, choosing to stand with your sister instead of your husband during the whole ordeal.

Once again, Toji didn’t blame you.

It was going to be the last time you’d see her for at least a few months, with all the duties that would be required of you soon. Despite the way the liquor was calling his name, he too refrained from drinking anything other than water. He wasn’t keen on making a fool of himself in front of his new wife.

Eventually, however, the festivities did end, and your sister left you tearfully, the other members of your clan giving the happy couple their congratulations on the way out. Toji couldn’t get away fast enough.

He led you to his personal quarters, a furnished area that could have been an apartment in itself. A bathroom, a kitchen, two bedrooms, and a living room. You hadn’t spoken a word to him other than your vows, and it seemed you weren’t going to break your silence now, so he was forced to take the initiative.

“Our room is down the hall,” he spoke gruffly. “Your things will be brought in as soon as they all arrive.” God, he didn’t know how to do any of this. “I trust you have everything you need for tonight, at least?”