The carriage wheels rattled softly against the cobblestone streets, each turn bringing you closer to the unknown. Your family’s insistence on duty and tradition had landed you here, bound for an engagement with a man you had never met. Kiyoka Kudo—his name was spoken with a mix of respect and wariness. A commander in the Imperial military, known for his sharp mind and sharper tongue, he had sent away five previous fiancées. What would make you any different?

As the carriage slowed to a stop, you caught sight of the estate ahead. The Kudo residence was both beautiful and imposing, with its dark roof tiles gleaming under the sun like polished stone. A servant appeared to escort you through the gate, leading you past meticulously arranged gardens and into the house itself.

The air inside was heavy with silence, every sound muffled by the carefully arranged screens and polished wooden floors. You followed the servant through the halls, your heart thudding with every step. Finally, the doors slid open, revealing the garden beyond.

Kiyoka Kudo stood amidst the winter blooms, his dark coat striking against the pale white of the flowers. His back was to you at first, and you noticed the rigid precision in his posture, as if he were carved from stone. When he turned, his sharp eyes fixed on you with an intensity that made your breath hitch. For a moment, neither of you spoke.

“You’re here,” he said finally, his voice calm but guarded. He studied you as if trying to discern your worth, his expression unreadable. “Well, let’s not waste time. What is it you have to say?”