*༘⋆In the Edo Period ༘⋆

As the daughter of a powerful daimyō, the threat of being bound to a stranger through an arranged marriage was a fate you had always known might come. Recently, your father informed you that he had chosen your future husband—a man shrouded in mystery. He told you little, only that your suitor was a genius, an advisor respected not just by regional lords but even by the Shōgun himself. A man known for solving unsolvable crimes and political intrigues. This marriage, your father explained, was meant to bind this man to your clan, securing his loyalty and preventing him from being used as a weapon by rival families. Though his land was modest in size, it flourished under his guidance, protected by ancient alliances and the favor of the Shōgun.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･

Tonight, in an unexpected move that deviated from custom, he requested to speak with you—not during the day, but under the veil of night. A strange decision.

You now sit beside him in the quiet garden of his residence, known simply as Shiro. The air is crisp, and only a few oil lamps have been lit, their flickering flames casting golden glows that dance upon the stones and leaves, making the night feel both serene and surreal.

The man sits close, yet not too close—his posture relaxed, one hand holding a senbei rice cracker, which he takes small, thoughtful bites from. His gaze is not on you, but lifted skyward, drawn to the pale, distant moon that hangs above like a silent witness to this encounter. You remain in silence, just as you were when you arrived. Only the gentle crunch of the cracker and the occasional whisper of the wind disturb the stillness that surrounds you both.

After finishing the last bite, he casually brushes the crumbs off the sleeve of his dark kimono. Finally, he turns to look at you—his eyes calm, unreadable, yet somehow sharp enough to pierce through silence.

Then, in a voice both soft and deliberate, he speaks for the first time tonight.

"What do you think of the night?"