I had been standing here for what felt like forever—maybe an hour, maybe more—just waiting. My feet ached, my hands fidgeted with the hem of my sleeve, and every passing minute dragged my patience thinner and thinner. The two guards had gone in ages ago to inform the clan lord of my arrival, and yet there was still no sign of him. Each heartbeat was another nudge for the bad feeling building in my chest.
I hated waiting. It always cracked open a door for the worst kind of thoughts—the unreasonable, anxious ones that didn't belong anywhere near a calm mind. My stomach twisted, my imagination whispering scenarios about what might be going on inside. Did he refuse to see me? Was something wrong? Did I offend someone without knowing?
I closed my eyes, inhaling slowly to steady myself. The scent of the clan compound was sharp with polished wood, faint incense, and the earthy tang of the garden beyond the gates. Around me, other guards passed in disciplined silence. The massive carved doors to the inner hall loomed ahead like the entrance to a shrine, their intricate patterns of dragons and blossoms glinting faintly under the lantern light.
Finally, footsteps.
"The clan lord is ready to hear you, Lady Kisaragi," one of the guards said as he approached. His tone was clipped but not unfriendly. Relief washed over me in a hot rush, and I bowed my head to him almost too quickly, matching his polite gesture with one of my own.
"Thank you," I murmured.
He turned and began to walk, and I followed, the soft echo of our steps filling the corridor. The path to the grand hall was long, lined with pillars painted deep red and banners that fluttered slightly despite the still air. My heart picked up speed with each step. Finally, I thought. I can present myself properly.
But when the massive doors swung open and the hall came into view, my rehearsed calm wavered.
The grand hall was magnificent—polished floors reflecting the glow of golden chandeliers, tapestries depicting the clan's victories hanging in proud rows. At the far end, the high seat of carved wood rose above a dais. It was there, on that seat, that I expected to see the clan lord.
But it wasn't him.
My smile faltered the moment my eyes registered who sat on the throne-like chair.
A young girl.
Her posture was graceful, like a young blossom reaching for the sun. Long hair flowed down her back, held in place by a crimson comb shaped like a phoenix. Her dress glimmered softly with threads of gold, elegant yet alive with warmth. Though she was still so young, a quiet power bloomed around her, like a garden in full bloom.
"Please," I whispered to the guard beside me, "where is the clan lord? I thought you said he was ready to hear—"
"My father is not around," the girl interrupted smoothly. Her voice was soft but edged, like silk hiding a blade. "So I am the one who is going to listen to you, Lady Kisaragi."
She lifted a hand, signaling the guard. He bowed low and slipped out of the hall, the doors closing behind him with a quiet thud. The sound echoed in the wide space, leaving me standing there alone before her.
For a moment, I didn't know what to do. Should I speak? Should I bow again? Should I follow the guard out and wait until the clan lord returned? This was not how I had pictured it. I had prepared ways to speak to the clan lord—phrases, respectful gestures, even the order of my points—but this… this was unexpected. A knot of dread coiled in my stomach. Please, I begged silently, let this go smoothly. I don't need more headaches today.
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes sharp as they studied me. "Are you just going to stand there?" she asked, her voice cutting through the silence like a whip. "I don't have all day, Lady Kisaragi."
"Oh—I'm sorry, Lady Blossom, I was…" I began, trying to gather myself.
"Young Lord," she interrupted.
"Ehn!" The sound escaped me before I could stop it, my head snapping up to look at her.
"It's Young Lord," she said, her tone cool but absolute. "Only those close to me are allowed to call me by my birth name."
My mouth went dry. I swallowed hard, trying not to freak out under her gaze. Her words were polite, but her eyes… her eyes were like glass, sharp and unyielding. This was not going to be the smooth presentation I had imagined. My carefully rehearsed speech scattered in my head like dry leaves in the wind.
"Yo… Young Lord," I managed to say at last, the title scraping awkwardly off my tongue. It didn't sound pleasant to my ears at all, not even a little.
Her expression didn't flicker. She stayed perfectly composed, like a carved statue that happened to be breathing. "The guards told me you have a product you want to be approved?" she asked, her voice low and even, but there was something about it that made my skin prickle.
"Yes," I said quickly, clasping my hands in front of me to hide how my fingers trembled. "I have, um, honey dew and some other products to sell, but I was told that the clan lord needs to approve them first, so that is why I am here — for an approval." I forced a smile, hoping, hoping, hoping that what came next from her mouth would be something nice.
Her head tilted slightly. "Honey dew," she repeated, like she was tasting the words. "What is that?"
I cleared my throat, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. "It's a honey made from ants instead of bees," I explained. "But it tastes the same. Maybe."
A delicate eyebrow arched. "Honey from ants? That is not possible." Her eyes locked with mine as she spoke, and the weight of her stare made my shoulders tighten.
This is weighing me down. I don't think I can keep this up. I've never done this before, I thought as sweat prickled at my temples. My heart felt like it was climbing into my throat.
I forced myself to keep talking. "Nothing is impossible," I said, my voice just a shade steadier than I felt. "Here in Kaida, anything can happen. The impossible can become possible. And one taste will convince you. Just… try it."
I held out the honey dew jar with both hands, bowing my head slightly. The glass caught the hall's light, glinting like a captured piece of amber.
Her eyes flicked to the jar, then back to me. "Fine," she said at last. "I don't need to taste anything from you. I will approve it."
For a second I thought I'd misheard her. My breath caught. Wow. This is going… not as I imagined at all. But I am liking this, I thought, relief rushing through me so fast it made me light-headed.
"But," she added, and the word landed like a stone in my stomach, "you need to promise one thing."
My pulse skipped. Of course. Why does everyone here want something in return? What does she want in return now?
"No matter what happens," she said, her gaze like a blade sliding across mine, "you have to get married to Queen Selene. No matter what."
My brain screeched to a halt. What the hell is wrong with this one!!