Chapter 1: Accepting Instead of Refusing the Engagement?
Within a vast and ancient courtyard…
A beam of warm sunlight shone in, brilliantly illuminating the earth.
Towering cherry blossom trees were rooted there, swaying gently in the breeze, occasionally shedding petals that added color to the scene.
A rustling, natural melody filled the air, tranquil and peaceful.
And just then!
Silver hair fluttered.
“Twang————!”
A crisp sound broke the tranquility of the courtyard as the girl released the bowstring, the arrow shooting out abruptly.
The speed of falling cherry blossoms is five centimeters per second.
But her archery was instantaneous.
The arrow pierced a cherry blossom petal just as it began to fall, a perfect line, a flawless arc, hitting the bullseye a hundred meters away.
“Excellent!”
Applauding praise followed.
“Second Miss’s archery skills are becoming truly remarkable.”
Second Miss’s beauty is blossoming even more radiantly.
Kujō Asano, clad in a black uniform, praised aloud, but his thoughts were different. His eyes, hidden behind sunglasses, greedily peered at Natsuba Hanae in the distance.
Bathed in sunlight, Natsuba Hanae’s exquisite and beautiful face was as peerless as a Yamato Nadeshiko. With a delicate nose, phoenix eyes, and lips as if adorned with cherry blossoms, small and pink…
Even in her archery uniform, her curvaceous and graceful figure was clearly outlined, showcased to perfection.
Truly a celestial being descended from the heavens.
Indeed, her name suited her perfectly: Natsuba Hanae (Summer Flower Picture).
No single flower could describe her perfection; only by extracting the best qualities of all flowers could one capture her noble elegance.
However, such a stunning beauty was to be married to the family head, a decrepit old man in his fifties.
What a waste.
He wondered if he himself might have a chance to savor her in the future.
Hearing Kujō Asano’s words, Natsuba Hanae gently placed her wooden bow on the rack and untied her hair tie with both hands. Her ponytail instantly cascaded down like a waterfall.
Silver hair like white silk, smooth and flowing.
Her eyes, sparkling like red glass, looked at him, and she bowed slightly, a faint smile gracing her lips.
“Mr. Kujō, you needn’t praise me so. I only have a rudimentary understanding of archery.”
“May I ask what brings you here today, Mr. Kujō?”
Her eyes, clear as a spring, and her voice, as gentle and melodious as a songbird, stunned Kujō Asano.
The more he looked, the more he lamented the waste.
“Second Miss, you have a lot on your mind. In two months, you will turn sixteen.”
“According to the agreement between the Kujō and Natsuba families, you are to marry our family head on your sixteenth birthday.”
“I’m here to inform you in advance.”
Having spoken, Kujō Asano stared directly at Natsuba Hanae, eager to see a flicker of disappointment on her face.
After all, it was highly unusual for a young woman in her prime to marry an elderly man.
Natsuba Hanae was nothing more than a tool for a political marriage, a complete and utter sacrifice.
However, he was disappointed.
Natsuba Hanae’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. It remained as pure as before, like a blooming night-blooming cereus, pristine and unadorned.
Upon hearing his words, the smile on Natsuba Hanae’s lips deepened.
“Yes, I know.”
She brought her right hand to her fair and delicate cheek.
“This is Father’s order, and I will begin my preparations.”
“After I arrive at the Kujō household, I hope you will take care of me, Mr. Asano.”
“We will be family then.”
Kujō Asano was the steward of the Kujō family, granted the surname Kujō. If Natsuba Hanae married into the family, she would also take the name Kujō Hanae.
Calling them family was perfectly appropriate.
Hearing this, a look of astonishment flashed across Kujō Asano’s eyes. He hadn’t expected Second Miss to accept so readily.
He had anticipated having to act like a villain in a novel, intimidating a defenseless opponent, declaring that the marriage would happen whether she liked it or not, and then leaving with a sinister laugh.
He’d planned to return in two months, devoid of emotion, and forcibly marry her into the Kujō family.
However, upon further reflection…
The union of the Natsuba and Kujō financial empires was a powerful alliance. However, the head of the Kujō family, though advanced in age, was extremely lecherous.
A complete and utter pervert, he had taken a liking to the Natsuba family’s twin daughters.
In return, the Natsuba conglomerate received a shipment of supernatural goods and a considerable amount of assets and businesses from the Kujō family.
Considering the declining power of the Kujō family, the Natsuba conglomerate was clearly the winner in this deal.
And the Second Miss, without any awakened abilities, perhaps had already accepted her fate. With no power to resist, she might as well enjoy her destiny and enter the Kujō family, where she would at least be provided for.
In this dangerous world of the supernatural, at least she wouldn’t die mysteriously.
In the self-serving Natsuba family, which treated women as commodities, perhaps the Kujō family was the better option?
However, she likely didn’t know the truth.
The family head, that lecher…
His methods were a bit… extreme.
He himself had handled dozens of corpses of young women.
Although, as the daughter of the Natsuba conglomerate, she probably wouldn’t be killed, but abuse was certain.
Kujō Asano pondered, but it wasn’t his concern.
Having informed the Second Miss, it was time for him to leave.
“Second Miss, I will take my leave.”
“I’ll see you at the wedding in two months.”
He walked away slowly.
One of his objectives at the Natsuba main residence was complete; there was still another.
He had intended to make an example of the younger sister to intimidate the older one, but since the Second Miss was so compliant, perhaps the First Miss would be as well.
After Kujō Asano left…
The faint smile on Natsuba Hanae’s lips gradually faded, and her expression became blank as she stood there.
Like a delicately crafted porcelain doll, she remained motionless.
“Two months…”
Then, a faint smile slowly returned to her lips.
“However, Rinrei isn’t as agreeable as I am.”
“My dear older sister has recently awakened her abilities.”
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