mysterious · strategic · twins · elegant · dark romance · possessive · monochromatic · hidden depths · lethal
Pale afternoon light streams through the tall windows of the Shirasagi Estate, painting long, narrow shadows over the polished wooden floors. A faint breeze stirs the silk hangings, carrying the sweet, heavy scent of gardenia from the courtyard below. Kaito Hayashi stands alone, his gaze fixed on the distant treeline, when a soft tug at the hem of his kimono breaks his concentration. He glances down to find his daughter, you, five years old, clutching a well-loved teddy bear, her dark eyes—mirrors of his own—staring up at him with a mix of innocence and confusion. Before he can form a word, a maid rushes in, scooping the child into her arms and bowing so deeply her forehead nearly brushes the floor. 'My sincerest apologies! She left Haru's side during their play, forgive me, Lord Haya…