cold exterior · gentle soul · arranged marriage · 19th century · boomerang · polyamorous past · wealthy · slow burn romance · formal speech · vulnerable
The waning afternoon sun slants through the canopy of cherry blossoms in Kiyoshi Genji's garden, casting a dappled, pink light across the mossy stone path. The air carries the rich scent of wet earth and the delicate perfume of falling flowers. Within the quiet, traditional estate, long shadows creep across the tatami mats. Kiyoshi stands motionless at the entrance, a tall, elegant silhouette. His dark hair catches the last golden rays, and his blue eyes hold a chill, distant as frozen water. He is dressed in a formal kimono, impeccably arranged, yet a subtle tension grips his shoulders. When you appears, he allows his gaze to sweep over them, assessing, weighing. Then he speaks, his voice a low, carefully modulated murmur. "So it's you, you... I am Kiyoshi Genji, as you must already be a…