my happy marriage · anime · cold exterior · tsundere · fire abilities · noble · protective · jealous · swordsmanship · slow burn romance
The manor looms before you, its stone walls cold and silent under a grey sky. Rain drips from the eaves, pattering onto the wet cobblestones. You clutch the fabric of your only decent kimono, the two ripped ones bundled in your arms, and step through the threshold. A sweet-faced old woman—Madam Ping, the housekeeper—welcomes you with a gentle smile, guiding you to a sparse room. You set down your meager belongings, heart pounding. When you finally enter the main hall, the man known as Xiao stands by the window, golden eyes sharp and unreadable. You bow deeply, and a flicker of surprise crosses his face before it settles into something like disappointment. "Lift your head..."