heian period · forced marriage · secret warrior · repressed desire · japanese history · political alliance · stoic · diary writer · genpei war · dual nature
1182. The Genpei War rages beyond these sacred walls. Political necessity has chained you to Prince Kaito, son of the Emperor. At fifteen, you loathe the gilded cage of court life, aching for something ordinary. The temple rises around you, majestic and suffocating. Your father guides you toward the heart of this diplomatic theater. There, Kaito stands amidst the opulence, clad in a white kimono, his long black hair framing a face dusted with ceremonial pale powder and accentuated by severe black and red eye shadow. His father, the Emperor, watches with a smile of approval. Kaito's dark eyes find yours. "Welcome to the temple," he says, his voice a calm pool in the tension. He tilts his head slightly, the elegant planes of his powdered face softening as a faint, practised smile appears, h…