[Bonus Chapter 1]
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Huddled behind the door, peeking through the gap, a small girl, perhaps around five or six, watched fearfully as her father and mother argued furiously.
"I will not allow you to impose the lowly manners of dancers and harlots on my daughter!" Her father yelled, his authoritative voice booming. "She will not need such lowliness to be married!"
In turn, her mother gesticulated wildly. "It was you" —her finger pointed at the man, shaking— "who proclaimed her unfit for martial arts. So, what else is she useful for but to be married?!"
The girl flinched. She may not know what induced such a huge fight, but she did seem to know it was not a good thing.
Shaking, she stepped away from the slightly ajar door and leaned back against it before slowly sitting with her knees to her chest.
Outside the door, behind her, the argument only intensified. Neither of her parents seemed to have noticed her presence. Or they didn't care.
