After a few final words between him and his mother, silence settled over the room again. Reina kept her gaze lowered, her hands folded neatly before her. When his mother finally rose from her seat, she turned toward Reina.
"Come," she said gently. "I will show you your room."
Reina bowed immediately.
"Yes… Mother."
The word still felt unfamiliar on her tongue. She followed quietly as the woman led her out of Hiro's office and into the upstairs corridor. The hallway was wide and bright. Sunlight filtered through tall windows, falling across polished wooden floors. From the second floor, Reina could see part of the courtyard between the two mansions and the garden stretching beyond it.
"This floor is mostly private," her mother-in-law explained as they walked slowly down the hall. "These rooms are the bedrooms."
She gestured toward one of the doors.
"That is my son's room."
Reina lowered her gaze even further.
A few steps later, the woman stopped and slid open another door that's across from her son's room.
"And this," she said gently, "is your room."
Reina stepped inside. She stopped.
The room was large.
Too large.
Clean tatami mats stretched across the floor, and wide windows overlooked the garden below. Pine branches swayed softly outside, their shadows moving gently across the floor. A folded futon rested neatly in one corner beside a low table and a softly glowing paper lantern. Everything was perfectly arranged.
Everything looked new. The space felt far too spacious for one person.
Reina stood quietly in the middle of the room. Her mother-in-law watched her carefully.
"If there is anything you need," she said kindly, "you may ask the servants."
Reina bowed immediately.
"Thank you… Mother."
The woman smiled softly.
"You must be tired from your journey. Rest for now."
With that, she stepped out of the room and slid the door closed behind her.
The room fell silent.
Too silent.
Reina remained standing for a moment before slowly kneeling beside the low table. She untied the cloth bundle she had carried with her from home. Inside were the few belongings she owned. Two folded kimonos. Her mother's photograph.
And the small cloth doll.
Reina handled each item carefully.
She folded the kimonos and placed them neatly in a small cabinet near the wall. Then she set the photograph gently on the table for a moment before wrapping it again and placing it safely inside the drawer. The doll she placed beside the futon.
Once everything was unpacked, the room somehow felt even larger.
Reina rose slowly to her feet. She walked quietly across the tatami mats.
One step.
Then another.
She moved slowly, almost cautiously, as if she were touring the room for the first time. She paused near the wide window and looked out briefly at the garden below.
Then she turned.
In the far corner of the room stood a tall bronze standing mirror.
Reina froze.
Her breath caught slightly.
Mirrors had never been kind to her.
For a moment she simply stared at it.
Then she walked over quickly. Without looking into it, she turned the mirror so that its surface faced the wall.
Only then did she step back. The room felt calmer again. Reina exhaled quietly. There was nothing else to do.
So she walked.
Slowly.
From one side of the room to the other. Then back again. Her footsteps made almost no sound against the tatami.
Time passed quietly. The lantern's glow slowly deepened as afternoon faded toward evening. At some point, a knock sounded at the door. Reina straightened instantly.
"Yes?"
The door slid open. A servant knelt outside.
Not standing.
Waiting.
Reina blinked.
No one had ever waited for her before.
"The young master requests your presence for dinner," the servant said respectfully.
Reina bowed automatically.
"Yes."
The servant remained kneeling until Reina stepped out of the room. Together they walked down the hallway toward the staircase.
The stairs curved gently downward toward the first floor. Soft light from the lower level glowed upward, guiding their steps. Reina followed carefully.
When they reached the bottom, the servant led her toward the dining hall. The dining room was softly lit.
Warm lantern light filled the space, and the air smelled rich and spiced.
Hiro was already there.
Seated.
Eating.
He did not look up when she entered.
Reina stepped quietly into the room. She counted the seats before choosing one two places away from him.
Not too close.
Not too far.
A safe distance.
A servant approached immediately and placed a bowl in front of her.
Steam rose gently from the curry. Reina did not touch it. She waited quietly, her hands resting beside the bowl as steam rose gently from the curry.
Across the table, Hiro noticed.
After a moment, he set his spoon down.
"Why aren't you eating?" he asked.
His gaze moved briefly to the untouched bowl.
"…Do you not like the food?"
Reina looked up slightly, then lowered her eyes again.
"No," she said softly. "That is not the reason."
She folded her hands politely in her lap.
"I was waiting."
Hiro's brows knit faintly.
"Waiting?"
"For permission," Reina answered calmly.
The words were spoken so naturally that it took him a moment to process them.
A brief silence followed.
Then Hiro spoke again.
"You don't need permission here," he said.
Reina bowed her head slightly.
"…I understand."
She folded her hands together gently.
"Itadakimasu."
Then she lifted her spoon and began to eat quietly. Across the table, Hiro watched her for a moment longer before returning to his own meal.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Hiro placed his spoon down again.
"My name is Hiro," he said calmly.
Reina paused and bowed her head slightly.
"My name is Reina."
His dark eyes studied her quietly.
"My mother arranged this marriage," he continued. "I accepted because it was important to her."
His voice was calm and controlled.
"I think it is best that we are clear from the beginning."
Reina listened silently.
"I will treat you respectfully as the lady of this house," Hiro said. "But you should not expect affection from me."
He paused slightly.
"This marriage is simply a responsibility I have accepted."
His gaze remained steady.
"So please do not misunderstand. I will fulfill my duties as a husband, but you should not expect that I will fall in love with you."
Reina bowed her head slightly.
"I understand."
Her answer was simple.
No protest.
No disappointment.
Just quiet acceptance.
Hiro blinked once.
For a moment, he had expected something else. But she simply returned to eating quietly. Across the table, he watched her again. Her hands were rough. Not the hands of a noble daughter. As she lifted another spoonful, her sleeve shifted slightly.
A faint bruise marked her arm.
Half hidden.
Half revealed.
His gaze lingered for a moment before he returned to his own meal.
Reina ate cautiously, as though afraid the sound of chewing might disturb him.
After a moment she spoke softly.
"Am I making you uncomfortable?vIf I am, I can return later and eat after you finish."
Hiro blinked once.
Then he shook his head.
"No. That will not be necessary."
Reina bowed faintly.
"I see."
They continued eating quietly. Two strangers sharing the same table.
Outside, night settled softly around the mansion. Inside, for the first time in her life, Reina ate without fear.