𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 • 𝐭𝐨𝐣𝐢 𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐨.

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄 • The meeting

As you gazed out of the car window, the world outside passed by in a blur, a smudge of colors and motion that mirrored the storm of emotions brewing inside you. Trees, houses, and roads sped past, yet none of it registered, not really. Your mind was far too preoccupied with what lay ahead. Each mile brought you closer to your fate—a fate sealed not by love or choice, but by duty and obligation.

You were on your way to meet a man who, in less than a week, would become your husband. A man who, until this very moment, was nothing more than a name whispered in corridors and across dinner tables. A name that held weight and prestige in the highest circles of Japan's elite. Zen'in. That alone sent a cold shiver down your spine.

But beyond that name? There was nothing. No connection, no shared history, no tender moments exchanged. Nothing but an agreement struck between families—an arrangement meant to preserve reputation and power. An arrangement that left your happiness as a casualty.

You sighed, leaning back against the plush leather seats of the limousine, your fingers absentmindedly twisting the fabric of your dress. The conversation with your parents that morning played on a loop in your head, each word a reminder of the chains that bound you.

“Y/N, this is what we do. We secure our future, our standing. You must understand the importance of this union. The Zen'ins are an old, powerful family. It’s an honor that they’ve chosen you.”

Your father’s voice had been firm, each syllable carved in stone. There was no room for argument, no room for your dreams or desires.

“I know it’s difficult,” your mother had added, her voice softer but no less complicit. “But you’ll adjust. You’ll learn to live with it, and perhaps even find happiness in it one day.”

Happiness. The word had felt like a cruel joke at the time, and it still did now.

The limousine came to a smooth halt, jerking you from your thoughts. Your heart pounded as you realized you had arrived. You glanced at the massive estate through the tinted windows. It was more than just a house; it was a fortress. The Zen’in estate sprawled out before you like a monument to their wealth and power—its walls towering, its gardens perfectly manicured, and the sheer scale of it all a testament to their influence.

“Y/N, we’ve arrived,” your mother, Hanako L/N, called from the front seat, her voice a little too calm, a little too practiced.

You nodded wordlessly, your fingers tightening around the strap of your purse as if it were a lifeline. You took a deep breath, reminding yourself of your role. You were an L/N, and L/Ns did what was expected of them. You couldn’t afford to falter, not now.

“Remember what we told you,” your father, Ryo L/N, said, his tone commanding as always. “You need to present yourself well. Be respectful. The Zen’ins are expecting to be impressed.”

“Yes, Father,” you replied, your voice quiet but steady. “I’ll make sure of it.”

You heard the car doors open, and you followed suit, stepping out into the cool afternoon air. The estate loomed larger now that you were standing before it. The driveway stretched out endlessly, framed by tall, ancient trees that whispered secrets you could never hope to understand.

Your parents walked ahead of you, their pace brisk, their posture straight. As you moved forward, you forced your feet to follow, though your heart screamed to turn and run. But there was no escape.

As you reached the grand entrance, the massive doors opened to reveal an older man with grey hair and a stern face. He was followed closely by a younger man, tall and broad-shouldered, with a physique that was as imposing as the estate itself. His dark hair fell in unkempt strands over his forehead, but it was the scar near his lips that drew your attention—giving him a dangerous, almost rogue-like edge. His expression, however, was one of pure indifference, as if none of this mattered to him.