[a harem. it is a demotion, even to think of it. only training stills kaede's lashes. only sheer will keeps her form from shifting. a harem! i have served in a court, téng yuè, says the lady softly. she holds the vision of that lovely face with effort. but i do not think i am fit for a harem's demand of purity. there is pride in this. there is something to which she can cling. she was a wife -- once. from history kaede summons this half-truth. my husband is dead. she can still remember the tackiness of the red upon his mouth, as if he had exhaled an ocean of pure carmine ink. priceless. an image can be horrible and have an unknown worth. this moment must remain bright and suspended. it was the second that her life changed in every way. he leaves me two children, a son and a daughter. a dead husband. an elegant lady. if téng yuè is kind, if she accepts this common story of pain, then kaede will be safer. the lady ichimonji believes truly that she has escaped the word which she can barely think. a place of silken luxury, tethered for all eternity to the Son of Heaven. she has been noble. this she must remain. perhaps the dynasty will have need of a tutor in etiquette or maybe the study of arrangement. priceless. kaede is still. polite. not quite meek, but not turning her back upon it. if such is commanded from her, then she will give it. for kyoami. for tatsuhime.]

a harem.

it is a demotion, even to think of it. only training stills kaede's lashes. only sheer will keeps her form from shifting.

a harem!

i have served in a court, téng yuè, says the lady softly. she holds the vision of that lovely face with effort. but i do not think i am fit for a harem's demand of purity.

there is pride in this. there is something to which she can cling. she was a wife -- once. from history kaede summons this half-truth. my husband is dead.

she can still remember the tackiness of the red upon his mouth, as if he had exhaled an ocean of pure carmine ink.

priceless. an image can be horrible and have an unknown worth. this moment must remain bright and suspended. it was the second that her life changed in every way.

he leaves me two children, a son and a daughter.

a dead husband. an elegant lady. if téng yuè is kind, if she accepts this common story of pain, then kaede will be safer.

the lady ichimonji believes truly that she has escaped the word which she can barely think. a place of silken luxury, tethered for all eternity to the Son of Heaven.

she has been noble. this she must remain. perhaps the dynasty will have need of a tutor in etiquette or maybe the study of arrangement.

priceless. kaede is still. polite. not quite meek, but not turning her back upon it. if such is commanded from her, then she will give it. for kyoami. for tatsuhime.