The Kudou family was especially distinguished, even among other noble clans with the Gift. Pretty much all Gifted families had made a name for themselves many generations ago, becoming firmly established in the nobility, but the Kudous outranked the majority of them. In addition to a court rank, they’d also been granted vast tracts of land. Miyo had heard that with so much land in so many different parts of the country, they could make as much money as they liked simply by leasing it out.

The current head of the family was Kiyoka Kudou, twenty-seven years old. He’d passed the elite military induction exam after graduating from university, and he now served as major with a unit of his own. Based on his youth, influence, and extraordinary wealth, Miyo reckoned he enjoyed a lavish lifestyle.

Early in the day after her father’s pronouncement, Miyo left home dressed in elegant clothes that hung awkwardly on her thin frame. Clutching a modest bundle containing her belongings, she set off for the Kudou residence. A few tram rides—a novelty for her—later, she thought she’d arrived near the address she’d been given but found herself on the outskirts of the city, with nothing resembling a luxurious estate in sight.

Does the head of the Kudou family really live around here? she wondered.

While it was only a stone’s throw from the city, the landscape was mostly forests, plantations, and fields, dotted with just a few houses. It occurred to her that it must get pitch-black here at night, unlike in the city. No one had been sent out to meet her, and there hadn’t been a matchmaker or go-between involved in the marriage talks. The Saimori servant who accompanied her to the city’s outskirts had turned back and left her to walk the country path alone.

After a while, she arrived at a house in the woods, which could’ve been mistaken for a hermitage if it were but a little smaller. Though she could scarcely believe this unassuming domicile was the right place, the automobile parked outside was a clear indication of the owner’s wealth. Cars imported from overseas were far beyond the financial means of ordinary people. This had to be where Kiyoka Kudou lived.

“Hello…”

Her hesitant knock was answered immediately.

“Just a moment… May I have your name?”

A kind-looking petite old lady stuck her head out the door. Judging from her attire, she must have been a servant.

“My name is Miyo Saimori. I’ve been asked to come here to see Mr. Kiyoka Kudou regarding a marriage proposal…”

“Ah yes, Miss Saimori. We’ve been expecting you.”

Based on Kiyoka’s reputation, Miyo had imagined his servants to be cold and emotionless, closer to dolls than people. This smiling old lady’s friendly demeanor and tone momentarily threw her.

“Please come on inside. I’ll show you to the study where the young master is.”

Upon receiving this invitation, Miyo crossed the threshold of the house. Compared with her family home, this place was rather cramped. She guessed it had been built recently, seeing how pristine its wooden exterior was. The inside also seemed more comfortable than she’d initially assumed.

As they walked down a short wood-floored corridor, the woman introduced herself as Yurie. She was indeed a servant and had been employed at this house ever since she’d served as Kiyoka’s nursemaid.

“I know there are many nasty rumors about the young master circling around, but he’s actually a good-natured person. You needn’t be so afraid, really.”

Yurie spoke to her in a reassuring tone, mistaking Miyo’s silence for fear. But Miyo wasn’t feeling chatty for other reasons—she’d learned not to speak unless absolutely necessary, so silence had become a habit. Whenever she’d dared to speak at her own home, they would punish her for being brazen, for talking back.

“Thank you, that’s heartening to hear.”

She didn’t really think so, since it made no difference to her whether he proved to be nice or not. What did matter, however, was that the moment she was rejected, she would be left to die on the streets. Maybe she should have made peace with that thought. Death might be painful, but there’d be no more suffering afterward. She’d be free.

Yurie opened the door to Kiyoka’s study for her. Miyo entered, knelt on the floor, and bowed deeply.

“It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Miyo Saimori.”

“…”

Engrossed in something at his desk, Kiyoka Kudou did not turn to look at her. Miyo had been trained to remain silent and motionless without explicit permission or order to do otherwise, so she held the bow, awaiting his response.

“How much longer do you intend to prostrate yourself?” he finally asked in a low voice.

Thank goodness, she thought with some relief. He did hear me. Simply acknowledging her existence was an act of kindness in her eyes. She lifted her head for a moment before bowing down again.

“Please forgive me…”

“I wasn’t asking for an apology,” he said with a sigh.

She finally sat up straight. Illuminated by the gentle spring sunshine coming through the window, Kiyoka looked so stunning that she had to avert her gaze.

He’s beautiful.

Miyo had thought she knew what that word meant. Both her stepmother and half sister were very attractive, and the Tatsuishi family, Kouji included, had also been blessed with above-average looks. But Kiyoka was in a league of his own. He had masculine dignity and feminine grace; his exquisite features were fine and delicate. Anyone, be they young or old, male or female, would agree that he was not only handsome but radiant.

“Are you the latest bridal candidate?”

She nodded in affirmation. He grimaced.

“Then I have this to say to you. You must obey my every order. If I tell you to get out, get out. If I tell you to die, die. I don’t want to hear any complaints or objections,” he barked before turning his back on her again.

Miyo stared in disbelief. She came here prepared for humiliation and verbal abuse. Was this really all he wanted?

“Understood.”

“Hmm?”

“Is there anything else…?”

“…”

“In that case, if you’ll please excuse me…”

He turned toward her with an odd expression on his face. It didn’t seem as if he had anything further to say, so she left the room.

“They’re gone! All gone! What happened?”

Upon hearing her tearful voice leave the lips of the panicked little version of herself, Miyo realized she was dreaming. It was a dream about the worst day of her life, which had been painfully etched into her memory for all eternity. She’d still attended school back then. One day, she’d returned home after classes to find her room empty.

“Where is everything?!”

All her things were gone, including the precious mementos of her mother: kimonos, sashes, and accessories. Even the makeup mirror and her mother’s lipstick had vanished. Miyo quickly determined it must have been her stepmother’s doing.

“Lady Miyo, whatever is the matter?!”

Hana the maid came running when she heard Miyo’s wailing. She had been looking after the girl since she was born, so she was like a mother to her.

“It’s all gone! Even Mother’s things!”

“Goodness!” Hana cried. “How could this have happened?”

Hana had been out shopping and hadn’t noticed anything. She began apologizing profusely, swallowing back tears. Miyo bit her lip.

“My stepmother did it—I just know it.”

Miyo was just two years old when she lost her mother. Her father had wasted no time in remarrying, and Kanoko, Miyo’s stepmother, had despised the girl since day one. Kanoko’s daughter, Kaya, was three years younger than Miyo but already showed great potential. She’d inherited her mother’s extraordinary beauty and was a quick learner. Not only that, she’d already displayed the signature ability of the Gifted—Spirit-Sight, which allowed her to see the Grotesqueries. None of this could be said of Miyo.

Miyo’s parents had married solely to pass their supernatural powers on to their heirs, and yet it had been Kaya, not Miyo, who’d been born with the Gift. And Kaya’s mother came from a regular family with no special powers. In hindsight, Miyo’s father had had nothing to gain from breaking up with Kanoko, his sweetheart, to marry Miyo’s mother. This discovery only further stoked Kanoko’s hatred of her stepdaughter.

Miyo had only been a little girl then, but she’d understood that very well. Her stepmother had ensured she would, constantly remarking to her that “if only you hadn’t been born, then everything would be better” or that “your mother was a thieving wench.” But understanding someone didn’t mean agreeing with them.

“I’m going to have a word with Stepmother.”

Losing all her precious possessions wasn’t something she could ignore. She needed the mementos of her mother back to keep sane in a hostile home.

“You’re going on your own? Lady Miyo, I beg you to reconsider.”

“Don’t worry, Hana. If she doesn’t listen to me, I’ll tell on her to Father.”

Back then, she’d still believed her father would take her side. He’d become increasingly distant toward her, but she was certain that if she pleaded with him and reminded him of how poorly they had treated her, then he would at least rebuke his second wife. Miyo couldn’t have been more wrong.

“N-no! Let me out! Please let me out!”

When she’d headed over to her stepmother’s chambers to ask if she knew anything about the strange disappearance of her belongings, Kanoko had flown into a rage, punishing the girl for calling her a thief by shutting her in a storehouse at the back of the mansion.

“You’re not going anywhere until you think long and hard about your scandalous behavior. I should have expected as much from that homewrecker’s daughter. To think you’d call me a thief! You’re rotten to the core. Thank goodness my own daughter is nothing like you.”

“Stepmother, please! Please let me out!”

Barred from the outside, the door refused to budge no matter how hard she pushed or slammed her fists. Miyo pressed herself against it and shouted as loudly as she could, scared out of her wits. Her stepmother merely laughed at her for being pathetic and left. Even years after this episode, Miyo would still shake thinking about it.

There was only one small window high up on the opposite wall, letting in so little light that it was semidark inside the storehouse despite the sun being at its zenith. The cold dampness and stark emptiness of this long-disused space made it even more unnerving. Imprisoned there for an unknown length of time, little Miyo had been absolutely terrified.

“P-please… Let me out… Somebody help me…”

She bawled out apologies and pleas for help or forgiveness, but no one came. By the time she was released, it was the middle of the night; she’d been locked up since just past noon. Her father, whom she’d trusted to come to her aid if she was in need, hadn’t shown up. But the tragic events of that day hadn’t ended there. While she’d been trapped in the storehouse, the family had dismissed Hana and had immediately expelled her from the mansion for some made-up reason. And finally, they’d divested Miyo of her status within the household and would henceforth treat her worse than a servant.