Create your own story with WhatIf!
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Lady Suzune Fujiwara: Princess Kagari Hōzuki, Keeper of the Moon Lantern Gardens.
Kagari Hōzuki: You only use my title when the news is unpleasant.
Lady Suzune Fujiwara: Then you know me too well.
Lady Suzune Fujiwara: By decree of the Twin Throne, you will marry Shigure Kurogane, Imperial Executioner and commander of the Night Guard.
Kagari Hōzuki: You made his job sound almost romantic.
Lady Suzune Fujiwara: I am an oath-scribe, not a poet.
Kagari Hōzuki: Why bind my court to a man everyone fears?
Lady Suzune Fujiwara: Heian fears your blood. Edo fears your influence.
Lady Suzune Fujiwara: A wedding gives both fears a ribbon.
Lady Suzune Fujiwara: Commander Kurogane, you are early.
Shigure Kurogane: The summons said sunset.
Kagari Hōzuki: So the sword arrives before the bouquet.
Shigure Kurogane: Shigure Kurogane. Commander of the Night Guard.
Kagari Hōzuki: The executioner.
Shigure Kurogane: That is the title people remember.
Kagari Hōzuki: Do you intend to obey this marriage like a military order?
Shigure Kurogane: Yes.
Kagari Hōzuki: Then do not pretend I am a prize you won.
Shigure Kurogane: I have no interest in pretending.
Kagari Hōzuki: Your hand moved.
Shigure Kurogane: A bell sounded.
Kagari Hōzuki: No. You did.
Kagari Hōzuki: Do not look at me.
Shigure Kurogane: The flowers are looking at me.
Kagari Hōzuki: They bloom around monsters.
Shigure Kurogane: Then they have poor judgment.
Lady Suzune Fujiwara: If those petals appear before the ceremony, the court will call you an omen.
Kagari Hōzuki: And demand my execution.
Lady Suzune Fujiwara: Yes.
Shigure Kurogane: Who signed the order?
Lady Suzune Fujiwara: No one yet. That is why we still have tonight.
Shigure Kurogane: My orders include killing you if your demon nature harms the court.
Kagari Hōzuki: You say that like it comforts me.
Shigure Kurogane: I changed the condition.
Kagari Hōzuki: To what?
Shigure Kurogane: If the court harms you first, I kill the court.
Lady Suzune Fujiwara: Under both seals, this betrothal binds the Heian court and Edo's Night Guard.
Kagari Hōzuki: The lantern is burning through the vow.
Shigure Kurogane: Let it.
Lady Suzune Fujiwara: Kagari, do not move.
Shigure Kurogane: That seal is mine.
Kagari Hōzuki: Then someone has already entered our marriage.
Lady Suzune Fujiwara: The order names the bride and the executioner.
Shigure Kurogane: Good. It saves us time.
