Eriri Spencer Sawamura's father, the diplomat Mr. Spencer, was engaged in a conversation across the room. His counterpart was none other than Kyoutarou Kuze, the live-in son-in-law of the prestigious Suou family and father to Yuki Suou. The meeting was not by chance; as fellow diplomats, it fell to Kyoutarou to host and liaise with the foreign dignitary.
At that moment, Mr. Spencer's expression held a slight, though well-concealed, cloud. His gaze had drifted toward the dance floor, where he saw his wife, Sawamura Sayuri, gracefully moving in the arms of the Yukinoshitas' new son-in-law. The feeling was not one of suspicion, but rather the simple, instinctive jealousy of a husband watching his charming wife dance with a notably handsome young man. He dismissed it with a diplomatic sip of champagne, attributing it to the social necessities of the evening.
Compared to Mr. Spencer's magnanimous, if slightly prickly, acceptance, the moods of many other young gentlemen from various families were considerably darker. The source of their displeasure was obvious: nearly every beautiful, high-status young lady of note at the event had shared a dance with Hozuki Nozomi, only to subsequently—and politely—decline their own invitations.
Hayama Hayato sat alone in a secluded corner, a glass of something amber clutched in his hand, nursing his sorrows in liquid form. Today felt like a comprehensive defeat. Since childhood, his heart had held a place for Yukinoshita Haruno. That early admiration had, as he grew, quietly transformed into a deep-seated infatuation. He had, in his quieter moments, allowed himself to believe there was a chance.
Today, reality had dispelled that notion with brutal finality. Haruno-senpai was engaged—officially, publicly—to a man who was, by all appearances, a two-timing scoundrel. Had she been deceived, Hayato might have found a bitter shred of solace, a reason to intervene. But Haruno-senpai was fully, disarmingly aware of Hozuki Nozomi's… promiscuous nature. She didn't merely accept it; she embraced it, choosing to marry him alongside her own sister.
And then there was Yukino Yukinoshita, whose aloof beauty and sharp intellect had always inspired a different kind of awe in him, tinged with a lifelong guilt. His childhood cowardice had contributed to her isolation, a memory that haunted him. He had longed for a chance to make amends, to prove himself worthy in her eyes. Yet, neither sister had ever granted him an opening. Unconsciously, inexorably, he had drifted away from these two childhood companions who had shone so brilliantly since their youth.
Hayato had lost. Thoroughly. And he couldn't comprehend what he had lost to. Hozuki Nozomi was unfaithful, brazenly entangled with girls like Miura Yumiko on the side. In this day and age, were scoundrels truly more appealing? He had remained devoted, never pursuing another, yet he couldn't hold a candle to Nozomi's effortless appeal.
Of course, a rational part of him understood. Feelings were not a transaction; they couldn't be forced. Haruno-senpai's disregard was, in large part, a consequence of his own past failures. But understanding did nothing to quell the fierce, burning unwillingness to lose to someone like Hozuki Nozomi.
He tipped back his glass, the alcohol burning a path down his throat. Perhaps in this state, slightly disheveled and melancholic, he might catch Haruno-senpai's eye, evoke a flicker of pity or concern. Even the smallest scrap of her attention would have been a balm.
Yukinoshita Haruno, however, operated on a different wavelength. Tonight was her engagement party, and Hozuki Nozomi's possessiveness, while never crudely expressed, was a palpable force she respected and, in a way, cherished. She would never provide him with even the slightest cause for displeasure. Moreover, her dismissal of Hayato was rooted in history. From the moment his childhood weakness had harmed Yukino, he had been irrevocably cast out of her inner circle.
And so, a dizzy, dejected Hayato was eventually approached by a girl from a lesser family, her face dotted with faint freckles, her eyes wide with a mix of sympathy and ambition. Hayato's classical, handsome features held undeniable appeal. It remained to be seen if this night would mark his stumbling first step into a more cynical adulthood, guided by a stranger's hands. But for now, no one was particularly concerned with Hayato's fate.
Leaving the despondent Hayato to his new companion, the spotlight returned to Hozuki Nozomi. Having finished his dance with a now-pacified Eriri Spencer Sawamura—soothed by a few well-placed, whispered words—he found himself the subject of yet another significant gaze.
Under the watchful eyes of the assembled aristocracy, Yuki Suou approached. She was a vision in a gown of deep ocean blue, every inch the dignified, elegant young lady of the ancient Suou family. She stopped before him and offered a graceful, formal curtsy that was somehow both regal and intimately familiar.
"Onii-chan," she began, her voice clear and carrying, "may I have this dance?"
A ripple of stunned silence passed through those close enough to hear. The eldest daughter of the Suou family was addressing the Yukinoshita fiancé as "Brother"?
Guests from newer, wealthier families looked on in confusion. But representatives from the other old, established houses—families like the Shinomiya and the Tsuchimikado, who moved in the same rarefied circles as the Yukinoshita and Suou—exchanged glances of profound shock.
Ai Hayasaka, the golden-haired attendant ever-present at Kaguya Shinomiya's side, leaned in quickly, whispering urgent information into her mistress's ear. Kaguya's normally impassive expression shifted, her eyes widening a fraction before narrowing with intense curiosity.
"A 'Miko'?" she murmured, her voice laced with skepticism. "In this scientific age? Are you certain?"
Ai Hayasaka gave a firm, confirming nod. "The records I have accessed indicate as much."
Kaguya Shinomiya's gaze returned to Hozuki Nozomi, now gracefully leading Yuki Suou across the floor. A subtle, challenging smile touched her lips. "How interesting. Then let us see if I can't unveil the true nature of this man. I place little stock in tales of oracles and wish-granters. It all sounds rather… far-fetched."
Ai privately agreed with the sentiment, yet a lifetime of training and her mother's solemn warnings held sway. Her mother, who had served Kaguya's mother and acted as Kaguya's own wet nurse, had been unequivocal: If you ever encounter a Miko, you seek their favor. You never make an enemy of one.
Meanwhile, Yukinoshita Haruno was holding court amidst a cluster of young ladies from other powerful families. With Yukino naturally inclined to shy away from such intense social negotiation, the role of diplomat fell to her. Besides, she was accustomed to it. And if she was honest, both she and Nozomi shared a deep-seated desire to dote on and protect Yukino. As the older sister, she didn't mind working a little harder.
"Haruno-san," ventured one young woman, her tone a blend of curiosity and thinly-veiled envy, "you refused Hayato-kun quite firmly earlier. Weren't you being a little… harsh?"
Yukinoshita Haruno's smile never wavered, though it took on a polished, impenetrable quality. "What can I do? My fiancé is rather possessive. Out of consideration for his feelings, I've decided to minimize unnecessary contact or communication with other gentlemen moving forward." She let the statement hang for a moment before adding lightly, "So, if you have any social gatherings planned in the future, it's best not to include me."
The other girls gasped, some with admiration, others with disbelief.
"Haruno-san, you've been completely conquered!" one exclaimed. "Forgive my bluntness, but I truly don't understand. Why would you, and Yukino-san, be willing to… share him? Doesn't it feel strange?"
"Heh," Haruno laughed softly, a sound of pure, unshakable confidence. "The reason is simple: Hozuki Nozomi is sufficiently exceptional. That is answer enough."
"Aren't you afraid he'll continue to stray?" another pressed, unable to contain her curiosity. "Men are inherently greedy. By being together, you're practically giving him permission to seek out even more..."
Haruno's smile turned knowing, a hint of a blush coloring her cheeks—a masterful performance of modest delight. "That ventures into the private matters between a husband and wife. Even among friends, some topics are too intimate to share. Suffice to say, both Yukino and I adore Nozomi-kun deeply and are thrilled to become his brides. That is all you need to know."
Her words, delivered with such finality and apparent joy, sent a wave of intense speculation through the group. Every young lady present now turned her gaze back to Hozuki Nozomi with renewed, burning curiosity. What could possibly be so extraordinary about him? The unspoken, more scandalous theories—involving certain physical… proficiencies—caused some cheeks to flush and hearts to beat a little faster.
Thus, when Hozuki Nozomi finished his dance with Yuki Suou, he found himself immediately besieged by a small queue of beautiful, determined young women, all friends or acquaintances of Haruno. Their invitations were, in the context of this social battlefield, impossible to refuse.
Fortunately, as friends of Haruno, their looks and pedigrees were impeccable. Hozuki Nozomi accepted each invitation with gracious charm, thinking to himself, Well, at least I'm not losing out on the aesthetic front. It was a small consolation in a long, diplomatically taxing evening.