Lightning streaked through the black clouds, splintering across a rumbling sky. Half a second later, a clap of thunder roared over the fields. It served as a reminder that Inazuma was no sunny region — this was the domain of an insatiable, electrifying archon and her subjects, dutifully seeking eternity in tradition.

"Are you really just going to let her go?" Thoma was stubbornly bothering his lord again, hands on his hips. "My lady, Traveler, come on. Tell him."

"The wedding is in the afternoon," Ayaka said. "There are invitations. You could reason before then."

"Paimon doesn't have a good feeling about this," Paimon whimpered, kicking the air. "The Tenryou Commission is evil, they'll do anything to ruin F/N! First, it was that mob, then that attack, and now this!"

If you had married Ayato, conjoining the Yashiro and Kanjou Commissions, that put them at a disadvantage. If you had ascended to the role of commissioner and Chisato and Kamaji had eloped, they would have lost their heir. But now, you were marrying one of their own. They let your parents spin a lie.

To everyone else, this should have been the best-case scenario where all three commissions were balanced; you marrying an irrelevant nobody from the Tenryou Commission would keep all war at bay. But Ayato was not the type to let the Tenryou Commission get what they want so easily. What he wanted, he got.

He had no idea how you could tolerate the sheer arrogance of it all with dignity. He drummed his fingers on the table, glancing at the letters he had left you before.

"My lord, you can't give up now," insisted Thoma. "Fujita Sanshirou isn't worthy to be her husband and you know it. The Tenryou Commission will leverage her like a chess piece."

Ayaka and Paimon chimed with assent.

"My presence will only make things worse for her." Ayato finally spoke. His tone was bitter, sharded with sadness. "This is no elopement where anyone can just run away from the altar. I—I can't ruin her life further. It would only hurt the both of us."

"Can't you do something?" Paimon asked impatiently. "How hard can it be to bust in and object? Or ask Yae or Ei to interfere?"

"This is Inazuma, Paimon," Ayaka said. "Tradition and honor are unquestionable. There's no choice but to follow them or else it could be the end of a clan."

"Ack–seriously?" she asked. "There isn't a single tradition that can end a wedding without ruining anyone's honor?"

The Traveler spoke up. His words were slow, as if unsure whether his suggestion would rein merit given its absurdity.

"I have an idea — it was something I tried myself, but... you might not like it."

"Trickery is for cowards," Ayato reminded him. "I won't do such a thing."

Aether sensed his displeasure and spoke with further resolve. "No, it's not that. It was something the Shogun approved."

A girl controlled by society, scorned yet desired by every family. Someone he had hated deeply. Someone he would draw his sword and risk his life for. There was joy in having someone to value so much. Perhaps not every part was easy, and his throat curdled over the tipping scales. He could ruin everything. But he could have you.

"Brother, you deserve happiness," Ayaka whispered. "Politics begone. You deserve love too."

Ayato's mouth was tannin. His sister was younger but she was wiser than her years. He'd rather spend the rest of his life fixing any damage to his reputation than watch you leave for someone else. He dropped his gaze and sighed.

"I can't let this go," he said.

Ayaka brightened. "Really?"

He relented to the Traveler. "Let's hear your advice, then."