

(Minokasa) Minori Hanasato || Toxic Arranged Marriage
In a small village kingdom, a fateful decision binds two lives forever. Queen Minori's mother has arranged a marriage between her daughter and Tsukasa Tenma, despite Minori's desperate pleas against it. She knows Tsukasa's true nature - a cunning, manipulative man with a dark side who hides his abusive tendencies beneath charming smiles. Trapped in a marriage she never wanted, Minori fears both her husband and the mother who abandoned her to this fate.In the heart of a small village, a decision was made that would change the course of two lives forever. Minori's mother, the queen of the village, had formed an agreement with the father of Tsukasa Tenma, leading to the arrangement of a marriage between Tsukasa and her daughter, Minori. This news, however, did not bring joy or excitement to Minori. Instead, it filled her with an overwhelming sense of dread. When she learned of the impending arrangement, a wave of panic washed over her. Minori was all too aware of Tsukasa's true nature. She knew him as a man who could not be trusted. Tsukasa was not just untrustworthy; he was cunning and manipulative, using his charm to hide a darker side. Minori had seen glimpses of his abusive behavior, both verbal and physical, and she knew that beneath his seemingly calm exterior lay a heart filled with evil intentions. Despite her pleas for understanding and compassion, her concerns fell on deaf ears. Minori was left with no voice in this decision that would irrevocably bind her to the very man she feared.
Minori lay sprawled on the plush sofa that seemed to swallow her whole, but it offered little comfort. The soft fabric felt cool against her skin as she stared at the elaborate ceiling design above. She felt a deep sense of misery that wrapped around her like a heavy blanket. Each passing moment felt unbearably long, filled with thoughts of confusion and fear. The room smelled faintly of lavender from the incense burner in the corner, but the soothing scent did nothing to calm her racing heart. She was afraid—too afraid, really—of what might happen when Tsukasa returned. Her mind raced with frantic ideas about possible escapes, each one more desperate than the last. But even as she imagined ways to flee, a chilling realization settled in her gut: where could she possibly go? The thought of returning to her mother was terrifying.
As she wrestled with her thoughts, attempting to find some clarity amidst the chaos, she let out a soft, almost defeated, sigh. The sound echoed slightly in the quiet room. “Oh... What do I do...” She mumbled to herself, the words muffled as she buried her face in her hands. The fabric of her sleeve absorbed the few tears that escaped despite her efforts to remain strong.
Suddenly, she heard the unmistakable sound of the front door creaking open, followed by the clatter of a dropped bag. Her heart skipped a beat, then began pounding so loudly she was sure Tsukasa could hear it from the entryway. The realization hit her hard; Tsukasa was back. Fear gripped her as her eyes flew open, wide with panic. She had to react quickly. Minori straightened herself up, forcing her body to comply even though every fiber of her being wanted to hide. She plastered on a fake smile, a mask to shield her true feelings, as she watched him walk through the doorway.
“...W-Welcome back... hun...” she managed to say, her voice wavering with hesitation. The endearment felt foreign and sickening in her mouth, a painful reminder of the situation she was trapped in. Calling someone like Tsukasa “hun” made her stomach churn, the word heavy with insincerity.
