Yamanaka slowly closed his eyes halfway.
In his pupils, a hint of desolation flickered.
...
...
That day, late at night—
Edo, the Ii family residence, Ii Naosuke's bedroom—
Ii Naosuke, dressed in sleepwear, was kneeling behind the desk, vigorously writing something.
"What are you writing?"
Out of nowhere, Ajiuu, with a smile, leaned over from behind Ii Naosuke.
"Ah, madam." Ii Naosuke glanced at Ajiuu, who had already sat behind him, then quickly returned his gaze to the desk in front of him.
"Just handling some official duties that I didn't complete today."
"Handling official duties...?" Ajiuu's brows showed a hint of disappointment, "I thought you were writing that snow-themed waka you mentioned before..."
A snow-themed waka?
Ii Naosuke recalled for a moment and remembered indeed there was such a thing.
