Year of the Boar, Second Month, Day 30.

Interesting news from the House of Silent Thunder; my spies tell me that Lord Kenta of White Lake has refused a proposal of marriage from Lady Kaede. Quite why she was stupid enough to propose to him in any case, is beyond me when it is quite obvious to anyone that an alliance between Silent Thunder and White Lake was never going to happen. Anyone with but a modicum of intelligence could see that Lord Kenta's parents, Lord Shunya and Lady Yuki, have been looking at marrying him into Shimmering Dawn. I do not know the eldest daughter of Shimmering Dawn very well, but from what I do know of her, she would have made a fine wife for one such as Kenta. She is quiet, unassuming, easily bent to the will of others, and of course at not quite yet 15, wholly untouched by a man... Of course, a marriage would not have been possible for a good few years yet, but politically it would have been a fine enough match when it did happen. Unfortunately, Kenta had the misfortune to actually fall in love with Kaede and she, as we all know, has been besotted with him since first their eyes met over an archery target at the Arts festival at Precision School. Of course, they had known each other for years before that, but it was at that moment that the tell-tale signs began to show themselves; the way her eyes would light up when he walked into a room, the light flush that would colour her cheeks and the way her breath would catch in her throat fractionally every time he spoke and the way that she would gaze starry-eyed at the door after he had left the room. Of course, she did her best to hide it, believing no doubt, that her feelings were not returned, and most of the rest of us were too busy mooning after Kenta's older brother, Sunsuke, to pay attention to Kaede's little crush. Shunsuke lost his life in a boating accident a few years ago and what a tragedy that was; Sunksuke was the kind of man who drew flocks and flocks of women around him, women from the lowest slave to the Ruling Ladies of the Kingdom, they were all infatuated and he was just as popular with the men. Ultimately though, he was interested in no one special, he was a playboy and his affairs were legendary. Rumour has it that he bedded Lady Mayu, a friend of his mother's when he was just 14. I have never managed to substantiate this so I cannot be sure whether it is indeed true or not. His parents were furious with his behaviour but Shunsuke had great charm and all he needed to do was smile and promise not to do it again, and even the most hardened court official would forgive him and let him off with a stern admonishment. I digress; since Lady Kaede is of the oldest House, there are some extremely archaic laws governing them and by having a marriage proposal turned down, she has now forfeited her House to White Lake. I will watch with interest...