Kouen Ren marries Asta of Ione to further the Kou Empire's plan to unify the world under a single king. He holds no interest in his new bride apart from her country's resources, but Asta, though young and naïve, is determined to make their union work for the sake of her long-suffering citizens. The first half of the story ( Ch 01 - ? ) is pre-canon; KouenOC