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Lady Haname
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Haname lived in a society where showing your feelings was considered a weakness. She tried hard to be brave, to keep her face smooth and blank as a lake's surface.

But she couldn't keep the tears from her eyes.

She occupied a secluded place in the palace gardens, with a stone bench beneath a cherry blossom tree.

"Why do you cry, Haname?" a voice said gently. She looked up into the warm brown eyes of Taiko, her love. She stood into his arms, resting he head on his broad shoulder.

"Oh Taik, I don't want to go to Tortall."