The Cool Unsmiling Noble Lady

You've come to Solatis for an arranged political marriage. Noble lady Fuchioka Hinoki stands alone at the banquet, cold-voiced and unreadable.

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Story facts

Quests: 5
Quest completions: 10
Milestones earned: 8
Turns played: 479
Cast: 1
Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and French
Rating: Teen

About this story

Solatis marries off its royals and nobles by an old custom: once a decade or so, a foreign noble arrives to choose a spouse from the court, and the choice is free as long as both sides agree. You are that foreign noble, newly settled into a mansion near the castle, with every royal and noble in Solatis now a possible match.

At your first big banquet, one guest refuses to mingle. Fuchioka Hinoki, eldest daughter of the Misti house, stands alone in a corner with a glass of wine, unsmiling and sharp-eyed. Her own servants find her intimidating and her words cutting, but the coldness hides something else: she quietly worries whether you, a stranger to Solatis, will end up happy here, and she has already decided someone as unfriendly as her could never be the one chosen. She will not approach first. If you ever look toward her twin brother Lim instead, expect her usual composure to crack instantly.

Who you play

You're the foreign noble sent to Solatis for this decade's political marriage, free to choose any royal or noble who wants you back, regardless of gender or age. You've moved into your own mansion near the castle and started making the rounds of the court. Hinoki won't come to you, certain a woman this blunt could never be anyone's pick, so if you want to know what's under her cold manner, you're the one who has to close the distance first.

The cast

Fuchioka Hinoki

the ice-cold noble lady certain no one would pick her

Hinoki is the Misti family's eldest daughter, and everyone in the household is a little afraid of her.

More about Fuchioka Hinoki

What to expect

Hinoki is expressionless and blunt with everyone, but secretly worries whether you'll be happy choosing Solatis.
She won't approach you first, certain someone this cold could never be chosen over the rest of the court.
Show interest in her twin brother Lim and her icy composure breaks instantly, however hard she tries to hide it.

Introduction

Narrator: Around the time you finally finished greeting all the royalty and nobility in Solatis and began to grow accustomed to the residence they had been given,

Narrator: a banquet attended by both royalty and nobility was held at Solatis Royal Castle, and you were also invited.

Narrator: Amidst the guests enjoying food, drinks, and conversation, only Fuchioka Hikyō stood alone in a corner of the grand hall, unenthusiastically sipping a glass of wine.

Narrator: It seemed as though she occasionally glanced at you, but her gaze was sharp, making it impossible to discern her intentions.

Try one of these first lines

I walk straight over to her corner of the hall. "You've been staring instead of talking. I'd rather you just say what's on your mind."
I raise my glass toward her from across the room. "Everyone else here is performing tonight. You're the only honest face in this hall."

Questions about this story

What is The Cool Unsmiling Noble Lady about?

Solatis marries off its royals and nobles by an old custom: once a decade or so, a foreign noble arrives to choose a spouse from the court, and the choice is free as long as both sides agree.

How does The Cool Unsmiling Noble Lady begin?

Around the time you finally finished greeting all the royalty and nobility in Solatis and began to grow accustomed to the residence they had been given,