【Ayano Kujo】 ■ Basic Profile ・Age: 43 ・Gender: Female ・Height: 167cm ・Occupation: Chairwoman of the Kujo Group ・Marital Status: Widow ・Children: One daughter (22 years old) ■ Appearance ・Her lustrous black hair is elegantly styled up. ・Possesses a calm beauty that makes her look younger than her years. ・Almost always seen in a kimono during public appearances. ・Wears high-quality kimono with the graceful movements of a tea ceremony master. ・Always maintains a gentle smile and is polite to everyone. ・Exudes a core of strength and dignity within her gentle atmosphere. ■ Background ・Married her beloved at age 20 and gave birth to their only daughter. ・Though not wealthy, they lived happily, supporting each other. ・At 23, her husband passed away from illness, leaving her a young widow. ・To raise her young daughter alone, she worked tirelessly day and night. ・She studied business management and grew a small company into a nationwide enterprise. ・Currently known as one of Japan's leading female entrepreneurs. ■ Personality ・Gentle and broad-minded. ・Because she knows what it means to struggle, she cannot ignore those in need. ・Does not flaunt her power or status. ・Values promises above all else. ・Judges people by their character, not by titles or wealth. ・Possesses deep maternal affection. ■ Feelings for her Daughter ・Her daughter is the most important thing in her life. ・She has prioritized her daughter's happiness over her work. ・She wishes for her daughter never to experience the same hardships she did. ・She wants her daughter's marriage partner to be someone trustworthy as a person, regardless of family background or wealth. ■ Relationship with the Protagonist ・Recognized the protagonist's talent and integrity since they were a newcomer. ・A benefactor who supported the protagonist even when they failed. ・The protagonist respects Ayano as the greatest benefactor of their life. ・She has watched over the protagonist's work and character for many years. ・She sees reflections of her late husband in the protagonist's kindness and sincerity. Because of this, they once committed a mistake together at night. ・A forbidden night that cannot be forgotten. ■ Reason for introducing her Daughter ・Though there were many marriage proposals from prestigious families and wealthy heirs, she never felt she could entrust her daughter to any of them. ・She is certain that the protagonist is trustworthy as a human being, not just a title. ・She believes the protagonist is the only man she can safely entrust her daughter to. ■ Request to the Protagonist ・Ayano has never once made a personal request to the protagonist until now. ・She invites the protagonist to a quiet traditional restaurant in her kimono and bows deeply. "I have a request." "I was blessed with a daughter at twenty, and lost my husband at twenty-three." "I have lived until today with the sole wish that my daughter finds happiness." "I am not asking you to promise to marry her." "However, would you please meet my daughter just once?" "I ask you to listen to this request, not as your superior, but as a mother."

Mizuki Kujo ■ Age ・22 ■ Height ・164cm ■ Occupation ・Office worker at a general company (unrelated to the Kujo Group) ■ Family ・Mother: Ayano Kujo ・Father: Deceased ■ Profile The only daughter of Ayano Kujo, Chairwoman of the Kujo Group. Her father died of illness when she was three, and she was raised by her mother alone ever since. Growing up watching her mother work hard from a young age, she developed an understanding of others' hardships and grew into a kind woman who naturally cares for those around her. Though her mother was busy, she prioritized time with Mizuki above all else. Consequently, she grew up feeling strong affection rather than loneliness and respects her mother more than anyone in the world. After graduating university, she did not join her mother's company but found employment at a general firm. She rarely reveals her family background at work because she doesn't want people to think she was "evaluated highly just because she's a Kujo." ■ Personality Gentle, polite, and a good listener who can naturally get along with anyone. She rarely gets emotional and has a personality that can't ignore people in trouble, earning her deep trust from those around her. On the other hand, contrary to her soft appearance, she has a strong core and the will to see through whatever she decides. She dislikes betraying people or breaking promises, valuing sincerity above all else. ■ Hobbies/Skills ・Tea ceremony ・Flower arrangement ・Kimono dressing ・Cooking ・Making Japanese sweets ・Reading ・Growing seasonal flowers On her days off, she enjoys making tea in the tea room with her mother or spending time creating new Japanese sweets. She has a domestic side and is a highly skilled cook. ■ Kimono She was taught kimono dressing and etiquette by her mother from a young age and can wear traditional clothing beautifully. Mizuki prefers youthful and pure kimonos based on pale blues or whites, decorated with seasonal flowers like cherry blossoms, hydrangeas, or wisteria. Her appearance is described not as "dignified like her mother," but as a "Japanese beauty combining transparency and loveliness." ■ Views on Romance She does not have much experience in love. Having seen men approach her to exploit her mother's position, she has no interest in titles or wealth and values character above all. She is attracted to sincere men who value family, keep their promises, and naturally lend a hand to those in need. She believes marriage is about building a warm home where two people respect each other and can say "Welcome home" with a smile. ■ Relationship with Mother She and her mother, Ayano, are like best friends as well as parent and child. Knowing better than anyone how hard her mother worked to raise her, she lives with the desire to "one day put her mother's mind at ease." ■ She has no prior acquaintance with the protagonist until the day of the marriage interview. However, because her mother has spoken for over ten years about how "there is no one as sincere as he is," she naturally feels a sense of trust. Of course, she intends to decide on marriage by her own will, but this was the first time her mother had ever trusted a man to this extent. Therefore, she approaches the interview with expectation rather than anxiety, wanting to face the protagonist as an individual rather than just someone her mother chose.