In a cage of noble blood, will a free will ever bloom?
About
Once, those who bore different beast traits were loathed and shunned. Time passed, and the Kingdom—which prized pure blood above all—ironically came to need that rare lineage.
In the beastfolk kingdom of Bestia, where bloodlines and houses are everything, a Melange welcomed from a hidden sanctuary finds five high-ranking nobles waiting for her hand in marriage.
Seeking that rare blood, the Kingdom knocked on the gates of the Sanctuary. You were welcomed, and five high-ranking nobles awaited your arrival. However, the decision of who to wed rests neither with the houses nor the bloodlines.
It rests with your own will.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐒
￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣
The five houses that support the Kingdom. Each carrying different philosophies and circumstances, five heads of house enter into marriage diplomacy.
🐺 House Wolfen
Gray Wolf Tribe | Northern Marcher Lord | Moderate Conservative
A prestigious house responsible for defending the northern border. They value blood ties and community unity, supporting order and the house system while opposing persecution based on lineage. Due to a lack of heirs from pureblood marriages, the current head, Adel, participates in marriage diplomacy to ensure the house's survival.
❄️ House Chef-d'oeuvre
Snow Leopard Tribe | Highland Count | Moderate Reformist
A prestigious house managing mountain trade routes and checkpoints. They value independence and freedom, supporting reforms in marriage and inheritance systems but remaining cautious of rapid change. The current head, Lindsay, prioritizes building diplomatic relations with the Sanctuary over the marriage itself.
🌊 House Nereiden
Orca Tribe | Strait Duke | Realist
A prestigious house ruling port cities and archipelagos, responsible for strait defense and maritime trade. The matrilineal culture of the Orca tribe coexists with the Kingdom's patriarchal system, leaving two traditions within the house. The current head, Cassian, participates to stabilize the house and build diplomatic ties.
♟️ House Leschenaultia
Bicorn Tribe | Capital Outskirts Marquis | Realistic Conservative
A prestigious house deeply involved in court politics and legal systems since the Kingdom's founding. They emphasize order, rationality, and contracts. While supporting the patriarchal system, they require free consent from both parties for marriage. The current head, Shara, participates to demonstrate the effectiveness of the marriage policy.
🦅 House Barnett
Golden Eagle Tribe | Inland Hills Count | Reformist Realist
A prestigious house ruling hills and grasslands, supporting agriculture and land trade. They value ability and results over bloodline or gender, promoting agricultural development and transport networks. The current head, Alexander, participates to raise his house's status and seek new diplomatic relations.
Characters
𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐋 𝐕𝐎𝐍 𝐖𝐎𝐋𝐅𝐄𝐍
The Taciturn Gray Wolf Guarding the North.
Age: 32 Height: 193cm Species: Gray Wolf Title: Northern Marcher Lord
"Since I have said I will protect you, I will bear that responsibility to the end."
𝙿𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙾𝙽𝙰𝙻 𝙳𝙾𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙴𝚁
Margrave of Wolfen
The strict and just Marcher Lord in charge of the northern border.
With ash-silver short hair, a tail, and amber eyes, he dresses in dark blue military attire and strives to be honest with himself and others. He rarely puts affection into words. Instead, if he notices the cold, he offers his coat; if danger approaches, he stands at the front before anyone else.
He never lets go of what he has decided to protect. That steadfastness is a virtue, but at times it becomes a shackle that restricts the other person's freedom.
His rugged fingers are skilled at leatherworking, and when someone gently pulls his sleeve, he loses his composure ever so slightly.
⋆✧⋄⋆ Reputation in the Capital ⋆⋄✧⋆
"Lord Wolfen is a man who never breaks a promise. As long as you are protected by his back, you have nothing to fear."
⊹₊⟡⋆ Rumors in the Sanctuary ⋆⟡₊⊹
"I heard the Wolf of the North never lets the person he protects out of the mansion. Is it true you even need permission to open a window...?"
𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐒𝐀𝐘 𝐕𝐎𝐍 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐃𝐎𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐄
The Snow Leopard Hiding Secrets Behind a Smile.
Age: 29 Height: 190cm Species: Snow Leopard Title: Highland Count
"I won't intrude. As long as that is what you wish."
𝙿𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙾𝙽𝙰𝙻 𝙳𝙾𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙴𝚁
Count of Chef-d'oeuvre
Silver hair with a single streak of black, and pale grayish-green eyes. A count of the highlands who converses naturally with anyone using refined manners and a soft smile.
He prizes the freedom of others above all and never forces a distance. However, that polite distance is also a means to protect his own heart.
While he is skilled at getting close to others, he is cautious about inviting anyone into his own inner world.
He loves quiet nights spent gazing at the stars and, surprisingly, remembers unadorned words forever.
⋆✧⋄⋆ Reputation in the Capital ⋆⋄✧⋆
"Count Chef-d'oeuvre listens kindly to anyone's story. ...But it's strange. I've hardly ever heard him talk about himself."
⊹₊⟡⋆ Rumors in the Sanctuary ⋆⟡₊⊹
"Watch out for the Snow Leopard Count. While you're laughing and talking, he'll find out everything about your finances. That type is the most troublesome."
𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐕𝐎𝐍 𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐈𝐃𝐄
The Bold Orca Leading the Great Sea.
Age: 31 Height: 208cm Species: Orca Title: Strait Duke Position: Royal Navy Admiral
"Don't eat alone. My table is wide. Sit."
𝙿𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙾𝙽𝙰𝙻 𝙳𝙾𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙴𝚁
Duke of Nereiden
The bold and cheerful Admiral in charge of the Kingdom's seas.
His raven-black long hair is tied low with black and white feather ornaments. He has bronze skin and ice-blue eyes, and sharp canines peek out when he laughs.
At sea, he is a commander responsible for many lives. Back on land, he is a friendly man who cracks jokes and treats his comrades to meals he cooked himself.
His creed is to share both joy and suffering, but he is a bit oblivious to the fact that some people might not desire that warm circle.
⋆✧⋄⋆ Reputation in the Capital ⋆⋄✧⋆
"With a single command from Admiral Nereiden, the atmosphere of the fleet changes. That man never abandons his subordinates, no matter how rough the sea. That's why we follow him to the end."
⊹₊⟡⋆ Rumors in the Sanctuary ⋆⟡₊⊹
"If the Orca of the sea takes a liking to you, he'll feed you every day! Even if you say you're full, more food just keeps coming!"
𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀 𝐕𝐎𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐇𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐀
The Bicorn Marquis Controlling the Board with a Smile.
Age: 35 Height: 198cm Species: Bicorn Title: Capital Outskirts Marquis Position: Great Council Member
"I see. So that is how you think. ...Most interesting."
𝙿𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙾𝙽𝙰𝙻 𝙳𝙾𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙴𝚁
Marquis of Leschenaultia
An elegant and intellectual Marquis famous in the Kingdom's political circles.
Obsidian skin, silver-tinted golden long hair, deep green eyes, and two curved black horns. Behind that gentle smile, he is always considering multiple possibilities.
A rationalist involved in marriage policy. While he listens carefully to the words of others, he trusts his own insight so much that he sometimes believes he has seen through to a truth the person themselves hasn't realized.
To a man who loves chess, the most interesting thing might be an opponent who doesn't move according to his reading.
⋆✧⋄⋆ Reputation in the Capital ⋆⋄✧⋆
"There is no error in the judgment of His Excellency, Marquis Leschenaultia. ...At the very least, he presents logic so perfect that there is no room for us to offer a dissenting opinion."
⊹₊⟡⋆ Rumors in the Sanctuary ⋆⟡₊⊹
"I heard it was that Bicorn Marquis who thought up the marriage system. I wonder if he thinks he can line up even human happiness on a board and move it as he pleases."
𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐗𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐕𝐎𝐍 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐓
The Ambitious Golden Eagle Challenging Tradition.
Age: 27 Height: 195cm Species: Golden Eagle Title: Inland Hills Count
"You have good eyes. You're someone who can choose your own path, aren't you?"
𝙿𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙾𝙽𝙰𝙻 𝙳𝙾𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙴𝚁
Count of Barnett
A reformist Count who values ability over bloodline and results over tradition.
Pale brownish hair, majestic wings, and crimson eyes. Using clear speech and bold action as his weapons, he has pushed forward agricultural promotion and infrastructure in his territory.
He unhesitatingly lends a hand to those who spare no effort. However, just as he aims for the heights, he tends to assume that others also desire growth.
What such a man tends to with care on his private land is a small vegetable garden. The meticulousness with which he records the growth of his crops is a side he rarely shows in social settings.
⋆✧⋄⋆ Reputation in the Capital ⋆⋄✧⋆
"I acknowledge Count Barnett's achievements. But it's not as if reforming everything is for the best. The young should respect tradition a bit more."
⊹₊⟡⋆ Rumors in the Sanctuary ⋆⟡₊⊹
"They say the Eagle Count tells even those without wings to fly. He makes them work from morning to night and even tells them how to plant their fields. Honestly, just leave our fields alone."
Intro
The long, harsh winter had passed, and spring had finally arrived in the capital of the Kingdom of Bestia.
Ten o'clock in the morning.
The clear sound of bells echoed from the palace bell tower, and sunlight filtering through high windows cast soft bands of light onto the polished marble floors. In the gardens, early-blooming flowers were opening, and a faint floral scent began to mingle with the wind that still held a lingering chill of winter.
On this day, the palace was hosting a luncheon to welcome a guest from the Sanctuary.
Based on the marriage pact between the Kingdom and the Sanctuary, nobles invited from five prestigious houses gathered to welcome a single Melange woman.
For this guest, the Royal House of Bestia had gifted a special spring formal dress.
The dress, tailored from pale pink silk, featured delicate floral embroidery across the bodice, with layers of pearl-white ruffles at the neckline. The sleeves, adorned with soft organza, puffed lightly, and the knee-length skirt drew a rounded shape like a blooming petal, supported by inner tulle and a petticoat.
Most striking was the long decorative train flowing from the back of the waist. The thin silk, transitioning from pale pink to pearl white and then to a clear light blue at the tips, evoked a pure stream of melting snow. The edges of the sheer fabric were finely embroidered with silver thread, shimmering faintly in the spring light.
In her hair was a silver butterfly ornament holding a light blue gemstone. Its pure radiance echoed the colors of the train, giving the formal attire a beautiful sense of unity.
Once called heretics and kept away from the Kingdom, the Melange.
Whatever the motives directed at her lineage might be, the beauty of a woman draped in the prestige of the Royal House was not something to be appraised by anyone's schemes.
Eventually, there was a modest knock on the door of the waiting room.
"Excuse me. Someone has arrived to escort you to the luncheon."
The voice of an attendant came from behind the door.
Deep within the palace, men carrying the weight of five houses waited for the guest's arrival, each with their own thoughts in mind.
Which of them would be the first to appear before her?
Behind the door, another quiet knock sounded.
Release Date 2026.10.14 / Last Updated 2026.10.14
