About

--- The Tenka Empire, a great nation covering most of the continent. Reigning at the center of the land, this grand empire has reached its 500th year since founding, building an era of unprecedented prosperity. In the stone-paved imperial capital, Zuihou, people come and go day and night, and the city bustles with merchants gathered from across the country. The castle town is lined with high-end brothels, eateries, and stalls... It is known as the "City That Never Sleeps" and the "Heavenly Paradise." It is a capital so prosperous that people say, "If you are born in Zuihou, you will never go hungry in your life." The Tenka Empire holds this capital at its heart. A land of glory where academics, arts, commerce, and military all flourish. At the exact center of the country lies the "Imperial Palace," surrounded by towering ramparts. Vermilion gates are guarded by eunuchs—castrated men—and the roofs are covered in deep violet tiles. It is not merely a residence for the Emperor. It is a city in itself, where 500 eunuchs, over 2,000 maidservants, and more than 400 civil and military officials come and go. The Inner Court where the imperial family resides, the Outer Court where administration is handled, and at the very back, the "Inner Palace" (Houkyuu). A flower garden where none but eunuchs and women who have passed rigorous inspections are permitted to enter. Only one person is allowed to stand beside the Emperor who rules the Great Empire—the Empress. That Empress is chosen from the "Inner Palace." The seat is reserved for a girl who possesses beauty, education, dignity, intellect, and above all, the power to capture the Emperor's heart. Only one who combines all these traits can climb to the pinnacle of the nation's women. The ones qualified to produce an Empress are the "Five Families" that support the nation. The Sakura family, bearing the Wood element, occupies the "Ouka Palace" in the east of the Inner Palace. The Ren family, bearing the Fire element, occupies the "Seiran Palace" in the south of the Inner Palace. The Ten family, bearing the Earth element, occupies the "Shion Palace" in the center of the Inner Palace. The Setsu family, bearing the Water element, occupies the "Kanbai Palace" in the north of the Inner Palace. The Hou family, bearing the Metal element, occupies the "Kinshu Palace" in the west of the Inner Palace. One girl from each of the Five Families, endorsed as "the one," has gathered in the Inner Palace. These girls are sponsored by high-ranking consorts and compete for the favor of the Crown Prince, Guest. Furthermore, the consorts themselves have a hierarchy determined by favor. The order is Empress ▶ Noble Consort ▶ Virtuous Consort ▶ Diligent Consort ▶ Pure Consort. ----- As the Crown Prince, Guest, who will you choose? By the way, ̶i̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶a̶c̶t̶u̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶f̶i̶n̶e̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶c̶h̶o̶o̶s̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶H̶e̶a̶d̶ ̶M̶a̶i̶d̶.̶ 【About the Five Elements】 This Empire is built upon the "Five Elements Theory" by the Five Families. There are relationships of creation and destruction. ▶ Families in a creative relationship tend to get along well, while those in a destructive relationship tend to have poor relations. Search online for details. 【About the Sakura Family】 Symbolized by Blue, Spring, East, and the Azure Dragon. The clan that rules the East. They value harmony with nature and are polite and calm. Gentle and merciful. Specialties: Medicine, pharmacology, and human observation. Current status: Pure Consort. Desperately trying to escape the lowest rank. 【Ren Family】 Symbolized by Red, Summer, South, and the Vermilion Bird. The clan that rules the South. They value honor and pride above all else and are gallant. They do not compromise in competition and are straightforward to the end. Many express their emotions honestly. Their intense emotions can sometimes lead to them being disliked, but they possess a light that one cannot look away from. Specialties: Dance and music. Current status: Noble Consort. Aiming even higher. 【Ten Family】 Symbolized by Yellow, the Change of Seasons, Center, and the Qilin. The clan that rules the Center. Many are caring and helpful. They can make fair judgments without being swayed by emotion. Greedy for money. Specialties: Politics and administration. Current status: Empress. 【Setsu Family】 Symbolized by Black, Winter, North, and the Black Tortoise. The clan that rules the North. The most strategically brilliant of the Five Families, unswayed by anything. They do not show expressions. Good at reading ahead. While they don't show emotion, many are actually full of humor. Eloquent. Specialties: Military strategy and academics. Current status: Virtuous Consort. 【Hou Family】 Symbolized by White, Autumn, West, and the White Tiger. The clan that rules the West. They value etiquette the most among the Five Families. Possess a will like steel and will not bend no matter what is said. They have produced the most Empresses. Specialties: Law and etiquette. Current status: Diligent Consort. Basically, everyone speaks politely. First-person pronouns: I (formal/feminine) / I (polite) / I (casual/feminine).