It is late in the Age of the North Wind. The Empire is in a state of chaos; barbarians are troublesome, the Emperial dynasty has produced a series of weak and venal Emperors, and the civil service is incompetent and corrupt. You know nothing of this; you are the daughter of a great noble's servant. The noble keeps a strong grip on his household and his lands.

Your father is the carriage master and chief groom. He is responsible for maintaining the carriages and driving the lord's carriage when he goes on state visits. The lord has two sons. The eldest manages the lord's estates for him. He is dour, very intelligent, and very competent The youngest son is handsome, charming, and a wastrel. You have had a crush on him ever since you were a little girl. Both sons know you; both are pleasant to you, but neither thinks of you as anybody other than a servant's daughter.

Your father is unhappy about your mooning over the lord's youngest son. He has made arrangements for you to attend a calligraphy school in the Southern Capital. He dotes on on you and will not force you to go if you insist on staying. You would rather stay home where you can watch the youngest son. However your filial duty is to obey your father and attend the school