Her face was pale, with traditionally pretty features that did indeed denote careful breeding, but historically her clan had exclusively served a specific line of daimyou rather than live as nobles themselves, which added another level of irony to the situation entirely. Right now those features were set in an expression of even greater confusion.

True, Ashiko had recently been considering the benefits of beginning to rebuild her clan, but she didn't even have serious suitors in mind—let alone a concerned spouse.

"I—feel that there has been a miscommunication somewhere, Hotohori-san," she managed to say, tilting her head and dropping her gaze. "While I do serve my beloved Danna-sama, I am still very much unwed." And only twenty-one, though there were certainly noblewoman who married younger.