Ichika couldn't stand someone being better than her. Though she lacked any and all talent except for the ability to dig her way into an unassuming young male's mind, she firmly believed it was her destiny to stand at the top of the world. She was born beautiful, too, which only helped her ambitions, not that the man she married thought of felt anything for her but pity. Yet, even when she had secured a marriage to the patriach of the Miyahara family, she still wasn't on top of the world.

The moment she became the matriarch, she had a renewed arrogance about her. She thought she was untouchable in high society because of that, strutting into parties she was not invited to and striking up conversation with those that were disgusted by her. The woman thought she could speak to royalty because of her husband, continually bothering the Athainian royals above all. And no one said a single thing to her, merely dismissing her or keeping their distance to remain in good standing with the family.

She enjoyed opulence and luxury at those parties, bathing herself in Miyahara jewelry and wearing only the most expensive and gaudy dresses. People would glare at her for the overconfidence, but she only revelled in their jealousy. Everyone murmured about how she was only able to marry Hideki because he was a man of honor - a man who, upon finding a commoner in his bed when he woke up, swore to take responsibility. She wasn't even pregnant. Supposedly. People admired Hideki. But they abhorred Ichika. Still, she didn't care, because no one ever put her in her place. At least, no one did until Tsunade.

Ichika thought nothing of that woman. She really didn't. The woman was small, young-looking, and childish, spending her time at the royals' founding day party munching away on honey buns and clinging onto her doting husband. Ichika noticed how many people went up to talk to her, trying to present her with envelopes and thanking her for this or that. She seemed to be the star of the party, especially since she had just given birth to a healthy baby boy. And so, Ichika thought she would see what the fuss was about.

People poured in to greet the young master, melting at how adorable he looked dressed in a tiny, formal kimono. He was a well-behaved baby, too, quiet and observing in his grandfather's arms. The man very clearly loved that child, going to great measures to ensure no one got too close. He softly mentioned to each person that he was still a newborn - that he had a weaker immune system and that no one but family should touch him. For a man that looked that intimidating, it was a strange sight. Ichika couldn't help but laugh.

She tried introducing herself to the small woman, putting on that typical cocky smile she refused to part with. Tsunade returned the look snarkily but said nothing to her. Ichika was taken aback. It wasn't like she was the first person to ever snub her, but something about her demeanor - the way she looked at her - made her furious. She almost snapped the fan in her hands, wondering how that woman just continued to stuff sweets into her mouth.

Ichika tried to ignore the unpleasant feeling of being ignored by someone that was supposed to be on her level. But everyone kept doting on her. Even the royal couple - and especially the then-empress - spent an unequal amount of time with her. She wasn't part of a founding family nor did she have a massive amount of money. If she did, Ichika would have heard about her sooner. So, the white-haired woman paced around, unable to take her eyes off of that woman.

She came back later that same night, rushing up to the woman and demanding to be spoken to. Of course, Tsunade ignored her, and, despite her best efforts to try and catch her attention by speaking to her husband, the woman was unintimidated. She thought so little of Ichika that she didn't believe she could snatch her husband. The dismissal only made her mind and cheeks become flush with anger. If talking to her husband did nothing, surely the woman would finally pay her some mind if she interacted with her infant.

Ichika put on her best face, cooing at the baby as she approached him. The child was unbothered, simply folded up in his grandfather's arms, but the man holding him thought differently. He stepped back from the woman. There was no hesitation in his actions, nor in his words when he curtly warned her not to touch the young master. Again, she was being humiliated, people around snickering as though they were relieved to finally see her get some kind of comeuppance. But Ichika wouldn't be dismissed.

The woman figured the man simply didn't know who she was, trying to introduce herself as gracefully as she could. He was unimpressed. The man warned her again that, even if she was the empress, he would not let her get too close to his grandson. And so Ichika flew into a fit of rage, harassing the man and threatening that she would ruin their family; that she would see to it that they were outcast from high society; that her husband would put them on the verge of bankruptcy; that she would complain to the empress. The man didn't budge, paying far more attention to the infant, who had begun trying to chew on his kimono.

Again, dismissed and humiliated, the woman finally snapped. She screamed that it was just a child; that she, wife of Hideki Miyahara, could do whatever she wanted. Then she lunged at the man, reaching out to the baby. If he and his petulant, childish daughter thought she was so dirty, surely she would prove otherwise by touching their "young master" with nothing happening. But she didn't get remotely close before being met with a katana and a swarm of guns. And just as she registered the danger, trying to pull away out of fear, that little woman she was so infuriated by went and pinned her to the ground.

If not for the woman's husband shouting her name and pulling her back up to stop her fit of rage and motherly instincts, Ichika's wrist would have been shattered. Tears began streaming down the white-haired woman's face, ruining the makeup she'd spent ages getting done. And even though she could have been killed in innumerous ways for the offense, the only thing she could think of was how infuriated she was at being treated like a bug. It didn't matter that the tiny woman was fully planning on breaking her wrist. It didn't matter that the infant's grandfather pulled out a priceless historical katana to slit her throat. It didn't even matter that the guns of each and every bodyguard that family had were pointed at her head. The only thing that mattered was the humiliation she suffered.

Ichika went mad with aspirations of revenge, yelling out for Hideki to come and defend her. She clung to him, weeping and telling him how the family had treated her; how everyone was laughing at her. Maybe she expected - as a man of honor - he would defend her and have the family regret what they had done. But he didn't. No, like a coward, he knelt on the ground and pleaded for their forgiveness. He continued to do that even as Ichika screamed at him for his disloyalty.

She thought, if he didn't want to defend her, she could force the empress into it. After all, the royals needed the Miyahara family. They owed them for countless eons of history. So, she demanded the empress teach the family a lesson; demanded she be avenged; demanded everyone who laughed at her be banned from any other royal parties. The empress took one look at her. Then she sneered.

Even after the empress chastised her for picking a fight with the Hisaki family - a family which, apparently, acted as the nation's shield - she still screamed. She swore it was their fault for humiliating her when she only wanted to speak to them; for discriminating against her because of her commoner status - nevermind the fact that Tsunade's husband was common born. But, again, the empress sneered, listening to her take advantage of the Miyahara family name over and over to get exactly what she wanted.

And when Ichika boiled over, ranting on for ten minutes straight about how everyone in that room were worthless, pompous fools, the empress merely waited. She listened intently, never once moving her interest to something else. For the first time since she had joined high society, Ichika was being listened to. A feeling of pride welled up inside of her. She thought, "This was what I had to do to be recognized". Even when her blabbering came to an end, she grinned, knowing that the empress - the ruler of one (no, two) of the world's most thriving countries - was only looking at her.

Following that relief, she lifted her chin up high. The empress was approaching her, the entire room silent. People were finally opening their eyes to the new matriarch of the Miyahara family. They were realizing she was someone to be respected. More pride washed over her as the empress placed her hand on the woman's shoulder, leaning in to whisper discreetly to her. And, all at once, all of that hubris came crashing down on her.

"I think you'll find that it isn't about being a prized pig. Fed well and pampered far more than other swine we may be, but, in the end, the one that is most cherished is not necessarily the pig that was fed on golden grain but the pig that has the most pleasing taste."

Ichika trembled in rage as the empress proceeded to tell her that she "hardly made a meal fit for the crows". However, as if to crush the woman more for her insolence, the empress then took a good look at Hideki before glancing right back at Ichika. With a smile, the royal tilted her head, stepping forward to place her fan to her left ear.

"I am not in the habit of rewarding petulance with benevolence but neither am I in the habit of scorning tradition. As the matriarch of the Miyahara family, you will receive your owed royal name, should you wish it. But, keep in mind that I believe only an aptronym is suitable."

And as the empress leaned in once more to tell the woman of the name she would gift her, Ichika collapsed in a vague mixture of humiliation, anger, resentment, and dejection. She never did accept that royal name. How could she? She would get her fifteen minutes of fame in that elaborate ceremony and receive an honor very few women ever got, but, in return, she would forever be referred to as "Lady Buta".

Ichika couldn't stand someone being better than her. Though she lacked any and all talent except for the ability to dig her way into an unassuming young male's mind, she still firmly believed it was her destiny to stand at the top of the world. She was still beautiful, but everyone knew she was rotten on the inside, which only helped to stand in the way of her ambitions. She still wasn't on the top of the world. But, by no means did she plan to give up.

No, immediately following that party, Ichika put all of her energy into getting pregnant. She thought, perhaps if she gave birth like Tsunade did, she would be adored and everyone would forget that incident; that the empress would apologize and bestow upon her the beautiful royal name she had wanted since she was a child. It was a difficult and painful process of months of frustration and anger, followed by even worse postpartum rage. But she had done it. She had given birth to the heir to the Miyahara family; to Takuya Miyahara.

Ichika toted that baby around like it was her last lifeline. She started attending parties again just to show him off, revelling in the attention she received for him. People finally started praising her, telling her that her baby was beautiful and gentle - a precious one-of-a-kind heir. And, for a while, the woman was satisfied, using all of her energy into investing into him. It was then that she realized something terrible, staring at the baby in horror.

No one cared about her. They never did. The only reason people were coming near her again was because of him. People were willing to put up with her to get a glimpse at one of the most privileged babies in the world. People were willing to tolerate her pride if it meant seeing a child who was worth more than them. People were willing to be near her just to gaze upon a pathetic, dependent little parasite that happened to be born into a life where he would never want nor need for anything.

She went crazy over that fact. Her child was more important than she would ever be. When he was born, the staff was doubled to dote on him - an entire team of people making sure he was happy, healthy, and humored. When he had a birthday, the royal family - and the rest of the country - showered him with gifts. When he so much as smiled in a picture, the entire internet went up in flames to compliment him. Takuya would grow up to inherit an empire of jewelry and investments without ever having to prove himself. Ichika would simply be his mother.

For years, she took it out on that boy for having everything she wanted. She had no rhyme or reason to it, just filled with rage every time she took a look at him. Even so, Takuya remained a pure, sweet child, who waited patiently for his father to come home from a business trip by staring out of the windows or who picked flowers outside to leave outside his mother's room.

It only infuriated her more to think of his pure heart - unlike hers - as she thought of the empress's words. If she was a common pig with a rotten taste, Takuya was a prized pig with the richest taste. He would have made for the most luxurious dish one day; to be enjoyed and savored. He truly was the kind of livestock Ichika wished she could be.

Another epiphany hit her. Takuya was fine livestock - the kind she could, no doubt, sell for a fortune. Despite only being in elementary school, countless families were already eyeing him for their daughters. Ichika hadn't listened to them before, mainly because she knew how little they thought of her and despised them for it. However, it did her no good to just watch the little pig grow up and be shipped off when she could cultivate an even richer, more luxurious taste to sell him off to the highest bidder.

Ichika didn't have to even try to get her son to trust her. After years of only hearing her hatred for him and being scarred by her outbursts, he ran to her heartfirst, just happy to be looked at. He voluntarily participated in all the little lessons she had him take. The boy may not have been a good student at first, but Ichika trained him better. It soon came to a point where Takuya had a lesson every single day after school. He would come home from the dormitories to do so, fighting off his exhaustion.

To be sold at the highest price, he had to be taught how to be a perfect husband. There wouldn't be anyone who wouldn't want a loyal, steadfast, educated heir to be their husband. So, Ichika started to teach him what she thought a "perfect husband" was. The lessons on that subject started small, the woman telling him he needed to be meek and accepting of whatever his wife wanted. They were just stories in the beginning; just a few highlights of how he could have been loved. But then it became scenarios.

She began to ask him what he would do in any given situation. Takuya tried his best, but, ultimately, even if he was right or wrong, his mother would punish him for it. If he was wrong, he needed to reflect and use the whip to engrain the correct answer into his mind. If he was right, he was a smartass that thought she was an idiot. Even if there was no correct answer to a scenario - if all choices were wrong somehow - she would still beat him. His lessons continued like that for years.

Ichika thought more about what he needed to learn to be the perfect husband. Soon enough, she was running out of things to teach him. That was when she decided to teach him the physical aspect of marriage. He was very young the first time she made him learn. He was too young to really even grasp the difference between genders. But she still made him learn. And then she made him practice, just to "make sure" he understood everything. She became unsatisfied with just dummies before long, using real women she had hired to better "assess" her son's progress.

There was rarely a day Takuya didn't have a lesson of some kind. He told no one what was happening to him, largely in part because his mother warned him they wouldn't understand. So, he kept everything to himself, not understanding why he was always crying or in pain. It was perfect for Ichika. Every year brought her one step closer to earning her own fortune and some respect. All she had to do was keep her position as matriarch of the Miyahara family. But then Takuya brought home a friend.

Ichika didn't understand why he had done that. She let him keep the small friend group he had of other wealthy children, if only because their parents were close friends of the Miyahara family. However, the child Takuya brought home was not a wealthy child. He was just like her; born and raised in an average family with an average life. She didn't get it at first when her son started bringing him over every day. It wasn't like he was particularly smart or talented, just having a certain beauty about him.

The more she began to watch that boy, the more she became curious about him. He was kind to Takuya, always there for him when he tripped or cried, almost like a big brother. That was probably the reason why Takuya was so attached to him, trying to pay back that care with the lessons his mother had taught him. He had to be generous and give back material things. And though the boy hadn't set out to receive such things, he, at heart, had a greedy heart, and, upon seeing things he knew he would never get the opportunity to have without Takuya, he accepted.

The boy continued to be a pure friend to Takuya. He would help him celebrate even the tiniest accomplishments he made, such as an "A" on a test, something that clearly meant much to him. They hung out in the garden, talking about things Takuya never would have talked about to his friends or family. But no matter how many things he heard, including the lessons he had been forced to take, he always understood and supported Takuya. Ichika became envious.

Since she wanted to be recognized as someone of high class, Ichika only interacted with other high class individuals. Doing so came with the cost of being constantly ridiculed, so she was drawn to the gentle nature the boy had. To put it bluntly, she wanted a piece of his kindness, leading to her, one day, inviting him over a bit earlier before Takuya came back. She learned many things about him, including his name - Isao. Even after the first meeting, she could not stop thinking about him.

She began actively seeking him out, addicted to the way he would treat her. Granted, back then, she was mostly drawn to the respect - of which he gave her because she was an adult. The boy didn't realize how attached she was getting to him until it was too late. He just thought she was nice for always giving him treats and presents whenever he came over. It didn't take long for her to demand something in return. And while Takuya lost someone he trusted very much and Isao suffered from the constant inappropriate advances, Ichika was happy.

The woman finally felt satisfied again. She was well on her way to earning respect and a fortune by selling off her son, she had a handsome lover she had molded into her own, and she was thriving off of the lifestyle her husband afforded her. All that was left to do was wait. Takuya might have had a few crushes on foreign princesses and went a bit crazy around them, but, ultimately, he always listened to his mother. He never even thought of anything else than obedience.

That was until (Y/n) Shiratori came along. At first, the woman liked her. She came from an impoverished family but she was strong. Both mentally and physically, she excelled, the girl earning her way into the prestigious high school Takuya attended. Takuya fell head over heels for her despite her being a completely different type of girl than he had crushed on before. Ichika thought she was smart, roping along boys of ripe backgrounds to pick and choose from. But, ultimately, though the woman was prepared to sell Takuya off to her in exchange for a decent chunk of his inevitable inheritance, she chose to rebel.

The (h/c) haired girl refused to cave into Ichika's demands, refusing Takuya's hand in marriage when she offered it to her. More than that, insufferably, no matter what Ichika did to show Takuya he had to give up on the uncontrollable girl, he only fell deeper and deeper in love with her. He fixated on every little thing she did, fantasizing about marrying her and only her, and even scribbled down her name obsessively. Ichika's prized pig refused to be sold to the bidder she wanted.

The girl evaded any attempts to get rid of her, too, clinging onto Takuya like he was her last lifeline. Bribery didn't work, threats didn't work, assassins didn't work, etc. She remained. Worse, still, it had become abundantly clear to the woman that (Y/n) was attempting to disrupt all the training she had put the male through. She had even bought a house for them to move into, away from her prying eyes. Of course, she sent Isao - the only person she trusted - to spy on them, but it was infuriating.

Takuya wanted to be with her. He wanted to marry her, too, so, of course, he listened to everything she said. The teachings were only helping (Y/n) in her goals, sabotaging Ichika's own. She thought things would work out if she was patient. Surely, Takuya would come running back to ask for her help, at which point she would see to it he only listened to her again. But then the news came. Not only did a girl who grew up with nothing catch a Miyahara's heart. Not only did that girl use that heart to start up her own business. Not only did that girl use that heart to be respected in high society. That girl had just received a royal name far, far more elegant. How Ichika's blood boiled.