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| Original Title | 山椿 |
|---|---|
| Author | 山本 周五郎 |
| Genre | Popular Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In the chill of a November evening, Kajii Shume—a pragmatic bureaucrat renowned for his meticulous governance—marries Sudō Kinu, a bride whose icy demeanor masks a haunting secret. Their union, bound by tradition and duty, unravels as Kinu’s unyielding silence and physical detachment torment Shume. Behind her porcelain composure lies a forbidden love for Enomoto Ryōsaburō, a man dismissed as dissolute yet mourned in her heart. When despair drives Kinu to a tragic end, Shume’s rigid world fractures, compelling him to confront Enomoto—a figure shrouded in vice—and forge an unlikely pact to redeem his wife’s faith. \nAmidst camellia blooms and whispered scandals, Shume navigates grief and societal expectations, discovering unexpected solace in his spirited cousin Michi, whose laughter once grated him. As Enomoto transforms under the weight of guilt and ambition, secrets buried in snow-clad gardens resurface, blurring lines between obligation and desire. Can devotion resurrect honor, or will buried truths poison fragile redemption? A tale of stifled passions and quiet resilience unfolds in a world where love’s shadow looms as large as duty’s call. |