Kohaku, an outcast of the White Tiger Clan, once shared an unbreakable bond with Seiryu, the chieftain of the Dragon Clan and lord of the beastfolk. As children, Seiryu was the only one who made Kohaku feel like he belonged. But the centuries have driven them apart; Seiryu now hides behind the facade of a constant smile, and Kohaku can no longer trust his heart to the whims of another. On the rare occasions the two meet, Seiryu casually proposes marriage, only for Kohaku to refuse, unwilling to believe in such cavalier promises.

The story is set in a Chinese-inspired fantasy world inhabited by beastfolk clans. Kohaku’s life has been marked by suffering as an outcast, including a long period of abuse at the hands of his father that left him feeling worthless. For roughly 250 years, he and Seiryu were largely separated, with Kohaku unaware of the depth of Seiryu’s true feelings.

The central conflict reignites when Kohaku finds himself chosen as Seiryu’s next matchmaking partner. This situation forces the two former friends back into close contact, unraveling the carefully constructed walls between them. Kohaku must confront Seiryu’s persistent advances while grappling with his own trauma and inability to trust. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when Kohaku begins to uncover a secret that Seiryu has been hiding for all the centuries of their estrangement, a truth that recontextualizes every casual proposal and every missed opportunity.

The primary narrative arc follows the rekindling of their relationship against the backdrop of clan politics and personal healing. A significant subplot involves a near-tragedy from their childhood that left Kohaku confused about what actually happened, a mystery that drives much of the emotional tension. The story incorporates elements of fated mates, as Seiryu is depicted as being so devoted to Kohaku that he has essentially imprinted on him, with Kohaku being the only one who can calm the dragon lord. The setting also includes a unique biological element where male pregnancy is possible, a detail that facilitates the possibility of a same-sex union producing an heir. As Kohaku unravels the truth behind Seiryu’s centuries of devotion, he must decide if he can overcome his trauma to accept a love that has waited three hundred years.