History VisualNovel / RoseInTheEmbers

* AnOfficerAndAGentleman: Takahisa.

-->'''Kyosuke:''' I'm sure that Togo is aware of your feelings.
-->'''Protagonist:''' W-What feelings?

-->'''Protagonist:''' WHAT? How did you know?!
-->'''Hishikawa:''' Because we have eyes?

* FrameUp: [[spoiler: Tsukomo is falsely accused by a neighbor of being a serial killer that has been prowling the Capital, solely because he is part Russian and fits the physical description of the real killer.]]

The protagonist is a young woman born and raised in a farming village during the ''Taisho'' period (circa 1912). After her father falls ill and her family is unable to afford treatment, she sells herself as an indentured servant to the strict owner of the Koibaroh Inn, located in the Capital. However, the protagonist soon realizes ''exactly'' what sort of inn she works at, when a 'noble' guest [[AttemptedRape tries to force himself on her]] and the madam of the Inn makes it clear that she is fully expected to comply. The protagonist fights off the lecherous guest and causes a commotion in the Inn. It is when the madam is about to throw her out that the capricious Lord Kyosuke Takatsukasa offers to pay the madam ''double'' the protagonist's price.

* StoicWoobie: Takahisa. He lost his parents to plague at age ten and had to raise his baby sister by himself, as well take on the responsibilities of being the head of his House. Then he joined the army, with all its burdens and horrors, and [[spoiler: had to leave behind one of his men on a mission, a decision that continues to haunt him.]] And yet he doesn't complain about his life or show any pain. [[spoiler: In his 'Favored Bold' ending, he reveals to the protagonist that the death of his parents affected him so badly that he vowed to allow only Suzuko into his heart, and has kept everyone else he cares about at arm's length.]]

With cash flying everywhere around her and guests scrambling to pick up the pieces, the protagonist finds herself being owned by this earl's son, to be his possession or be given to one of his friends: Takahisa Togo, the cold and aloof Imperial army captain; Misao Higuchi, the lascivious dilettante painter who lives in Koibaroh Inn; Tsukomo Kobayakawa, the snarky mystery author; or Atsuro Shibusawa, the kindly owner of the local Omurice Cafe.

* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: The protagonist doesn't have an easy time of it in either Kyosuke or Higuchi's routes, as the maids working in Kyosuke's estate or Koibaroh Inn shun her due to the perceived favoritism from either men.
** Tsukomo faced scorn and ridicule growing up because [[spoiler: of his Russian heritage.]]

* BerserkButton: Lady Takatsuhasa ''hates'' the camellias that the protagonist tends to on Kyosuke's manor, and orders them destroyed when she visits. [[spoiler: That is because camellias were Kyosuke's real mother's favorite flowers.]]

* ButNotTooForeign: [[spoiler: Tsukomo, whose mother was Russian.]]

** Kyosuke [[spoiler: is the bastard son of Lord Takatsuhasa and a maid, who died giving birth to him. His stepmother was unable to conceive, so the decision was made to pass off Kyosuke as her son and legitimate heir to their House.]]
** Tsukomo [[spoiler: is half-Russian on his mother's side. And considering the time period and hatred most Japanese have for Russia, he's gone to great lengths to hide any sign of his foreign heritage.]]

* EvilStepmother: [[spoiler: Lady Takatsuhasa to Kyosuke.]]

* FreudianExcuse: Lady Takatsuhasa is a spiteful, vicious and vindictive woman who barely tolerates her own son Kyosuke and is ''especially'' cruel to the protagonist in Kyosuke's route. That said, [[spoiler: she was humiliated by her husband, who got a maid pregnant and moved her into their manor. And when she couldn't conceive, she was made to pass off Kyosuke as her own son to protect the image of House Takatsuhasa.]]

* GildedCage: How Kyosuke views the life he's had. It's why he ventures into business deals despite it being unheard of for nobility, so he can feel like he's made his mark on the world as 'Kyosuke Takatsuhasa', rather than the son of an earl.

* [[MySisterIsOffLimits My Brother Is Off Limits!]]: Takahisa's little sister Suzuko, who ''points a kitchen knife at the protagonist'' and warns her not to fall in love with her big brother, ''or else.''
** The same thing applies to Takahisa. When Tsukomo teasingly suggests that Suzuko's life might have 'a naughty male figure or two,' Takahisa's response is to flatly say that he will ''kill'' any man who comes near his little sister.

* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Tsukomo loves pickled vegetables.

** Tsukomo [[spoiler: is half-Russian on his mother's side. And considering the time period and hatred most Japanese have for Russia, he's gone to great lengths to hide any sign of his foreign heritage.]]

* BerserkButton: Lady Takatsuhasa ''hates'' the carmellias that the protagonist tends to on Kyosuke's manor, and orders them destroyed when she visits. [[spoiler: That is because carmellias were Kyosuke's real mother's favorite flowers.]]

The protagonist is a young woman born and raised in a farming village during the ''Taisho'' period (circa 1920s). After her father falls ill and her family is unable to afford treatment, she sells herself as an indentured servant to the strict owner of the Koibaroh Inn, located in the Capital. However, the protagonist soon realizes ''exactly'' what sort of inn she works at, when a 'noble' guest [[AttemptedRape tries to force himself on her]] and the madam of the Inn makes it clear that she is fully expected to comply. The protagonist fights off the lecherous guest and causes a commotion in the Inn. It is when the madam is about to throw her out that the capricious Lord Kyosuke Takatsukasa offers to pay the madam ''double'' the protagonist's price.

* AnOfficerAndAGentleman: Takahisa, an Imperial army captain who is also the last scion of his noble House.

* UsedToBeASweetKid: Takahisa, until the death of his parents at age ten. Having to raise his then two-year old sister by himself, and assume responsibility of their House for fear that distant relatives would take advantage of them , turned him into the aloof and cold man he is.

** The same thing applies to Takahisa. When Tsukomo teasingly suggests that Suzuko's life might have 'a naught male figure or two,' Takahisa's response is to flatly say that he will ''kill'' any man who comes near his little sister.

* StoicWoobie: Takahisa. He lost his parents to plague at age ten and had to raise his baby sister by himself, as well take on the responsibilities of being the head of his House. Then he joined the army, with all its burdens and horrors, and [[spoiler: had to leave behind one of his men on a mission, a decision that continues to haunt him.]] And yet he doesn't complain about his life or show any pain. [[spoiler: In his 'Favored Bold' ending, he reveals to the protagonist that the death of his parents affected him so badly that he vowed to allow only Suzuko into his heart.]]

** This seems to be the norm for the time period. The protagonist notes that even in her tiny village, love matches are discouraged.

* TheTease: Higuchi. He lives in the Koibaroh Inn despite its reputation, is flirtatious at ''best,'' and his art consists of painting sensual pictures of women with their kimonos half-undone.

With cash flying everywhere around her and guests scrambling to pick up the pieces, the protagonist finds herself being owned by this earl's son, to be his possession or be given to one of his friends: Takahisa Togo, the cold and aloof Imperial army captain; Misao Higuchi, the lascivious dilettante painter who lives in Koibaroh Inn; Tsukomo Kobayakawa, the snarky genius author; or Atsuro Shibusawa, the kindly owner of the local Omurice Cafe.

The protagonist is a young woman born and raised in a farming village during the ''Taisho'' period (circa 1920s). After her father falls ill and her family is unable to afford treatment, she sells herself as an indentured servant to the strict owner of the Koibaroh Inn, located in the capital city of Tokyo. However, the protagonist soon realizes ''exactly'' what sort of inn she works at, when a 'noble' guest [[AttemptedRape tries to force himself on her]] and the madam of the Inn makes it clear that she is fully expected to comply. The protagonist fights off the lecherous guest and causes a commotion in the Inn. It is when the madam is about to throw her out that the capricious Lord Kyosuke Takatsukasa offers to pay the madam ''double'' the protagonist's price.

[[caption-width-right:350:The Taisho period, when hearts were not free to choose. You have been bought by the son of an earl, and are to work as a maid in his great house. This nobleman you've met appears wanton and freewheeling, but you are drawn to the man he reveals himself to be....]]