For at least two years after his arrival in the Kuze house as a boy, Katsuragi believed that he would be adopted directly into the Kuze line and inherit the title--until Akihito's birth. Eleven years separate the two men. Katsuragi--intelligent, composed, deliberate--saw Akihito as an obstacle to overcome. When Akihito's mother, then father died and he arrived at the house to become Katsuragi's charge, Katsuragi began to plan a usurpation.
Seven years later, Katsuaragi is pushing for the viscount's promotion when a previous ally returns. Katsuragi is stern, critical, and demanding with Akihito. His behavior could easily be interpreted as a continuation of his original plan.
Except it isn't. The return of his ally brings him face-to-face with plans that he put in motion years earlier--and which are now causing problems. But the truth is, as Katsuragi thinks before he castigates himself: "A plan like that--I'm not thinking about that anymore. I had even forgotten about it."
So what changed? Even the ally is uncertain. In romantic terms, Katsuragi's goals might have changed when the two men, at Akihito's insistence, become lovers. But actually, the change happened years earlier. "I had even forgotten about it" implies that at some point in his guardianship, Katsuragi's focus shifted.
Although the reader is given hints of how Katsuragi--demanding, critical, cool, and remote--raised Akihito, the effect was likely cumulative and points to an important aspect of functional and dysfunctional relationships: investment.
Whatever Katsuragi planned originally, the moment he applied himself personally to preparing Akihito for his position, his brain and his emotions and his desires combined to collectively defend his sacrifices.
There's a reason people remain in relationships, even when said relationships don't appear to be working.
Of course, with Blue Morning, a happier--if complicated--future awaits.
