secret stratagem

(archaic) used in the beginning of narratives or story literature: once upon a time, long ago

Eggcorn of とうのむかし (tō-no-mukashi).

a flower / Short for 生け花 (ikebana): flower arrangement / Short for 花札 (hanafuda): Japanese playing cards / the best days of one's life / the best thing / essence

to cry; to wail

縊殺: strangling to death

縊殺: strangle to death

used as a filled pause

a female given name

鯨: a whale