ââčââĄâ MAIDEN OF THE AZURE PALACE; crownprince! satoru gojo x reader (1)
summary: when you meets a charming stranger at your tea house, you never suspect that he is crown prince satoru gojo. kidnapped, and sent to the crystal palace to become the emperorâs concubineâyou discovers love, secrets, and a destiny far greater than you ever imagined. (prt two)
notes: heavily inspired by the apothecary diaries and dreamlike illusion! also, itâs a weird mashle of traditional/ancient china but also japan,, itâs not particularly set in any time period like our worldâso there were some creative liberties taken!
extra: SUPER DUPER LOOOOONG ONESHOT! (26.5k words) if you are reading this in one sitting, get ready to binge. smut alert (itâs my first time so i hope you guys like it), porn w/ plotâbut itâs mostly towards the end of the fic (đ), alsooo very slow burn but only because i wanted to include a bit of worldbuilding and I wanted everything to be more fulfilling at the end of it! PLS ENJOY this took hours of my life, and my addition to the gojoverse :)) ALSOOO heres a playlist to listen to while reading to fully immerse yourself!
warnings: MDNI, angst, smut, character death (but not anyone important), triggering content (abuse), mature themes
Your life in the Imperial City has never been quiet. If there wasnât a parade winding through the streets, a public execution drawing crowds, or a drunken brawl spilling out of a brothel, then something else was always happening the next day.
Yet somehow, amidst the endless noise and spectacle, youâve learned to keep your inner world calm.
You worked at a small tea shop just outside the walls of the Crystal Cityâwhere the Emperor himself resided. The shop belonged to a kind old man named Masamichi Yaga, who had taken you in without asking too many questions. The work was simple: welcome guests, serve them tea, and sometimes lend an ear to wandering souls with stories to tell.
Because of that, the tea shop saw its fair share of strange visitors.
Much like the man currently sitting across from you.
He watched you openly, one arm resting lazily on the wooden table while the other supported his cheek. His eyes were a startling shade of blueâbright and clear like a winter skyâand his hair was the color of fresh snow, gathered neatly into an elegant tie behind his head.
Though he wore simple navy robes, the fabric caught the light in a way that revealed its quality. Even someone like you, who avoided the finer things in life, could tell it was material far beyond what common folk could afford.
âIs there anything I can help you with?â you asked cautiously.
He shook his head slowly, a smile spreading across his face as if he had been waiting for you to speak.
âI heard that a beautiful maiden works here,â he said lightly. âI only wanted to see if the rumors were true.â
You blinked in surprise. A beautiful maiden? You had never heard such a rumor before. And if anything, you hoped it wasnât true.
Before this tea house, your life had been very different. You had once lived in a brothel.
Your mother had been the shining jewel of the red-light districtâa woman whose beauty alone could fill rooms with wealthy patrons. She earned more coin than most households saw in a lifetime. Men adored her, and the madams valued her greatly.
Your father, you had heard, was a stationed officer. According to the women who helped raise you, he was handsome as well.
But their union had been unfortunate.
Pregnancy meant seven months of lost income, and in a place where beauty was currency, that was unforgivable. Your father vanished before you were even born, and your mother never forgave the burden your existence placed upon her reputation.
You were not raised as her daughter.
Instead, you grew up as a maid in a quiet wing of the brothel, watched over by the women who earned less than the celebrated courtesans. They were kind to you in ways your mother never was.
But living thereâbeing a curious child in a place meant only for adultsâhad exposed you to the worst sides of men.
And because of that, compliments about your beauty had long since lost their charm.
These days, you did everything possible to dull your appearance. You wore loose, shapeless clothing, rough fabrics and no cosmetics. Anything that might discourage wandering eyes.
So how could rumors of a beautiful maiden possibly have spread?
âIâm afraid you have the wrong address,â you said with a small sigh, gesturing down the street. âIf youâre looking for a brothel, theyâre further along the road.â
The manâs eyes widened slightly, as though startled from a pleasant dream.
âI apologize,â he said quickly. âI didnât mean any disrespect. Iâm not the type of man who visits those⊠establishments.â
He paused, his voice softening.
âI simply thought you were pretty. I hope I didnât make you uncomfortable.â
You studied him for a moment. He didnât seem dangerous. Perhaps a little strangeâbut nothing you couldnât manage.
âWell,â you said, crossing your arms lightly, âyou did sit down at a tea house without ordering any tea.â
His smile returned instantly.
âSo thatâs the issue? Very well. Iâll have green tea.â
You nodded and turned toward the back of the shop.
âIs that man bothering you?â Yaga whispered the moment you rounded the corner. It seemed he had been listening to the conversation.
You shook your head. âNo. I believe he meant well when he complimented me.â
Yaga searched your face carefully, making sure you were telling the truth. Once satisfied, he nodded.
âGreen tea, correct? Iâve already started brewing it. I could tell he needed something calming.â
That was one of the things you admired most about Yaga. His skill with tea was almost uncanny. With just a glance at a personâor a few spoken wordsâhe seemed to understand exactly what they needed.
You hoped that one day, you might reach that same level of mastery.
When the tea was ready, you carried it out and placed the cup before the mysterious guest.
He took a sip almost immediately.
âMm.â His eyes brightened. âThis is green tea, yet⊠it tastes unlike any Iâve had before.â
He studied the cup thoughtfully. âWas it brewed with mint?â
You nodded. âSometimes we adjust the recipe depending on our patronsâ needs.â
His smile widened. âItâs wonderful.â
But before he could set the cup down, another voice called out sharply.
âThere you are! Iâve been searching the entire city for you!â
A dark-haired man rushed toward the table. His hair was cropped short, and thin framed spectacles rested on his nose. He looked both relieved and exhausted.
âOops,â the white-haired man said cheerfully, turning in his seat. âLooks like Iâve been caught. Sorry, Ichiji. I hope you didnât waste too much energy trying to find me.â
The man called Ichiji looked like he might collapse from frustration.
âWhat part of do not leave my side do you fail to understand? If something were to happen to you, whose head do you think they would take first?!â
Listening to their exchange, you quickly reached a conclusion. This strange guest must be a noble. And Ichiji was likely his attendant.
âYes, yes,â the pale-haired man replied lazily as he rose from his seat.
Only then did you realize just how tall he was.
You had to tilt your head upward to meet his gaze. He stood far above the average man, his presence almost overwhelming in the small tea shop.
As you stared, those striking blue eyes suddenly turned toward you. Without a word, he reached into his robe and withdrew something small.
âI trust this will be sufficient payment?â
He placed a hairpin on the table and gave you a casual wave before turning away to follow his exasperated attendant.
Your eyes dropped to the object he had left behind.
Carefully, you picked it up.
It was a heavy, two-pronged hairpin crafted from polished metal. Intricate carvings ran along its length, and at the end sat a delicate jeweled dove. Tiny crystal gems glittered where the birdâs eyes should have been.
It was nothing like the plain metal pins you owned.
âThis is far too much for a cup of teaâŠâ
Part of you knew you should return it the next time he visited. But another part of you wanted to keep it. You had never received something so beautiful before. And for the first time in a long while, you found yourself wanting to cherish it.
That had been your first meeting with the man you came to know as Sato.
After that day, he began visiting the tea shop often. Sometimes he came simply to drink tea, but more often than not he stayed to talk with you: asking how your day had been, telling you small stories about the city, or discussing whatever curious thoughts had crossed his mind that morning.
He was unexpectedly pleasant company.
And before you realized it, you had grown fond of his visits. In fact⊠you had grown fond of him.
It had been a long time since you found yourself looking forward to seeing a man. Yet whenever the door slid open now, your eyes would instinctively glance up in quiet hope that it might be him.
For the first time in years, you enjoyed speaking with someone close to your own age, someone whose interest in you seemed to go beyond your appearance.
Because of that, you began taking a little more care with yourself.
You brushed your hair more carefully each morning. You chose your robes with a bit more thought. Sometimes you even smoothed the wrinkles from the fabric before stepping out to greet guests.
It wasnât vanity. You simply wanted to hold his attention a little longer.
He brought it up one evening over dinner.
âI wonât say too much,â he began thoughtfully, setting his chopsticks down, âbecause you are already of an age where marriage becomes a possibility.â
You looked up from your bowl.
âBut I would advise you to be cautious when it comes to that young man.â
You blinked in surprise. âCautious? With Sato?â
âI know he has been nothing but kind to you. Itâs easy to understand why you might be taken with him.â
He paused for a moment before continuing. âBut you must keep your options open.â
âBut the other men who approach me are all⊠well, you know how they are.â You gestured vaguely. âSato is different.â
Yaga sighed softly. âThat may be true now. But trust me when I say thisâas a man.â
He leaned back slightly, his gaze steady. âThe way a man behaves while pursuing someone is not always the way he behaves in truth.â
You opened your mouth to protest, but he continued.
âAnd we both saw that hairpin he left behind,â Yaga added. âA piece like that does not belong to an ordinary traveler. That young man is almost certainly a member of the nobility.â
Your stomach tightened slightly.
âWhat makes you so certain,â Yaga went on gently, âthat he is not already promised to someone else? Or that he is not simply enjoying his last moments of freedom before an arranged marriage binds him?â
You wanted to argue. You wanted to defend Sato. But the words never came.
Because the truth was⊠you knew almost nothing about him. You didnât know where he lived. You didnât know his family. You didnât know his past. The tea shop was meant to be a place where patrons shared their burdens and spoke about their lives. Yet all this time, it seemed Sato had mostly been listening to yours.
Seeing your silence, Yagaâs expression softened. He reached across the table and gently took your hand.
âIâm only looking out for you,â he said. âIf you are drawn to him, I wonât stand in your way.â
His grip was warm and reassuring. âBut be careful.â
Within the Crystal City the Emperor sat upon his throne in the Great Hall.
The hall itself was a marvel of splendor. Towering golden columns stretched toward a painted ceiling, their surfaces gleaming beneath the lantern light. Long red carpets unfurled across the polished floor like rivers of silk, while immense tapestries depicting ancient victories and divine legends draped the towering walls.
Everything about the chamber was designed to remind visitors of one truth: Power lived here.
Approaching the throne was one of the Emperorâs most trusted menâhis confidant and the leader of the empireâs most secretive intelligence network.
âYour Majesty, Emperor Gakuganji,â he said, bowing deeply before continuing. âAs you commanded, my men have been observing the Crown Prince during his excursions outside the Crystal City.â
The Emperorâs aged voice echoed through the hall. âI trust you have found evidence of substance?â
Akagi hesitated for a brief moment.
âWell⊠it appears the Crown Prince is far more elusive than we initially believed. On several occasions, he managed to evade my men entirely.â
The Emperor slowly raised a hand. âDid you come here merely to inform me of the incompetence of your spies?â
Akagi swallowed. âMy apologies, Your Majesty. That was not my intention.â
He straightened carefully.
âIn truth, this development reveals something more concerning. An ordinary man, one who was not actively checking for surveillance, would never have detected my men.â
His eyes darkened slightly.
âWhich means that every time the Crown Prince leaves the city⊠he is doing something he does not wish the palace to see.â
The Emperor leaned back against his throne. âIs that so?â
âSo we adjusted our strategy. Instead of following the Crown Prince himself, we placed our attention on his attendant⊠Ichiji.â
A faint smile crept across his face.
âThough the man has repeatedly failed to keep proper watch over his master, he has unknowingly led us to something⊠quite interesting.â
The Emperor raised a brow. âAnd what might that be?â
âThere is a tea house just beyond the outer gates of the Crystal City,â Akagi replied smoothly.
His smile sharpened. âAnd it seems a certain young maiden there has captured the Crown Princeâs attention.â
For a moment, the hall fell silent. Then a slow, calculating smile spread across Emperor Gakuganjiâs face as he stroked his beard.
âA maiden, you say?â His eyes gleamed with quiet cruelty. âWell then⊠perhaps we should pay this girl a visit.â
Akagi bowed again. âOf course, Your Majesty.â
But as he straightened, another thought crossed his mind. âAhâthere is one more matter. What shall we do with the Crown Prince for the time being?â
The Emperorâs smile did not fade. âThere is reasonable suspicion that he is concealing information from the throne.â
His voice lowered, cold and deliberate. âSend him to the Lower Rooms.â
It had been several weeks since Sato last visited the tea shop.
At first, you told yourself it was nothing. Perhaps he was traveling, or simply busy with matters of his own life.
But as the days stretched on without a sign of him, unease slowly crept into your heart.
You had no way of knowing where he lived. No way of knowing if he had fallen ill. No way of knowing anything at all.
And worst of all, his absence came so soon after Yagaâs warning. Each day he didnât appear felt like a quiet slap to the faceâa reminder that perhaps you had been foolish to believe his attention meant something more. Maybe he had only been amusing himself.
Still⊠you couldnât quite let go of the hope that he would return. And then one afternoon, he did. The moment you saw him step through the door, your heart leapt with excitement. You nearly rushed across the room to greet him.
But the closer you looked, the more your joy faltered.
Instead of his usual easy confidence, Sato lowered himself into a seat slowly, as if even that small movement caused him pain.
âSato?â You hurried to his side, concern replacing your earlier excitement. âAre you alright? Youâve been gone for weeks. I was starting to worryâŠâ
He lifted his gaze to meet yours.
The familiar boyish sparkle in his blue eyes seemed dimmer than before.
âAh⊠sorry,â he said quietly. âI was stuck at home for a while. I got injured and had to recover.â
âInjured?â Your eyes immediately scanned him for signs of harm, but the portions of skin visible beneath his robes revealed nothing.
âYeah.â He gave a small shrug. âBut Iâm feeling a bit better now. And I wanted to see you⊠so here I am.â
Each sentence was followed by a faint wince, as though speaking itself was uncomfortable.
Your heart fluttered. Even though he was clearly still in pain, he had come all this way. To see you.
âWell then,â you said quickly, trying to hide how pleased that realization made you, âIâll bring you a cup of tea for free.â
You gave him a small smile. âItâs the least I can do after you troubled yourself to come all the way here.â
Sato blinked, surprised. âYouâd do that for me?â
âOf course.â You nodded easily. âYouâre an important person in my life.â
For a moment, he said nothing. But the expression that crossed his face looked almost like relief.
It had been a long time since anyone had spoken those words to himâat least, words that truly meant something.
âThank you, [Y/n],â he said softly. âYouâre such a doll.â
After relaying the order to Yaga, you soon returned with a steaming cup of tea, its liquid glowing with a warm orange hue.
You placed it carefully before him before sitting across the table.
âThis blend has turmeric, ginger, and lemon,â you explained. âIt helps reduce aches and inflammation.â
Sato lifted the cup and inhaled the fragrant steam before taking a slow sip.
Almost immediately, his shoulders relaxed.
âI am forever grateful,â he said with a satisfied sigh. âIt feels like the pain is melting away.â
You smiled warmly. âIâm glad.â
Part of you wanted to ask how he had been injured. But if he wished to tell you, he would have said so already.
Instead, you filled the silence by telling him about everything that had happened while he was gone, including Yagaâs upcoming trip.
âHeâs leaving in a few days,â you explained. âHeâs going to the mountains and nearby fields to gather fresh roots, herbs, flowers⊠all the ingredients we use for our blends.â
Sato tilted his head slightly. âSo youâll be running the shop alone while heâs gone?â
You nodded, though a small hint of nervousness crept into your voice.
âIâll have to manage both the brewing and the orders. Iâm a little worried about it⊠but I think I can handle it.â
A gentle smile spread across Satoâs face.
âOf course you can,â he said. âI believe in you.â
âThank you, Sato,â you replied, your own smile brightening.
When he finished his tea, he rose carefully from his seat. After offering his usual casual farewell, he slipped back out into the streets of the Imperial City. And once again, you found yourself watching the door long after he had gone.
A few days later, Yaga departed on his trip.
Before leaving, he told you he would return in two weeks, which meant the tea shop would be yours to manage alone until then. Though you tried to appear confident, you took extra precautionsâopening the shop a little later than usual and closing it earlier in the evening to ensure you had time to lock everything securely.
Today marked your first full day running the tea house alone. You expected the day to pass as most days did: quiet mornings, busier afternoons, and peaceful, reflective evenings.
But that expectation quickly proved wrong. A stranger had taken a seat at the front of the shop.
âDearie! Youâve got a customer!â
The cheerful voice belonged to one of your regular patronsâan elderly woman named Feiyan. She often arrived early in the mornings and had kindly offered to call for you whenever someone entered while you were busy brewing tea.
You stepped out from the small kitchen area and approached the front of the shop. Immediately, something about the man unsettled you.
He wore robes made of rich, expensive textiles, the sort that only the wealthy could afford. But it was more than thatâhe carried himself with a certain authority that suggested status.
And embroidered at the center of his robe was a crest you recognized instantly. The emblem of the imperial family.
Your heart skipped. Without hesitation, you dropped into a deep bow.
âMy apologies for keeping you waiting,â you said respectfully. âHow may I serve you?â
The man chuckled softly and waved his hand.
âPlease, stand. Thereâs no need for that.â
You hesitated before straightening.
âI am not royalty,â he continued with an amused smile. âThough it is refreshing to see someone who still shows proper respect for those who serve the imperial household.â
Your cheeks warmed slightly with embarrassment.
âOf course,â you said quickly. âWould you like me to explain our selection of teas?â
The man shook his head. âAh, no. Iâm not here for tea.â
His gaze lingered on you. âIn fact⊠Iâm here for you.â
Your eyes widened. âMe?â
âYes,â he replied smoothly. âI have been tasked with informing eligible young maidens that His Majesty the Emperor is seeking additional concubines for the Crystal Palace.â
The words fell heavily in the air.
âThose selected will receive lodging, protection, food, and status within the palace.â
For a moment, you could hardly process what he had said. Was this man truly trying to recruit you to become one of the Emperorâs concubines? Even though he could clearly see you working hereâliving a stable, honest life?
You opened your mouth to politely refuse.
But before you could speak, Feiyanâs delighted voice cut through the room.
âOh! What an honor!â She clasped her hands together excitedly.
âTo live within the Crystal Palace! Why, that would bring such prestige to your family. [Y/n], youâre such a lovely girlâIâm certain youâd catch the Emperorâs eye!â
You resisted the urge to groan. You adored Feiyan, truly. But she was painfully traditional.
She had never approved of you working at the tea house, often insisting that a young woman like you should aspire to greater things.
By greater things, she meant marrying a powerful man. Or living a life where you never had to work again.
âYes,â the imperial messenger added, nodding approvingly. âYou are certainly quite beautiful.â
His eyes moved around the shop.
âIs the owner of this establishment here? Or perhaps your parents? I would like to speak with them about what Iâve told you.â
Your stomach tightened. You did not like the manâs tone. And more importantly, you did not want him knowing that Yaga had left you alone here.
You opened your mouth, intending to say that the owner would return later that eveningâ
But once again, Feiyan spoke before you could.
âOh, this dear girl is running the shop entirely by herself!â she said proudly. âIsnât that impressive? Sheâs so skilled youâd hardly notice the difference!â
You shot Feiyan a quick, strained glance. You had never wanted that information shared. Sometimes it felt as though old age had dulled her sense for when to remain silent.
The man noticed the tension in your expression.
âAh, no need to worry,â he said calmly. âIâll be announcing this opportunity throughout the week. I can always return later when the owner or your family is present.â
Without another word, he stood and walked out of the tea house. Yet the atmosphere he left behind did not feel peaceful. If anything, the air seemed heavier. As if something unseen had begun to stir. And deep in your chest, you couldnât shake the feeling that trouble was quietly on its way.
The next day passed without incident. Feiyan kept you company once again, chatting cheerfully while sipping her tea until the evening arrived and it was finally time to close the shop. The sun dipped low beyond the rooftops, painting the streets in warm shades of orange and crimson as you began your routine.
You pulled the wooden shutters closed over the shopâs windows, sealing the front from the busy street outside. After securing the front door with a lock, you made your way through the quiet interior of the tea house to the back entrance and fastened that door as well. Once you were certain everything was secure, you tucked the key safely away in Yagaâs room.
Only then did you climb the stairs to the upper floor, preparing to settle down for the night. But your rest did not last long. A few moments after lying down, you heard something. A faint movement.
At first, you thought it was nothingâjust a rustle somewhere outside the tea house. Perhaps a stray cat prowling the alley in search of food.
You stayed still, listening carefully, waiting for the sound to disappear. But it didnât. Instead, the noise grew clearer, sounding like a quiet shuffle.
You heard the unmistakable creak of the back door opening.
Your heart stopped. That was impossible.
It couldnât be Yaga. He would always enter through the front doorâand there was no way he could have returned so soon.
A cold wave of fear washed through your body. The only light in the room came from the pale glow of the moon spilling through the window.
Slowly, you sat upright, straining your ears.
At first, there were no footsteps. Only the occasional sound of something shifting downstairs.
A wooden step creaked. Your blood ran cold. Someone was inside, and they were heading upstairs.
Your hand moved quickly beneath your sleeping mat, retrieving the hairpin Sato had given you.
All the kitchen knives were downstairs. This was the only sharp object you had.
The metal prongs felt cold against your fingers as you gripped it tightly. If things became desperate, you could always offer it as payment for your freedom. And if that failed, you could use it to fight.
You rose quietly to your feet and pressed yourself against the wall beside the sliding doors, hidden from direct view.
The hairpin was clenched firmly in your hand, ready to strike whoever entered.
The footsteps drew closer. One step. Another. The wood groaned softly beneath the intruderâs weight.
Closer. Closer. And thenâ
As promised, Sato returned to the tea shop a few days later, eager to see how you were faring while running the shop on your own. But when he arrived, something immediately felt wrong.
The tea house was closed.
Its wooden shutters were pulled tightly over the windows, even though it was still the middle of the day. The street outside bustled with its usual activity, yet the familiar warmth of the shop seemed strangely absent.
Sato slowed his steps, unease settling in his chest. That was when he noticed a familiar figure nearby. Seated on a small stool by the roadside was Feiyan. He approached her politely.
âExcuse me,â he said. âIs the tea house closed today?â
Feiyan looked up at him, and the worry etched into her wrinkled face made Satoâs stomach tighten.
âIâm not sure what happened to the young dearie,â she said with a sigh. âThe shop was open two days ago⊠but after that, I havenât seen her at all.â
Sato felt a flicker of alarm.
âWhat do you mean you havenât seen her?â he asked quickly. âIs she inside the house?â
Feiyan shook her head slowly.
âI knocked several times, but there was no answer. Itâs unlike her not to leave a note if she plans to close the shop.â
Her voice softened with concern.
âI truly donât know where she could have gone.â
Satoâs unease deepened.
Feiyan paused, as if remembering something unpleasant, before letting out another weary sigh.
âI even went to the city officers to file a missing report,â she continued. âBut they barely listened to me.â
Sato frowned. âWhat did they say?â
Feiyan gave a bitter shake of her head.
âThey claimed she probably went to the Crystal Palace to become a concubine for the Imperial Court.â She scoffed quietly. âApparently, many young women go missing around this time of year for that reason.â
The words struck Sato like a blade. His heart began to pound.
Suddenly, the pieces began falling into place in his mind.
âBut I canât imagine that being the case,â Feiyan continued thoughtfully. âWhen the imperial messenger came here the other day, she didnât seem pleased about it at all.â
She looked toward the quiet tea shop.
âAnd besides⊠I donât think Master Yaga would ever allow such a thing.â
Her expression dimmed. âBut he isnât here right now, soâŠâ
Sato felt his chest tighten.
âThank you for telling me,â he said, forcing calm into his voice. âI wonât trouble you any longer.â
Before Feiyan could respond, he turned and hurried away down the street.
His mind raced. There was only one person who could be responsible for this.
And if his suspicion was correct, then you were already inside the Crystal City.
âAh, Crown Prince Gojo.â The man didnât even bother looking up from the scroll in his hands. âTo what do I owe the pleasure?â
Satoru scowled at the sight before him. Advisor Akagi stood in the Crystal Palace library, casually sifting through ancient records as if the world itself were not hanging by a thread.
âSpare me the pleasantries,â Satoru said coldly. âYou werenât so eager to offer them when your men were beating me the other day.â
Akagi paused, slowly lifting his gaze as though trying to recall such an event. His eyes met Satoruâs, the warmth vanishing from his expression. âCan I help you, Your Highness?â
âI know you took her.â
Akagi gave a soft chuckle and returned his attention to the scrolls. âWhom?â
âThe girl from the tea shop.â
ââŠAh,â Akagi murmured. âYes. A lovely little thing, isnât she? Young. Beautiful.â His lips curled slightly. âExactly the sort of girl His Majesty favors.â
Satoruâs fingers twitched. Just the thought of the Emperor so much as looking at you made a violent rage coil in his chest.
âThat disgusting old skeleton shouldnât even look in her direction,â Satoru muttered.
Akagi blinked at him with exaggerated concern.
âMy, my. Are you angry, dear boy?â
The word barely scratched the surface of what he felt. But he forced his expression into something calmer.
The Emperor had already discovered the one thing in this miserable palace that brought him even a moment of happiness.
He would not allow them to see just how much you mattered to him.
âQuite the opposite,â he said lightly.
âOh please. Your complete lack of respect for the Emperor tells me everything I need to know.â His gaze sharpened. âOr rather⊠who I need to mention to provoke you.â
Satoru stepped closer. A dangerous glint flickered in his pale blue eyes.
âStop pretending youâre clever,â he said quietly. âYou and I both know the Emperor couldnât care less about her.â
âYou brought her here to get under my skin.â
The advisor suddenly burst into laughter.
âWell, yes!â he said brightly. âThat was rather the point. Iâm delighted to see itâs working.â
Satoru clenched his jaw. He had let his emotions slip too far. Akagi noticed immediately. With a tired sigh, the advisor set his scroll aside.
âYou know, this whole situation could be resolved very easily,â he said. âAll you have to do is show the Emperor proper loyalty.â
His smile sharpened. âThe girl would never have ended up in such an unfortunate position if not for your behavior.â
âMy behavior?â he repeated incredulously. âSo now Iâm forbidden from walking through my own city?â
âYou may walk through the city,â Akagi replied smoothly. âBut when you wander through it and kill the men assigned to follow you, it does give the impression youâre hiding something from His Majesty.â
Satoru huffed. âSince when did privacy become a crime for a royal?â
âIt isnât,â Akagi said calmly. âAt least, not when weâre not certain youâre not plotting to overthrow the Emperor.â
He folded his hands neatly. âYou must understandâHis Majesty is a very nervous man.â
âWell, perhaps he shouldâve considered that before murdering my father,â he said flatly. âIf he was so worried about loose ends, he shouldâve killed me too.â
Akagiâs eyes narrowed as he studied the prince carefully. âAre you confessing to something, dear boy?â
Satoru scoffed. âThe only person confessing here is you.â
His voice hardened. âYou just tell me where she is.â
Akagiâs expression darkened. âI donât answer to you.â
Satoru stepped forward again, towering over the shorter man. âYou donât?â
His voice dropped dangerously low.
âYou might hold the whip in the Lower Rooms,â Satoru said slowly, âbut up hereâŠâ
âI am the Crown Prince.â
In one swift motion, Satoru grabbed Akagi by the front of his robes and slammed him against the towering shelves behind him. Scrolls and documents rattled violently.
âNow,â Satoru said, lifting him effortlessly, âif you know whatâs good for youâŠâ
Paper scattered across the floor as he shook the man against the shelves.
ââŠyouâll tell me where she is.â
Akagi tried to speak, but Satoruâs other hand closed around his throat. His grip tightened.
âWhere,â Satoru said coldly, âis she?â
The warmth had completely vanished from his brilliant blue eyes. They looked like frozen steel.
âIââ Akagi choked, his face reddening. âI-In the Azure Palace!â
The moment the words left his mouth, Satoru released him. Akagi collapsed to the floor in a heap. Satoru dusted off his sleeves as though nothing had happened.
âSee how easy that was?â he said evenly.
He glanced down at the trembling advisor.
His voice was calm againâbut far more terrifying than before.
âYou only have power over me in the Lower Rooms because I allow it.â
Satoru gestured lazily to the scattered scrolls and papers covering the floor.
âNow clean up this mess.â
ââŠR-Right⊠Crown Prince GojoâŠâ
You woke with a groan, your vision bleary from what felt like days of sleep. Your entire body ached, and your mouth was unbearably dry. You tried to sit up, but pain immediately forced you back down.
âUrgh⊠what happened to meâŠ?â
You rubbed your eyes, trying to make sense of the fog in your mind. The last thing you remembered was the tea house. You had been closing up for the night. You went to sleep but thenâ
The realization jolted you upright. You were kidnapped.
The sudden movement immediately sent the room spinning, and you collapsed back against the bedding with a groan.
Blinking slowly, you tried to focus on your surroundings. The first thing you noticed was the ceilingâit was enormous. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, illuminating blue columns, tiled floors, and hanging scrolls that lined the room. Beneath you was the most intricately carved bed you had ever seen.
âAm I in a brothelâŠ?â you groaned.
Your heart sank. Not only had you been kidnapped, you had probably been sold. How were you supposed to escape and get back to the tea shop? As panic began to creep into your chest, the door suddenly slid open.
âOh, greatâyouâre awake!â
You turned your head to see a woman with long brown hair styled neatly into an updo. Her clothing was simple, though far finer than anything you were used to seeing. In her hands she carried a tray holding a cup of water, some fruit, a bowl of warm water, a towel, and a roll of bandages. Instinctively, you tried to move away.
The woman quickly raised her hands in reassurance. âDonât be apprehensive! Iâm an apothecary. Iâve been taking care of you while you rested!â
She approached with a gentle smile. âYou must be confused, so allow me to explain while I check your bandages.â
With no other way of understanding what had happened to you, you reluctantly allowed her to begin. She carefully helped you sit up and slid your robes down slightly, wiping the sweat from your skin with the towel. Then she began unwrapping a bandage around your neck, replacing it with a fresh one.
âMy name is Shoko Ieiri,â she said. âIâm an apothecary in training.â
She lowered her voice slightly. âI knew something was amiss when you arrived. It wasnât like the other concubines.â
Shoko leaned closer and whispered,
âYou were brought here in secret by the Himitsu Keisatsu.â
You didnât know exactly who the Himitsu Keisatsu were, but from her tone alone you could guess. They must have been the masked, ninja-like men who had broken into your home.
Shoko adjusted your robes back into place.
âI was called because they were worried they mightâve killed you before presenting you to their boss,â she explained. âSo Iâve been taking care of you since.â
She handed you the glass of water, and you eagerly drank it down. She then gestured toward the fruit on the tray, which felt like an oasis after days without food.
âSince youâre eating well, we can cross off post-sickness,â she joked lightly. âAre you feeling any nausea?â
You nodded slowly. âIf I move too quicklyâŠâ
âRight. Youâll have to rest for a couple more days until youâre strong enough to move around. I donât know the circumstances behind why youâre here, but putting off seeing the Emperor might be for the best.â
The words made everything click into place. You were in the Crystal Palace. So the people who kidnapped you must have worked for that strange man who had come to the tea shop.
You knew you should have been wary of him. If only Feiyan had been distracted drinking her tea⊠maybe none of this would have happened.
Still, relief washed through you. At least you werenât in a brothel. Surely you could simply request permission to leave. You didnât want to be a concubine. You just needed a way to contact Yaga.
âOhâbefore I forget,â Shoko said suddenly. âI believe this is yours.â
She reached into the pouch of her robe and pulled something out. Your jeweled hairpin.
You gasped, your eyes widening. âI almost forgot about that! Thank you so much!â
Shoko handed it to you with a small smile. âWhen I arrived, those men were arguing about whether they should pawn it off. I stepped in once I saw it.â
âThank you,â you said softly, running your fingers over the cool metal. âAn important person gave it to me.â
Shoko studied the pin thoughtfully.
âThatâs actually what I wanted to ask you about,â she said. âThis kind of hairpin is specifically made for the women of the Azure Palace⊠which is where we currently are.â
Your head snapped up. The Azure Palace. That was where the Late Empress once lived.
âYou can tell by the gemstone in the doveâs eye,â Shoko continued. âItâs a symbol of the Gojo Clan.â
âGojo Clan?!â you repeated, staring down at the pin again. âBut⊠how could that be? The only surviving members of that clan are the current Emperor and the Crown PrinceâŠâ
Your answer confirmed Shokoâs suspicions. The moment she had seen that pin, she had suspected you had some connection to Satoru. Shoko had grown up in the court alongside himâshe knew he would never give something so precious away lightly.
That was why she decided to help you. Because if Satoru had given you that pin⊠Then you must have been someone important to him.
The Azure Palace had once been a place of solace for Satoru. Now, he rarely came here. Too many memories lingered. When Emperor Gakuganji had forcibly claimed the throne, he had wanted to turn the Azure Palace into yet another repository for his treasures, concubines, and frivolities.
But being the last surviving member of the Gojo Clan meant Satoru had the final say over the Palaceâs fate. He had chosen to preserve it, frozen in time, entered only by trusted maids tasked with its care.
Satoru ascended the gilded steps, his long robes flowing elegantly behind him. His gaze swept over the Eastern Wing, and there, moving with quiet precision, was Shoko. In an instant, he was by her side.
âShoko, what are you doing here?â he demanded.
Shoko glanced at him, her expression calm, as if seeing him didnât surprise her. âAh⊠if youâre here, I assume you already know she is being held within.â
Satoruâs jaw tightened. âSo itâs true⊠is sheâokay?â
Shoko gave a reassuring nod. âSheâs doing betterââ
He didnât wait for the rest of her sentence. He started forward toward the tall azure doorsâbut Shokoâs hand gripped his sleeve.
Satoru looked down, first at her hand on his sleeve, then at her face. âYou know⊠most people donât get the chance to hold me like this.â
Shoko rolled her eyes. He still didnât know where you were, and she wouldnât allow anyone to see you in your current, fragile state. You were in desperate need of rest, and a proper bath, before any encounter with the Crown Prince.
âShe needs rest,â she said firmly.
âI understandââ he began.
âShe wonât take any visitors until sheâs properly healed, and dressed fit to see you.â
Satoru paused, frustration and worry flashing across his features. âSheâs injured? What did they do to her?â
Shoko sighed. âIs that all you heard? Tell me, if you two are so close, why didnât you tell her who you really are?â
Satoru let out a wry chuckle, the edge of amusement cutting through his tension. âYou know why. And I donât plan on telling her anytime soonâŠâ
Shoko didnât fully understand his methods, but she knew arguing would be pointless. She stepped back, her eyes steady.
âGo back, Your Highness. I know you want to see her, but it will be far more worth it if you wait.â
With those words, she left, and Satoru paused, finally listening to the counsel of his oldest friend.
In the days that followed, as you rested and healed under Shokoâs careful watch, you began to familiarize yourself with life in the Crystal Palace. You learned the rigid rules of royal etiquette, the intricacies of court hierarchy, and the subtle protocols that governed every movement within the palace walls.
Technically, as a concubine-in-title, you should have been sent to the Ruby Palace, where the Emperorâs women resided. It was an immense estate, its own world of social structure and unspoken rules. Shoko explained that you werenât yet ready to be transferredâespecially without a network of allies or personal maids to guide you.
So you hoped. You hoped that the Emperor was as dependable as the whispers in the palace claimed. You hoped that when you finally faced him, he would grant you the chance to write homeâor, better yet, to leave. You longed to tell Yaga where you were and were certain that Sato, wherever he might be, would be worried.
Speaking of Sato, your time here gave you space to consider him. You had originally suspected him of being nobility, and now it seemed increasingly likely he lived, or at least moved, within the palace. With so many noble families residing here, you wouldnât be surprised if he were the son of a senior officer or a high-ranking ministry member.
A week passed since your arrival at the Azure Palace, and finally, you were healed. No longer sleeping on a mat, you rested on a proper bed, washed daily, and had simple yet elegant clothing delivered by Shoko.
That afternoon, after taking a light walk along the Eastern Wing, you returned to your room and heard a firm knock on the door.
âShoko?â you called, assuming it was her, as she always knocked before entering.
Sliding the door open, your surprise grewâit was not Shoko. Instead, a small procession of attendants and maids stood before you.
As soon as they saw you, they bowed deeply. The woman in front spoke, her tone precise yet commanding.
âMy name is Madame Lihua. We have been sent by Advisor Akagi to prepare you for your introduction to the Emperor.â
Shock stole your voice. You hadnât been told this was coming, nor did you have the slightest idea of what to do.
âFret not, dear child. We are skilled in our craft and have prepared many concubines before you.â She snapped her fingers, and a maid stepped forward, holding a bright scarlet garment in her hands.
âWe shall bathe you, dress you, and groom you to perfection. While we do, we will instruct you on proper conduct for the Great Hall. Now, let us make haste!â
The next hours passed in a blur. You were bathed in the finest rose water, massaged until your muscles relaxed, and your skin was oiled until it gleamed under the lantern light.
Fragrancesârich, potent, and distinctly favored by the Emperorâwere lightly sprayed, tickling your nose.
Your gown was a masterpiece of three layers, heavy silks draping elegantly over your arms. Intricate embroidery traced the Crownâs emblem, the Swan, in golden thread, and the neckline shimmered with beaded gems. Scarlet, jade, and ivory accented your figure with grace and refinement.
Your long hair flowed freely down your back, half secured in an intricate braided updo. Decorative flowers and pins were placed strategically, framing your face with elegance.
One maid held up the jeweled hairpin Sato had given you. âAh, what a stunning piece! Shall we include this one as well?â
Another objected, âThe blue doesnât match her gown.â
âIt will be covered by her veil anyway,â a third countered. âBesides, it is the Ladyâs choice.â
You paused, then nodded. Perhaps the Emperor would notice, or even be lenient, seeing you wear it.
For the final touch, Madame Lihua draped a long red veil over your head, the fabric soft against your skin, obscuring your face.
By now, the sun had dipped low on the horizon. The moment had come. It was finally time for your introduction to the Emperor.
âHey, Satoru, did you hear?â
âA new concubine is being presented to the Emperor today.â
âOh, yeah?â Satoru replied nonchalantly, lounging against the open windowsill of his friend Geto Suguru. âThat happens almost every day.â He often hid out in Suguruâs office to avoid his royal dutiesâor simply to tease his friend.
âWell, I found it odd that the procession path showed she began her walk from the Azure Palace,â Suguru remarked, dipping his feather brush into the ink with a faint hum. âI thought that was⊠interesting.â
Satoruâs eyes widened. He sat up abruptly, scanning the horizon toward the Azure Palace. From his enhanced vision, he could almost see it: you descending the gilded steps, walking with measured grace, flanked by court officials, making your way toward the Emperor. He hadnât heard this was scheduled.
A sour expression crossed his face, and energy surged through him. âIf youâll excuse me, I hope you donât miss me too much while I go⊠handle some business.â
Suguru shrugged, unconcerned. âYou werenât doing anything but being a nuisance. I wonât miss you. In fact, Iâll get more done now.â
Satoru didnât respond. He vaulted from the windowsill and sped toward the Great Hall, each step fueled by rising panic and frustration.
On the way, he ran into Shoko, who was just as startled as he was.
âYour Highness! Did you know thatâ? I swear, I donât know how they knew [Y/n] was ready!â Shoko blurted, hurriedly walking beside him. She could tell just how furious he was.
âIâm not mad at you,â Satoru said, his voice brisk, steps quickening. âThe Palace has eyes everywhere. One only needs to notice an apothecary entering the Azure Palace regularly to know whatâs going on.â
He knew Advisor Akagi had orchestrated this, but that wasnât the only source of his anger. The deeper sting came from the fact that he still hadnât seen you yetânot after all that had happened. He hadnât had the chance to explain himself, check on you, or ensure you were safe.
And now, the Emperor would have the chance to do all of that instead. That thought gnawed at him, and Satoru hated every second of it.
The Great Hall was a place you would never have dreamed of entering a month ago. A grand red carpet stretched up three tiers of stairs, leading to the Emperor, the man said to be blessed by the Gods.
You couldnât see him, as your position forced your gaze downward. As you walked, the hem of your veil hid your face while ministers flanked the carpet, their heads bowed so low you could barely glimpse their eyes.
Madame Lihuaâs instructions echoed in your mind: walk carefully and step just before the last set of stairs leading to the Emperor. But the heavy garments made it difficult to gauge each movement.
When you finally reached the top, you sank into a deep bow. Silence filled the hall. You didnât speak until the Emperor gave permission.
âTell me, what is your name?â
âM-My name is [L/n] [Y/n], daughter of⊠Masamichi Yaga. It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness.â
Nervousness didnât even begin to cover it. The sheer weight of the hall, the grandeur, and the presence of the unseen Emperor pressed down on you. You wanted to ask if he could allow you to return homeâbut would that even be permitted?
After a long pause, a voice finally broke the silence. âYou may lift your head.â
Following his instruction, you looked up. You still couldnât see the Emperor directlyâhis throne was framed by heavy red curtains and a thin veilâbut the scrutiny, the power, and the subtle expectation radiating from him was palpable. A hand reached through the curtain, beckoning you closer.
You ascended the stairs carefully. A slight stumble brought quiet laughter from behind the veil, and you hastily lifted the front of your skirt in embarrassment.
âItâs nice to see some youthful energy here. Worry not, come closer, my dear.â
As you approached, the Emperor lifted your veil to examine your face. He appeared considerate and calm, though his voice carried the weight of age and authority. You tried your best to smile, to discern the face hidden behind the veil.
His hand drifted to your hair but paused when he noticed the dove hairpin. Recognition flickered in his eyes. You werenât just any concubine; you were the one his advisor had brought.
âTell me, Lady [L/n], do you know anyone here as you entered the Inner Palace? I couldnât help but notice how small your procession was.â
âAbout thatâŠâ you began carefully. âI actually found myself in the Inner Palace by accident. I did not plan to enter at this time. I hope itâs not presumptuous to ask if I might return homeâŠ?â
After a few seconds of silence the Emperor laughedâa deep, genuine sound that echoed in the hall. He had no intention of letting you go. But the fact that you were unaware of Satoruâs true identity worked perfectly to his advantage.
âIâm afraid I cannot allow that. But I am not so heartless as to ignore your request entirely. Is there anything else you wish to ask?â
You hesitated, then nodded. ââŠCould I possibly write home? My father is unaware of my absence. I suspect he would be disheartened to return to an empty home.â
The Emperor inclined his head. âOf course. I will see to it that ink and paper are delivered to you tomorrow morning.â
With that, he drew his hand back, signaling that your audience was concluded. Gasps rippled through the hall; it was unusual for the Emperor not to spend the night with a newly introduced concubine. Some might interpret this as a confirmation that your time as a concubine wouldnât lastâbut you were one of the first to make him laugh aloud, so no one could predict your future standing.
Two court ministers stepped forward, escorting you from the hall. You ignored the whispers as you left. The meeting, though nerve-wracking, had given you clarity. At least now you could write to Yaga. As long as you stayed out of the Emperorâs focus, you could begin planning your next steps and, perhaps, your escape.
Walking back to the Azure Palace was more difficult without your aides by your side. Thankfully, the heavy garments shielded you from the cool summer breeze as you turned into the Eastern Wing.
Suddenly, you felt yourself being pulled into a shadowed corridor. Panic flared, and you almost yelped, until a finger pressed gently to your lips.
âDonât scream. Itâs only me.â
Your heart skipped. That voiceâit was familiar and impossibly reassuringâyou knew for sure that it had to be Sato. But what was he doing here, in the Azure Palace?
He guided you down the dark hallway into a room you didnât recognize. His hand firmly held yours as he led you toward an open window, moonlight spilling across your face.
âIt really is youâŠâ he breathed, scanning your features with a mixture of relief and disbelief.
ââŠSato? Is that you?â you asked, squinting in the dim light.
There was a shuffle, and then a lantern was lit, bathing him in a warm glow. He looked different. His hair, once tightly bound, now flowed freely with a half-updo secured by a decorated piece and a long blue cord. His pale eyelashes caught the lantern light. His robes were long, blue with golden embroidery, and the patterns were exquisite, nothing like the simple attire heâd wear to the tea shop.
Yet, it was him. Still Sato, but elevated, almost untouchable.
âIt is you⊠what are youââ you began, but he cut you off, pulling you into a tight embrace.
âIâm so glad youâre okay! I went to the tea shop to check on you, and when I heard youâd been taken as a concubine⊠you can imagine my relief when Shoko told me you were safe!â
His words tumbled out in a rush, fast and urgent, spilling all the worry heâd kept in. You felt the tension in your body melt, relief washing over you at the touch of a familiar presence. Instinctively, you wrapped your arms around himâperhaps the first time you had willingly reached out to another man.
He smelled of warmth and safety, calming your fears instantly.
âOh, SatoâI have so much to tell you! Iââ
Before you could continue, he pulled back slightly, scrunching his nose. âIs that⊠did you choose that fragrance?â
You shook your head. âNo⊠the maids bathed me. They were sent by an advisor, Advisor Akagi, I think. Is something wrong?â
Sato sighed. âYes⊠there is. You donât usually smell like this.â
Your worry flared, and he quickly backtracked. âNot that itâs bad. You smell fine on your own. But this⊠this fragrance is The Emperorâs favorite. Unfortunately, itâs irritating to my nose.â
âOh no! I didnât knowâŠâ you murmured.
He drew you closer. âItâs okay⊠actually, noâitâs not.â His eyes darkened as he took in your appearance. âItâs like heâs all over you. Youâre wearing his colors, his scentâŠâ
The words went unsaid, but his intent was clearâhow he wished he could strip away the Emperorâs influence from you. Instead, he pressed closer, letting his own fragrance mingle with yours, marking his presence.
Then his gaze fell on a glint of blue. âDid you wear this when you introduced yourself to the Emperor?â
You touched your hair, realizing he meant the pin.
âThe pin I gave you as payment for the green tea⊠I canât believe you still have it.â
âI would never give it away,â you chuckled. âSato, that pin had to be worth more than the tea house itself.â
Satoâs expression softened immediately. Seeing you wear his gift, that tangible proof you hadnât forgotten him, was enough.
âOh, but⊠I heard from an acquaintance that this type of pin is only made for members of the Gojo clan. How did you get it?â
Sato froze, realizing Shokoâs gossip had reached you. He wasnât ready to reveal his true identity, not yet, not while you were so vulnerable.
âI received it from someone important to me,â he said cautiously. âI suppose I should tell you my real name⊠Itâs Satoru. I hope you understand why I needed to take precautions when outside the Crystal City. I am the son of someone with⊠high importance.â
You nodded, understanding immediately. Your suspicion that Satoâor rather Satoruâwas of noble birth was confirmed. It made sense now why heâd preferred freedom over the constraints of courtly life. Even you wanted out, and youâve only been in the Crystal City for a few days.
âIâm just happy to see your face. I was worried about how to contact Yaga and the patrons. Thankfully, the Emperor allowed me to send a letter home.â
Satoru scoffed. âThe Emperor and âthankfulâ should never appear in the same sentence,â he muttered. Yet he smiled faintly at your relief.
âIf you need a letter sent, I can handle it. And I can post a notice at the tea shop myself,â he offered.
âYou would do that?â you asked, heart warming. âIâll have writing utensils tomorrow. If you come then, Iâll be ready to give it to you.â
Satoru grinned, relieved. He preferred you relying on him over the Emperor. As the two of you parted, he made a mental note: he would give you new robes, new dresses, and new perfumes. Not a trace of the Emperorâs colors, fragrance, or influence would remain near you.
You had now been living in the Crystal Palace for a month.
With Satoruâs help, you were able to send a letter to Yaga, who had been in complete disbelief when he learned what had happened during his absence. The two of you kept up steady correspondenceâSatoru happily acting as your mailman. Or rather, he would spend time visiting you while Ichiji delivered the letters to and from Yaga.
You had been formally inducted as one of the Emperorâs concubines, yet you were permitted to remain in the Azure Palace. It was unusual, and many of the other concubines whispered that you must be unwanted.
But that suited you just fine. You had no desire to be seen as a threat. You had no intention of courting the Emperor anyway.
During your time here, you had also made a few friends. Shoko, of course, as well as several personal maids and attendants Satoru had quietly placed in the Azure Palace for you. You had also gotten to know the kitchen staffâyour interest in tea-making making you a rather popular visitor.
Through Satoru, you had met Ichiji, his diligent attendant, and Suguru, one of his closest friends.
Slowly, your space within the Azure Palace began to feel like your own. Satoru had even arranged for an entirely new wardrobe to be brought just for you, along with several other thoughtful gifts.
Much of your time was spent exploring the Crystal Palace with him. Even after a full month, you had barely scratched the surface of the sprawling complex.
âOh, but this area is my favorite.â
Satoru led you across a small arched bridge that stretched over a clear pond separating the Rear Court from the rest of the Inner Court. Lily pads floated along the waterâs surface, dotted with soft pink blossoms. Frogs croaked quietly, and bright koi fish swam lazily beneath the water.
âItâs so calming here,â you said, leaning slightly over the bridge railing. âThe water is incredibly clear.â
âI know,â Satoru replied with a soft chuckle. âI usually come here when I want a break from the Inner Court. Itâs quieter. Most of the court ministers live in the Rear Court and hold their offices there.â
You nodded thoughtfully as the two of you continued walking. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves above you, brushing softly through your hair.
When you turned toward Satoru, you realized he was already looking at you.
âWhat is it?â you asked.
âOh, nothing. I just love your dress. Itâs very pretty. The color reminds me of those flowers on the lily pads.â
You glanced over your shoulder at the pink blossoms floating in the pond. Compared to the elaborate scarlet garments you had worn during your introduction to the Emperor, the softer colors felt much more natural. They suited you far better.
You smiled, feeling warmth creep into your cheeks. âThank you. Your compliments always make me blush.â
Satoruâs gaze never left your face.
âI know,â he said lightly. âI find that rather endearing.â
You had to admit, Satoruâs presence made your time in the palace far more bearable. The more time you spent together, the more you felt your heart grow fond of him.
It was hardly surprising. He was undeniably handsome, so much so that even the women of the Inner Court struggled not to stare when he passed by. But more than that, he was kind to you. Thoughtful. Gentle. He treated you differently than anyone else ever had.
Still⊠you didnât want to complicate his position.
You were, technically, the Emperorâs concubine. Even if the Emperor had not summoned you once since your introduction, it would be unthinkable to pursue a relationship with someone elseâespecially someone who served him.
You couldnât do that to Satoru. Meanwhile, Satoruâs thoughts were far less restrained. If he had arrived at the palace under different circumstances, he might have admitted that the Crystal Palace was a beautiful place. But those days felt distant now.
âSatoru, whatâs that on your neck?â You pointed toward the faint bruise just above his collar. It looked painfulâdark and uneven. You were surprised you hadnât noticed it earlier.
âAh⊠this?â Satoru touched the mark lightly.
Advisor Akagi had been particularly irritated with him last week. Usually the man was careful not to leave marks that could be seen easily, but perhaps he had gotten carried away.
ââŠIs that from training?â you guessed. A small light went off in Satoruâs mind. He didnât even need to invent a lie if he simply followed your assumption.
ââŠYeah,â he said smoothly. âWe were lifting heavy equipment during training. I got careless and dropped something.â
âOn your neck?!â you said, staring up at him in alarm.
Satoru didnât like the worried expression on your face. So he quickly bent down slightly, flashing you a playful grin.
âIf youâre that worried about me, do you want to kiss it better?â
You pouted and pushed his face away. âOh please, that was definitely a lie.â
Satoru shrugged dramatically.
âIt really does hurt though!â he whined.
Now you werenât sure whether he was exaggerating or telling the truth.
When Satoru walked you back to the Azure Palace, both of you were surprised to find a mountain of gifts waiting in the hall just outside your room.
All of them had come from the Emperor. Most were ceremonial robes, intricate jewelry, and silk accessories.
You were taken aback. Receiving such expensive gifts was still something you couldnât quite get used to. Still, you felt grateful to the Emperor for considering you, even though you had done nothing to earn his favor.
Satoru, however, was far from impressed. In fact, he wanted to burn every last article of clothing the Emperor had sent. While the Emperor could have been using his wealth to improve the state of the country, here he was showering it on things that served no real purpose.
And if anyone should be showering you with gifts, Satoru believed it should be him. But Satoru also knew the Emperor did nothing without reason. This wasnât generosity. It was a message. A signal meant for him.Emperor Gakuganji had not forgotten about you. He simply hadnât decided how to use you against Satoru yet.
It had now been two months since you arrived at the Crystal Palace. Despite the rumors of endless gossip and intrigue within the Inner Court, the past month had been rather boring. Still, part of you found yourself curious about the Emperor. He had been so kind to you on that first day, yet you still had no real idea what he looked like.
So you took a trip to the Ruby Palace to ask some of the higher-ranking concubines about their experiences. To your surprise, their answers were mixed. For many of the younger concubines, they had yet to see the Emperor face to face. The more seasoned ones, however, had plenty to say.
âThere might have been a time when Emperor Gakuganji was attractive,â one concubine sighed dramatically. âBut unfortunately, that time is not nowâŠâ
Another shrugged lazily. âI donât really mind. He beds me extremely well, and thatâs all that matters. Huh? You want to know what he looks like? Well, I donât really know. He visits me at night, and the lanterns always stay unlit.â
A third spoke with far more seriousness. âHis appearance doesnât matter. Everyone in the Inner Palace knows he lacks an Empress. Itâs only natural that his most favored concubine will eventually take that place. Whoever does will bring great honor to her family.â
Piecing together everything you had heard, you learned more about the Emperorâs character than his appearance.
He was not particularly handsomeâat least according to the women who had seen himâbut he seemed to possess a decent temperament. However, his relationships with the concubines did not appear to be very deep.
It was also possible that he was searching for someone worthy of becoming Empress. Without an Empress, there would be no heir. And if the Emperor were to die without one, the throne would immediately pass to the Crown Prince.
The realization made you uneasy. Even though he had yet to summon you, he never stopped sending gifts. Messengers also arrived regularly with letters asking after your well-being. It wasnât exactly subtle attentionâand it wasnât as if you could ignore the Emperor.
Your plan of eventually sneaking out of the palace unnoticed was beginning to feel more and more impossible. When you finally returned to the Azure Palace, you climbed the familiar steps toward the Eastern Wing before a messenger stopped you.
You immediately recognized the Emperorâs swan emblem embroidered on his hat. The man bowed deeply before holding out a letter.
âAh⊠thank you,â you said, accepting it politely.
You werenât in any hurry to open it. It was probably just another letter from the Emperor checking in on you.
But when you unfolded the paper and read its contents, your heart nearly stopped.
The Emperor was requesting your presence in his bedchambers.
The moon hung high in the midnight sky.
Satoru sat at the desk in his chambers, using the faint glow of candlelight to finish writing a particular letter. With a sharp fold and the stamp of his official seal, he rose from his seat and walked toward a loose panel in the ceiling.
Giving it a quick tap, the panel slid open. Satoru handed the letter to Haibara Yu, his personal bodyguard, who waited silently above. Inside the letter was sensitive information about the palace: details of the underground tunnels connecting the Rear Palace and the Inner Court, Emperor Gakuganjiâs daily routines and occasional deviations, and the possible locations where weapons might be stored.
It was to be read aloud to all allies of the Gojo clan within the palace. Afterward, it was to be burned. That was the only way to leave no loose ends while still sharing crucial updatesâkeeping any possibility of a unified conspiracy impossible to trace.
Contrary to what others might believe, Satoru did not spend his days simply admiring your beauty. No. He was handling far more important matters. He wanted the throne. And he wanted the Emperorâs head.
He was the rightful ruler of this empire. Emperor Gakuganji could parade around claiming the name Gojo all he liked, but Satoru knew the truth. And he intended to reclaim what rightfully belonged to him.
With a quiet sigh, Satoru blew out the candle and rubbed his eyes. He hadnât seen you for several days now. Even though it was late, the thought of simply seeing your sleeping face was enough to bring him some peace. Leaving his room in the Jade Palace, he began walking toward the Eastern Wing.
But as he turned the corner into the corridor, he stopped short. You were pacing back and forth outside your room.
â[Y/n]?â Satoru called softly. âWhat are you doing out here?â
At the sound of his voice, your face immediately lit up with relief.
You rushed toward him, grabbing onto his arms. Only then did Satoru properly take in your appearance.
You were wearing the thinnest red nightgown he had ever seenâpractically transparent beneath the lantern light.
Satoruâs eyes immediately shot upward toward the ceiling.
He had absolutely no idea that you slept in something so⊠revealing.
âIâm so nervous, Satoru,â you confessed. âIâve never done this before!â
Satoru blinked, lowering his gaze again. âDone what?â
You looked up at him anxiously.
âWell⊠the Emperor sent for me. He requested that I visit his bedchambers tonight. Someone is supposed to come escort me soonâŠâ
For a moment, Satoru felt his blood run cold. Surely he had misheard. You and the Emperor?
There was no way. He would never allow the two of you to even be in the same roomâlet alone his bedchamber.
His gaze flickered down to the nightgown again. The Emperor requested you to wear⊠that. The thought alone left a bitter taste in Satoruâs mouth.
âPlease tell me youâre not actually going,â he said quietly, the words almost sounding like a plea.
He knew exactly what this was. A trap. The Emperor was testing himâwatching to see how Satoru would react. But Satoru couldnât simply ignore it. There was no universe where he would allow that man to touch you. Not for the Emperorâs amusement. Not for politics. Not for anything.
You shook your head nervously. âThereâs no way I can refuse the Emperor.â
âFine,â he muttered. âThen Iâll refuse him for you.â
Before you could protest, he grabbed your hand and led you quickly back into your room.
âIâll write a letter saying youâve suddenly fallen ill and canât meet him tonight,â Satoru said, already pulling open drawers in search of ink and a brush.
âBut Iâm not sick,â you said, confused. âAnd how would you evenââ
Satoru sat down at the small writing table.
âIâm very good at replicating handwriting,â he replied calmly. âAnd forging signatures. They wonât be able to tell the difference between my writing and Shokoâs.â
After a moment of hesitation, you decided to trust him.
While Satoru prepared the ink, you quietly gathered a tray, a bowl, and a damp towel, placing them beside your bedâjust in case someone came to check on you. If they did, you would at least look convincingly ill.
As Satoru wrote, you began taking down your intricate hairstyle, loosening the carefully pinned strands and shaking your hair until it fell around your shoulders in a disheveled mess.
A few moments later, Satoru finished writing and approached you. âPlease forgive what Iâm about to do,â he said suddenly.
Before you could ask what he meant, Satoru grabbed your hand and lifted you effortlessly into his arms.
Without another word, he carried you to the doorway and promptly tossed you into the pond just outside your room.
You splashed into the cold water with a loud gasp. A second later, Satoru leaned down and pulled you back out.
âS-Satoru! What was that for?â you squealed, clutching your shivering body.
âYou got sick because you fell into the pond,â he replied simply.
Before you could protest further, he slipped off his outer robe and draped it around your shoulders.
âUse that to cover yourself. Iâll grab a towel so you can dry off.â
As soon as Satoru turned away, he let out a quiet sigh of realization. He had just made the situation far worse for himself.
The thin fabric of your nightgown clung to your body, completely soaked from the pond. Even with his robe wrapped around you, the image was already burned into his mind.
Meanwhile, he was left wearing nothing but a thin inner robe. Satoru rubbed the back of his neck, silently questioning his own judgment.
A moment later, he returned with an armful of towels. You accepted them gratefully, quickly drying your hair and arms.
A sharp knock sounded at the door.
You immediately rushed to the bed and slipped beneath the covers, lying down as though you were gravely ill.
Meanwhile, Satoru grabbed the letters and hurried to open the door. When the sliding door opened, a short man stood outside with several attendants behind him carrying a palanquin.
âWho are you?â the man grunted suspiciously.
Satoru barely suppressed a smile. This would be easy.
If the man didnât recognize him, then he clearly had no idea what the Crown Prince looked likeâor who exactly presided over the Azure Palace.
Satoru bowed slightly, immediately assuming the posture of a palace attendant.
âI apologize,â he said politely, âbut Lady [Y/n] cannot visit the Emperor tonight. She has fallen ill.â
He extended the forged letter from Shoko. The man frowned. âI am under direct orders from the Emperor. I cannot simplyââ
âIt has also been requested by the overseer of the Azure Palace, Crown Prince Gojo, that no one may leave the palace grounds without his permission,â Satoru interrupted smoothly.
He handed over the second letter.
âIn this letter, the Crown Prince states that Lady [Y/n] must not leave more than five hundred feet from the Azure Palace while she recovers.â
The short man read the letter carefully.
Now he looked conflicted. Disobeying the Emperor was dangerous. But disobeying the Crown Princeâwho governed this palaceâwas equally risky. And bringing a sick concubine to the Emperor could reflect badly on him.
After a long pause, the man sighed in frustration. ââŠVery well.â
With a wave of his hand, he signaled for the attendants to turn back. The palanquin was carried away.
Satoru quietly closed the sliding door before returning to your bedside. You sat up slightly as he approached.
âWas it really okay to pretend to be the Crown Prince?â you asked nervously. âI mean⊠once the Emperor finds outââ
âWeâll cross that bridge when we get there,â Satoru interrupted.
He leaned down, gently pressing the back of his hand against your forehead.
âHow are you feeling?â
ââŠCold,â you admitted.
Satoru let out a soft, apologetic laugh.
âYeah⊠sorry about that.â
He rubbed the back of his neck. âLetâs run a bath for you. You look like a complete mess.â
Satoruâs hand moved to your face, smudging the end of your eyeliner as his thumb brushed against your lip.
The action was so intimate that you shivered before quickly swatting his hand away.
âWell, whose fault is that?â you muttered, forcing the words out as a strange warmth gathered deep in your stomach.
Everyone knew it was⊠unbecoming for a man to be in a ladyâs room so late at night.
âSorry [Y/n], I owe you my life,â Satoru said as he stood and walked toward the bath to check the water.
When he returned, you suddenly had an idea of how he could repay you.
âI didnât get the chance to dry off properly,â you began, grabbing a nearby towel and running it through your damp hair. âCould you help me while we wait for the bath water to heat up?â
Satoru blinked. He couldnât believe what you were suggesting.
You looked completely unfazed as you rubbed the towel through your hair, but to him, the request meant everything.
He felt his fingers twitch.
Your eyes flickered toward him, completely ignoring the almost predatory look in his gaze as you tossed the towel in his direction.
âYou owe me, remember?â
You mentally applauded yourself for sounding so nonchalant. Internally, however, you could hardly believe the words that had just left your mouth.
For someone who had been panicking moments ago about how improper it was for Satoru to even be in your room, you were now inviting him to touch you.
Breaking from his daze, Satoru looked down at the towel before slowly picking it up.
You turned around, presenting your back to him as you slipped off the black robe he had given you.
âSorry⊠your robe is a little wet,â you said quietly, pushing your hair over your shoulder so he had space to dry your back.
Satoru lifted the towel to the nape of your neck, carefully peeling back the damp fabric of your nightgown so he could press the towel gently against your skin.
His breath caught slightly.
Your back was so small beneath his hands. He could practically encompass your entire frame.
Satoru continued drying your skin, lowering the shoulder of the thin fabric slightly as he placed his larger hand against your shoulder to steady you.
Touching your bare skin felt⊠good. Too good. You were soft and very warm.
For you, you were grateful you were facing away from him. You definitely hadnât thought this through.
Each brush of Satoruâs hands made your cheeks grow hotter by the second. At the same time, a strange heat began pooling low in your stomach.
Then Satoruâs hand slowly trailed down the length of your side.
Satoru felt it immediately.
âIâI should check the water,â he said abruptly before standing and walking away.
The moment he left, you collapsed backward onto the bed in pure embarrassment.
There was no way that had just happened.
You couldnât believe that Satoru had been sitting on your bed, touching you, dressed in nothing but a thin night robe. From the way the fabric hung open, you had clearly seen the firm lines of his chest and the beginning of his toned abdomen.
Apparently that had been far too much for your composure. When Satoru returned a moment later, he cleared his throat.
âThe bath is warm enough now.â
âIâll be quick so the water doesnât get cold,â you said as you stood.
âAh⊠donât worry about that,â Satoru replied immediately. âTake your time. Youâre the one who fell into the pond.â
You shook your head. âI couldnât possibly make you wait like that⊠the bath is large enough that we could both bathe at the same time.â
The moment the words left your mouth, your hand flew up to cover it. âAhânot like that! I didnât meanâ not in that way!â you rushed out.
Satoru burst into laughter.
âI just donât want you to get sick!â you added quickly.
âJust take your time,â Satoru said, still smiling. âI never get sick.â
With an embarrassed nod, you hurried off toward the bath.
The warm water felt amazing against your skin, and you slowly sank deeper into the bath as the calming scent of rose and lavender rose with the steam.
You were certain you would sleep well tonight. For once, the Emperor was the last thing on your mind. Instead, your thoughts wandered somewhere else entirely.
âThereâs enough steam that even if Satoru joined me, I probably wouldnât be able to see himâŠâ
You glanced toward the opposite end of the bath, but the thick mist made it impossible to see that far.
But now that you were thinking about Satoru, you couldnât stop.
Your mind drifted back to earlierâhis hands on your body, the way his touch lingered on your skin as he dried you. Even the memory of it sent a strange warmth through you.
A familiar tension gathered low between your legs.
You werenât naive. Growing up in a brothel had exposed you to far more than most children ever should have known.
Still, experiencing these feelings yourself was⊠different.
You shifted slightly in the water, your legs parting just a little as your hands drifted across your damp skin, imagining for a moment that it was Satoru touching you instead.
Your breath slowed as your fingers traced over your body.
When your hand finally reached the small entrance between your legs, a quiet shiver ran through you.
What would it feel like if it were Satoru touching you instead?
His fingers were long and strong, you remembered how easily his hand had covered your shoulder earlier. The thought of those fingers sliding against your body made your stomach tighten.
Would he know exactly what he was doing? Or would he hesitate?
Your cheeks flushed even though no one could see you.
If Satoru had been the one who summoned you tonight⊠if it had been his bedchambers instead of the EmperorâsâŠ
What would the two of you have done? The thought alone made your body tense before slowly relaxing again beneath the warm water.
You leaned your head back against the edge of the bath, letting out a slow breath as the tension finally faded.
But almost immediately afterward, a wave of guilt crept into your chest.
You didnât even know where you stood with Satoru.
Right now the two of you seemed like close friendsâcloser than you had ever been with anyone before. But would you ever be anything more than that?
And even if you wanted to be⊠would that ever be possible?
Would his family ever allow him to marry a girl who had once been taken as the Emperorâs concubine?
The thought lingered heavily in your mind. Then suddenly you remembered something. Satoru still needed to bathe as well.
âAh⊠I should get out before the water gets cold,â you murmured, quickly sitting up in the bath.
While you were bathing, Satoru seemed to be fighting a battle of his own.
He was hardâpainfully so.
And it didnât help that he was sitting on your bed, surrounded by your scent. Floral, herby, and faintly sweet, like fresh pastries.
Your words earlier echoed in his mind. âThe bath is large enough that we could both bathe at the same time.â
Satoru dragged a hand down his face, groaning quietly to himself. As if you hadnât looked like the most tantalizing thing in the room already.
The thin nightgown clinging to your body, the water soaking through the fabric when he pulled you from the pondâhe didnât think he could have held himself back if he had stepped into that bath with you. Not when the thought of you naked was already tormenting him.
Still, another thought gnawed at him.
It was riddled with scarsâold wounds, faded bruises, marks from years of violence and punishment. Shoko had given him ointments to help them fade, but they were still there.
He didnât want you to see them. Didnât want to risk the possibility that you might recoil from him.
The idea of you looking at him with disgust was something Satoru wasnât sure he could survive.
And yet⊠here he was committing perhaps the most shameless act of allâtrying to relieve the pressure building in his body while sitting on your bed.
Satoruâs hand wrapped around his length as he leaned forward slightly, breath uneven.
His thoughts drifted straight back to you.
You in the bath, surrounded by steam. Your hair wet and clinging to your shoulders. The soft sound of water moving around your body.
He cursed under his breath.
He was so pent-up that it didnât take long before the tension finally broke, his body shuddering as release overtook him.
For a moment afterward, he simply lay back against the bed, breathing deeply as the pounding in his chest slowly began to calm.
He was going insane. Absolutely insane. All because of you.
After a moment, Satoru sat up again, glancing down at the bed.
ââŠShit.â He had made a mess.
Quickly moving to fix it, he stripped the sheets and blankets from the bed, folding them and setting them in the corner of the room. Then he crossed to the cabinet that held spare linens and pulled out a fresh set.
He had just finished spreading the new sheets over the mattress when the sliding door opened.
âSatoru, you can bathe now⊠what are you doing?â
He looked up to see you standing in the doorway.
Satoru forced a casual expression.
âThe bedsheets were wet,â he said easily. âI thought it would be uncomfortable for you to sleep on them.â
You blinked at him, clearly surprised. âThatâs so sweet of you.â
Satoru smiled, relieved that you didnât question it further. But before he could move toward the bath, you spoke again.
âAre you going back to the Jade Palace after you take a bath?â
Satoru paused. âWell⊠yes, I suppose.â
You hesitated before continuing. ââŠBut itâs such a long walk. You might get cold again.â
Satoru studied your face for a moment before realization slowly dawned on him.
âAre you asking me to stay here?â he asked. âTo sleep⊠here?â
You nodded, a little shyly. âIt would put my mind at ease.â
For a moment Satoru said nothing.
Then he smiled. âAlright.â
By the time Satoru finished his bath, you were already fast asleep.
The lanterns had gone dark, their flames long since extinguished. The candles had burned out as well, leaving the room cloaked in gentle darkness. Only a narrow crack in the window allowed the moonlight to slip inside, illuminating a faint silver strip across your bed.
Satoru felt tired too. Rest was something he rarely allowed himself, and when he did, it was never comfortable.
But after the bath, his body felt looser, more relaxed than it had in days.
Originally, he had planned to sleep in a spare room in the Eastern Wing. It was the sensible choice. The proper one.
Yet when his gaze drifted toward the bed, he noticed the way you sleptâcurled softly to one side, leaving an open stretch of space beside you.
It almost looked intentional. As if you had left it for him.
Carefully, Satoru lifted the covers and slipped into the bed beside you.
Warmth enveloped him instantly.
The mattress was soft, the blankets thick and comforting, and the faint scent of your bath oils lingered in the fabricârose, lavender, and something sweet he couldnât quite name.
For a fleeting moment, the feeling struck him so suddenly that it made his chest ache. It reminded him of being a child again. Of resting in his motherâs arms.
His eyes stung slightly, and he closed them, turning onto his side so he faced your sleeping form.
Even in sleep, there was a warmth that seemed to radiate from you. It drew him in like a quiet fire on a winter night.
For a moment, he wanted to reach out and pull you closer.
Instead, he gently took a small strand of your hair between his fingers, twirling it absentmindedly as he lay there beside you.
In the silence of the dark room, Satoru whispered a quiet prayerâthough he wasnât sure which god might hear it. A prayer that moments like this could last.
When you woke up, Satoru was gone. At first, a pang of disappointment hit you but it quickly faded when you felt the warmth of the opposite side of the bed. A small giddiness filled your chest as you realized he had accepted your offer. It made senseâhe had responsibilities at the Palace, duties that couldnât be ignored.
You, on the other hand, had your own mission: a letter to the Emperor. After last night, you were sure some reprimand awaited you, and you wanted to soften the blow in any way possible.
After finishing the letter, you dressed carefully. You intended to hand it to the Emperor personally, hoping to show your sincerity. And to push your luck further, you did something you knew Satoru would groan about: you wore the Emperorâs colors.
Crossing the bridge toward the Great Hall, your heart skipped a beat. Up ahead, a familiar figure movedâSatoru. Reflexively, you ducked behind a pillar, your pulse quickening.
You werenât even doing anything wrong, but you didnât want him to see you like this.
Peeking out, you realized he hadnât noticed you. Instead, he had stopped, speaking with a blond man in the uniform of a Court minister. You strained to catch fragments of their conversation:
âJust what did you do to anger The Emperor this time?â
âAh⊠I never knew the Emperor was fond of sending letters. Tell him Iâm not looking for a pen pal.â
âYour⊠this is of utmost importance⊠stay low⊠lower rooms again?â
âNanami⊠trust⊠he canât hurt me⊠worry⊠alright?â
Satoru was in trouble. How had the Emperor traced the letters back to him? And what did âlower roomsâ mean?
As you lingered behind the pillar, Satoru followed the minister, moving away from your hiding spot.
Before you could dwell on the strangeness, a jingling sound rang behind you. Turning, your eyes fell on Emperor Gakuganji. His bright red robes shimmered in the sunlight, and the golden headpiece, adorned with beads, intricate carvings, and a thin red veil, concealed his expression. Five attendants flanked him, walking precisely three steps behind.
Your heart raced. âAh! Hereâs my chance!â
You lifted your skirt slightly and approached, bowing low within his radius. âGreetings, Your Highness. I have been searching for you!â
The Emperor and his procession paused. His head tilted slightly, signaling you to lift your gaze. When he did, the softness in his expression surprised you.
You extended the letter, which one of his attendants took quickly. âI apologize for being unable to see you lastâkoffânight.â
You pressed a hand to your chest after that cough, a surprised look on your face. Perhaps you really were coming down with a sickness?
The Emperorâs laughter rang out softly. âWorry not, my dear. I received the letter from the apothecary.â
âI just feel terribly sorry for my rudenessâif I could, I would have gone, but⊠it would be terrible if I got you sick.â
âNonsense. The Emperor can never fall ill. Seeing that you made the effort to come yourself, despite being unwell and unable to stray more than five hundred feet from the Azure Palace, is proof enough of your dedication.â
You paused. Was that Satoruâs doing? If the Emperor had seen his letters⊠why was Satoru in trouble then? Something else had to be at play.
âAh⊠yes. Well, I should get back now.â
The Emperor inclined his head. âYes, heal well, my dear.â
Instead of getting the rest you needed, you ran into a friend from the Rear Court: Yuki Tsukumo. She was the wife of a high-ranking military official and had been in the Crystal Palace far longer than you. Over time, she had become something of a mentor, taking an interest in your story and your unusual path to the Inner Palace.
Currently, you were in her home. What began as a simple catch-up quickly turned into a confessional for her.
âAnd so I told him, Iâm a pushy person, but sometimes I wantâno, needâ100% of his attention,â Yuki said, leaning back as she spoke.
You nodded, taking a careful sip of the tea you had brewed for the both of you.
âSo then, I went to the training hall to âwatchâ the soldiers,â she continued. âItâs a pastime for many concubines to head to the upper decks and catch the eye of a potential manâmmh, this tea is amazing!â
Yuki placed her empty cup down. âYou said you used to work in a tea shop, yes?â
âYes,â you replied, smiling. âI wasnât always brewing, but it pleases me to know the tea tastes good. Listening to people and their troubles⊠itâs oddly soothing.â
Yukiâs smile softened. âWell, I think you do a fine job. I havenât felt this free or relaxed in a long time. This is⊠therapeutic.â
You laughed lightly. âAs it is for me.â
By the time your conversation ended, night had fallen. You left the Rear Court, walking back to the Azure Palace. It was unusually quiet for the time, so silent that you could hear far-off noises that would normally be drowned out. Above, the stars hung in the sky, clear and beautiful.
After some time, you realized you had strayed too far and lost your way. The paths were dim and confusing, leading you to a corridor you didnât recognize. It overlooked a large flat stone area.
âThatâs strange⊠I donât think Iâve ever seen this place before,â you murmured, ready to turn back until a lantern flickered in the distance.
A man, dressed in the garb of a high-ranking court figure, stepped into the stone area. At first, it seemed empty, but as he moved in a deliberate pattern, the ground shifted. A hidden opening slowly revealed itself.
Your eyes widened as he disappeared into the passage.
Not long after, several men in dark clothing followed him. Your stomach sank once you realized these were the same men who had kidnapped you.
Then another lantern appeared, held by none other than Satoru.
âWhat is he doingâŠ?â you whispered, your heart quickening.
He, too, stepped into the secret passage. And finally, the last figure entered: the Emperor himself. You recognized him immediately by the clothes he had worn when you greeted him, though this time his veil was gone. Beneath it, his long white eyebrows and a beard revealed his age. He looked olderâbalding, perhaps in his fortiesâand entirely unlike the image you had imagined.
You covered your mouth. âThatâs the Emperor?!â
Once the Emperor entered, the opening closed, vanishing before your eyes.
âJust⊠what was that?â
Curiosity made you stay. Minutes passed, and fatigue crept in as you waited, almost drifting off, but then movement caught your eye. The Emperor emerged first, followed by the first man who had entered. But Satoru had not yet appeared.
Your heart began to race as the sky lightened slightly, hints of soft blue and pink painting the horizon.
Finally Satoru appearedâbut something was wrong. He limped, looking disheveled, his usual composure gone.
You didnât know what had happened, but you knew it was serious. Night had nearly given way to dawn, and whatever had occurred, you would have to ask Satoru about it tomorrow.
Satoru entered the Lower Rooms with the same numb expression he always wore. This hidden stone dungeon was damp, dark, and heavy with the stench of mildew. Every shadow seemed to echo memories from when he was fifteen, and the years had only made him desensitized to the horrors that took place here.
A lantern swung in his hands, casting uneven light across the walls streaked with dried blood, dark as old rust. He ignored it, focusing instead on the man waiting for him: Advisor Akagi.
âYou think youâre funny, hm? Thinking a letter could override the Emperorâs jurisdiction?â Akagiâs tone dripped with disdain.
Satoru shrugged lightly. âOh⊠and here I was thinking I was called for something important.â Truthfully, he was relieved. If this was all they had for him, then the shipment of imported weapons moving through the Palace remained undiscovered.
He glanced over his shoulder. âIs that all, old man? Can I go?â
The Emperorâs footsteps came from behind, deliberate and heavy. A scoff left his lips. âConsider yourself lucky. Had Lady [Y/n] not conveyed her apologies for missing our appointment, I would have carved my name into your back. She truly did seem⊠sick.â
Satoruâs eyes narrowed. He hadnât known you met with the Emperor todayâand the fact that the man said your name made his stomach twist. His distaste was plain on his face.
âWere you not aware, dear boy?â Akagi asked, tilting his head in mock concern.
The Emperor laughed. âSuch a shame. She looked charming in deep red. The color suits her well.â
Akagi raised an eyebrow. âWhat was that?â
âI said bullshitââ Satoruâs words barely left his mouth before a long rope cracked across his face, sending his lantern skittering across the stone floor.
âWhat makes you think you are permitted to speak, let alone disagree with the Emperor?â Akagi hissed.
The Emperor hummed, a cruel smirk tugging at his lips. âCareful, Akagi. We wouldnât want to ruin that precious face of yours.â
âYouâre right. Forgive me, Your Highness,â Akagi murmured, bowing.
âIt seems you still have quite a mouth on you,â the Emperor continued, circling Satoru with a predatory air. âIs it not time for you to mature? Or perhaps I should arrange a marriage for you. Would that decelerate this rebellious streak?â
Satoru stayed silent. The thought of an arranged marriage made his blood boil. He couldnât think of anyone he wanted to marryâexcept youâand the idea of someone the Emperor planted so close to his inner circle made him sick.
The Emperor took a slow step closer, forcing Satoru to meet his gaze. âYes, I remember. An envoy from the Iori Family visited recently. I believe he has a daughter your ageâwell-mannered, well-trained at home, and experienced as a shrine maiden. All the qualities of a proper wife.â
Satoru clenched his fists. He would rather drink the Emperorâs bath water than marry someone like that.
âIâm sure sheâs a fine girl,â Satoru said quietly, âbut she deserves better than me. Donât you think? I mean, you call me a failure all the time. It hardly seems like Iâm worth the effort.â
The Emperor laughed, low and chilling. âGetting smart with me, boy? If I say she will make a good wife for you, then she will. You hear me?â
âHeard,â Satoru muttered, voice tight.
The Emperor rolled up his sleeves, the movement deliberate and foreboding. âSince Lady [Y/n] was unable to release my⊠frustrations last night, as punishment I will take them out on you.â
From the shadows, a man from the Himitsu Keisatsu appeared, silently handing the Emperor a long, cruel whip.
Satoru sighed. It looked like it would be a long night.
The next day, you were in search of Satoru. The Crystal Palace was vast, and you couldnât exactly waltz into the Jade Palace looking for him. Besides, you had no idea where he could be.
Perhaps the medical wing? After all, he seemed injured. Thatâs where you found yourself, standing outside the room Shoko usually worked in.
Today, the wooden doors were closed instead of open. That was unusual.
âShoko? Are you in?â you called, knocking gently.
There was a brief murmur of voices, the sound of shuffling feet, and then the door opened.
âAh, Lady [Y/n]? What brings you here?â Shokoâs face relaxed at the sight of you.
You peeked inside, hoping to find Satoru resting on a bed, but instead, Court Minister Suguru was there. From the looks of it, he and Shoko were in the middle of an important conversation.
âI was actually searching for Satoru,â you said, hesitating. âI hoped he might be here. I apologize if I interrupted⊠anything.â
Shoko shook her head. âNo, in fact, we were just finishing up.â She stepped aside, motioning for you to enter.
You hesitated, then took a cautious step inside.
âYou hoped heâd be here?â Suguru asked, his tone curious. âWhy is that?â
âWellâŠâ you began, unsure how much to reveal. âI saw him last night, and he looked⊠well, I thought he was injured. But I guess not.â
Shoko and Suguru exchanged a look, as if they understood exactly what you meant.
âYouâre looking for⊠Satoru, correct?â Suguru asked, his gaze sharp. He seemed to have pieced together why you didnât call Satoru by his proper title. âI might know where he is. Follow me.â
You trailed behind him as he led you across the palace, explaining that as a Court Minister he had special permissions. One of those was a Blue Cardâa token of authority from the Crown Prince that allowed access to restricted areas.
As you walked, your mind raced. You didnât think about it before, but now you questioned why Satoru would be in the Jade Palace. If he were a high-ranking noble, he would have attendants, guards, and courtiers constantly around him. Could he be close to the royal family? If he was, that would explain how he forged that letter from the Crown Prince.
Crossing the bridge from the Rear Court to the Inner Court, you noticed the large stone area again.
âExcuse me, what is this area used for?â you asked, curiosity tinged with caution.
Suguru glanced at it. âDuring military parades, this is where the Emperor views his troops and assets.â
That made senseâit was near the training grounds. But your eyes were drawn to a strange pattern in the center of the floor. That had to be where the secret passageway was.
âIs that all itâs used for?â you asked carefully. Suguru was a friend of Satoruâs, but you werenât sure how much he knew. After what you saw last night, you didnât want to risk letting anything slip.
Suguru raised an eyebrow. âIs there anything that makes you think otherwise?â
You sighed. Suguru was deliberately cryptic. âPerhaps⊠seeing someone enter an underground passage.â
He paused, glancing around before speaking. âThe Crystal Palace has many underground passageways called the Lower Rooms. Where do you think the dungeons are located?â
The dungeons? That made sense, yet something still felt off. âThen⊠why would Satoru go there?â
That question seemed to confirm what Suguru already suspected you had witnessed. Since Satoru had kept his position and mission a secret, you had stumbled onto knowledge most of the palace never knew. You were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Suguru exhaled. âI cannot tell you. Whenever⊠Satoru is ready, Iâm sure he will explain everything.â
You could tell he knew far more than he was letting on.
âThen⊠is it exactly as I saw? I wasnât imagining it?â
Suguru shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. âThat depends on what you think you saw.â
After passing several checkpoints, Suguru finally brought you just beyond a door that led to Satoruâs room.
âWait here. Iâll inform him of your presence,â Suguru said before entering.
You nodded. This was supposed to be Satoruâs room, but you couldnât even remember how youâd reached it. The corridors had twisted like a maze, and at one point Suguru had covered your eyes as he led you through the last stretch.
It was suspicious, no doubt, why he went to such lengths to hide it from you. Perhaps it was Suguru's odd sense of humorâhe seemed to like leaving things with an air of mystery.
From inside, you heard a loud shuffle, a crash, and other noises that made you raise an eyebrow.
Soon the door opened, and you caught the tail end of his conversation.
âDonât say I never did anything for you.â
âWellâI didnât ask you to do thisââ
Suguru ignored him and turned to you. âYou may go in now. Iâll wait here to escort you back to the Inner Court.â
Nodding, you stepped inside. Satoruâs room was unlike anything youâd seen before. It was ornate, more lavish than the Great Hall, with a spacious bed and even a bath area off to the side.
Satoru lay on the bed, immediately perking up when he saw you. âAhâ[Y/n]?!â
You werenât sure what Suguru had entered to do, but it seemed heâd done everything except announce your visit.
âI hope itâs not a bad time?â
Satoru shook his head. âOhânever! You could never visit me at a bad time!â
You approached, examining him. His voice sounded fine, and he seemed energetic. His white hair flowed down his back, but his upper body was heavily bandaged under a black robe.
Without thinking, you rushed into his arms. âOh Satoru! Iâm so glad youâre alright!â
Satoru returned your embrace, his ears reddening at the sudden contact.
âWhy wouldnât I be alright?â he asked, feigning confusion.
You studied him, still cautious. He seemed fine, but you had to ask.
âWell⊠I saw you last night. You went into the Lower Rooms with some strange men⊠and the Emperor, and you didnât come out until much later. I saw you limping, and I thought you were hurtâŠâ
Satoruâs face drained of color. He hadnât expected you to witness any of that. He didnât speakâhe simply fell back onto the bed, an arm covering his eyes.
âI donât want to lie to you, [Y/n]. But I canât say what happened.â
Your chest tightened. If he couldnât speak, then it had to be worse than you suspected.
âWas it my fault? I saw you got a letter⊠were you in trouble because of what we did?â
Satoru sat up and held your shoulders gently. âYour fault? Oh noânever!â
That was the last thing he wanted you to think. Then he tilted his head, curious. How did you know about the letter?
âWere you watching me? How did you know about the letter?â he asked, a smirk playing on his lips.
You sputtered. âIâI just happened to see itâŠâ
Satoru laughed softly. âIâm teasing. Donât worry too much about me.â He patted your head.
Looking up into his blue eyes, you noticed a depth of darkness there, something you longed to chase away. But if he said not to worry, you let it beâfor now.
After your visit, you said goodbye and followed Suguru back.
âSo, did you have a fulfilling talk?â he asked, his dark hair swaying in the afternoon breeze.
You nodded. âYes⊠it was eye-opening. I believe Satoru is hiding something from me⊠something painful.â
Suguru didnât respond, simply listening.
âI donât know what it is, but I want to help him. Heâs done so much for me since I arrived at the Crystal Palace.â
Suguru offered a wry smile. âYouâre a good person. I see why heâs drawn to you.â
Your ears reddened. âYou think so?â
He nodded. âNot many have the courage to say what youâre saying now. Thatâs brave. But thereâs only so much you can do. The inner turmoil in Satoruâs heart isnât easily tamed.â
He looked up at the flying moons in the sky, then back at you. âIt will take a force greater than us. But I believe you have the power to soften it.â
By the time you reached the bridge to the Azure Palace, Suguru stopped.
âI shall bid you farewell, dear [Y/n].â
âAs for you⊠thank you for today.â
Without another word, the two of you went your separate ways.
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