People say the richest and strongest sorcerer of the Heian era, Ryomen Sukuna, is more powerful than a king. Everyone knows he lacks nothing, yet villagers visit him with gifts every single day. Some offer the finest silk, some bring their harvest, others offer money. Sukuna never asked for any of it, nor does he need it, so he barely pays attention.
A grand palace filled with servants, a harem of women, children born from them. What does he not have?
Yet what no one realizes is that he lacks only one thing.
An heir.
It is not that he is childless. But he does not want just anyone to inherit his legacy. Sukuna wants a child from his first wife, his Hana.
But she never agrees.
He has tried everything; threatening her, scolding her, persuading her, attempting to win her heart with expensive gifts, even softening his own behaviour for her sake. Nothing works.
She only looks at him with an unreadable expression in her eyes.
Sukuna even gave her power within the palace, making her the head of the women’s affairs. And he cannot deny that she performs her duties with remarkable grace. Since she began managing the inner palace, everything has run smoothly, allowing him to focus on his own matters without concern.
Yet still… she will not let him touch her.
She was not always like this.
Hana has been with Sukuna from the very beginning. Back when he had nothing but his sorcery, he married her simply to silence the pressure of society. Even now, he believes it was one of the best decisions he ever made.
Because Hana used to make him feel that, even after a massacre, he still deserved softness.
Her intelligence and elegance are still among the highlights of his day. But once, she used to touch him as if she could mend every broken part of him.
Then his estate grew.
To strengthen his status, he began marrying noble women. One by one, alliances were formed, and with them came more wives. Somewhere along the way, Hana’s love began to fade.
At first, he did not notice. Sukuna was too consumed by politics and the constant presence of beautiful women surrounding him. Glamour, fame, and power blinded him for a time. He became more ruthless, more arrogant.
He never realized it was because her quiet, grounding presence was slowly disappearing from his life.
When the chaos of ambition finally settled and the glitter of it all lost its charm, Sukuna found himself craving something else.
Stillness.
The calm that Hana once brought him.
Only then did he realize how long it had been since he had seen her. For a moment, he even wondered if she still lived within the palace.
When he finally found her, she was staying in the smallest room of the estate, wearing the same simple clothes she had always preferred.
He could not bring himself to meet her eyes.
If he had, he might have noticed that the sparkle in them had long since faded into quiet indifference.
He tried to fix everything the only way he knew how.
He gave her status. The largest chambers in the palace. Authority so great that, after his own command, her word would be the final one. He named her his legal queen.
For years he did not even dare ask her for an heir.
But as children from his other wives and concubines began filling the eastern wing of the palace, the desire returned.
Still, he refused to choose the firstborn among them.
His heir had to be Hana’s.
With her intelligence. Her elegance. Her eyes. Her smile.
He thought perhaps she was finally ready when he saw how gently she cared for every child in the palace, treating them as though they were her own.
So, one evening, he brought her favourite sweet.
Hana disliked grand gestures, so he did not make one. And that night, luck seemed to favor him. After so long, she allowed him to rest his head in her lap.
He felt certain she would agree.
But she said no.
When he sat up and asked her why, she simply replied that she had too many responsibilities. She had no time to raise an heir.
Still, Sukuna did not give up.
No matter whom he spends his days with, he always returns to Hana’s chamber at night with the same quiet hope that one day she might open her arms for him again.
Tonight is no different.
He is exhausted. From meetings with royals, from the endless temptations of concubines, from the demands of wives.
He is genuinely tired.
His rigid shoulders finally relax when he enters her chamber and finds her reading beneath the soft glow of candlelight.
She lies on her stomach, dark hair spilling around her like the night itself had taken inspiration from it. Her back is bare.
A faint smile spreads across Sukuna’s lips.
Sukuna’s voice softens without him even realizing it.
“My precious, what are you reading?”
She doesn’t sit up or stand the way everyone else in the palace does when Sukuna enters. And to be honest, he doesn’t mind it at all. He likes being the same old Sukuna for her.
She hums almost inaudibly.
“The reports of this month’s expenses. I was checking if I can fit some mango trees into the garden budget.”
Sukuna sinks onto the tatami beside her.
“You need more money? Why adjust anything? You can just take it from the royal treasury.”
She adjusts a palm under her chin while her other hand scribbles something onto the scroll.
“I don’t want to burden you with that.”
Sukuna lets out a quiet, defeated sigh.
“Why do you say it like that? You know everything that’s mine is yours.”
He leans forward, cupping her face and turning her gently toward him.
“Just ask me for once.”
She looks into his eyes with that same indifference.
Sukuna’s heart twists.
She used to get so shy in moments like this. She used to demand things from him—anything, everything; like she had every right to what was his. He would have given up everything just to see her like that again. To make her feel safe enough to demand whatever she wanted.
His thumb traces over her cheek instinctively before he even realizes it.
She pushes his hand away.
“You appointed me to manage the women’s affairs and the matters of the inner palace. I don’t have the right to take anything I want.”
She starts rolling the scroll back up before adding quietly,
“Your wealth isn’t mine. You earned it for yourself.”
Sukuna’s hand stays suspended in the air for a few seconds before dropping beside him. He closes his eyes briefly, refusing to let anger take over.
“Please, Hana. I am tired. Can’t we talk like before?”
He finally says it after holding those words back for so long.
She has already risen from the tatami, placing the scroll back into a drawer.
“Like before?” she says.
“Nothing in my life is like before. I don’t recognize this palace anymore.”
She turns toward him with a small, humourless chuckle.
“You changed. You upgraded yourself. And you expect me to stay the same?”
Sukuna stands, his fists clenching at his sides.
“So what did you want?” he snaps. “For me to remain a weakling my entire life? Aren’t you happy we have everything now? Aren’t you happy I can place the world at your feet?”
Her arms fold across her chest.
“How could you blame me for my behaviour?” she asks calmly.
She glances around the room.
“Is all of this really for me? Or are you compensating for your mistakes?”
Sukuna always tries to keep his temper in check when he is in front of her. But something inside him snaps today.
“I did everything for you.”
Her cold indifference breaks for a moment as she scoffs.
“For me? You are hilarious, Your Highness.”
“I have never heard of a husband marrying other women for his wife’s sake. I have never seen a man abandon the woman he loves once he achieves his goals. And I certainly never knew a palace full of wives and concubines could exist for my benefit.”
Sukuna knows she is right.
Somewhere along the way, he was selfish.
Still, he argues, “You know very well those marriages were for political reasons.”
He can make the whole world fall with his words alone.
Yet he flinches when he notices the clear disgust in her eyes for the first time.
“Having offspring from other women is politics now, Ryo?”
Ryo.
The nickname that once brought him solace now feels like a thorn digging into his chest.
Sukuna feels defeated. He steps back.
“Y-you… you’re angry. We’ll talk later.”
She turns away from him and begins removing hair ties from her hair.
“I’ve been angry for years,” she says quietly.
“You just noticed it now.”
Sukuna stumbles back a few more steps. The room suddenly feels suffocating.
“We’ll talk later,” he repeats.
Then he somehow manages to leave her chamber.
He breathes once he steps into the long balcony of the palace, lit by rows of fire torches. The cool night air brushes against him, easing the throbbing in his nerves a little.
His fist slams against the wooden railing.
How could she accuse him after he gave her everything?
He is Ryomen Sukuna, the King of Curses. People accept his insults as rewards, yet she dares to point fingers at him.
His outburst must have alerted people in the palace, because suddenly two slender, soft arms snake around his neck.
One of his favourite concubines, one of the few he allows to be playful, coos at him, “Your Highness, are you tense? Are you angry at Hana-sama?”
Sukuna doesn’t answer. He remains standing as if she doesn’t exist.
She presses closer, her voice turning sweeter.
“I know Hana-sama can be too strict sometimes. But how dare she make you angry, Your Highness. You should pu—”
Before she can finish her sentence, Sukuna turns and detaches her from him.
His fingers dig into the pale skin of her wrist, hard enough to leave a bruise.
“Don’t you dare talk about her like that.”
His voice drops dangerously low.
“I will throw you out of this palace. Strip you of your status, your expensive lifestyle if you ever try that again.”
He releases her hand with a sharp jerk and storms toward his chamber.
Once inside, he locks the doors and drinks the finest rice wine until he eventually passes out.
After what happened, no one dares to wake him the next morning.
It is already late. Sukuna has missed several meetings. The guards confirm that after entering his chamber the previous night, he never opened the doors again.
Hana has already woken up.
After handing over the list and money for the day’s meals, she gathers all the children of the palace beneath the large tree in the garden for their daily lessons.
The children adore her.
For the older ones, she has arranged the finest tutors in royal affairs. The toddlers remain under her care while she rocks the youngest gently on her hip.
No matter how much the other women in the palace may hate or admire her, no one can deny that without Hana, the children would never receive such careful and thoughtful upbringing.
Servants and concubines often gossip about her.
Once, Hana-sama had been among the most respected noble ladies in Japan. She could have married any royal, perhaps even the Emperor himself.
Yet she had chosen Ryomen Sukuna when he possessed nothing but his sorcery.
Many had witnessed how effortlessly she handled Sukuna’s temper, as if his terrifying reputation meant nothing to her.
Some even believed that Hana-sama’s companionship had been one of the reasons behind Sukuna’s rise to prosperity.
But today the palace buzzes with a different kind of gossip.
Sukuna-sama slept in his own chamber for the first time in months.
Everyone is trying to determine what happened, whether Hana-sama threw the king out, or whether he left her chamber on his own.
It isn’t as if Hana hasn’t heard the rumours.
She simply focuses on the most important thing in front of her.
Her laughter echoes through the garden when one of the toddlers tries to climb onto her head.
Sukuna’s eyes flutter as his sleep lightens at the sound of her laugh.
Even in his sleep, he murmurs softly,
“Hana… my precious.”
Out of habit, he extends a hand beside him, expecting her to be there.
He lets out a quiet sigh and opens his eyes.
He forgot.
He slept alone last night.
His head throbs from the rice wine he drank.
He shouts for an attendant.
“Get me something. My head is throbbing.”
His voice carries far enough to reach the garden.
Without even looking up from the toddler drawing cherry blossoms beside her, Hana speaks calmly to her lady-in-waiting.
“Make him the soup I taught you.”
Though her voice is not loud, Sukuna’s heightened senses pick it up easily.
He rises from the bed, throws a kimono loosely over his broad shoulders, and walks toward the window.
From there, he can see her clearly in the garden, surrounded by children.
His furrowed brows slowly relax.
That pure smile rests on her lips as she coos gently at the youngest child in her arms.
She doesn’t smile like that at him anymore.
He leans against the window.
As expected, his attendant soon brings the soup Hana mentioned.
Sukuna gestures for it to be placed down.
“Cancel my affairs today,” he orders.
“Announce a royal day off.”
When Sukuna is bathing in herbs to calm his throbbing head, an announcement roars from the palace all the way to the outskirts of the fort.
“EVERY ROYAL MEETING AND GATHERING WILL BE PAUSED FOR THE DAY. WE ANNOUNCE A ROYAL DAY OFF!”
The proclamation echoes with the loud beating of drums.
Hana looks up toward Sukuna’s chamber.
First a hangover… now a sudden day off from royal meetings and gatherings? Is everything alright?
Despite her better judgment, she asks the attendants and servants to take care of the children. She is about to place the youngest down, but the baby immediately throws a tantrum.
She chuckles softly and adjusts him back into her arms, rubbing his back while the baby tucks his head against her shoulder.
It is an unspoken rule in the palace.
Hana-sama has unrestricted access to every corner of it. Sukuna’s chamber is no exception.
So, when she walks gracefully through the corridor, still softly cooing at the baby in her arms, the guards clear her path without a word.
The main guard outside Sukuna’s chamber opens the door before she even asks.
She nods once in appreciation.
The baby is already drooling onto her shoulder.
“Your Highness?” she calls, looking around.
Sukuna is still in the royal bath when he hears her voice.
He quickly signals his attendants to clear him.
Before any of them can ask Hana to wait, he speaks up.
“My precious, wait for me.”
She sits down on the royal tatami, making playful faces at the baby in her arms.
The baby giggles as if he is watching the funniest jester, his grabby little hands clumsily trying to hold her face.
“Hana!”
She looks up when he calls her again.
His hair is still messy, bathing robes loosely wrapped around him. An attendant runs after him anxiously.
“Your Highness, at least let me dry your hair.”
Hana extends her free hand.
“Give me the towel.”
The attendant quickly hands it over and leaves.
Sukuna walks toward her almost automatically and kneels in front of her.
The baby in Hana’s arms is sucking his thumb while staring curiously at Sukuna.
She places him gently on her lap before covering Sukuna’s head with the towel and beginning to dry his hair.
Sukuna melts into the familiar comfort.
His eyes close. His hands rest on the tatami on either side of her hips.
There is no sound in the room except the soft babbling noises the baby makes.
Hana breaks the silence first as she pulls the towel away from Sukuna’s head.
“Your Highness, what is wrong? You haven’t paused royal affairs in years.”
Sukuna opens his eyes.
“Not feeling like being a royal today.”
The baby giggles again, thinking he is part of some game of hide and seek.
Sukuna smirks at him and ruffles his hair.
Then Hana’s soft whisper makes Sukuna go rigid.
“Pumpkin, that’s your Otousan.”
She is looking at the baby, cooing gently.
“Say Otousan… Otousan…”
The baby simply blows a raspberry in reply.
She laughs proudly and hugs him.
Sukuna gently places a hand on the baby’s back.
“You could become a great mother,” he murmurs.
Hana answers confidently while hugging the baby.
“I am already a mother.”
He sighs and rests his head against her chest beside the child.
“I mean… ours.”
His voice is barely audible, but she definitely hears it.
Whenever he used to place his head on her chest, she would shower him with kisses, gentle caresses, and soft rubs along his back.
But now her attention remains solely on the child.
Sukuna will never admit how helpless he feels in moments like this.
He buries his face against her neck and continues softly.
“Please, my precious. At least consider my wish.”
He feels her hand cup the back of his head.
A spark of hope makes his heart pound.
But then—
“I am already raising so many children. I’m sure one of them will be worthy enough to carry your legacy.”
The same answer as before.
Sukuna slowly turns his face toward the child, who is fussing restlessly.
Hana tries to settle him.
“He’s just like you,” she says softly. “Stubborn. Doesn’t like to share attention. Hates it when someone else tries to touch me while I’m holding him.”
Sukuna understands the implication.
His fingers still.
After a brief pause, he slowly lifts his head from her shoulder.
Her hand drops from his head.
Before she can stand up, he grabs her hand.
“Hana, stay with me today.”
He sees her throat bob, as if she’s suppressing something.
“I have many things pending.”
Her hand slides from his as she finally stands up.
Sukuna remains seated, looking up at her as she leaves. Before exiting his chamber, she adds,
“I’ll send your concubines to keep you company.”
He stands quickly, his robe slipping from his shoulders with the sudden movement as he follows her out of the chamber.
“But I don’t need them. I need you.”
She pauses and turns, rocking the baby on her hip.
“Your Highness.”
Her eyes travel up and down his figure.
“I would suggest you consider your surroundings.”
His eyes follow hers and the around him.
Guards, servants, and attendants are already staring.
They have never seen their king in such a state. Barely tied bathrobe, hair messy.
He clears his throat.
“I’ll get dressed. Meanwhile, finish all your pending tasks… or ask someone else to do them. I need your company today.”
He turns and walks back into his chamber.
As soon as he leaves, her lady-in-waiting approaches her.
“Hana-sama, you can give me the child. I’ll go prepare your ornaments and your best clothes for —”
Hana begins walking again.
“No need. I’ll complete my duties first.”
The lady-in-waiting follows her.
“But Your Highness said he wants to spend his time with you.”
Hana approaches the garden where the older children’s lessons are just coming to an end.
“Then tell Your Highness to wait. I do not have the privilege of abandoning my responsibilities to entertain him.”
The lady-in-waiting knows it is useless to insist.
She has seen this before.
Whenever His Highness demands Hana-sama’s attention, she buries herself deeper in work, pushing him away even more.
Everyone close to Hana-sama in the palace knows it.
But do they dare question her?
Never.
They know well that even before Hana-sama becomes angry, His Highness would punish anyone who dares challenge her.
The mothers have already gathered as the lessons are dismissed.
Hana hands the youngest child back to his mother.
The baby begins crying immediately, reaching for Hana again, but his mother carries him away.
The other children run toward Hana first, hugging her and exchanging a few quick words before returning to their mothers.
She takes one last round around the garden, making sure no child is left behind, before moving on to her other duties.
Once the garden is empty, she heads toward the kitchen to check if the meals are ready.
Children usually get hungry after their lessons.
She makes sure the food is balanced and properly cooked before sending the trays out with the attendants.
The head chef approaches her hesitantly.
“Hana-sama, you haven’t eaten anything since morning. If you’d like, I can prepare something for you.”
She watches the preparation of the meals for the rest of the palace.
“I am not feeling like eating.”
Her voice is flat, as if the topic itself bores her.
The lady-in-waiting steps beside her.
“Hana-sama, you barely eat properly these days and work day and night. You’ll get sick at this rate.”
But Hana changes the subject.
“Is His Highness’s meal ready?”
The head chef and the lady-in-waiting exchange a glance.
A quiet sigh leaves the chef’s lips before he answers.
“It’s ready. Should we send it?”
Hana hums softly and nods.
“Yes.”
Soon the kitchen becomes empty as every meal is sent out.
Hana lets out a tired sigh and sits down on a step by the kitchen door.
“Itamae-san, can you make me a bowl of rice?”
The chef hesitates.
“Only rice, Hana-sama? I know you don’t like the royal meals, but at least have some vegetables and soup.”
She simply nods, resting her head briefly.
“Give me whatever is left for the staff.”
The lady-in-waiting, who is helping carry empty utensils, pauses.
“For the staff… you mean…?”
Hana stands and dusts off her kimono.
“You know what I mean. Whatever you and Itamae-san will eat.”
They already understand.
It isn’t the first time.
Often, she doesn’t eat at all, and when she does, she only eats the staff meal.
Even after so many years, they still hesitate to serve such simple food to her.
The head chef finally nods and begins preparing her bowl.
Hana walks into the kitchen and sits down at the counter.
The lady-in-waiting smiles.
“You’re going to eat here?”
Before Hana can answer, the chef places her meal in front of her.
It’s simple, but prepared with care.
“Hana-sama likes to eat with us.”
Hana smiles.
“Come. Get your food too.”
The lady-in-waiting walks to a cabinet.
“I’ll get us some pickles.”
The chef begins preparing bowls for himself and the lady-in-waiting.
Hana waits quietly.
Suddenly the royal guard’s voice echoes through the corridor before the footsteps can be heard.
“His Majesty, the great Ryomen Sukuna, is coming through.”
Everyone stands immediately.
Except Hana.
She doesn’t even turn around.
But her posture says everything… her shoulders stiffen, her fingers pause over the chopsticks.
Sukuna signals the moment he enters the kitchen.
Everyone else quickly scatters.
He closes the distance in a blink.
His arms wrap around her from behind, his face burying into her hair.
“My precious, why didn’t you come? I was waiting for you.”
Hana knows well that he came here without eating. She sent his meal only minutes ago.
She doesn’t try to push him away.
“Your Highness, your meal will get cold.”
But Sukuna has already begun peppering kisses along her hairline.
“I want to eat with you.”
She rolls her shoulders slightly.
“Your Highness… why are you being so clingy?”
Sukuna lifts her easily and sits down in her seat with her on his lap.
“I told you this morning,” he murmurs.
“I need you. I want to spend my day off with you.”
“But, Your Highness, your food will get cold.”
Her hand finds a fold of his kimono to grip so she won’t slip from his lap.
Her legs dangle to the side. He nuzzles against her cheek and murmurs,
“I’ll eat with you.”
He finally lifts his head from her and notices her meal.
His brows furrow immediately when he sees the difference between his food and hers.
“Who served you this? I’ll—”
Before he can finish, she presses a hand against his chest.
That stops him instantly.
“Your Highness, I eat like this.”
He cups her face with both hands.
“Why? Aren’t they giving you the food prepared for the royals?”
She shakes her head.
“It’s not like that, Your Highness. I just…”
She pauses before adding softly,
“The royal food doesn’t suit me.”
The lines on Sukuna’s forehead deepen in confusion.
“So, you’re telling me you never ate any royal meals?”
She pushes herself off his lap.
“I never tasted them.”
A realization dawns on Sukuna.
Before he became powerful, they used to sit together and eat. They used to feed each other.
Now he doesn’t even know what she eats.
Guilt coils in his stomach like a snake.
His fists clench, but his voice comes out softer than before.
“Why? Don’t you like them? I can change the chef if you don’t like his style of cooking.”
She looks away from him.
“Itamae-san cooks well. The children, your wives, the concubines, your staff everyone loves his cooking. I do too. But I don’t feel comfortable eating such royal dishes.”
He reaches out and pulls her back into his arms.
“My precious, then tell me what makes you comfortable. I’ll make that happen.”
Her face remains turned away.
“I am perfectly comfortable with my simple meals.”
Sukuna rests his forehead against her temple.
“At least look at me.”
His voice trembles without him realizing it.
She gulps but says nothing.
It’s not as if Sukuna never noticed.
She rejects everything that is more than necessary.
Her clothes look no different from those of a village girl. As his queen, she should have been wearing jade ornaments, yet she ties her hair with nothing more than a simple ribbon.
He sighs.
“Say something, precious. Your silence wounds me more than your words.”
He gently shakes her by the shoulders.
She closes her eyes.
“Ryo… don’t make me.”
His arms slowly wrap around her waist.
“Please, my precious. I’ve been trying for so many years. Why won’t you accept anything?”
Her voice is barely audible.
“I don’t need your luxury.”
He guides her head against his chest, holding her close.
“But didn’t we both dream of standing at the top of the world? You are part of my success too.”
Sukuna’s heart sinks when she doesn’t hold him back.
Her hands remain idle at her sides.
He buries his face in her hair.
“I have everything because of you, and yet you refuse your claim in my success.”
Her voice comes again, low and distant.
“You left my hand a long time ago when you chose your path to success.”
Sukuna pulls back slightly to look at her face.
“My precious, I never left your hand.”
A dry chuckle escapes her.
“Really, Ryo? Then we must be living in different realities.”
Sukuna cups the back of her head.
“Hana, please. Why do you always have to be passive-aggressive? Why can’t we talk normally?”
Hana glares at him.
“Talk? Have you ever cared about that, Ryo? First you pushed me away when you started becoming stable. Then I watched you marry other women as if I didn’t matter.”
Sukuna’s scowl falters when she continues.
“Do you even realize how I survived hearing you consummate a new woman every night? How it broke me to see you surrounded by them? When I tried to talk to you back then, you only sent a guard to inform me you were busy.”
His hands drop from her waist.
She quickly steps away from him, her voice trembling.
“Even when I managed to meet you, a concubine or one of your wives was always hanging on your arm. Your power, your status… they isolated me.”
She pauses, breathing heavily from the emotions she had kept buried for so long.
“Then one day you suddenly decided you needed me again. I thought you would finally listen. But instead, you buried me under responsibilities, managing those same women, the same wealth that took you away from me.”
Sukuna stands up.
He steps toward her but stops when she takes another step back.
“Hana, my precious… I didn’t realize I was hurting you. I never understood that those responsibilities were suffocating you.”
She scoffs.
“It used to, then I made a truce. I found my place under those responsibilities. So now I refuse to take anything more than what is necessary to fulfil my duties.”
Sukuna begins pacing.
“I’ll fix it. I’ll fix everything.”
Then suddenly he grabs her wrist and drags her out of the kitchen.
“What are you doing, Your Highness?” Hana’s voice echoes through the palace corridor.
Sukuna stops and turns.
“Ryo! I am not ‘Your Highness’ to you. It’s Ryo.”
He bends, placing one arm behind her knees and the other around her back before lifting her up in a bridal carry and continuing down the corridor.
Hana yelps and grabs the collar of his kimono.
“Your Highness!”
He bounces her slightly in his arms and corrects her,
“Ryo. Call me Ryo.”
She looks around and notices the curious eyes of the palace residents watching them.
Embarrassed, she hides her face in the only place she can, his shoulder.
He carries her into his chamber.
His meal still sits on the dining tatami, cold by now.
He sits down with her still in his arms.
The guards inside the chamber exchange glances but say nothing.
Sukuna grabs a pair of chopsticks and shoves them into Hana’s palm.
“Eat.”
His arms cage her waist, preventing her from getting off his lap.
She protests softly.
“Your Highness, this is not—”
He squeezes her waist, his voice rumbling.
“Ryo.”
Correcting her again.
She gulps and looks up at him.
Trying to calm him down, she rubs his chest gently.
“Ryo… I can apologize for what I said.”
Sukuna grabs her wrist.
“No. You said nothing wrong. I need to fix it.”
Hana chooses her words carefully.
“Ryo… how are you planning to fix it?”
Sukuna shifts her slightly on his lap so that she is now facing him completely.
“You won’t work anymore. You’ll stay with me and enjoy royal services.”
She tugs her hand free from his grip and cups his face.
“I like to work. And if I—”
Her words die in her throat when Sukuna suddenly pulls her into a kiss.
Her eyes widen.
For a moment she forgets to react as he desperately presses his lips against hers, as if trying to force her to agree with him.
After a few seconds he pulls away, breathing heavily.
“No ifs or buts. What I said is final.”
He rests his forehead against her collarbone.
Her hand hesitates for a moment before she gently runs her fingers through his hair.
Silence stretches between them.
His breathing slowly begins to calm.
The emotional outburst, Sukuna’s sudden actions, and the fact that she is still on an empty stomach begin to take their toll on Hana.
She starts to feel light-headed.
“Ryo…”
Her voice comes out breathless, vision gets blurry, the chamber spins.
Sukuna doesn’t notice at first and presses a kiss against her neck.
“Yes, my precious.”
Her fingers weakly clutch his hair.
“Ryo… I’m not feeling well.”
Sukuna jerks his head up.
Her eyes are already losing focus as her body begins to slump.
Her fingers slide from his hair. Before her head can fall back, Sukuna quickly cups it in his hand.
Worry darkens his face.
He immediately lifts her limp body and shouts,
“Call the court physician!”
Attendants flood the room.
By the time they arrive, Sukuna has already laid Hana carefully on his bed.
He hates stepping away from her at moments like this, but he has to make space for the attendants and the physician.
He begins pacing the room like an injured tiger.
Within minutes his patience snaps.
“What happened to her?”
The physician answers calmly.
“She is simply weak. Nutritious food, proper rest, and hydration will restore her in no time.”
He rises slightly.
“But try not to stress her.”
The lady-in-waiting bows her head.
“Do not worry, Your Highness. We will take care of her.”
Sukuna exhales and sinks into a chair.
“Prepare a nutritious meal for my queen,” he orders.
“It must be ready before she wakes.”
Chaos spreads through the palace the moment their queen falls ill.
At first, Sukuna thinks he can manage everything himself or simply assign someone else to handle it. After all, he has been planning to free Hana from those endless responsibilities.
But the situation worsens quickly.
It begins with small things.
Toddlers start crying for Hana. Servants argue quietly over instructions that no one remembers clearly. A delivery of supplies is misplaced because no one knows who usually signs the inventory.
Then the discipline of the palace begins to crumble.
No one truly understands how many responsibilities Hana manages until she is no longer there to handle them.
Hana regains consciousness the same night, but Sukuna strictly forbids her from working while she is still weak.
By the third day, however, things fall apart.
Food supplies become disorganized. Meals are delayed. Children cry constantly for Hana. Even the palace accountants begin losing track of expenses.
Finally, Hana’s lady-in-waiting suggests that Hana at least distribute the responsibilities among the palace residents.
Hana feels oddly relieved.
After carefully assigning duties based on everyone’s abilities, she leans back against the backrest of the royal chair.
Sukuna has left for royal meetings.
Her lady-in-waiting sits near her feet.
“Hana-sama…” she says gently while massaging Hana’s feet. “How are you feeling now? Would you like to rest?”
Hana sighs.
“I’ve been resting for almost four days. If I sit like this any longer, I might forget how to walk.”
The lady-in-waiting chuckles softly.
“But Hana-sama, it is Your Highness’s order.”
Hana frowns and nods.
“I know.”
She slumps back again before suddenly sitting upright.
“Where are the children? Do they not miss me?”
The lady-in-waiting rises.
“They miss you every hour. But…” She glances around before leaning closer and whispering, “Your Highness told the other women to keep their children away from you until you fully recover.”
Hana slaps the armrest sharply.
“Nonsense! They are my children too.”
She stands immediately.
“Where are my children?”
Without waiting for an answer, she walks toward the door.
The lady-in-waiting follows quickly.
“Hana-sama, please slow down. You only just recovered.”
But Hana knows the palace better than anyone.
She doesn’t need directions.
If the children are still following the routines she created for them, most of them will be in the playground.
She crosses the garden quickly, gathering the edge of her dress in one hand as the distant sounds of children’s laughter reach her.
The moment the children notice her, they run toward her without hesitation.
Within seconds she is tackled onto the grass, laughing as a sea of children tries to hug her all at once.
Complaints pour out from every direction.
They tell her how much they missed her, how nobody made their favourite meals while she was sick, and how they tried sneaking into her chamber but Otousan scolded them.
One particularly dramatic little girl claims Hana’s lap immediately.
Her arms wrap around Hana’s neck.
“Haha will do my hair first.”
She already shoves ribbons into Hana’s hand.
Meanwhile, the lady-in-waiting tries gently reminding the children that Hana-sama is still recovering.
But Hana has already begun tying the girl’s hair while another child hangs from her back.
Hana senses heavy footsteps approaching through the grass before the children notice.
She smiles faintly, already knowing who it must be, but continues fixing the girl’s hair.
The children suddenly gasp when a deep voice speaks.
“Why is she out of our chamber?”
The lady-in-waiting rises at once and bows.
“Your Highness, Hana-sama did not stop when I tried.”
Hana calmly finishes tying the girl’s ribbon and sets her down before standing up.
The children quickly hide behind her.
Sukuna’s eyes move to the children first.
“Didn’t I tell you all to stay with your Okasan?”
The children shrink further behind Hana.
Hana glares at Sukuna.
“I came here. Don’t blame my children.”
Only then does Sukuna truly look at her.
His expression softens slightly.
“My precious, you need rest.”
She folds her arms.
“I am not working. I am spending time with my children.”
Sukuna exhales.
“Don’t be stubborn.”
“I’m not.” Hana raises her chin. “And when you promised me that you would at least ensure my children have everything they need. Why are they saying they didn’t get their favourite meals? Why did you scold them for trying to see me?”
Sukuna’s brows furrow.
“They were fed. Wasn’t that enough? And I couldn’t allow them to disturb you while you were resting.”
Hana huffs in frustration.
“No, that wasn’t enough. A child needs pampering along with discipline. And my children do not have extravagant demands. They only wanted to see me and eat proper meals, not the same food served to the adults in the palace.”
Sukuna rubs his temple.
He is already exhausted from managing both palace affairs and matters outside the palace. Since ordering Hana to rest, his responsibilities have doubled.
“What do you mean?” he asks. “Why can’t they eat the same meals as everyone else?”
The lady-in-waiting speaks this time.
“Pardon me, Your Highness. But as I mentioned before, Hana-sama created a special menu for the children.”
Sukuna waves his hand impatiently.
“Fine, fine. Tell the chef to cook the way he used to.”
One of his attendants steps forward nervously.
“But Your Highness… the budget you approved did not allocate funds for separate meals for the children.”
Sukuna snaps.
“Then do whatever is necessary! Don’t bother me with this matter.”
Several children shrink back, clinging to Hana. A few even begin crying at Sukuna’s raised voice.
Sukuna drags a hand down his face, about to say something, but Hana speaks first.
“Your Highness, don’t frighten them. If you are restless, go back to your chamber.”
She already lifts a crying child into her arms.
Sukuna opens his mouth.
Then closes it again.
After a brief pause, he turns and storms back toward the palace.
The guards exchange uneasy glances.
The lady-in-waiting leans closer to Hana and whispers,
“Your Highness has been managing everything alone these past few days. He must be tired. Please don’t take his words to heart.”
Hana chuckles dryly.
“And he wanted me to abandon my responsibilities entirely.”
The lady-in-waiting distracts the children, helping them forget Sukuna’s outburst.
“Hana-sama,” she says quietly, “I do not know what happened between you and His Highness, but he is trying to be sincere. When you fainted, he stayed by your side the entire time.”
By then, the children have already forgotten the earlier shouting.
They are busy playing with Hana again.
Hana tucks a flower into a little girl’s hair.
“Isn’t that what a husband should do?” she says calmly. “Isn’t it his duty to take care of me and his children? Why should he receive extra praise for doing what he ought to do?”
The lady-in-waiting stands silent for a moment before lowering her head.
“I’m sorry, Hana-sama. I didn’t mean to question you.”
Hana rises after asking the attendants to keep the children entertained.
She walks back toward the palace.
The lady-in-waiting follows as usual.
Hana still looks slightly pale from her illness, but the fierce look in her eyes remains the same, which keeps everyone silent.
No concubine dares disrespect her.
No guard dares block her path.
None of Sukuna’s other wives dare cross her.
The lady-in-waiting expects Hana to return to Sukuna’s chamber.
Instead, Hana walks past it and continues toward her own.
“If the children wish to see me, let them,” Hana says quietly. “This is not His Highness’s chamber for him to forbid them.”
She steps inside her room.
The lady-in-waiting moves to follow, but Hana raises a hand.
“I wish to be alone.”
The door closes softly behind her.
Sukuna paces around his chamber.
He doesn’t understand why he feels this way. After all, this is what he wanted. He wanted to free Hana from her endless responsibilities.
Finally, he sits down on his royal chair and orders,
“Bring the Queen’s lady-in-waiting.”
Within a minute, she stands before him, her head bowed in both respect and fear.
“Tell me everything,” Sukuna says, his voice a suppressed growl.
The lady-in-waiting answers as calmly as she can.
“Y-Your Highness, after Hana-sama distributed the tasks, she went to the children on her own. No one told her about—”
Sukuna slams his fist onto the desk, making the lady-in-waiting flinch.
“Not that. Tell me what she wants.”
The lady-in-waiting blinks in confusion.
“What she wants? I…” Her head lowers again. “I don’t know, Your Highness. She always talks about what others need. She never says anything about herself.”
Sukuna scoffs and leans back in his chair.
“Useless.”
His fingers drum against the desk as his gaze turns distant, as if thinking.
Suddenly he stands.
“Where is she?”
The lady-in-waiting answers quickly.
“In her chamber.”
Sukuna strides down the corridor.
He doesn’t even know why he’s angry. Everything has irritated him these past few days.
A guard begins to announce his arrival, but Sukuna raises a hand, stopping him.
He pushes the door open himself.
Hana is lying on her tatami.
She sits up the moment she hears the door.
“Your Highness.”
Sukuna steps inside and closes the door behind him.
For a few seconds they simply look at each other. Neither speaks.
When Hana tries to stand, Sukuna moves quickly and catches her hand.
“Careful.”
She looks up at him.
“Your Highness, did something happen? Why are you here?”
Instead of answering, Sukuna lies down on the tatami and pulls her down with him.
She yelps as she lands on top of him.
“Your Highness!”
Sukuna holds her close.
“My precious… why do I need a reason to come to you?”
She pushes herself off him.
“Because a long time ago, you stopped coming to me without a reason.”
Sukuna continues watching her.
“I am tired.”
Hana sighs and looks away.
Sukuna’s gaze softens with longing.
Silence settles between them again.
Slowly, Hana’s fingers begin running through his hair.
Sukuna stares blankly at the ceiling.
“Can we not fix this anymore, Hana?”
Her fingers don’t stop.
“Something broken can only be fixed if the pieces are still there.”
Sukuna closes his eyes.
It’s not as if he didn’t know. He has known for a long time.
Perhaps now it is finally time to accept it.
Quietly, he says,
“If you want to leave me, I won’t stop you.”
Hana’s fingers slip from his hair.
For a moment Sukuna thinks she has already gone. He opens his eyes.
But she is still there, lying beside him, staring at the ceiling.
Her hand finds his.
She intertwines her fingers with his.
“Will you be able to handle everything if I leave?”
Sukuna looks back at the ceiling.
“No.”
Hana hums softly.
“That’s what I thought.”
Sukuna squeezes her hand.
“Don’t overwork yourself again, precious.”
She smiles faintly.
“Okay. I’ll try.”
Sukuna hesitates before asking,
“Can I still come to you when everything feels too much?”
A soft sigh leaves her lips.
“Yes.”
Sukuna wraps an arm around her shoulders and pulls her closer.
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