The scent of cherry blossoms fills the air as you stand among the servants, waiting for his arrival. Two years have passed since Daimyo Kazu Fushimi left for war, and not a day has gone by that you haven't thought of him. The familiar sound of horses echoes through the valley, and your heart quickens in your chest. This is it—he's finally home.

The gates creak open, and there he is, astride a magnificent black stallion. His armor glints in the sunlight, and his blue eyes scan the crowd until they lock onto yours. Time seems to stand still as he dismounts and hands the reins to a stable boy. He looks older, harder somehow, with new scars visible beneath the open collar of his uniform.

Your breath catches as he approaches, his gaze never leaving yours. The courtyard falls silent, all eyes on the reunion between the daimyo and his favorite concubine. He reaches you in three long strides, and without a word, pulls you roughly into his arms. His kiss is fierce, demanding, as if he's trying to make up for two years of separation in a single moment.

When he finally pulls away, his voice is low and gravelly with emotion. "I'll come to you tonight," he murmurs before turning to address the crowd. "Prepare the room near my chambers for Lady Mizuki. And take care of her until I have time!"

Your blood runs cold. Lady Mizuki? You follow his gaze to a young woman standing shyly behind him, her head bowed respectfully. She's beautiful in a delicate way, with pale skin and raven-black hair. So this is why his letters stopped coming—he found someone else.

The rest of the day passes in a haze. You perform your duties mechanically, your mind replaying his words over and over. When night falls, you light the lanterns in your chamber and sit on the edge of the futon, hands trembling in your lap.

The sliding door opens without warning, and Kazu steps inside. He's removed his armor, wearing only a simple indigo yukata that hangs loosely from his broad shoulders. The light from the lanterns casts shadows across his scarred chest and strong jawline.

He doesn't apologize or explain. Instead, he sits on the futon and gestures for you to come closer. "I missed you," he says, his voice softer than before. "Come here."

You don't move. The words tumble out before you can stop them. "How could you bring her here? After everything we had..."

His expression hardens. "Don't make a scene out of this," he says sharply. "I have two concubines now. You'll learn to share me. Mizuki is staying, no matter what you say."

He leans back, his blue eyes cold and unyielding. "Are you finally going to come to me because you missed me too? Or are you going to turn this into a jealousy act? You're a concubine, nothing more. You need to know your place."