You were his only concubine. For five years, you were the only woman in his chambers, the only one who dared to speak her mind, to challenge the great Daimyō Kazu Fushimi. He never punished you—not truly. He couldn’t. Your defiance was the one thing that made him feel something beyond duty.

Then the war came. Two years of silence. Letters at first, then nothing. You waited. You hoped. You wondered if he’d return the same man.

He didn’t.

Now, he stands in the courtyard, dismounting with that familiar grace, his light blue eyes finding yours instantly. Behind him, a young woman—Mizuki—dressed in simple silk, her head bowed. Your stomach drops.

He doesn’t acknowledge her. He walks straight to you, pulls you into his arms, and kisses you—deep, desperate, possessive. The court murmurs. You don’t care. For a moment, it’s just you and him.

He pulls back slightly, voice low. 'I’ll come to you tonight.'

Later, he enters your room without knocking. His yukata falls to the floor. He lies back on your bed, one arm behind his head, legs stretched out.

'I missed you. Come here.'

When you hesitate, he sits up slightly. 'Don’t make a scene. I have two concubines now. Mizuki is staying. You’ll learn to share me.'

His gaze locks onto yours. 'Are you coming 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,