Arashi returned to his bedchamber, where candles still burned brightly and incense smoke coiled gently upward.
Upon entering, he saw Yui lying alone on the bed.
He removed his outer robe and tossed it casually to a maid standing in the corner, then walked slowly toward the bed.
His footsteps were quiet, yet Yui's body tensed up, curling into a smaller shape.
"My Lord…"
Her voice trembled, faintly pleading.
Arashi stood by the bed, looking down at her silhouette.
"Mm."
He responded indifferently, his tone devoid of warmth.
"This time, you're not wearing anything, are you?"
The words struck like a slap, making Yui's body tremble.
"N-no," she whispered, her voice almost inaudible.
Arashi said nothing further. He reached into the bedding, and his fingertips brushed against soft, smooth skin.
Only then did he pull his hand back in satisfaction, nodding slightly. "Sit up."
His tone was calm but firm.
Yui froze, her mind going blank.
Sit up? Wouldn't that mean…
"Don't make me repeat myself."
Arashi's tone deepened slightly.
Fear ultimately won over shame.
Yui moved stiffly, biting her lip until it bled, two streams of tears slipping silently down her face.
Arashi watched her quietly, his gaze steady.
Yui took a deep breath, pushing herself up with trembling arms. The silk quilt slid from her shoulders, pooling around her waist, revealing her graceful figure.
Her head hung low, eyes tightly shut, long black hair falling forward to hide her face.
This was her last bit of resistance.
Time ticked by slowly.
The expected nightmare never came.
That man merely watched, doing nothing.
At last, Yui couldn't help but look up.
Their eyes met.
His dark gaze made her heart pound violently.
Startled, she lowered her head again, her breath unsteady.
Arashi leaned back against the headboard, resting one leg lazily on her thigh.
"Massage my leg."
He spoke as if giving an order.
Yui froze again.
After a long hesitation, she extended a trembling hand and placed it gently on his leg, beginning to massage.
Perhaps unused to such labor, her movements were light and without strength.
"Use more force," Arashi said indifferently, eyes closed.
At his words, Yui bit her lip harder and pressed down slightly.
Tears fell one by one, darkening the brocade quilt.
She had once been the pride of the Fire Capital, admired by countless noble heirs, the beloved daughter of her clan.
When had she ever endured such humiliation?
Arashi felt no sympathy at all.
Instead, he found this scene beautiful.
A proud rose, stripped of its thorns, to be handled and reshaped at his will.
That sense of crushing something radiant and remolding it completely to his own design brought a strange satisfaction to his heart.
In the candlelight, he opened his eyes and studied the woman before him.
He had to admit, Yui was beautiful.
Her skin was fair as snow, her features delicate, and even in humiliation, her cool temperament hadn't completely faded. The vulnerability only added to her fragile charm.
Her reputation in the Fire Capital had not been exaggerated.
Arashi reached out, tucking her loose hair behind her ear, revealing her tear-stained face.
"Do you regret it?"
His tone was soft, but the question struck her heart like a hammer.
He was referring to the Kiyotsuki Family's fateful decision.
When his brothers had fought for the position of Daimyo, the Kiyotsuki Family had remained neutral at first.
It was Yui herself who had persuaded her father to side with Arashi's elder brother—for love.
At the time, she had believed she was choosing the future Daimyo.
She had thought this illegitimate younger brother was nothing but an ant trying to stop a carriage.
Now, it all seemed absurd.
The touch of his hand made Yui shudder again.
She did not answer. Her head remained bowed, her hands continuing to massage his leg mechanically.
The tears flowing down her face already told him everything.
Regret?
Yes, bitter regret.
Seeing her silence, Arashi didn't press further. He withdrew his hand.
"Go, close the window."
His tone was calm.
In the corner, a maid who had been trying to remain invisible quickly straightened up and prepared to move.
"I wasn't talking to you," Arashi said coldly.
The maid froze and hurriedly backed away into the shadows.
Yui's movements stopped again. She remained motionless, as if she hadn't heard.
Arashi didn't rush her. He simply reclined, waiting quietly.
The air felt heavy and still.
After a long silence, Yui finally pulled her hands away.
She slowly stood up. The quilt slipped away, and the delicate flower bloomed unguarded under the candlelight.
Without saying a word, she walked barefoot toward the window.
One step.
Two steps.
Each one was unbearably heavy.
Outside, the moonlight was faint, and the stars glittered like frost.
It was beautiful.
She stared blankly at the view, as if seeing everything she had once lost.
Then, she reached out her hands.
Click.
A soft sound echoed.
That window, through which the starlight shone, was gently closed by her own hands.
Morning came.
Sunlight streamed through the window into the bedchamber.
Yui opened her eyes but didn't move.
Beside her, the bed was empty except for a faint trace of warmth.
Perhaps she had tossed and turned in her sleep, as the bedding was messy.
She stared blankly at the ornate canopy above her, her eyes hollow.
The door creaked open, and a maid entered carrying toiletries.
Seeing that Yui was awake, the maid quickly knelt. "Young Miss, you're awake."
If it had been yesterday, Yui might have reprimanded her or ordered her out.
But today, she simply rose quietly, allowing the maid to help her wash and comb her hair.
She said nothing, her face expressionless, like a puppet.
Overnight, the once-proud daughter of the Kiyotsuki Family seemed to have lost her soul.
Meanwhile, in the study, Arashi had finished reviewing a pile of urgent documents.
He stood before a large map, his gaze fixed on the area marked Konoha, deep in thought.
A twenty-percent budget cut was only the beginning.
What he truly wanted was to bring Konoha completely under his control.
How would Hiruzen react?
When he first rose to power, didn't he rely heavily on my foolish father?
Arashi smiled faintly, the curve of his lips vanishing as quickly as it appeared.
"Someone."
"My Lord." Gen appeared silently at the doorway.
"Issue an order. From today onward, Kiyotsuki Yui will serve as my personal maid."
"She will be responsible for tea service in my study."
A flicker of surprise passed through Gen's eyes, but he quickly lowered his head.
"Yes, My Lord."
Arashi turned back toward the window, watching the sun rise over the Fire Capital.
The best way to tame a wild horse was not to lock it away.
It was to place a bridle on it, keep it close, and remind it constantly who its master was.
Yui was no exception.
And neither was Konoha.
(To be continued.)
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