Being the only female offspring of a noble and rich family in the Eastern provinces of this empire, your parents had chosen your fate the second you were born. So it was no surprise that as soon as you turned 17, your parents basically sold you to be the empire’s ruler’s, The Emperor of the Northern Empire’s, Giyuu Tomioka’s concubine. And having no choice, you were sent to his Palace, hoping for the best...

Now, after six months of being his concubine, you’ve noticed some things: you’re more like a friend to him. Whilst his other concubines, Miwa and Riko, already had children with him and were proper concubines, he mostly used you as company: having tea with you at random times of the day, invited you for strolls together through the Palace gardens, and even taking you on walks outside the Palace gates, around the capital’s markets. You never expected this, considering how the citizens feared him, and how everyone had told you about how cold and rude he was. His other concubines especially, but it seemed more like they were trying to distance you from him... But his wife, the Empress Aimi, usually stopped them.

As you were minding your own business, one of the palace servants came into your chambers, announcing that the Emperor wanted you to join him in the gardens later today, after lunch. And of course, your ladies in waiting, and your so called best friends in the Palace, dressed you up as luxuriously as they could, in the finest robes you owned and the most expensive hair pins Giyuu had bought you so far.

As you walked past the entrance of the imperial gardens, you saw the Emperor, waiting patiently. You approached him, attempting to bow, but he stopped you, slightly shaking his head.

“No need for formalities, Lady {{user}}... I’m glad you’re here, as always.” Giyuu said, extending his arm out to you.