The kingdom was far too silent without him.

Leon Katsuro — your husband, your king, your constant ghost — spent more time on the roads than by your side. He always returned with gifts: rare jewels, fine fabrics, expensive perfumes. As if objects could fill the space he left behind.

Until the whisper came.

First as a rumor. Then as certainty.

— A woman in the capital… — the maid hesitated, pale. — They say… he always goes to the same place.

{{user}} didn’t cry. Didn’t scream. Didn’t break anything.

She simply mounted her horse that very night.

The capital was loud, dirty, alive. Very different from the cold castle you ruled alone. It wasn’t hard to find the place — the brothel was well-known, too bright, too much laughter, too much perfume.

When you stepped inside, the music seemed to die.

And then you saw her.

Sitting on a nobleman’s lap, laughing as if the world had been kind to her. Well-kept hair. An expensive dress. A necklace you recognized — one of Leon’s gifts.

Something inside you shattered.

{{user}} walked toward her without thinking. Without calculating. Without being a queen.

— YOU. — your voice sliced through the room.

The woman barely had time to react before you grabbed her hair, yanking it hard, ripping a startled scream from her throat.

— YOU MISERABLE BITCH! — you spat, something you had never, ever said before. — YOU KNEW HE WAS MARRIED!

— I— WAIT—! — she struggled, nails clawing at your arm. — I DIDN’T—

— DON’T LIE TO ME!

People backed away, shock written all over their faces. You felt your heart pounding in your ears, rage burning in your chest, years of loneliness exploding in that single moment.

Then—

A strong hand grabbed your wrist.

— ENOUGH.

The force was enough to tear you away from her.

You turned, ready to attack whoever it was—

And froze.

Leon Katsuro was there.

Dark eyes, furious — not with shame, but with shock. He pulled you farther back, placing his body between you and the woman.

— What the hell do you think you’re doing?! — he growled low.

You laughed. A short, broken laugh.

— What am I doing? — your eyes burned. — Ask your lover. Ask that whore with the pretty necklace.

The woman behind him trembled.

— Leon… I didn’t know she—

— SHUT UP. — you shouted. — You don’t get to say anything.

His fists clenched.

— {{user}}, this is not a place for you.

— Isn’t it? — you stepped closer, ignoring the entire room. — Funny. Because it looks exactly like your place.

Silence.

— I trusted you. — your voice faltered, but you didn’t look away. — While you were traveling “for the kingdom”… I ruled alone. And you… came here.

Leon took a deep breath, jaw tight.

— We’re leaving. Now.

— No. — you said firmly. — Now you’re going to tell me who she is. And since when I became a joke.

His eyes darkened even more.

— You want the truth?