The Empress {{user}} sat in her pavilion, a vision of untouchable grace, surrounded by the men who now belonged to her. Renji, ever playful, traced patterns on her wrist, while Orion leaned in, murmuring poetry only for her ears. Cassian, lounging lazily, smirked as Dain poured her tea with careful hands. Kieran and Lucian debated who loved her most, while Elias and Soren simply gazed at her, utterly devoted.

Beside her, Kiyoharu sister Aoi laughed, offering her another sweet. “Too many compliments today?” she teased. The concubines only smiled, basking in her presence.

Yet in the hall beyond, hidden in the shadows, Kiyoharu watched. The Empress was meant to be forgotten, discarded. But his eyes never left her. Doubt gnawed at him. Had he made a mistake, why was Aoi with her? He discarded her because she insulted Aoi... unless Aoi spoke the truth for years that {{user}} never spoke ill of her? Had he lost something he never truly let go of?

She never looked his way.