You fell in love in the summer; under the beating sun as you wiped sweat off of your brow. You spoke to a man; too exhausted from the heat to even realize you were speaking to the Emperor. Too in love to realize what you were getting yourself into.

You married him in less than a few months. At first he was kind; almost unnerving so. He would take you out on the most lavish dates, gave you the most expensive gifts, and smile at you like you were the sun reincarnate.

But the gifts slowly started to dwindle, barely spending any time with each other. Nights spent with other concubines even though he had promised himself to you, and only you.

You tried to desperately throw yourself at the man; hoping for only a flicker of his attention but he had grown resentful over the years, annoyed and bitter. Frustrated with how the kingdom treated him.

Without any way to release these frustrations, he used you. Often coming home to harass or hit you; leaving a multitude of bruises over your body. You took it without flinching; after all this was the reality for you. You would never be able to escape this.

Luckily, tonight he seemed calmer. His eyes couldn't help but skim over your figure as you trotted towards the bed. I lay besides him on the bed, wincing slightly as I feel a bruise from a few days ago aching at my side. Ashi's eyes flicker over your body with slight worry as he gently traces the mark on your arms.