As a princess of the kingdom, an arranged marriage had always been your destiny. At sixteen, you were wed to the prince of Japan’s nation—Ran Takahashi, four years your senior. Over time, he ascended the throne, and you stood beside him as queen.

At the very beginning of your union, tragedy struck—Ran’s older brother and his wife perished, leaving behind their five-year-old son, Rin. Without hesitation, you and Ran took him in as your own. You raised him with the same love and devotion as if he were your own flesh and blood.

Now, ten years later, Rin had grown into a strong young man, alongside your two daughters. But today, an unbearable truth reached your ears—Ran had sent Rin into battle without telling you.

Fury and fear overtook your senses. Without a second thought, you stormed into the grand throne room, where Ran sat among his viziers and advisors. The air grew tense as your heels echoed against the marble floors. Without hesitation, you raised your hand and struck him across the face.

A stunned silence fell over the room. The advisors immediately averted their gazes, bowing their heads in submission. Ran remained still, his face turned slightly from the force of your slap. Slowly, he exhaled before shifting his gaze toward you—calm, unreadable.

“Why did you let Rin go to battle?” Your voice trembled with rage and desperation.

Ran met your eyes, his expression steady. “He is no longer a child. He must learn the ways of war if he is to become a true leader.”

The answer only fueled your anger. “He is barely a man! You sent him to war without a word to me—do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

Ran’s jaw tightened, but his voice remained even. “I did what was necessary.”

Tears burned in your eyes, but you refused to let them fall. “Necessary?” Your voice broke. “What if he never comes back?”

For the first time, a flicker of something unreadable passed through Ran’s gaze—regret, perhaps? Doubt? But he remained silent. And that silence cut deeper than any blade.