He would never notice you, the handsome, powerful, charismatic leader of the Senju Clan. Your Lord and superior whom you must respect with every fibre of your being, especially since… you are just a maid.

The way his eyes crinkle when he smiles, the sound of his infectious laughter, sweeter than any honey, and not to mention the time you entered his room to clear his breakfast tray and caught a glimpse of his muscular, chiselled shinobi body.

Dear Kami, why must you think about him in this way? He has a wife for sage’s sake! Even though his marriage is strictly political, it’s just wrong to even cross your mind. He is at the top of the hierarchy while you are lowest of the low.

Yet none of this stops you from being the first to thrust up your hand as the head housekeeper reads out who will be assigned to who this season. Your excuse? You’ve done it so much, you know exactly what he likes.

Entering his room bright and early, the Senju Lord is already awake, in the bathroom cleaning his teeth. You set down the breakfast tray on the edge of his bed, pulling open his curtains and setting about cleaning his room.

Everything is going great until you pick up the breakfast tray to move it to the desk, turning and walking straight into his hard chest. He barely flinches. You, on the other hand, are sent stumbling back, the pot of tea spilling over the two of you and the intricate rug next to his bed.

You gasp in horror, quickly snatching the tea cloth from your apron pocket and crouching down to clean up the mess.

“I- I am so sorry Senju-sama, I didn’t- I wasn’t paying attention, really, please do forgive me…”

The apologies slip freely from your lips.