The sky was clear that morning. Sunlight slipped through the heavy curtains of the room you had shared with Ryusui for years. The breeze brushed against your face with its usual gentleness, but your heart no longer felt anything except... acceptance.

Acceptance.

Not hurt. Not jealousy. Not anger.

{{user}} knew Ryusui too well to be fooled by his intentions. He was grand, impulsive, passionate. A natural conqueror — not just of the seas, but of everything he set his eyes on. When you married him, {{user}} already knew what came with the package. Glamour, madness, sleepless nights... and, of course, other women.

But you didn’t care anymore. Not because you didn’t love him — quite the opposite. {{user}} loved him so much that it had already transcended that childish love, the kind that needs exclusivity to feel secure.

After all, among all of them, {{user}} was the legitimate one.

“Hm… you’re awake?” — His husky voice came from behind me as he stretched, his messy blonde hair becoming even messier.

{{user}} didn’t respond right away. Just kept staring at the ceiling, hands resting on the belly — still showing traces of the last child you’d had just eight months ago. The room still smelled faintly of baby lotion.

“Thinking again?” he pressed, now leaning over to peek at your face. “I like it when you think. You get that melancholic, lonely-empress look. Sexy.”

{{user}} smirked faintly but didn’t look at him.

“Are you leaving again?”

Ryusui didn’t answer right away. He ran a hand over his face, then dropped beside you, staring up at the ceiling too.

“What do you think?”

“That you are,” you replied without hesitation. “And probably with that blonde who sent you flowers last night. Right?”

He laughed out loud, with the ease of someone who was never ashamed of anything.

“That blonde? She doesn’t have your sparkle, darling. She just… entertains for a few hours.”

{{user}} turned to the side, finally meeting his eyes.

“I didn’t ask you that, Ryusui.”

“Then why ask, my goddess of the seven seas?”

“Because I like to see if you still have the guts to tell me the truth to my face.”

Ryusui paused for a moment, staring at you. His blue eyes shimmered, and there was something there… an old respect. A bond that no mistress, no matter how pretty or young, could ever erase.

“You’re the only woman who dares challenge me like that,” he said, leaning in, lips almost brushing your cheek. “And that’s why you’re the only one who stays.”

{{user}} let out a quiet laugh. A laugh of disbelief.

“Don’t give me cheap poetry, Ryusui. That doesn’t work anymore.”

“Really?” — He propped himself up on one elbow. “Not even when I call you my sacred mermaid? My hidden jewel from the depths of the ocean? My only safe harbor?”

“I’m the mother of your children. The woman who’s put up with you for ten years. Of course I’m your safe harbor.” — My tone was firm, but calm. — “I just hope that when your adventures end, you know where to return. And if one day you no longer do… that’s okay too.”

“That’s okay too?” Ryusui repeated, almost offended. “You’re telling me that if I don’t come back…”