Inside the bedchamber, a deathly silence reigned.
In the charcoal brazier, the scroll had already turned to ash.
The last wisp of smoke dissipated, and the crimson flame flickered weakly.
Arashi's face still bore that look of infatuation, hazy and filled with lust.
His voice was soft, smooth enough to drip water.
"My beauty, have you been waiting long?"
"Come, let's continue."
He reached out, as if to pull Mei back into his arms, to resume their interrupted act of intimacy.
Mei looked at him.
She looked at the perfect mask of desire on his face, at the feigned blur in his eyes.
A wave of uncontrollable fear rose within her.
In this man's eyes, she was nothing more than a clown for his amusement, from start to finish.
He hadn't even bothered to expose her. He simply played along, enjoying how she performed, how she believed herself clever.
And then, at the height of her supposed triumph, he shattered her pride and dignity completely.
Mei's body trembled slightly.
She raised a hand, tugging the nearly transparent silk gown tighter around herself, inch by inch.
It was her final defense.
The flirtatious smile had vanished from her face, replaced by the cold stillness of her icy gaze.
She stared at Arashi, her voice trembling. "What exactly do you want?"
As the words fell, Arashi glanced at her, and the false infatuation disappeared from his face instantly.
His eyes returned to their usual calm.
He leaned back on the soft couch, adjusting into a more relaxed posture as he watched Mei.
His face showed faint disappointment, as though regretting that the show had ended too soon.
"Boring," he said softly. "Not acting anymore?"
"I thought you enjoyed the performance."
His casual tone was more humiliating than any cruel insult.
"Do you think this is fun?" Mei gritted her teeth, forcing out each word.
"It is," Arashi admitted without hesitation, smiling. "Of course it's fun."
He stretched lazily, his movements slow and relaxed.
"Life in the deep palace is dull beyond measure."
"Every day it's either government affairs or dealing with scheming old men."
"I almost forgot when I last found something this entertaining."
His gaze shifted back to her, amusement deepening in his eyes.
"Especially an elite Jōnin from the Hidden Mist Village, trying to approach me in this way."
"Willing to offer her body for a few pitiful weapons and rations."
"Tsk tsk, how courageous."
Boom.
Mei's mind went blank for a moment.
He... he knew her true identity!
She had been careful, meticulous. She believed she had never left a trace.
Even the scroll she'd prepared contained no hint of Hidden Mist involvement.
There's a spy.
The realization hit her immediately.
But what good was that knowledge now?
All her secrets, all her plans, had already been laid bare.
While she, in turn, knew nothing about this man.
This imbalance of power made her feel a suffocating helplessness.
"You... you..."
Her lips trembled, but no words came out.
Arashi's smile deepened as he watched her confusion and despair.
He didn't press further, but instead asked lightly, "Don't ask what I want."
"Shouldn't I be asking what you want?"
Mei froze slightly.
What did she want?
She wanted the supplies for Hidden Mist, to save her comrades still trapped under the Bloody Mist's rule.
But now, everything had collapsed into nothing.
She was a prisoner.
When pride and dignity are crushed, only the instinct to survive remains.
"...Let me go." Mei's voice was very soft, carrying a faint plea even she didn't realize.
"Let you go?" Arashi chuckled, as if hearing a joke. "Why?"
He sat upright, leaning slightly forward, his gaze sharp as it locked onto her.
"Because you're beautiful?"
"Or because you entertained me earlier?"
His tone was calm, yet each word cut into her like a blade.
Mei's face paled even further.
She forced herself to regain composure, trying to reclaim the dignity of a top shinobi.
"I am a kunoichi from Hidden Mist. Capturing me could cause a diplomatic dispute between our two nations."
It was the only bargaining chip she could think of.
"Diplomatic dispute?" Arashi laughed coldly, his smile full of disdain. "A dancer sneaks into the Daimyo's bedchamber, attempting assassination through seduction?"
"Even if the truth came out, do you think Hidden Mist would protect you? Or would they immediately disavow you?"
Mei's heart sank completely.
Yes.
Tonight, her identity was that of Shizumi, a civilian woman from the Land of Fire.
Even if she died, it would have nothing to do with Hidden Mist Village.
All her paths were cut off.
Watching the last spark in her eyes die out, Arashi knew that the proud flower of the Mist had lost her thorns, one by one, under his hand.
He rose and walked toward her.
His tall figure cast a shadow over her trembling form.
He bent down, pinching her smooth chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"Don't misunderstand, Terumī Mei," Arashi said softly.
"I wasn't the one who started this game."
"You came to me, trying to make me your prey."
"But you overestimated yourself and underestimated me."
"So don't pretend you're innocent."
"Now the game is over."
"And the roles of hunter and prey are reversed."
His thumb brushed against her jaw, feeling the trembling of her delicate skin.
"You're right. You are beautiful, and your identity is... interesting."
"So..."
"From tonight onward, you, your life, and everything about you..."
Arashi's lips curved into a faint, possessive smile.
"...belong to me."
His voice was soft, but it sealed off all escape routes.
The domineering declaration sent a shiver down her spine.
The trembling wasn't just from fear, but from the burning mix of rage and humiliation.
But she was Terumī Mei.
The woman who had survived the Bloody Mist and led resistance from the shadows.
After the brief shock, her mind began to race again.
Threats?
He wouldn't care.
Begging?
That would only amuse him.
Then... only a transaction remained.
Mei forced herself to calm down.
Taking a deep breath, her composure slowly returned.
She met his gaze head-on, her voice trembling slightly but no longer panicked.
"Fine."
The single word made Arashi raise an eyebrow, intrigued.
He waited for her to continue.
Mei steadied herself with one hand on the ground and rose slowly.
Even in defeat, her back remained straight, the posture of a proud warrior.
"I can serve you."
The words escaped her lips, but her body trembled despite her will.
(To be continued.)