"Eh?!"
"An indirect kiss or something... I-I wasn't thinking that at all!"
"L-Lord Yuzuru, y-you... please don't say such strange things."
Having her secret thoughts exposed right to her face, Sakura Haruno instantly panicked.
At that moment, she had completely lost the ability to think. She could only instinctively deny Yuzuru's conclusion.
After hearing her response, Yuzuru let out a soft snort. His domineering voice carried an unquestionable authority.
"Sakura, raise your head and look at me!"
Sakura bit her lip tightly and slowly lifted her head, but she still didn't dare meet his eyes.
"Do you really think you can hide your little thoughts from me?"
"I'm asking you one last time. Were you thinking exactly what I just said?"
Feeling the pressure radiating from him, Sakura no longer dared to lie.
"Lord Yuzuru... I-I was wrong..."
"When I drank the water just now, I really was thinking about indirectly kissing you."
A faint smile appeared on Yuzuru's face after hearing her admit it.
"Little Sakura, you don't need to apologize."
"Because my biggest flaw... is that I don't know how to refuse people."
"Since you wanted it so badly, I guess I'll just have to satisfy you."
"Remember this. It's all because of you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yuzuru lowered his head and kissed Sakura's soft lips.
After only a brief moment of shock, she awkwardly began responding to him.
A while later, Yuzuru finally released Sakura, who was almost out of breath.
When she saw him leaning in again, Sakura hurriedly spoke.
"L-Lord Yuzuru, here... isn't good."
"S-Someone might see us."
The corner of Yuzuru's lips curled into a wicked smile as he whispered, "That's what makes it exciting."
By now, Yuzuru had already returned to his original appearance. Looking at him from such a close distance, Sakura found herself completely unable to resist.
She felt as though she had become a puppet, no longer capable of having thoughts of her own.
————
————
By the time Sakura woke up, it was already noon the next day.
Looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, she rubbed her temples.
But the moment she lifted her arm, she felt a chill.
Subconsciously lowering her head, Sakura finally realized that she wasn't wearing anything at all.
"AH!!!"
She let out a scream before instantly diving back under the blanket.
The memories of yesterday gradually surfaced in her mind.
"So it wasn't a dream... It was all real..."
Sakura muttered to herself.
At that moment, footsteps sounded from outside the room.
"Little Sakura, you're awake?"
Sakura quickly got dressed and went to open the door.
"Lady Tsunade?"
Seeing Tsunade, Sakura froze for a moment before asking, "Where... am I?"
Tsunade smiled.
"The Everlasting Imperial Palace."
"You don't need to call me 'Lady' anymore. From now on, we're sisters."
Seeing the teasing look in Tsunade's eyes, Sakura shyly lowered her head.
Tsunade laughed and grabbed her hand.
"Come on, I'll show you around."
The moment they walked out into the rear courtyard, Sakura's mouth slowly fell open.
She had long heard rumors that the Everlasting Imperial Palace was like a paradise on earth, but only after seeing it with her own eyes did she realize those rumors had actually been understated.
This place...
Was simply too beautiful.
Luxurious, grand, magnificent, elegant...
Even using every beautiful word in existence wouldn't be enough to describe it.
"When we first came here, we were just like you. We were completely dazzled too. But after staying here long enough, you eventually get used to it."
After showing Sakura around for a while, Tsunade brought her to eat together with Kushina, Mikoto, and the others.
During the meal, Sakura nearly swallowed her own tongue.
Her family had never been wealthy to begin with, and after her parents died, her life became even poorer.
Although Konoha's welfare system was good, it only guaranteed her basic food, clothing, and shelter.
Food like this...
Sakura had never tasted anything like it before.
Seeing Sakura staring blankly, Mikoto smiled and spoke.
"Most of these dishes were taught to us by Yuzuru. They're prepared differently from ordinary meals, so I wasn't sure if you'd like them."
"I do! I really do!"
Snapping back to reality, Sakura immediately started eating in huge bites.
Seeing her wolfing down the food, Kushina couldn't help teasing her.
"Little Sakura, slow down. Nobody's fighting you for it."
"From now on, we'll be eating meals like this every day."
Only then did Sakura realize how embarrassing she looked.
She hurriedly nodded awkwardly.
"I understand, Sister Kushina."
After the meal, Tsunade brought Sakura shopping for all kinds of clothes, jewelry, cosmetics, and more.
Even after spending the entire day shopping, Tsunade still looked unsatisfied.
"Little Sakura, this black gold card belongs to you now."
"If there's anything else you need, just swipe the card and buy it yourself."
Sakura looked completely overwhelmed.
"Sister Tsunade... is this really okay?"
"I-I feel like I've already spent way too much money."
The amount Tsunade had spent on her today felt like more money than she could ever earn in an entire lifetime.
Hearing that, Tsunade pulled out a banknote with the highest denomination.
"Little Sakura, see this bill?"
"Even if you spent your entire life throwing bills like this away nonstop, you still wouldn't be able to use up even a fraction of the balance on that card."
"Our family has only one thing we never lack."
"Money."
Tsunade patted Sakura's shoulder before turning around and leaving.
A long while later, Sakura stood before a mirror with the black gold card in her hand.
Looking at the radiant, dazzling girl reflected in the mirror, Sakura suddenly felt dazed.
Back when she and Ino used to dream about what life would be like after becoming the Emperor's wife, she couldn't help but laugh a little now.
That saying really was true—
Do you think the Emperor is as happy as you imagine?
You can't even begin to imagine the Emperor's happiness!
Compared to reality, their previous fantasies had been far too conservative.
She wondered what kind of expression Ino would make after learning what had happened to her.
Just imagining it...
Was strangely exciting.
————
————
After three months, Sakura had finally adapted to her completely transformed life.
During that time, she became familiar with the Everlasting Imperial Palace, met all of her sisters, and grew used to the luxurious lifestyle of a wealthy noblewoman.
She learned the most advanced medical ninjutsu, the Yin Seal, monstrous strength techniques, and a series of powerful forbidden arts.
She had even undergone Orochimaru's immortality technology and obtained eternal life.
Sakura felt as though she were living in a dream. The entire world no longer felt real to her.
In the past, she had never imagined that the gap between people's lives could be so enormous.
Lord Yuzuru had not only avenged her parents...
He had also given her a life like this.
She would definitely use everything she had to repay Lord Yuzuru for his kindness!