Sakura led Benjamin to a stone bench overlooking the main square, as fireworks suddenly burst overhead: golden chrysanthemums, crimson peonies, silver waterfalls raining light across the night.
They sat, their fingers intertwined.
Benjamin calmly muttered, as he watched the sky explode in color, "When… will you set me free, Sakura?"
And Sakura suddenly frowned, but huffed softly. "Until I'm satisfied with you, of course..."
His face fell, and his shoulders sagged, from her reply.
Seeing his demeanor change so much, she squeezed his hand.
"Two weeks," she said tenderly and heartfelt. "I promise."
Benjamin searched her eyes. "You… promise?"
She leaned closer. Closer. Closer, "I promise."
The fireworks sparked brighter, painting her face in shifting reds and golds as their lips met.
The kiss was long-winded, certainly deep, and tasting of wine and sake. Sakura's free hand cupped his cheek, her thumb brushing against his skin.
The world narrowed to the warmth of her mouth, the soft press of her body. Then the bench, the plaza, and the fireworks, they all vanished. The scene changed smoothly and ethereally.
The night air grew warmer, scented with sandalwood and clean linen. Lanterns appeared around, soft and steady. Silk walls replaced the open sky. The kiss lingered a heartbeat longer before Sakura pulled back from him.
They were suddenly in a luxurious room; elaborate and intimate. Tatami underfoot, low table with tea set, a wide bed draped in crimson silk, with sliding screens painted with cherry blossoms. Candles flickered in iron holders, casting golden pools of light.
Sakura looked at Benjamin, her amber eyes soft, and her voice barely above a whisper.
"Benjamin Mark… won't you give me some attention too?"
***
SAKURA'S POV
I had played my card perfectly.
The rumors reached me days ago: That the Amazons had gained a god-touched male. A living anomaly dropped straight into Elara's lap.
Those tree apes were already monsters on their own; excluding the ballistic Elara herself, there was Sara—her hidden daughter and a powerful force, Lotus—a remarkable world-class mage, Marina—so mysterious, but extremely dangerous.
Only those four are well capable of waging war with Shishi-no-su already. Not to mention the rest of their forest-dwelling warriors.
One god-touched on top of that? Unacceptable. Too much power concentrated in one territory.
So I waited and watched, then struck the moment Elara let her guard down at the summit.
Even she would not suspect that I was layering three spells on each other, just to specifically turn Benjamin's resistance to teleportation into non-existence.
Though, after the capturing of the god-touched, I expected an easy mark to deceive. A naïve boy, dazzled by my kingdom's beauty, seduced by my sisters and broken by pleasure, begging to stay.
But instead, Benjamin proved… quite different.
He stood up for those Amazons when my sisters tore them down. He initially refused their advances outright, his arms folded with his aura flaring just enough to make their fur stand on edge.
Those sisters of mine that had powers which were bordering on the spirits.
He demanded apologies; causing them to go in dogeza, no less. And then scolded them like a disappointed teacher.
Unbelievable.
I expected them to attack and wound him, then I'd step in to save his life and win even more benefit, but he tamed those arrogant brats so easily on his first try.
He even went as far as to clean them up after their intimate moment, tucked them in sheets, and smiled wryly when Ayaka muttered that silly statement in her sleep.
He even called them… p-precious.
My chest tightened at the memory.
They were mean to him, they were insulting and tried to make him their slave. But by the look of it… it felt as if Benjamin truly cared for him as if they were his family.
Why?
I had brought him here to mislead him, to bind him to Shishi-no-su for the kingdom's gain.
A foretold pawn. A tool of the nation. Yet every step of the tour had chipped away at my plan, turning it into some kind of joke.
The rice fields glowing with torchlight. The village laughter around open fires. The tranquil legacy highland where my mother rested.
Each place felt new again through his wide-eyed wonder.
In truth, I hadn't visited some of those districts in centuries; due to work. I was too busy ruling, scheming, and maintaining the image of the great nation my father left on my hands.
But tonight I laughed without restrictions, smiled without calculation, and held his hand longer than I planned.
For all I know, Elara might have intentionally let my actions pass because Benjamin was a spy or a sabotage meant for the kingdom. Though, it's only wild speculations
But knowing this, I still made myself so vulnerable.
Why? When was it?
Was it the way he frolicked with Usagi-chan, his gentle fingers kneading her ears until she came completely undone?
Was it the way he defended the Amazons with this robust, unshakable loyalty?
Was it the way he conquered my sisters; refusing them, then forgiving them, then caring for them so much, as if they were his precious treasures?
Or was it mere jealousy? That would be quite unexpected.
But me being envious that Elara—who basically had a heart of ice—had finally found someone who could make her melt wasn't out of the explanations. In fact, it was plausible.
But yet, I didn't know.
What I did know was that, throughout our journey, I hadn't wanted to let go of his hand.
He was so utterly naïve; it was as if… I wanted to protect him from this unforgiving world filled with power struggles, wars, and death.
Now we stood in my private chambers.
The kiss from the fireworks bench still lingered on my lips; warm, real, and utterly unguarded. I had pulled him here without thinking, the teleportation was smooth and nearly instinctive.
Benjamin looked at me, his blue eyes soft in the lantern light. "Sakura…?"
"Listen, Benjamin." I raised a hand, cutting him off gently. "Don't think much about this, understand? It's not like I have f-feelings for you or anything. Moreover, we just met."
"Sakura…" He frowned slightly, his head tilting.
"Wh-What?"
"It turns out that… I like sex."
"…" I almost squirmed, but then he continued quickly.
"No, wait, hear me out!