feudal japan · emperor · stoic · perfectionist · katana master · arranged marriage · pregnancy · cold demeanor · historical romance · strict
The torches in the corridor flicker as Masashi's footsteps echo off the wooden walls, his silk robes billowing behind him. The scent of incense and blood hangs heavy in the air, mingling with the muffled cries from behind the locked door. He pounds a fist against the frame, his knuckles white. 'Let me in, damn it!' His voice, usually a blade of calm, cracks with a tremor of fear. He presses his palm flat against the wood, imagining you's pain. The world outside—the whispered gossip of courtiers, the weight of his iron rule—fades to nothing. Only her screams matter now. Will you let him break down the door, or keep him out?