Chapter 14
Nori sat alone in his chambers, his fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on the lacquered surface of the low table before him. The flickering candlelight cast soft shadows across the room, but he barely noticed. His thoughts were tangled, weighed down by the events of the day.
He had acted decisively, but now that the dust had settled, doubt crept into his mind. Would Ryousuke be angry? Would he think Nori had overstepped his place?
His stomach twisted.
The side concubine had been in the household far longer than he had. Perhaps Ryousuke had grown used to her presence, even if there was no affection between them. What if he saw Nori's actions as reckless? What if he believed Nori was trying to uproot things that did not concern him?
He exhaled sharply, pressing his fingers against his temple.
Just as his thoughts threatened to spiral further, the door creaked open.
Nori's head snapped up, his breath catching.
Ryousuke stepped inside, his tall frame filling the doorway before he strode in with his usual confidence. But instead of the cold anger Nori had feared, the general's expression was unreadable.
Trailing behind him, a butler quietly placed a tray on the table before bowing and stepping back.
Nori blinked in confusion as Ryousuke settled down across from him. A fragrant warmth drifted from the tray, and when Nori looked down, he saw a plate with neatly arranged portions of roasted duck and soft, steamed buns beside a small cup of tea.
He stared.
"What… is this?" he asked hesitantly, his voice quieter than he intended.
Ryousuke reached for his own cup of tea, his movements fluid and unhurried. "I bought it on the way home," he said, taking a sip. "I wasn't sure if you eat things like this."
Nori's lips parted slightly in surprise. He wasn't expecting that.
Of all the things Ryousuke could have done after hearing about the punishment, this was the last thing Nori had imagined.
His husband—his powerful, fearsome husband—had gone to a market stall and bought food for him.
For a moment, Nori didn't know how to respond.
The tension in his body eased just a little, and he reached out cautiously, picking up a piece of the roasted duck. It was warm, the juices rich against his tongue as he took a careful bite. He chewed slowly, glancing up at Ryousuke, who watched him with a look of mild amusement.
"You seem surprised," Ryousuke commented.
Nori swallowed. "I… I just didn't expect this."
Ryousuke shrugged. "You've had a long day."
That was an understatement.
Still, Nori said nothing, focusing instead on eating. The simple act of chewing and swallowing grounded him, keeping his thoughts from running away again.
But of course, peace never lasted long.
After a few moments of silence, Ryousuke finally spoke again. "About the concubine."
Nori stiffened immediately.
Here it was.
He set down his chopsticks, feeling his pulse quicken. He forced himself to meet Ryousuke's gaze, even as uncertainty clawed at his chest.
"I don't know if you would have been angry with me for punishing her," Nori admitted, his voice quieter now. "But she was disrespectful toward me."
Ryousuke said nothing, waiting for him to continue.
Nori clenched his hands in his lap, his mind flashing back to the concubine's sneering face. He had endured many things in silence before, but that woman had tested him beyond reason.
"She looked down on me," he said, his voice gaining a slight edge. "She sneered at me when I gathered the household. She didn't even bow. It was as if she thought she was above me."
Ryousuke's expression didn't change, so Nori pressed on.
"She called me a mere ornament," he said bitterly. "A fragile little thing that would break under the weight of this household."
Ryousuke's fingers tapped lightly against the table, but he remained silent.
Nori swallowed hard, his voice dropping lower. "She said I wasn't fit to sit beside you. That I was only here because it was convenient. That I was nothing more than a passing fancy and that in time, you would grow bored of me."
He hadn't wanted to repeat those words, but now that they were out in the open, they felt heavier than before.
He forced himself to breathe evenly, watching for any flicker of emotion on Ryousuke's face.
For a long moment, there was none.
Then, finally, Ryousuke set his cup down with a quiet clink. He leaned forward slightly, his dark eyes locking onto Nori's with an intensity that made his stomach flip.
"I am not angry," Ryousuke said, his voice calm but firm. "You are my spouse, Nori. That means you have as much authority in this estate as I do."
Nori's breath hitched.
"You had every right to punish her," Ryousuke continued. "I would have done worse."
The weight of those words settled over Nori like a blanket—warm, reassuring, grounding.
"She thought she could belittle you because she has been here longer," Ryousuke said, his tone carrying the faintest edge of distaste. "She was mistaken."
He leaned back slightly, exhaling through his nose. "As of today, she has been relieved of her position."
Nori blinked. "…What?"
"She will be sent back to her family," Ryousuke clarified. "Her time in this estate has ended."
Nori hadn't expected that.
He had expected many things—anger, disappointment, perhaps even some reprimand—but not this.
Not complete and unwavering support.
"You don't… mind?" he asked hesitantly.
Ryousuke raised a brow. "Should I?"
Nori lowered his gaze, struggling to find the right words. "I thought… maybe you would have wanted to keep her. She's been here for years."
"She could have been here for decades, and it wouldn't change a thing." Ryousuke's voice was final, decisive. "She disrespected you. That is enough reason for her to leave."
Nori swallowed hard. The tension that had coiled in his chest all evening slowly began to unwind.
He hadn't realized just how much he had needed to hear those words.
A soft silence settled between them before Ryousuke spoke again.
"You should eat," he said simply, nodding toward the untouched food still left on the plate.
Nori looked down, then back up at his husband.
For the first time since the whole ordeal began, he allowed himself to smile—just a small one, fleeting but real.
"Thank you," he murmured.
Ryousuke didn't respond, but the look in his eyes was enough.
And so, with the weight finally lifting from his shoulders, Nori picked up his chopsticks and continued eating.
The evening air was cool, drifting softly through the partially open window as Nori stifled a yawn. His body was finally giving in to the exhaustion he had been holding at bay all day. Between confronting the concubine, handling the household matters, and his earlier anxiety about Ryousuke's reaction, he was utterly spent.
Their meal had been surprisingly peaceful. Despite the tension earlier, they ate in comfortable silence, the warmth of the roasted duck and steamed buns soothing after a long day.
But now, as his eyelids grew heavy, Nori barely managed to murmur, "I think… I'll rest now."
Ryousuke glanced at him from across the room, his sharp eyes softening ever so slightly. "Go ahead."
Nori didn't need to be told twice. He slipped beneath the covers, the plush mattress beneath him a welcome comfort. The stress of the day ebbed away as his body melted into the sheets.
Before long, sleep claimed him.
But Ryousuke was still awake.
He sat in the dim glow of the lanterns, his fingers idly tapping against the armrest of his chair. His expression was unreadable, his mind deep in thought.
The side concubine had been dealt with—that much was settled. But there was still one more matter that required his attention.
Stealing.
Nori had discovered the missing funds first, but Ryousuke had also been keeping watch. He knew that the estate's wealth wasn't being properly accounted for, and now that everything was out in the open, he wasn't about to let it slide.
Silently, he reached for the small bell on the table beside him and rang it once.
Within moments, the butler entered, bowing deeply.
"My lord," the butler greeted, voice steady.
Ryousuke didn't bother with pleasantries. "Gather up every servant who has been caught stealing."
The butler didn't so much as flinch at the order. "Shall I prepare their dismissal?"
"No." Ryousuke's voice was firm. "They will not be expelled."
The butler hesitated, glancing up in mild surprise.
Ryousuke's fingers stopped tapping, his sharp gaze locking onto the older man. "But they will be flogged."
A tense silence stretched between them before the butler gave a respectful nod. "Understood."
"Make sure they understand," Ryousuke continued. "This is their only warning. If it happens again, I won't be as lenient."
"Yes, my lord."
The butler bowed once more before retreating.
Ryousuke leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly.
There was no place for thieves in his household, but he wasn't a fool. Expelling them outright would only create future enemies. Some of those servants had been in the household for years—if they were cast out without warning, they would carry resentment and could easily sell information about the estate to outsiders.
No, it was better this way. A punishment severe enough to remind them of their place, but not enough to drive them into desperation.
Outside, the distant sound of movement began to stir as the butler carried out his orders.
Ryousuke closed his eyes for a brief moment.
Then, with the matter settled, he rose to his feet and began undoing the fastenings of his outer robe.
The night wasn't over just yet.
Stepping toward the adjacent bathing chamber, he let out a quiet sigh as he removed the rest of his clothing and stepped into the warm water. The heat instantly soothed the tightness in his muscles, easing the tension that had built up over the day.
He wasn't the type to dwell on things once a decision had been made, but tonight had been different.
Tonight, he had seen a side of Nori that he hadn't fully appreciated before.
His spouse had not only uncovered theft within the estate but had also acted upon it decisively. And even in the face of blatant disrespect, Nori had not backed down.
There was strength in him. A quiet, unyielding strength.
A small smirk tugged at the corner of Ryousuke's lips.
He had chosen well.
After rinsing himself off, he stepped out of the bath, drying himself swiftly before donning a loose sleeping robe.
The flickering lanterns cast long shadows across the room as he made his way back toward the bed.
Nori was already fast asleep, his breathing steady and soft. His face, usually so guarded during the day, was peaceful in slumber.
Ryousuke climbed into bed, the mattress dipping slightly under his weight.
Without a word, he reached over, brushing a stray lock of hair from Nori's face before settling beside him.
For the first time that night, Ryousuke allowed himself to fully relax.
And as the quiet hum of the night surrounded them, he closed his eyes, finally allowing himself to rest.