Chapter 15
The morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a soft golden glow across the spacious chamber. The air was cool, the faint scent of sandalwood lingering from the incense that had burned the night before.
Nori stirred, shifting slightly beneath the thick silk covers. His body felt unusually warm, the sensation of something solid pressing against his back rousing him from the depths of sleep.
His brows furrowed slightly as he turned, but before he could register what was happening, he felt a distinct pressure—something hard.
The moment realization struck, his eyes flew open. His heart pounded wildly in his chest as a sharp heat rushed up his neck.
He twisted slightly, his movements sluggish from sleep, only to feel his robe slipping further down his shoulder, exposing the delicate line of his collarbone.
And then he saw him.
Ryousuke was already awake, his piercing dark eyes studying him intently.
For a moment, Nori was frozen.
His breath hitched as he noticed the way the general was lying behind him, his powerful frame relaxed yet dominating the space. His sharp features were unreadable, but there was something in the way his gaze traced over him—almost as if he were savoring the sight before him.
The realization sent a shiver down Nori's spine.
The scent of clean linen, steel, and something inherently him enveloped him. It was intoxicating, almost suffocating.
Then—oh no.
Nori suddenly realized the state he was in. His robes had been loosened in his sleep, slipping off his shoulders and exposing his pale, unblemished skin. His long, dark lashes fluttered in sheer mortification as he quickly reached to pull his robes back up.
In his panic, he shifted again—only to feel that thing pressing even harder against his back.
His entire body went rigid.
A deep silence filled the room.
Nori's mind went blank before it exploded into chaos. His face burned hotter than a flame. His thoughts scrambled for an explanation, but his instincts screamed at him to get away.
His reaction was immediate.
With a sharp inhale, he scrambled to escape, his movements frantic. But in his rush, his legs tangled in the sheets, and he lost his balance—
—falling right off the bed with a yelp.
A loud thud echoed through the chamber.
For a long moment, there was only silence.
Then a deep, rich chuckle.
Nori lay sprawled on the floor, his disheveled robes barely covering him properly, his long, dark hair pooling around him in an utterly ungraceful heap.
Above him, Ryousuke was watching with clear amusement, his arms propped behind his head as he observed his spouse's dramatic tumble.
"…You're awfully jumpy in the morning," Ryousuke mused, his voice thick with amusement.
Nori, still dazed from his fall, snapped his head up with a glare.
"You—!" He pointed accusingly at the man still lying comfortably in bed, his usual composure crumbling into flustered outrage.
Ryousuke arched a brow, clearly entertained. "Me?"
"You—!" Nori's words faltered as he clutched his robes tighter around himself, his face burning. "What were you doing so close to me?! And—and what was that—?!?"
The general smirked, propping himself up slightly as he leaned on one elbow. "You were the one who crawled all over me in your sleep."
Nori's mouth fell open in horror. "I did not—!"
"You did," Ryousuke said smoothly, his voice deep and slow, as if enjoying every second of watching Nori unravel. "I woke up with you draped over me like a cat seeking warmth."
Nori wanted the earth to swallow him whole.
His fingers curled into fists as he scrambled to his feet, his robe still slightly loose despite his attempts to fix it. "You—you should've pushed me off!"
Ryousuke simply stared at him, his expression unreadable for a moment before he smirked once more. "Why would I?"
Nori choked. His face turned an even deeper shade of red.
This was it. He was going to die from sheer embarrassment.
Taking a deep breath, he whirled away from Ryousuke and stormed toward the dressing screen, muttering under his breath. "Unbelievable… utterly ridiculous… this household is cursed…"
Ryousuke watched him go, amusement still lingering in his sharp gaze.
The morning had just begun, and yet, he was already entertained.
Got it! Here's your next section, focusing on Nori's delicate beauty and the scene's intensity.
Nori scrambled back onto his feet, his hands moving frantically to fix his clothes. His heart was still racing, his face unbearably warm as he tried to process what had just happened.
But then—he paused.
His fingers clutched at the thin fabric of his robes, and only then did he realize—
His outer robes were missing.
His breath caught in his throat.
The realization hit him like a wave crashing onto the shore.
At some point in the night, they had been removed, leaving him in nothing but his inner robes—sheer, delicate fabric that did little to conceal the shape of his body. The material clung to him, nearly transparent under the morning light filtering through the windows.
Horrified, Nori swallowed.
And then—he had been walking around like this?!
The thought sent a fresh wave of embarrassment rushing through him.
His arms instinctively crossed over his chest, his fingers gripping the edges of the thin robe as if it would somehow shield him from the gaze of the man still lounging in bed.
But it was too late.
Ryousuke had already seen him.
And he was watching him.
Nori stiffened, feeling the weight of the general's dark, piercing eyes tracing over his form.
He knew—he knew how he looked right now.
His long, dark hair was still tousled from sleep, cascading over his shoulders in silky waves. His pale skin, untouched by the sun, glowed softly in the golden morning light. The thin fabric of his robe clung to his slender frame, outlining the graceful curve of his waist and the smooth lines of his legs.
The hem of his robe barely reached his ankles, parting slightly as he moved, revealing glimpses of delicate, well-shaped calves.
His hips—soft yet perfectly proportioned—swayed ever so slightly as he shifted his weight, unaware of how effortlessly alluring he was.
Even worse, the lightness of the fabric did little to obscure the gentle swell of his backside, round and perfectly shaped, accentuating the natural elegance of his form.
He was beautiful.
Delicate yet refined, like a figure sculpted from the finest jade.
And Ryousuke—who had been silent all this time—was taking in every inch of him.
Nori felt his throat tighten, his pulse hammering in his ears.
He should move. He should cover himself properly. But his limbs felt like they had turned to stone.
And then—
The general finally spoke.
"…Are you planning to continue standing there like that?"
His voice was deep, slow, and impossibly calm.
Nori flinched, his face turning scarlet as he realized just how exposed he must have looked. In a panic, he hurried toward the small table to pour water, desperate to distract himself.
But in his haste, he barely noticed the way the robe shifted with every movement—the fabric stretching and clinging to his form as he leaned forward to pour the tea.
Ryousuke did notice.
His gaze darkened slightly, something unreadable flickering in his eyes as he watched his spouse move with such unintentional grace.
Nori, still oblivious to how much of himself he was showing, poured a cup of water with slightly trembling hands before turning around, his large eyes still wide with embarrassment.
"I—I brought water," he mumbled, his voice slightly breathless.
Ryousuke didn't move.
The silence stretched between them, thick and heavy.
Nori's fingers curled tighter around the cup as he hesitantly approached the bed, finally meeting Ryousuke's gaze.
And the intensity in those dark eyes nearly sent him stumbling all over again.
Nori froze.
His fingers clenched around the cup, his entire body locking up as the general's deep voice cut through the heavy silence.
"Your backside is a bit open. Maybe you should cover up."
The words sent a violent shudder through him.
His breath hitched, and his grip on the cup tightened so much that, for a brief moment, he thought he might drop it. His face burned hotter than ever, his skin prickling with the weight of Ryousuke's gaze.
Then the general continued, his voice dropping lower, edged with something unreadable.
"I don't think I'll be able to control myself if you keep seducing me."
Nori nearly choked on air.
His mouth fell open. His eyes went wide.
What?!
His head snapped up, his heart pounding furiously against his ribs.
"I—" His voice came out in a strangled whisper. "I am not seducing you."
Ryousuke's lips curled ever so slightly. It wasn't quite a smirk, but it wasn't entirely innocent either.
Nori's breath caught in his throat.
There was something about the way the general was looking at him, like he was enjoying this far too much. That infuriatingly composed expression, the way he leaned back against the bed with that calm amusement in his gaze—
Nori's ears burned.
He turned away so fast that his hair fanned out behind him, his movements hurried and frantic.
His hands immediately flew to the nearest wardrobe, yanking it open with far more force than necessary.
The moment he found a robe, he threw it over himself, wrapping it tightly around his body as if his life depended on it. The thick fabric finally shielded him from view, and only then did he allow himself to take a deep, shuddering breath.
His heart was still hammering wildly.
He was never sleeping in only his inner robes again.
Ever.
Finally, when he felt like he had at least some control over himself, he turned back around, still refusing to meet Ryousuke's gaze.
The general, of course, was still watching him.
But there was something softer in his expression now.
Something… almost amused.
And that only made Nori's embarrassment worse.