Chapter 18
Nori woke up to the soft glow of morning light filtering through the curtains, casting a golden hue over the room. He stretched lazily, feeling well-rested, until he realized the heavy arm draped over his waist. His body stiffened as he turned his head slightly, only to see Ryousuke still fast asleep beside him, his expression unguarded and peaceful.
Nori's face burned as he tried to wiggle free, but the general's grip was firm. His breath hitched when Ryousuke mumbled something incoherent in his sleep and pulled him closer. The warmth of his broad chest against Nori's back made him panic. He didn't want to wake him, but at the same time, if he stayed like this any longer, he might just combust from sheer embarrassment.
Gathering all his strength, Nori carefully peeled Ryousuke's arm off and rolled out of bed. He adjusted his robe, took a deep breath, and tiptoed out of the room.
After freshening up and getting dressed in a soft blue robe embroidered with silver cranes, he decided he wanted to explore the estate more. The previous day, he had already planned on planting flowers in the garden, but now another thought came to mind—he hadn't properly seen the market yet.
He called for the butler. "I want to go out today."
The butler, who was in the middle of organizing a morning report, looked up in surprise. "Out, my lord?"
"Yes. I want to visit the market," Nori said, lifting his chin.
The butler hesitated. "The market is crowded and—"
"I'll take a few servants with me. That should be fine, right?"
The staff exchanged nervous glances, unsure how to handle the situation. It wasn't common for the lady—or in this case, the madam—of a noble house to wander around the bustling streets alone.
Just as Nori was about to insist, a deep voice interrupted them.
"You want to go to the market?"
Nori turned sharply, only to see Ryousuke, now fully dressed, standing at the doorway. He had his arms crossed, one brow raised in mild amusement.
"Yes," Nori said firmly, though the presence of the general made him feel a bit self-conscious.
Ryousuke sighed and walked toward him. "Then I'll take you."
Nori blinked. "What? No, you don't have to. I can go by myself."
"I refuse." Ryousuke didn't even give him a chance to argue. "You're my spouse. Do you think I'd let you wander around the market alone?"
Nori frowned. "I won't be alone. The servants—"
"They're not enough," Ryousuke said simply.
Nori huffed, but he knew there was no point in arguing. He didn't understand why Ryousuke was suddenly so protective, but he wasn't going to waste his morning debating.
"Fine," he muttered. "But don't hover over me."
Ryousuke chuckled. "No promises."
The journey to the market was smooth. Ryousuke rode his black stallion while Nori was seated in an elegant carriage. When they arrived, the streets were already bustling with merchants calling out their wares, the scent of grilled skewers and fresh fruit filling the air.
As Nori stepped out, he could feel the stares of the townspeople. At first, it was curiosity—many had heard of the general's newly wedded spouse but had never seen him before. But as they recognized him as the noble who had punished the former side concubine, their gazes turned into admiration.
"Look, that's the madam of the estate."
"I heard he personally took care of the accounts."
"And he even punished the concubine for stealing! Unlike the last one, he actually runs the household properly."
Nori felt a sense of pride swell in his chest. He hadn't realized people were paying attention to what he did.
Meanwhile, Ryousuke was quietly observing him. He noticed how Nori's face lit up when he saw something interesting—a beautifully woven fabric, a stall selling sweets, a merchant demonstrating calligraphy. He was like a child experiencing the world for the first time, and Ryousuke found himself smiling without realizing it.
At one point, they passed by a small food stall where an old man was selling roasted chestnuts and grilled fish cakes.
"Do you want to try some?" Ryousuke asked.
Nori hesitated but nodded. "Just a little."
Ryousuke bought a portion and handed it to him. Nori took a bite, eyes widening slightly at the taste. "It's good."
Ryousuke watched him fondly. "I'll buy you more if you want."
Nori shook his head quickly. "No, no. I don't need you to—"
But before he could finish, a commotion broke out near a vegetable stall.
A drunken man was arguing with the vendor, knocking over a basket of cabbages.
"Oi! You're charging too much! This isn't worth half the price!" the drunkard slurred, grabbing another vegetable and tossing it to the ground.
The vendor, an elderly woman, pleaded, "Please, sir, these are fresh. I only sell what is fair."
Nori frowned. Without thinking, he stepped forward.
"That's enough," he said, his voice sharp but controlled.
The drunkard turned, squinting at him. "And who the hell are you?"
Nori met his gaze without fear. "You're causing trouble for no reason. If you don't want to buy, leave."
The drunkard sneered. "And what's a delicate little noble like you gonna do about it?"
Before Nori could respond, a powerful hand clamped onto the man's shoulder.
The drunkard flinched and turned, only to see Ryousuke glaring down at him, his grip tight enough to make the man wince.
The air grew heavy as onlookers fell silent.
Ryousuke leaned in, his voice dangerously low. "I suggest you apologize and leave. Now."
The drunkard swallowed hard, his face paling. He hurriedly bowed to the vendor, mumbling an apology before stumbling away.
Nori released the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He turned to Ryousuke, about to say something, but stopped when the general's fingers gently brushed his cheek.
"You're mine to protect," Ryousuke murmured.
Nori's heart skipped a beat. He looked away quickly, trying to suppress the warmth creeping up his face.
The vendor, grateful, handed Nori a small bag of fruit as thanks. He accepted it quietly, still flustered.
The rest of the outing continued without issue, but something inside Nori had shifted.
By the time they returned to the estate, Nori couldn't stop thinking about Ryousuke's words.
That night, when he lay down in bed beside Ryousuke, he felt oddly comforted. He turned his head slightly, stealing a glance at the general.
He was starting to see Ryousuke in a different light.
The next morning, Nori woke up later than usual, exhausted from the events of the previous night. His body still tingled slightly from the warmth of the bath, and when he turned over, he found the space beside him empty. The general had already left for the day. He sighed in relief—he was still embarrassed about what had happened the night before, from the bath to the way Ryousuke had teasingly kissed him before heading out.
Stretching lazily, he sat up and rubbed his eyes before a knock on the door startled him. It was the butler.
"Madam, the general left something for you," the butler said, stepping inside with a long, elegant wooden box in his hands.
Nori blinked in confusion. "For me?"
The butler carefully placed the box on the table and opened it, revealing an exquisite jade hairpin with gold inlays shaped like blooming peonies. It shimmered under the soft morning light, looking both delicate and expensive.
Nori's breath caught in his throat. He reached out hesitantly, brushing his fingers over the cool jade.
"The general ordered this for you before he left," the butler continued with a knowing smile. "He said you should wear it today."
Nori's face grew warm. He wasn't used to receiving gifts, let alone something as valuable as this. Why was Ryousuke suddenly acting this way? First the meat buns, then the bath, and now this?
Was this his way of showing affection?
Nori didn't know what to make of it, but he accepted the gift, carefully pinning it into his hair.
Just as he was admiring the way it shone in the mirror, another knock came. This time, it was a servant holding a sealed letter.
"The palace has sent an invitation," the servant announced.
Nori furrowed his brows as he took the letter. Breaking the seal, he read through it quickly. It was a summons from one of the high-ranking nobles, inviting Ryousuke and him to a grand banquet in two days.
His heart dropped.
A banquet? That meant being surrounded by aristocrats, noblewomen, military officials—people who would undoubtedly scrutinize his every move.
Would they mock him? Whisper behind their fans about how delicate he looked? How someone like him had no place beside the war hero?
A knot of anxiety formed in his chest.
He had spent so long hiding from high society, knowing how cruel the elite could be. And now, he was being thrown right into it.
As evening approached, Nori's nerves still hadn't settled. He kept pacing in his chambers, wondering if Ryousuke would find him ridiculous if he voiced his concerns.
When the general finally arrived, looking tired but still sharp as ever, Nori hesitated before speaking.
"Um, General," he started softly.
Ryousuke arched a brow, shrugging off his outer robe. "What is it?"
"There's… a banquet in two days," Nori said, fiddling with the sleeves of his robes. "We've been invited."
Ryousuke hummed as he poured himself a cup of wine. "Ah, I figured they'd try something like this. The nobles must be curious about you."
Nori bit his lip. "I don't know if I should go."
The general looked up sharply, his golden eyes narrowing. "Why not?"
Nori hesitated before blurting out, "I don't belong in places like that."
Silence stretched between them.
Then, to his surprise, Ryousuke placed his cup down, walked over, and—without warning—pulled Nori into his lap.
"W-What are you doing?!" Nori yelped, trying to squirm away.
Ryousuke held him firmly, resting his chin on his shoulder. "Listen to me, Nori," he murmured. "You are my spouse. No one in that banquet matters more than you. Let them talk if they want. Their words mean nothing."
Nori stilled, his heart pounding.
Ryousuke sighed, tightening his hold. "You're already perfect the way you are."
Nori turned red. He had no idea how to respond to that.
The night of the banquet arrived quicker than expected. Nori was dressed in a midnight blue robe embroidered with silver threads, the jade hairpin from Ryousuke resting in his neatly tied hair. He looked stunning. Even the servants gasped when they saw him.
As they entered the grand hall, conversations quieted. All eyes turned to them.
Ryousuke, unaffected, strode forward with his usual confidence, but Nori felt suffocated under the weight of their gazes.
He kept his head high, schooling his expression into one of quiet grace, but inside, he was trembling.
The banquet was lively, filled with nobles drinking, laughing, and discussing politics. Servants moved gracefully between tables, refilling cups and bringing out extravagant dishes.
As they took their seats, a few of Ryousuke's military colleagues approached. One of them, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a scar down his cheek, smirked.
"So this is the famous madam of the general's estate?" he mused. "I must say, I didn't expect you to be so… delicate."
Nori tensed.
Another man laughed. "General, don't be selfish. Let us meet your lovely spouse properly."
Ryousuke, sipping his drink, shot them a lazy glare. "You lot don't deserve to look at him."
The men stiffened, exchanging awkward glances before laughing nervously.
"You've gotten meaner, General," one of them muttered.
Ryousuke smirked but didn't respond, instead resting a hand on Nori's thigh possessively.
As the evening continued, a noblewoman approached Nori.
She was beautiful, dressed in luxurious silks, with a calculating gaze. "You must be Nori," she said with a sweet but false smile.
Nori inclined his head politely. "Lady Xue."
She sipped her wine. "You are quite… different from what I expected."
Nori smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Oh? And what did you expect?"
She chuckled. "Someone more fitting for a man like General Ryousuke."
The implication was clear.
A hush fell over the nearby guests, waiting to see how he'd react.
Nori, to their surprise, only tilted his head with a serene expression. "I suppose that depends on how you define 'fitting.' After all, the General and I are already married. What could be more fitting than that?"
Lady Xue's smile faltered.
Ryousuke, watching from a distance, smirked.
He loved seeing Nori like this—poised, confident, and completely unshaken.
After the exhausting banquet, they finally returned home.
As Nori removed his jewelry, Ryousuke helped untie the complicated knots of his robe, his fingers brushing against Nori's bare skin.
"Did I do well?" Nori asked softly.
Ryousuke leaned down, pressing a kiss to the nape of his neck.
"You were perfect."
Nori's breath hitched, but he didn't pull away.