As night approached, the doors to the office on the top floor of the Foreign Trade Department finally opened.
The expressions of the merchants who had been waiting outside for ages instantly changed from sorrowful resentment to ingratiating smiles.
But in the next moment, every one of those smiles froze.
There, at the doorway, Senya was carrying the renowned Empress Kurenai of the Shinobi World in his arms.
For a moment, Senya seemed to hear countless hearts shattering.
"Kurenai isn't feeling well today, so I'm taking her home first."
"Come back tomorrow. If you have anything urgent, go downstairs and find Deputy Minister Yamato."
Nestled in Senya's arms, Kurenai said nothing. Though she desperately wanted to maintain the image she had once cultivated, her weak body did not allow her to do so.
She could only bury her face against Senya's chest.
With that, Senya left the Foreign Trade Department under everyone's watchful eyes and took Kurenai back to her usual residence.
It was still the same old house, and even the furnishings inside had barely changed.
As soon as she entered, Kurenai released her arms from around Senya's neck. Her feet touched the floor, and she shakily changed into slippers before walking to the household altar in the living room and lighting an incense stick for her father, Kurenai's Father.
Seeing this, Senya followed behind her and bowed three times with her before Kurenai's Father's memorial portrait.
"Please rest assured, sir. From now on, I will take good care of Kurenai."
"Rest in peace in the Pure Land."
Kurenai irritably landed a light punch on Senya's back.
"So you do know that you're supposed to take good care of me."
"Then why were you so rough before?"
"I can barely walk now."
Senya could only smile sheepishly.
"I couldn't