Did Regret Oppose Me?

Chiba Ran returned to the bedchamber. The candles were still brightly lit, and incense smoke curled through the air.

When he pushed open the door, he saw Qing Yueye lying there alone.

He removed his outer robe and casually tossed it to the maid standing in the corner before walking toward the bed.

His footsteps were light, yet Qing Yueye heard them clearly. Her nerves tightened, and she could only curl up even more.

"My lord..."

Her voice trembled with pleading.

Chiba Ran walked over and looked down at the outline beneath the covers.

"Mm."

He answered blandly, with no emotion discernible in his voice.

"This time, you aren't wearing it, are you?"

The question was like a slap across Qing Yueye's face, leaving her in burning pain.

"N-No..."

Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, nearly inaudible.

Chiba Ran said nothing more. He reached into the warm covers and felt around.

Beneath his fingertips was smooth, warm skin.

Only then did he withdraw his hand in satisfaction and nod. "Sit up."

His tone was commanding.

Qing Yueye froze instantly, her mind going blank.

Sit up?

Wouldn't that mean...

"Don't make me say it twice."

Chiba Ran's voice grew slightly heavier.

In the end, fear overcame shame.

Qing Yueye shifted faintly. A whimper escaped from between her tightly bitten lips, and two trails of tears silently slid down her cheeks.

Chiba Ran watched quietly, his gaze calm.

Qing Yueye took a deep breath, braced herself with her slender arms, and slowly sat up.

The silky cotton quilt slipped from her shoulders and gathered around her waist, revealing her lovely figure.

Her head hung low, her eyes squeezed shut. Her long black hair draped down, concealing her face and making it impossible to see clearly.

This was her final struggle.

Time passed second by second.

The nightmare she had expected never came.

That man merely watched her and did nothing.

At last, Qing Yueye could not resist raising her head.

Their gazes met.

The sight of those pitch-black eyes made her heart tremble.

As though pricked by needles, she hurriedly lowered her head again, her heartbeat quickening.

Chiba Ran moved. He leaned lazily against the headboard and rested one leg across her body.

"Massage my leg."

He ordered.

Qing Yueye froze once more.

After hesitating for a moment, she finally extended her trembling hands and gently placed them on his leg.

Then she began to massage it.

Perhaps because she had always been pampered, her strength was so light that it could barely be felt.

"Use more strength."

Chiba Ran closed his eyes and spoke blandly.

Hearing this, Qing Yueye had no choice but to increase her strength.

Tears fell from her eyes, one drop after another, silently striking the brocade quilt and spreading into dark stains.

She had once been the most dazzling daughter of heaven in the Land of Fire Capital, the cherished jewel of her family, the object of pursuit for countless young nobles.

When had she ever suffered such humiliation?

Chiba Ran showed not the slightest bit of pity.

He even found the scene exquisitely beautiful.

A thorny rose, plucked by his own hand, then stripped of every thorn and left for him to toy with as he pleased.

The feeling of thoroughly crushing something beautiful and reshaping it according to his own desires filled him with an indescribable thrill.

By candlelight, he opened his eyes and carefully examined the woman before him once more.

It had to be said that Qing Yueye was truly beautiful.

Her skin was like snow, her features delicate. Even now, her cool and aloof aura had not entirely faded. Instead, this humiliation and vulnerability lent her an added sense of shattered beauty.

Her fame throughout the Land of Fire Capital was no exaggeration.

Only...

His gaze lingered briefly on her chest.

She was still somewhat immature, which was rather regrettable.

Chiba Ran suddenly reached out and brushed the strands of hair covering her face behind her ear, revealing that tear-streaked visage.

"Do you regret it?"

he asked softly.

His voice was not loud, yet it struck Qing Yueye's heart like a heavy hammer.

He was referring to the Qingyue Clan choosing sides.

Back then, when his brothers had fought each other to the death over the position of daimyo, the Qingyue Clan had remained neutral and watched from the sidelines.

It was she, Qing Yueye, who had desperately persuaded her father for the sake of the man she loved—and who loved her in return—Chiba Ran's elder brother, ultimately causing the entire clan to stand against Chiba Ran.

She had once believed she had chosen the future daimyo, as well as her love.

She had once believed that this obscure younger brother with no foundation was merely trying to stop a chariot with a mantis's arm.

Looking back now, it was laughable.

The touch against her skin made Qing Yueye tremble again.

She did not answer. She merely lowered her head and mechanically pounded his legs.

The faster her tears fell already explained everything.

Did she regret it?

Of course she did.

Seeing that she remained silent, Chiba Ran did not press her further and withdrew his hand.

"Go close the window."

he ordered flatly.

Upon hearing this, the maid in the corner of the bedchamber—who had been bowing her head and doing her utmost to minimize her presence—stirred and was about to step forward.

"I wasn't talking to you."

Chiba Ran's voice rang out again.

The maid froze mid-step and hurriedly shrank back into the corner.

Qing Yueye's hands stopped moving.

She remained silent and motionless, as if she had not heard him.

Chiba Ran did not urge her. He simply leaned back and waited quietly.

The air seemed to freeze at that moment.

After a long while, Qing Yueye slowly withdrew her hands.

She rose from the bed at an unhurried pace. The blanket slipped away completely, and that delicate, radiant flower bloomed without reservation beneath the candlelight.

Without a word, she walked barefoot across the cold floor toward the window.

One step.

Two steps.

Each one unbearably heavy.

Outside the window, moonlight glimmered hazily while the stars shone brilliantly.

It was beautiful.

She stared blankly at the night sky beyond the window, as though she could see everything she had once possessed.

Then, she reached out both hands.

"Click."

With a soft sound, she closed the window through which the starlight could be seen with her own hands.

Morning.

When sunlight streamed through the window into the bedchamber, Qing Yueye opened her eyes.

Yet she lay there, unwilling to move.

The space beside her had long since been emptied, leaving behind only a faint lingering warmth.

Perhaps she had slept restlessly the night before; the bed was in complete disarray.

She stared blankly at the ornate canopy above her, her eyes hollow.

Just then, the chamber door was gently pushed open, and a maid entered carrying washing supplies.

Seeing that Qing Yueye was awake, the maid hurriedly knelt.

"Miss, you're awake."

Yesterday, Qing Yueye might have berated her or told her to get out.

But today, she merely rose in silence, allowing the other woman to dress her and comb her long hair.

Throughout it all, she did not say a single word, like a puppet on strings.

Overnight, the once-proud Miss Qing seemed to have had her soul ripped away.

Meanwhile, in the study.

Chiba Ran had already finished reviewing a stack of urgent documents.

He stood before the enormous map, his gaze fixed on the region that belonged to Konoha as he quietly pondered.

Cutting twenty percent of the budget was merely an appetizer.

What he wanted was to bring Konoha completely under his control.

What would Hiruzen Sarutobi do?

When he took office back then, it seemed he had sought out my so-called father, hadn't he?

The corner of Chiba Ran's lips curled up, an amused smile flashing by.

"Someone."

"My lord." Minamoto appeared soundlessly at the doorway.

"Pass down the order. Starting today, Qing Yueye is my personal maid."

"From now on, she will be responsible for the tea in my study."

Confusion flickered in Minamoto's eyes, but he immediately suppressed it.

"Yes, my lord."

Chiba Ran turned around and looked at the rising morning sun outside the window.

The best way to tame a wild horse was not to lock it in a stable.

It was to put reins on it, keep it at your side, and remind it at every moment who its master was.

Qing Yueye was like this.

So was Konoha.

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