chapter 7

Chapter 7

A Deal Sealed in Gold

Lord Yuki sat in the center of the grand hall, his expression composed, but his hands were clenched tightly in his lap. His wife, pale and silent, sat beside him, worry etched into her delicate features.

Before them, the three eldest sons of the Yuki family sat in perfect seiza, their postures stiff with tension.

At last, Lord Yuki spoke. "Nori's marriage to General Ryusoke is finalized."

The room remained eerily silent.

Lady Yuki's hands trembled in her lap, but she said nothing, her eyes lowering. The eldest son, Hiroshi, glanced toward his father, his jaw set. "Father, are you certain about this? The General is a powerful man, but—"

"He is the most powerful man," Lord Yuki corrected sharply. "And we are fortunate that he has taken an interest in Nori. Do you understand what this means for our family?"

Hiroshi's lips pressed into a thin line. Of course, he understood.

For years, the Yuki estate had struggled. They were nobility, yes, but their coffers were not as deep as the other aristocratic clans. Their family name carried prestige, but prestige alone could not feed their people or maintain their lands.

Now, everything had changed.

Thanks to Nori.

The second eldest, Ryouji, sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I suppose we should be grateful. The General is a man of great wealth. He will ensure Nori is taken care of."

Hiroshi looked away, his shoulders tense.

The youngest of the three brothers, Akihiro, had remained silent throughout the conversation. His fingers dug into his hakama, his face unreadable.

His father noticed his silence.

"Akihiro," Lord Yuki called. "Do you have something to say?"

The young man swallowed, his gaze flickering between his father and his older brothers. He wanted to say something—he wanted to scream that this felt wrong.

Nori had been raised so gently, so delicately, protected by their entire family. Now, he was being handed over to a man twice his age, a man whose reputation was as ruthless as it was terrifying.

How could they call this a blessing?

But Akihiro knew the truth. It didn't matter what he thought.

Even if he voiced his concerns, it would change nothing.

So instead, he shook his head. "…No, Father."

Lord Yuki studied him for a long moment before nodding in approval. "Good."

That night, the Yuki estate buzzed with whispers of the announcement. Servants murmured behind closed doors, and distant relatives sent messages expressing their shock.

And then—the gifts arrived.

Gold, Silk, and Power

A week later, the streets of the city were filled with chaos.

It had started in the early morning, when the first procession appeared—a line of carriages so grand, so extravagant, that people stopped in their tracks to stare.

Soldiers in the General's personal colors lined the streets, guarding the convoy. Their presence alone was enough to send a wave of hushed awe through the crowd.

And then came the gifts.

Box after box, chest after chest—each one carried by servants clad in robes finer than what most nobles wore.

Golden ornaments, jade carvings, silk embroidered with delicate cranes and chrysanthemums, rare pearls, and even bars of pure silver—the kind of wealth that no family could refuse.

The Yuki estate gates were opened wide, and the gifts were presented before Lord Yuki himself.

Gasps filled the air as each item was displayed for all to see.

The street outside was filled with people, their voices rising in shock.

"Look at that silk—it's finer than what the Emperor himself wears!"

"I heard the General is paying twenty times the original dowry!"

"What kind of love is this, to send such gifts?"

Hushed voices spoke of envy, of admiration, of fear.

For if General Ryusoke was willing to spend this much to claim a bride, then his intentions were clear.

He would never let Nori go.

Inside the Yuki estate, the family sat in their grand hall, surrounded by more wealth than they had ever seen.

Lady Yuki pressed a trembling hand to her lips, overwhelmed by the sheer extravagance of it all.

Ryouji let out a low whistle, shaking his head in disbelief. "With this, our estate will flourish for generations."

Hiroshi, despite his reservations, could not deny the truth. This was an opportunity that no noble family would refuse.

And yet, Akihiro could not feel joy.

He clenched his fists in his lap, his heart pounding.

His father had already agreed to the marriage, but this… this was final.

There was no going back.

From this moment onward, Nori was no longer a son of the Yuki family.

He was the General's bride.

And despite the smiles, despite the whispered excitement among the servants, Akihiro felt a chill settle deep in his bones.

Because while others saw wealth, he saw chains.

The wedding was approaching fast.

And there was nothing they could do to stop it.

The days leading up to the wedding were a blur of endless lessons, strict discipline, and quiet humiliation.

Nori had thought the lessons in pleasure had been unbearable. But now, as he sat on his knees, listening to Lady Asami lecture him on etiquette and tradition, he realized that was only the beginning.

Here, in the world of men, he was not a man.

He was a male wife.

He had to walk differently. Speak differently. Think differently.

He was not to meet the General's eyes unless addressed.

He was not to raise his voice or express displeasure.

His every movement, from how he knelt to how he lifted his teacup, had to be perfect.

"A male wife is a reflection of his husband's status," Lady Asami instructed, her tone sharp. "If you falter, if you bring shame upon him in public, you will suffer for it."

Nori lowered his gaze, his fingers trembling in his lap.

Every mistake—every tiny misstep—was corrected immediately.

If his hands trembled while pouring tea? Again.

If he failed to bow deeply enough? Again.

If he took even a second too long to respond? Again.

By the time the sun set, his knees ached from kneeling, and his spine burned from holding himself perfectly straight for hours.

But it did not matter.

Because in this world, he had no right to complain.

The Final Test

The night before the wedding, Nori sat in silence as Lady Asami prepared him for one last inspection.

The lessons were complete.

His training was done.

Now, only one thing remained.

"Lay down," Lady Asami ordered.

Nori hesitated, his breath shallow.

The thing inside him—the one she had placed there days ago—had become part of him. A constant, humiliating reminder of what he was being prepared for.

And now, it was time for it to be removed.

With trembling hands, he obeyed, lowering himself onto the silk sheets.

Lady Asami moved with practiced ease, parting his robes and pressing her fingers against his bare skin. "Relax," she murmured.

How could he?

A sharp gasp escaped his lips as the foreign object was slowly pulled free. His body clenched instinctively, but it no longer fought against the intrusion the way it once had.

Lady Asami hummed in approval.

"Good. You've loosened well."

Nori shut his eyes tightly, humiliation burning through him.

He felt exposed. Stripped of every last shred of dignity.

But Lady Asami was pleased.

She placed a warm cloth between his legs, cleaning him with clinical efficiency before adjusting his robes. "You've done well, young master. You will be able to take your husband without too much strain."

Nori felt sick.

He said nothing as Lady Asami stood and smoothed down her sleeves. "Get some rest. Tomorrow, you will be a wife."

She left without another word, and the room fell into silence.

Nori curled into himself, pressing his forehead against the pillow.

There was no turning back now.

Tomorrow, his life would no longer be his own.