The crisp morning breeze swept in from the end of the corridor, carrying a slight chill.
Shun slowly walked out of the room, immediately feeling refreshed.
Yesterday, he had married seven new royal consorts, which was most likely to cause the older ones to feel neglected. As the husband of twenty-four royal consorts, he understood even better how to balance the emotions of every single one of them.
Especially his Tenth Royal Consort: Kaguya.
Thinking of this, Shun's steps paused slightly.
Kaguya had once been betrayed by her two sons, Hagoromo and Hamura, and sealed in endless darkness for a thousand years.
That thousand years of solitude and suffering, that heart-wrenching pain of betrayal by her closest kin, had long since carved an indelible scar into her heart.
Even after he rescued her and brought her into the harem as the Tenth Royal Consort, the pride ingrained in her bones had never diminished in the slightest. She never fought with the other royal consorts for favor, even deliberately avoiding the clamor of the harem.
Whenever a new consort entered, she would shut herself away in the deepest part of her dimension, quietly hiding her vulnerability and unease beneath a facade of cool nobility.
Shun knew better than anyone that beneath Kaguya's seemingly cold exterior lay a heart that longed for warmth yet severely lacked a sense of security.
Last night, his action of taking seven new royal consorts must have stirred up waves in her heart. Perhaps she was currently grieving alone while looking at the nebula.
He had to use the most sincere attitude and the most gentle actions to make her understand that he was not a treacherous person like Hagoromo and Hamura, and he certainly wouldn't let her repeat the mistakes of the past.
Inside Kaguya's personal dimension, the scene was completely different from the outside world.
Today's nebula seemed a bit dimmer than usual, and its rotation speed was also much slower, as if echoing its master's low mood.
Kaguya's long hair shone with a faint silver glow. A few strands were stirred by the weak airflow in the space, clinging to her smooth forehead, making her skin appear even snowier.
Compared to the sharpness and indifference of when they first met, the distance that pushed people away was lessened in her expression, replaced by a peacefulness nourished by love.
As she heard familiar footsteps echoing in the tranquil space, she didn't turn around immediately, but her fingertips subconsciously curled up, hidden within her wide sleeves.
The eyes that had once been filled with indifference and detachment now also held a hint of concealed disappointment.
Shun softened his steps as he walked up to her and took her slightly cool hand.
Kaguya seemed somewhat surprised by his initiative and instinctively recoiled slightly, yet ultimately did not pull her hand away.
Shun felt a warmth in his heart mixed with a pang of heartache. He gently rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb, tracing the lines of her knuckles, slowly transferring the warmth of his palm, attempting to melt the coolness of her hand.
After a moment of silence, Kaguya looked elsewhere, afraid he might notice the disappointment in her eyes. "You came early today. Are the affairs of the Royal Palace finished?"
Shun tightened his grip on her hand, his expression full of tenderness and a hint of apology. "No matter how busy I am, I should come to see you first. Kaguya, I want to have a child with you."
Kaguya's breathing suddenly hitched.
It took her a long time to regain her composure, and she spoke with a trembling voice, "Shun... Do you know what you are saying?"
She retreated slightly, her eyes filled with resistance.
Shun did not avoid her gaze, taking her hand again. "Kaguya, I want a child that belongs to the two of us, not for any other reason, but just for you."
Kaguya's body suddenly stiffened. She clearly hadn't expected him to make this request so abruptly.
She was a proud woman who was unwilling to easily reveal her vulnerability, but the three words "have a child" touched the deepest scar in her heart.
The pain of being betrayed and sealed for a thousand years by her two sons flashed rapidly through her mind like a movie.
The tenderness of the past, when she shared Chakra with them and taught them to control power.
The treachery that followed, when they united forces and sealed her in endless darkness.
The boundless solitude and despair in that darkness, where she faced the cold sealing wall, enduring the double torment of longing and betrayal day after day.
Every scene made her body go cold.
She pulled her hand back and took a step backward, her brilliant eyes locked tightly onto him. "Shun, do you know? I..."
She paused, a glimmer of moisture flashing in her eyes, but she forcibly held back the tears. "I... I'm afraid. I'm afraid that if I pour out everything to love, all I'll receive in the end is betrayal. I'm afraid this child will be like Hagoromo and Hamura, seeing me as an enemy."
She liked Shun, cherished this hard-won warmth, and treasured the feeling of being valued and protected, but the pain of a thousand years followed her like a shadow, like maggots attached to bone, making it impossible for her to muster the courage to conceive another child.
She was afraid history would repeat itself, afraid of being betrayed by her own flesh and blood again, and afraid of falling into that endless darkness once more.
Yet, she didn't know how to refuse this expectation from the person she loved. Looking at the deep affection in Shun's eyes, her heart felt tightly pulled by two hands—one representing fear of the past, the other, longing for the future.
"I... I can't harm you, and I can't go through that kind of pain again."
Shun took in the panic, entanglement, and fear in her eyes, and a sharp pain twisted in his heart.
He stepped forward, disregarding her resistance, and wrapped his arms around her, gently pulling her into his embrace, his arms tightly circling her waist.
"Kaguya, how could I not know your past? The betrayal by Hagoromo and Hamura was never your fault. They didn't cherish your love and were blinded by power and beguiled by the rumors of the world. They wronged you, you were not lacking."
He gently patted her back. "With me by your side, our child will be very filial to you. I will stay with you both and protect you both. From the moment thd child is born, I will teach them gratitude, teach them to cherish, and teach them to love you. I will tell them how great their mother is, and I will absolutely not let history repeat itself."
As he spoke, he raised his hand and stroked her back, gently smoothing along her spine.
Seeing Kaguya's body still trembling and her shoulders slightly shaking, he said, "Kaguya, will you trust me just this once? I am not Hagoromo. I will not let you face everything alone. No matter what happens in the future, I will stand by you and protect you and the child. Even if the whole world betrays you, I will stay with you and stand against the world."
The body in his arms was initially tense, filled with deep vigilance and unease, and Kaguya was even struggling slightly, trying to push him away.
But as Shun's gentle words sounded in her ear, as his warm body temperature continuously transferred to her, and as his soft movements continually soothed her back—
Feeling the firmness of his chest and the steadiness of his heartbeat, Kaguya's tense body gradually relaxed, and the strength of her struggle lessened.
She didn't reply, but gently leaned against his chest, her cheek pressed against his warm clothing, listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat.
That heartbeat was like a calming pill, allowing her panicked heart to gradually settle down.
She hesitated for a moment, and a muffled voice sounded. "But... but I'm still afraid. What... what if the child really turns out like Hagoromo and Hamura? I... I can't bear a second betrayal."
Shun pressed a loving kiss on the top of her head, speaking with undeniable confidence, "Kaguya, there is no 'what if.' I will spend my life proving that our child will be the one who understands and loves you the most in this world. I will use my life to protect you both and will never let you suffer any grievance again."
Kaguya's body trembled slightly, not from fear, but from emotion. The solitude and pain of a thousand years seemed to have found a home at this moment.
"I know it's not easy for you to let go of a thousand years of pain. It requires time, and I can wait."
Shun gently stroked her long hair, as if making a solemn vow to her.
"But I promise you, no matter when or what happens, your place in my heart is unmatched. I know this is very unfair to you, making you suffer grievances."
His gaze fell upon the distant, swirling nebula, his eyes filled with determination and longing, as if he could already see the future.
"Having a child with you has nothing to do with power, it is simply my purest wish as a husband. I want to have a child that belongs to us, a child who inherits both our strength and blood, a child who knows gratitude and cherishes you."
"I want to be with you, watching the smile on your face when they babble and call out 'Mama' for the first time. Watching them toddle and rush into our arms, grow into a powerful individual capable of standing on their own, protecting this world we both cherish."
"I want to share the joy of parenthood with you, walking together through the long years ahead, until the end of the Universe."
Kaguya looked up, her eyes still damp, crystal tears clinging to her long lashes. Staring at his earnest expression, her gaze was filled with emotion.
"Are... are you truly willing to wait with me? Willing to teach our child and protect them with me?"
Shun gently wiped away the tears from the corner of her eye, his finger tracing softly across her cheek. "I am willing. No matter how long it takes, I am willing. Teaching them, protecting them, protecting you—these are what I should do, what I want to do most."
"Even if you occasionally lose control, I will stay with you and comfort you, never looking down on you. In my eyes, everything about you is beautiful, including your vulnerability."
Kaguya still did not speak, simply pressing her cheek closer, almost merging with him.
Once upon a time, she overlooked the Ninja World alone, possessing supreme power, yet feeling no warmth whatsoever. She gave her true heart and everything she had to her children, only to receive betrayal and a seal in return.