The Oath of Twenty, Dawn of Love and Secrets
Akio’s town was filled with the quiet of early winter and the warm vitality brought by the daily lives of its people. On that day, the air in the central hall was different—somehow solemn, yet brimming with sweet anticipation. It was the day Ayane, the girl Akio had raised and protected since coming to this world, celebrated her twentieth birthday.
“Ayane, congratulations! Have a wonderful day with Akio-sama.”
“Ayane-chan, go for it! You’ve got him all to yourself today!”
Sylvia, Kina, and the other wives sent Ayane off with warm words (and a touch of teasing) as she seemed a little nervous that morning. A special day for just Akio and Ayane alone—a heartfelt gift from all the other wives.
For Ayane, it was the start of a dreamlike moment. Even if just for a single day, she could have Akio—the man she respected and loved—all to herself. They prepared meals together (though Ayane, bubbling with excitement, did most of the work), exchanged lighthearted words, and simply spent time close to one another. Every moment sparkled like a gem, and she reveled fully in the joy of being his wife.
In the afternoon, as soft sunlight streamed through the window, Ayane noticed Akio lost in thought. A faint trace of anguish, rarely seen, seemed to linger between his brows. Ayane had long sensed that he carried many burdens alone, things he couldn’t share with anyone. And on this special day, she felt that perhaps she, and only she, could be there for him.
“Akio-sama…” Ayane gently placed her hand over his, “… Do you remember when we came to this land, to the forest… that day when we desperately fled?”
It was a harsh memory for Akio, the beginning of a painful past, but for Ayane, it was the moment she met him and resolved to live alongside him. Akio looked at her, slightly surprised, but met her earnest gaze and slowly nodded.
Ayane spoke quietly but clearly, not of the fear or despair of that time, but of how Akio’s presence gave her hope, and how she could never forget the way he fought to protect her and the others despite being so young. It was her way of expressing her love, an earnest attempt to share even a fraction of the burdens he might be carrying alone.
Ayane didn’t ask what Akio felt in that moment. But when she finished speaking, she noticed his expression soften, as if a weight had been lifted, and he let out a deep breath.
(Maybe something shifted inside Akio-sama… and I’m the one who caused it…!)
It was Ayane’s little secret. This new bond with Akio kindled a quiet sense of sweet pride in her heart.
As night fell, the two were alone again. In the flickering light of a lamp, Akio looked at Ayane with a hesitant yet earnest gaze and made a few “requests.” Some of them were perplexing, things she couldn’t immediately comprehend—requests that seemed unthinkable from the usually gentle and upright Akio.
(Akio-sama… desires such things?)
For a moment, confusion flickered in her heart. But when she saw the vulnerability in his eyes, a longing meant only for her, her resolve solidified.
(He must have had no one else to turn to. It’s because it’s me… he’s relying on me alone…)
With a saintly smile, Ayane nodded gently.
“Yes, Akio-sama… I am your wife. Whatever your heart desires…”
That night, Ayane surrendered herself entirely to Akio’s wishes. At first, the emotions were unfamiliar, but as she entrusted herself to him and saw his joy, she felt an inexplicable sense of fulfillment. It wasn’t mere physical pleasure but something deeper, a resonance of their souls, a profound and intense satisfaction she couldn’t fully understand. Akio’s hidden desires—whatever they were—remained unspoken by Ayane to anyone else for the rest of her life. They were a special form of love that bloomed in the secret garden shared only by Akio and Ayane.
Incidentally, around that time, somewhere in Akio’s town, it’s said that Leonora, perhaps during night watch training or muttering in her sleep, let out a rather ominous “Tch… Kill!”—or perhaps it was just the wind carrying a rumor.
Be that as it may, Akio’s town, and Akio himself, who had deepened a new bond, were about to close another peaceful day.
What do you think about this chapter?
