I subconsciously touched my belly and caressed it. 'Kaname wants a child?' I wondered.

"Thank you," I heard Kaname say. "Please prepare something special for supper. We weren't able to celebrate her birthday yesterday, I'd like to do it tonight albeit a day late."

"Certainly, my lord."

Before I could even react, return to the futon, and pretend to have just woken up, Kaname had already slid the door open. He didn't expect to see me by the door but he recovered immediately.

"You're awake?" he smiled.

"Yes," I nodded. "You weren't around when I opened my eyes so I decided to look for you."

"I just had something to talk about with your head maid," he explained. "I told her to prepare something delicious so we could celebrate the day you were born."

"You don't have to," I smiled. "Last night's surprise was the best gift."

"But I insist," he patted my head before glancing down at my hands that were still on my belly. "You heard?"

"I did," I replied truthfully.

"And?"

"And what?"

"What do you think?" he covered my hands with one of his. "Will you be happy carrying my child?"

"Of course!" I had no hesitations; I wanted what he wanted, too. It was odd, really. Before, things like motherhood never crossed my mind but now I wanted it so much. I was about to say more when what happened in the woods days ago crossed my mind. Ayaka! How will he react if he finds out that his second wife is already pregnant?

"Then I'm glad," the corners of his eyes crinkled as his smile reached them. "I have been wanting to be a father for quite some time now."

"Really?"

"It is one of my biggest dreams," he walked past me, his hands clasped behind his back. "Did you know, although I can have any woman I want, I do not want to be like my predecessors and have many women?"

"Why?" I turned to look at him.

"Aside from not wanting to contract any disease, I do not like it when women fight over my attention," he replied. "Many women and children, born or not, have suffered the consequences of being part of the harem."

"I read a book once, it was about an Egyptian harem. All the women loved the pasha but he doted on his latest concubine, incurring the wrath of his second wife as a result. The second wife tried to poison the beloved wife, failed, and was divorced. She was childless and her aristocrat blood made her arrogant. She vowed she'll have her revenge. Years later, during a very important festival, she paid a.s.sa.s.sins to kill the son the beloved wife bore. I cried when I read that part, it was very heartbreaking."

"Similar things have happened here in the past," he sat on the futon, one knee was drawn up while his elbow rested on it.

"What happened to the women?"

"They were exiled and stripped off of their t.i.tle," he ran his fingers through his hair as if he was frustrated with something. "If one of my wives betrayed me, I will personally get rid of them."

A s.h.i.+ver ran down my spine, his current demeanor reminded me of the first time I met him. He seemed cold and distant, the complete opposite of what he was like last night and this afternoon. "Will you kill me if I cheated on you?" I blurted out.

His odd eyes looked at me, they contained a mixture of hurt and ruthlessness. "Yes, Hinata. I will. n.o.body cheats on me."

My heart pounded like crazy on my chest. This… The man before me is the shogun. Gone is my husband. Right now, he is the great ruler of this country. The man whose single instruction could ruin anything that got in his way. I tried to lighten up the mood and joined him on the mattress. "Anata, I am yours and yours alone," I took his hand and placed it on my cheek. "I may come from the future but loyalty is still held in high regard there."

His features finally softened. "I trust you, my dear wife."

"Let's not talk about depressing matters," I desperately wanted to change the topic. "How about we take our evening baths now?"

"It's still to early," he shook his head. "How about you show me what you learned from Hikaru-san yesterday? I heard you are left-handed."

Relief flooded my system when he took the bait. I didn't like where our conversation was going just now. Imagining what he'll do to Mami when he finds out about her infidelity scares me. I do not approve of her actions but I still believe she has her own reasons. She disgusted me but remembering the story I read about the pasha, I knew her treachery was not merely because she was answering the call of her flesh.

"I'm still rustic in that area, how about I show you my own moves instead?" I went to the dresser and grabbed my dagger. "Here's a fun fact about me, I don't just know the basics of self-defense. I actually know so much more and consider mixed martial arts as my preferred workout routine."

"Is that so?" he didn't look convinced.

"Yes," I smirked. "Watch me."

I held the dagger by the grip, my fingers completely wrapped around it with the blade pointing up at the ceiling. Wanting to show off, I suddenly twirled it in my fingers before pointing the blade back at me, a.s.suming the reverse grip. I then brought my shoulders in and ducked my head before extending my dagger-wielding arm in front of me in a forty-five degree angle. Afterwards, I positioned my free arm in a protective manner, using it to cover my chest, neck, and stomach. I then moved side to side, my actions reminiscent of a crab trying to evade its enemy. I was about to show him the moves my coach taught me when out of the corner of my eye I saw him move.

Kaname suddenly stood up, his eyes alight with eagerness. "Interesting moves. Care to spar with me?"

A knife fight with the shogun? I would be lying if I say it didn't excite me. "Sure, are we going to use real knives?"

"Hai," he surprised me by pulling the dagger I gifted him from his tamoto[1]. "Since I want to see how skilled you are, I will not go easy on you. Ready?"

I nodded solemnly. "I'm ready when you are, my lord."

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[1] The sleeve pouch of a kimono.