Chained to old wounds

CH125

Morgan

1 frowned at those words and the look on her facel

“Walk with me in the garden?”

She seemed surprised, but nodded. We walked though the the harem’s halls. Eventually, we made it to the gardens. The sound of the fountain reached my ear, and I realized that this was a completely different garden than the one I had woken up in. Lady Jun bent down, her delicate hands gently brushing over the petals of a moonflower. She seemed lost in thought, her expression a mix of melancholy and weariness. I approached slowly, curious about what she would say. Despite everything that had transpired, I had felt a strange sense of empathy for her. Lady Jun wasn’t like the others in the harem. She wasn’t consumed by greed or ambition. There was something deeper, something quieter about her.

Hearing the way she spoke about returning home told me a lot.

“Lady Jun,” I said softly. “I want to hear your story.

She turned to face me, her eyes widening in surprise before she offered a weak smile. “It’s not

as a human who survived the Trial of Fire,” she said, her voice soft but

nearly as interesting

strained.

“We can trade stories if you’d like.”

I moved to stand beside her, glancing down at the flowers she was touching.

“You said that for a reason,” I said gently. “If you’re okay with telling me why…”

Lady Jun let out a long sigh, her shoulders sagging slightly. “I’m not sure ‘okay‘ is something I can ever claim,” she admitted, her voice tinged with sadness. “Not with everything that’s happened. But I suppose that’s how life is for people like us, isn’t it?”

I frowned, sensing the weight behind her words. “People like us?”

She looked away, her gaze drifting toward the distant mountains. “Women caught in circumstances beyond their control. Trapped in decisions they never truly wanted to make. I married into the royal family because I thought it was my way out… but it wasn’t. Not really.”

I stayed silent, waiting for her to continue. I knew she was speaking from a place of pain, a place that had likely been hidden for far too long. Did Hayato know?

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“My family,” she began again, her voice trembling lightly, “is… difficult. My brother runs our estate, and to say he’s cruel would be an understatement. He rules with an iron fist, controlling every aspect of our lives, including mine. Even now, he exerts a certain amount of control over me… When I was younger, he dictated who I could speak to, what I could do. I was never truly free, Morgan, and now I’m in a gilded cage. I thought… I thought maybe…

Her confession caught me off guard. I had figured that the lives of the harem were complex, but I hadn’t realized the extent of the hardship some of them endured. I thought of my own family- how I came to be her–and a pang of empathy hit me. I couldn’t imagine the suffocating feeling of being controlled like that.

“I thought Elia had an interest in freeing me.”

“You loved him?”

Her lips twitched. “Maybe it would have turned into that under different circumstances.”

“I’m so sorry,” I murmured. “I had no idea.”

Lady Jun gave me a sad smile, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. “That’s why I married Hayato,” she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. “I thought that being a part of the imperial family would be an escape, a way to distance myself from my brother’s reach. But…” She trailed off, shaking her head. “Well… it wasn’t that simple.

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. “You don’t… actually want to help Elia. Your brother

wants him on the throne.”

She stiffened at the words, her breath catching slightly.

“What did Elia promise him?”

“Power. More territory… a seat on the Elders.” Her lips twitched. “I didn’t know until… until well, I had already married Hayato. He made it clear that I was married to the king only in name.”

She sniffled, dabbing her eyes. “I haven’t even been allowed to have a proper wedding night.”

I scoffed. “How could he possibly know that…” My gut plummeted. “He’s watching you, somehow.”

She nodded. “He has… people installed in the palace among the guards and the staff who report to him about what I’m doing. He’s… practically promised me to Elia.”

Along with all the money. I nodded.

“I suspected that your situation was more complicated than it seemed. The amounts weren’t big

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enough… They were better hidden, too.” I smiled. “You’re the smart one.”

She blinked. “I’m… flattered.”

“It’s true, and I’m sorry. I’d like to work with you.”

“To what end?”

“Well… one to get you to a point that you can defend yourself.” Her eyes widened. “And I think that perhaps a member of the imperial family is more suited to running a family.”

I took a seat on the bench. “And… I could use someone to pass information I want passed to Elia

and his allies.”

*You want me to be a spy for you.”

“I want you free,” I said. “And I find it hard to believe that your brother and Elia would be able to complain about you having the ear of the Crown Princess.”

She blinked and worried her lip. She looked so vulnerable and uncertain. I could see how he might have preyed on her vulnerability.

“Elia,” she whispered, her face twisting with regret. “He promised me so many things. He said he would help me–help free me from my family’s grip, from my brother. He made me believe that if I supported him, I’d finally be able to live without fear, but…” Her voice cracked, and I could see the guilt weighing heavily on her. “I figured out quickly that he and my brother are the same person.

“And they should both be punished.” I smiled. “I don’t think it would take much convincing to get them both put on the exile block.”

Her eyes widened. “Do you… really think that the Crown Prince would do such a thing… for me?”

“For you? I don’t know… But so that his father could actually have a concubine who is completely loyal? Absolutely.” I smiled. “I think Tsuneo will more than understand that you were just trying to survive, and act accordingly.”

Lady Jun’s eyes met mine, filled with gratitude and shame. “I never wanted to betray Hayato. I never wanted any part of this mess. But I didn’t see any way out.”

“I say, you t

you tell him and Queen Haruka when they get back, but for now, think about what you want.” I stood. “We all make choices when we’re scared,” I said, my voice gentle. “And sometimes, those choices aren’t what we would have made if we felt safe. You were trying to protect yourself. I can understand that. They will too. The question is what you choose to do now that you have

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people on your side.”

She wiped at her eyes, a small, broken laugh escaping her lips. “It’s strange, isn’t it? How the people who seem to have everything are often the ones suffering the most.”