The Princess and The Queen Want me as their personal Slave?

Akashiwasaboysobeautifulitseemedthegodshadsculptedhimwithatouchofmischiefandadashoffragility.Hewasn’thandsomeintherugged,masculinewayofknightsorwarriors.No—hisbeautywassofter,captivatinginitsinnocence.Hisframewassmall,almostdelicate,andhispaleskinlookedasifithadneverknownhardship,kissedonlybythegentlesunlightofhisvillagefields.Withwide,strikingblackeyesthatshimmeredlikeobsidianundermoonlight,andhairthecolorofacalm,endlessocean,Akashipossessedacharmthatdefiedage,status,orreason.Hedidn’tknowit,buthisveryexistencepulledattheheartsofthosewhosawhim—likeanuntouchedgemwaitingtobeclaimed.Andyet,hehadbeenuntouchedforareason.Akashihadneverknownlifebeyondtheboundariesofhisvillage.Hegrewupsurroundedbywarmsmilesandfamiliarvoices.Everyelderknewhisname.Everychildwantedtoplaybyhisside.Hisdaysweresimple,hisheartuntouchedbycruelty.Butpeaceisafragilething.Onenight,itshattered.Theskyturnedcrimson.Screamstorethroughthequietair.Firesdevouredhomes.Demons—twistedbeastsofshadowandrage—descendedwithoutwarning.Theykilledwithahungerthatcouldnotbereasonedwith.Bymorning,thevillagewasgone.Ashes,corpses,andsilencewereallthatremained.AndAkashi…Akashiwasalone.Thelastheartbeatinagraveyardofmemories.Hewanderedfordays,hollowanddazed,untilroughhandsseizedhim.Chainsreplacedfreedom.Smileswerereplacedbycoldappraisals.Andso,theboyonceadoredbyallbecamesomethingelse—somethingtobesold.Aslave.Atthecapital'sgrandauctionhouse,hewasstripped,washed,anddisplayedlikemerchandise.Hisbeautycausedastir.Whispersspreadlikewildfire.“Lookatthoseeyes...”“Thathair...Isitdyed?No,it’sreal...”“Sodelicate...Isheevenhuman?”Tothem,hewasnolongeraboywithaheart,butaprizetopossess.Afantasyinfragileform.Hestoodonthestage,tremblingslightly,barelyabletoprocesswhatwashappening.Thevoicesofthecrowdblurredtogether—hungry,leering,filledwithdesireandgreed.Theauctioneer’sboomingvoicecalledoutthebidsasifAkashiwerenothingmorethanafinevaseorararejewel.Thenumbersclimbedquickly.Tooquickly.Akashi’skneesweakenedbeneaththeweightofinvisibleeyesdrinkinghimin.Hestaredatthemarblefloor,tryingnottocry.Then,suddenly,theroomfellsilent.Avoice—deep,commanding,andheartbreakinglybeautiful—cutthroughtheairlikesilkoversteel.“Fifteenthousandgold.”Timeseemedtopause.Everyheadturned.Atthebackoftheroom,standingbeneaththegoldenchandelier,wasawomanunlikeanyother.Sheworeaflowingredgownthathuggedherformlikeitwascraftedbythegodsthemselves.Herlong,goldenhairshimmeredlikestrandsofsunlight,cascadingoverhershoulderswitheffortlessgrace.Hereyes,coldandblueasaglacier’sheart,staredaheadwithquietpower.Eventhenoblesdrewback.Thiswasnoordinarybidder.ItwasoneofthePrincessesoftheThreeGreatKingdoms.Whisperseruptedanew—butnoonedaredchallengeheroffer.Whowould?Shestoodlikeroyaltyincarnate,agoddesswhowalkedamongmortals,andshehadjustclaimedAkashiasherown.Theboyraisedhisheadslowly,unsureofwhethertofeelfearorrelief.Hiseyesmethers—justforasecond—andsomethinginhischestshifted.Shedidn’tsmile.Shedidn’tleer.Hergazewasunreadable.Butitwaspowerful.Absolute.Anditmadehiskneesweakforanentirelynewreason.Hedidn’tknowhername.Notyet.Butshehadboughthim.Andsomewheredeepinside,somethingtoldhim—hislifewasnevergoingtobethesame.