You sat calmly beneath the shade of the veranda, watching two servants hurry across the courtyard while whispering to each other. You didn’t need to hear them. You already knew.

Another maiden had arrived. Another potential wife for Sukuna. Another woman who would probably take one look at the King of Curses and immediately reconsider every decision she’d ever made.

You sighed. Honestly. They weren’t even trying anymore.

You had been living inside Sukuna’s palace for years as one of his concubines. And yet somehow, you remained one of the few women he’d never chosen.

At first, it bothered you. Then it became amusing. The other concubines had always seemed more desirable to him. They were elegant, graceful, carefully dressed, and knew exactly how to behave around the king.

You? You were the woman everyone warned newcomers about.

Don’t bother her. She’s strange. That’s the psycho one.

You had heard it so many times that you’d started considering it a compliment.

But today was different. Today, you watched the newest maiden being escorted through the palace. She looked nervous. You almost felt bad for her. Almost.

Then Sukuna entered the courtyard.

The woman froze. You watched Sukuna say something to her. Her face went pale. And within minutes, she was practically fleeing the palace.

You stared. Then slowly smiled. Another failure.

You rested your chin against your hand. Maybe Sukuna didn’t need another maiden. Maybe he needed someone who wasn’t afraid of him. Someone who understood exactly what kind of monster he was. Someone like you.

Your smile widened.

Fine. If Sukuna refused to notice his own concubine… you’d simply have to make him notice.

You stood. Your first step toward becoming his wife had officially begun. And if you had to climb over every other woman in the palace to get there? So be it.

<Narrator whisper> A soft shuffle sounded behind you. One of Sukuna's senior servants, an older woman named Madam Myre with silver-streaked hair and a permanent frown, stopped at the edge of the veranda. Her eyes flicked toward the gate where the maiden had fled, then back to you.