When you heard Uzui say those words, you felt your heart sore and glanced up at him to see his eyes alight with dancing mischief.

"W-well, I don't actually mind. I've grown use to it." You tell him, giving him a cheeky smile.

It wasn't a total lie.

For Tengen, in a district glazed with lust and entertainment, knew about the amounts of abuse and mistreatment of women in Yoshiwara that went overlooked by its residents and the government.

He found several aspects of it repulsive; not the act itself, but the amount of abuse and mistreatment of women that went overlooked by all its residents.

"It still doesn't matter! Why don't you just quit?" He asks, "y'know there are far better jobs, right?

"Y-yeah─I know.." Your voice trailed off, not really knowing what else to say.

You knew there were probably better jobs for you, but it was actually difficult for women of your status. Besides, you felt like you owe Lady Yamamoto for being kind enough to take you off the streets or else you'd still be living a miserable life in the slums of Tokyo.

Then again, Tengen was right though, years of working here was even more insufferable than living in poverty, that it was slowly taking a total on your health and mental state─it isn't healthy.

But...

"Even if I were to quit my job, what place would want to hire me?" You ask softly, "A lot of people already find me creepy and don't even want me near them. The Guren is the only place that'll hire me. I know it's hell, but at least it pays. I could only endure until I'm able to afford a better living for myself." You explained, giving a small smile.

"Do you have a family?" Tengen couldn't help but ask.

"I..." You searched inside yourself for strength, one that would give you confidence to answer him.

"My family was murdered by a serial killer." You averted your gaze downwards. "I don't really know much of the story, since I wasn't there when it all happened. All I remembered was coming home, seeing policemen who all told me that my neighbors had reported a ruckus and there had been a break-in, and that my parents had been killed." You explained.

Serial Killer, huh? Perhaps...the odds were 50/50─but it was already suspiciously clear to Tengen that it was probably a demon that killed your family and the fact you seemed unaware of the existence of demons.

Your story tug at Tengen's heart strings. He couldn't help but feel sorry for you. No doubt if he could've been there─he would've been there to protect you. Even avenged your family by slaying the foul demon.

He could only imagine how alone and sad you must've felt; living all by your lonesome without a family. Tengen couldn't help but sit in silence─admiring you. You're indeed a very strong girl, able to survive on your own without anyone to comfort or support you.

You immediately flinched when you felt Tengen's strong hands on you and yelped when he lifted you─like you weighed absolutely nothing─and placed you in his lap.

You blushed instantly at the odd position as Tengen's strong muscular arms slowly wrapped around your waist─pulling you until you were pressed against his solid tall frame.

"Uzui-sama?" You were about to question, not really sure as to what he's doing.

"You're so pretty." He whispers softly in your ear.

His sudden words caused you to blush profusely as you felt heart sore.

"W-what?"

In truth, he's actually the pretty one as the light amber of the room shines on him─highlighting all his stupidly handsome features. Every ridge and dip of his strong body contrasted, the way it makes his hair look healthier and like fine silver.

"You're far too beautiful to belong in a place like this." He adds, before nuzzling his face in-between your shoulder and neck.

You inhaled sharply as he gently pulled your hair back to reveal your neck, before placing a cascade kiss on your flesh─immediately causing goosebumps to form. The sensations making your body tingle all over as you shifted uncomfortably against him.

Wait, this was all moving too fast─you think, as you tried wiggle free, but gods, it was hard when such a beautiful man was holding you like this.

If you were being honest with yourself; you had already fallen for Tengen the moment you met that night in the alley. From the very moment when he saved your life, to when he'd first called you "beautiful." The seduction and the surrender had been almost immediate. With his ardent charisma and attractive looks, any woman would find him impossible to resist, and would probably kill for his attention.

Resisting against him would be like fighting against tidal waves; you can resist and struggle all you want, but in the end all you could do was slowly surrender. You'd found yourself growing acquainted with him.

How could you not? At first, he had been an odd one, with his constant teasing and sensual advances towards you. But now, you were slowly beginning to like it, considering he's the first to pay attention to you.

And Tengen was going to make sure that you get comfortable and enjoyed every single second of that surrender as your body gradually melted against his.

You honestly can't explain these strange feelings, since you'd never felt this way towards a man before, but you had absolutely no doubt that Tengen could possibly be the "Prince" you've been longing for, as well as your happily ever after.

"Y-you're beautiful too." The words slipped from your lips as you mindlessly rest your head against his chest and placing your hands on his forearms─tracing every vein and solid muscle of his skin.

While you had seen many handsome men come and go, you hadn't ever seen one as majestic as Tengen, and you silently wished you could've known him under different circumstances─like when you lived a happy, normal life.

Your family probably would've invited him to a feast and bombarded him with unnecessary questions that would've had you blushing from embarrassment.

You'd always dreamt about experiencing something like this, but they were only dreams that your lonely troublesome mind made up in order to help you cope with the predictability existence you called, a human life.

"Am I, now?" he says softly, a low chuckle vibrating within his chest and against your head.

"Guess that makes the two of us worthy enough of leaving this place together, doesn't it?" He adds.

Huh, leaving together? You honestly had no idea what he'd meant by that, but you can hear the altruism in his tone.

"Which reminds me. I have something to confess to you." He says, His voice taking on more serious tone as you snapped out of your daze.

"Hmm, and what would that be?" You tilted your head upwards to glance up into those beautiful fuscia eyes.

"I'm married."