Angst Hours [Jujutsu Kaisen]

[Tainted Mind] Naoya Zenin

Part 2 of the Mind Miniseries.

Japan, 1228

Reader POV

I was walking in the dim candlelight to Naoya's study, my steps slow.

People nodded towards me with a bit of respect as I was not only married to their clan leader but also carrying the potential heir to the Zenin clan.

"My lady, I cannot cross into the office. I shall be waiting outside for you," my assigned maid said to me.

I nodded and knocked on the door.

"Enter."

The door closed behind me as I walked towards Naoya who was doing paperwork behind a low table.

"Servant boy, please bring my wife some calming teas."

The boy nodded and walked out of the office, neither of us making eye contact.

Once he was gone, Naoya stood up and placed his hands on my stomach in a gentle way.

"I see that you are almost ready to be born, my little heir." He spoke gently, as if he was actually excited to be a father.

"He will be born any day now," I informed Naoya with a tone void of emotion.

Naoya would've normally scolded me harshly for speaking when not allowed to, but he let it slide. "I see. In that case, I'm ordering you to go rest. You can't keep moving around like this, (y/n)."

"Yes, master."

"Now...take a seat. The tea should be here soon. I have to ask you about Akagame Helios."

My lip quivered a bit at the mention of my dead fiancé.

The servant came back into the room and poured us tea, leaving immediately.

"From my scouts, I am lead to believe Helios was the last in line for the Akagame clan. However it would seem that his older sister Mira is now the leader. Pfft. How pathetic to have a clan lead by a woman!"

I said nothing and sipped my tea in silence.

"Tell me, (y/n). You know Mira, correct? I want information on her. None of my scouts know what she looks like."

Of course!

The Akagame clan makes sure not to showcase the leader! They use a decoy leader while the real leader is seen with the servants in order to protect the royal blood.

I shrugged. "I am sorry, but I don't know what she looks like. When I was with Akagame Helios, we would meet in secret, just the two of us."

Naoya nodded and hummed. "No matter. Now...you are going to finish your tea and then we are going to take a nap."

Once we were done, he escorted me into our bedroom.

However, I began to feel awful...and everyone in the Zenin estate knew what was going on.

As the first flakes of snow fell onto the lake, a shrill cry was heard as well as the joy of the Zenins.