17 parts Ongoing MatureSynopsis:
Abeni was never meant to be noticed. A foreigner in the grand imperial palace of Kyoto, she was brought from the distant lands of Africa and given the lowly position of a maid, her presence barely acknowledged by the nobles who ruled over her. Draped in a soft pink kimono-a gift from her kind mistress-she moved through the palace like a shadow, unseen yet always watching.
But he saw her.
Emperor Kaito, ruler of Japan, the most powerful man in the empire. The moment his gaze fell upon Abeni, something within him stirred. She was different-her beauty, her grace, the quiet strength in her every movement. He was drawn to her, obsessed with the way she carried herself, the way her eyes held defiance despite her lowly status.
What begins as stolen glances quickly turns into something more dangerous. Late nights in empty hallways. Accidental touches that linger too long. Until one night, Kaito does the unthinkable-he calls her to his chambers.
In a world where love is dictated by rank and power, their passion is forbidden. The concubines whisper. The court watches. Abeni knows she should resist, that she is playing with fire. But when the emperor himself is willing to burn for her, how can she deny him?