The palace was bustling as usual. The sound of footsteps echoed down the marble halls, servants moving swiftly to fulfill the Emperor's commands. Yet, in the midst of it all, there was a quiet undercurrent of worry that only one person seemed to notice-Emperor Geta.

He had watched you all morning, noting the subtle changes in your demeanor. Your smile, usually warm and effortless, had been strained. Your movements, always graceful and confident, seemed a bit slower today, as if weighed down by some invisible burden. Your eyes, normally bright with curiosity and intelligence, seemed distant, lost in thoughts you kept to yourself.

Geta wasn't the type to ignore such things, especially when it came to you. You were his wife, the one he had married not just for duty, but because he had come to care for you deeply. Over the course of their marriage, he had come to understand the smallest shifts in your behavior-things others might overlook, but he couldn't.

As you sat beside him during a council meeting, he noticed your hand tremble slightly as you reached for your cup of wine. His gaze lingered on you, and though his attention was split between the discussions around him, his mind was entirely on you.

Once the meeting ended and the room began to empty, Geta stood up from his seat, his expression thoughtful.

"[Y/N]," he said gently, stepping closer to you. "Is something troubling you?"

You looked up at him, a faint, tired smile playing on your lips. "I'm fine, Geta. Really."

But he could tell you weren't. The smile didn't reach your eyes, and your voice lacked its usual vibrancy.

"You don't seem fine," he said, his tone soft but firm. "You're not yourself today. Something's wrong, I can tell."

You hesitated for a moment, not wanting to burden him with your thoughts. But the concern in his voice, the way his dark eyes searched yours with such care, made it impossible to lie.

"I don't know... I just feel a little... off," you confessed, your voice quiet, as if even saying it out loud made it feel more real. "I've been feeling tired lately, and my mind is... cluttered."

Geta's expression softened, his hand gently resting on your shoulder. "You've been working tirelessly for the empire, and you've been at my side every day. It's only natural that you'd feel worn out. But you don't need to carry it alone."

His words, so simple yet sincere, brought a wave of relief to your chest. You had tried to keep up with everything, to be strong and supportive for him, but the weight of it all had slowly started to wear you down.

"Let's take the day off," Geta suggested. "We don't need to attend any more meetings. No obligations today. Just... us."

Your heart warmed at the thought. He had a way of making everything seem less overwhelming, of reminding you that you didn't have to do it all alone. It was moments like these, when he showed his care, that made you realize how deeply he valued you-not just as his wife, but as a person in her own right.

"But the empire..." you began, but he interrupted gently.

"The empire can wait," he said with a soft smile. "Today, I just want to make sure you're alright. Nothing else matters more to me than you being well."

You felt a lump form in your throat, touched by his kindness. You nodded slowly, finally allowing yourself to relax in his presence.

Together, you walked back to your private chambers. The moment you entered, Geta immediately moved to draw the heavy curtains, casting the room in a soft, dim light. He then turned to you, his gaze full of tenderness.

"Rest," he said, guiding you to the bed. "I'll be here. You don't need to do anything today."

As you lay back against the pillows, Geta sat beside you, brushing a stray lock of hair from your face. His presence was a comforting weight beside you, his quiet assurance giving you the space to let go of everything that had been weighing on your mind.

"Stay with me," you whispered, your voice a little shaky as the tension in your body started to melt away.

"Always," he replied, his voice steady and warm. "I'll stay with you for as long as you need."

The rest of the day passed slowly, peacefully. Geta didn't leave your side, staying with you as you rested, offering you quiet words of comfort when you needed them, and simply being there in the silence when you didn't. He would sometimes brush your hand, his touch gentle but filled with an unspoken promise-that he would always be there for you, no matter the weight of the world outside.

As evening fell and the palace resumed its usual rhythm, you felt something shift within you. The weariness that had plagued you all day was gone, replaced by a quiet sense of peace. You knew that, no matter what challenges lay ahead, Geta would always make sure you were alright. And that knowledge alone was enough to steady your heart.

When you finally closed your eyes, drifting off to sleep, Geta remained beside you, his hand resting lightly over yours. The world could wait-today, it was just the two of you, and that was all that mattered.