Chapter Text
Izuku and Kacchan were childhood friends before they got married. Kacchan was the heir to the Musutafu Empire and Izuku was the Prince of a neighboring kingdom.
They had met because their mothers were good friends of each other. Although their kingdom was not apart of the Empire, their countries had long lasting peace between them. The Empress Mitsuki came to their kingdom with her young son Katsuki because they enjoyed sunny the atmosphere of the kingdom, as it was summer year long. Izuku had never been to the Empire as a child himself though.
At first the boys didn't get along. Kacchan found him annoying and weak. Izuku found him to be courageous and strong. Luckily Izuku had a habit of stroking his young ego so Kacchan eventually opened his heart to him.
But the peace between the two countries began to shatter as Izuku's father grew greedy. He believed he could seduce the Empress and take over the Empire. His father was an ignorant fool. He thought the Emperor Masaru was their supreme ruler but he was wrong. In the Empire, it was those with royal blood who ruled. The gender never mattered. Izuku's mother understood this but his father just could not wrap his head around the idea. It all went downhill from there.
The Empire was obviously victorious in the war. They had more resources and man power. What they didn't have was magic. That was the only reason their Kingdom hadn't fallen on the first day of the war. It was also the reason the Kingdom hadn't been absorbed into the Empire.
The boys had met when they were four years old. When the war began they were fourteen. They hadn't seen each other since. After ten long years, the Empire absorbed their Kingdom with Kacchan himself as the war hero that defeated their army of mages. He stormed the castle with flag in hand and ordered his father's surrender. Instead of slaughtering the royal family, with the exception of the King, he offered grace.
A marriage.
The royal family was shocked. There was no way for them to give marriage. Izuku was the only heir and he was a man. Kacchan was also the only heir. Izuku's mother tried to tell Kacchan about their princess but he wanted Izuku specifically. Their countries were different. Same sex marriage was not an issue in the Musutafu Empire but it was unimaginable in Izuku's country. But if Izuku didn't go through with the marriage, he and his mother would have no choice but to be prisoners of the Empire.
And so Izuku went back with Kacchan to the Empire for the first time and they got married shortly after. Things were tense and awkward at first but they quickly went back to being good friends. Although they had their...marital duties this time.
It's been three years since they got married. Izuku has grown accustom to life in the palace and he quite likes this place And Kacchan has not taken a concubine.
It confused Izuku to no end. Apparently, they were not the only ones who married the same sex in the imperial family and yet an heir was born in every generation. Surely he would need to conceive an heir soon.
But when Izuku brought it up Kacchan was furious. But Izuku was used to his fury. It hardly deterred him.
"I just don't understand why you're so upset Kacchan. You have a royal duty to produce an heir, everyone with royal blood knows that! Stop being so stubborn." he argued.
"I'm not getting a fucking mistress! I don't want to sleep with some random person just for a shitty heir!"
Izuku gasped. "You don't mean that. And you must, even if you don't want to. I'm here aren't I? I didn't want to marry you and yet here I am. You have to do things you don't want to sometimes!"
Kacchan was quiet after Izuku said that. He was like a storm in that way. If he's quiet then something catastrophic would follow. And it did.
Izuku shivered at the memory. He recognizes that it hurt Kacchan to hear Izuku say he didn't want to marry him, but it was true. He thought he would marry a princess or a noble daughter. That's what he had been taught his entire life. Being with a man– even if it was Kacchan– wasn't even on his mind. And he wanted to marry for love. And he loved Kacchan. Just not like that. Like this.
Still. Regardless of Izuku's feelings, Kacchan has a duty.
So Izuku insisted and insisted until one day Kacchan cracked.
"You want me to get a mistress so damn bad? Huh? Fine. I'll get a fucking mistress."
The words did not make him happy whatsoever. Even though he insisted on it himself, he did not feel victorious. He felt sick.
But what he wants doesn't matter. This is for the Empire.
"Well you can't be upset Izuku. You told him to do it." Ochako said.
"I know. But it's not like he can just let his bloodline end."
Ochako was Izuku's maid but really she was his best friend. She was the only person he took with him to the Empire. And he told her everything.
"I don't think that matters to him though. I mean, the former Empress hasn't been nagging at him to get an heir so why are you?"
It was odd that the former Empress did not try to force him to conceive and heir. In fact she never brought it up. Izuku asked if she had a secret second child and she just laughed. She told Izuku to not worry about it for now.
But Izuku was raised differently. He understood the importance of an heir even if they didn't.
"It doesn't make sense that Kacchan proposed to me in the first place. I mean I get it was for peace but he could have married my cousin, she's the princess! It didn't have to be me. He wouldn't even need to get a mistress if he married a woman in the first place!"
Ochako grimaced. "Poor guy..."
"Poor guy? How does he have your sympathy?! He did this to himself!"
"The reason he didn't marry the princess and married you instead is very obvious to everyone but you. It's been three years since you got married and you still don't see how he feels? Why he doesn't want a concubine?"
Izuku stared at her waiting for her to give him the answers. Because he really didn't know.
She sighed. "Well I can't tell you. If I dare try to say what the Emperor's feelings are they'd surely execute me."
"I wouldn't let them."
"Listen Izuku. We don't know their customs here that well. This place has secrets. Lots of secrets. I know you know that. So if he says an heir isn't needed and the Former Empress hasn't said he needs one, then he probably doesn't."
She is right. The palace does have secrets. Izuku asks Kacchan questions all the time and rarely are they answered.
"But–"
He was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Your Highness?"
"Yes Sir Eijirou?"
Kirishima opened the door and stepped inside. He was Kacchan's knight and commander of his most elite force. He was also Kacchan's best friend. When they first met Izuku had a secret rivalry with him that only he knew about. But it was utterly impossible to dislike him.
"The Emperor requires your presence." He looked over to Ochako. "And yours."
They both looked at each other in confusion. What could Kacchan want with her?
Kirishima led them to their bedchamber. Izuku and Katsuki's that is. Izuku felt anxiety growing in the pit of his gut when he realized where they were going. Kacchan wasn't one to allow people in his private space. The only one he let in that room was Izuku and now he's telling Ochako to come with him? Something wasn't right.
Before Kirishima announced their presence, he turned around to face Izuku.
"Try not to freak out." he whispered before he turned back around. "Your Majesty! I have brought the Emperor and his hand maiden!"
"Let them in." he heard Kacchan say.
Kirishima opened the door and stepped aside to let them inside before he stepped in himself.
Kacchan was standing in the middle of their bedchamber looking at a row of women, all having their heads bowed down with their hands clasped together.
Izuku's stomach dropped.
Kacchan looked in their direction and beckoned Ochako to come to him. "You. Join them."
She hesitated before she obeyed, joining the women in their bow of respect.
Izuku frowned and stepped further into the room. "What's going on Your Majesty?"
Kacchan looked away from the women to Izuku. "You said I need a mistress so I ordered for the most beautiful and healthy women to come here today."
He was going to be sick. "I see." He forced himself to smile. "That– That's good." he nodded. "I'm glad you've finally taken my advice into consideration."
Kacchan had an obvious unhappy frown on his face, a glare pointed specifically at Izuku. "Right."
Izuku cleared his throat and joined his husband by his side finally getting a look at the women. His eyes widened when he recognized one of them. "Melissa?!"
His cousin, the Princess of their Kingdom, daughter of the Duke David, bowed deeper. "Greetings Shining Sun of the Empire. I am happy to see you well."
Izuku stared at her in shock. "Yes, I...same to you."
Why is she here? Surely Kacchan wasn't thinking about taking her as his concubine because that wouldn't make sense. If she's here then why didn't he just marry her three years ago instead of Izuku? He would take her as a concubine to carry his children but he wouldn't marry her?
"Why is she here Your Majesty?" His voice was slightly trembling. He was so caught off guard. Out of all the women he expected to see, she wasn't even on the list.
"She's a candidate for my concubine." He said simply.
Izuku could not say anything. What could he say? You can have a concubine but not her? That's ridiculous. Kacchan would surely throw it in his face.
"Alright...but why am I here."
Kacchan smiled. It was a sweet, cruel smile. The one he got when he would torture Izuku with his teasing. That was when Izuku knew this was a punishment of sorts. He just didn't know how.
"You're going to pick"
"Pick?"
"Yes. Pick. You're going to pick my concubine."
Izuku stared up at his beautiful and yet cruel husband. Izuku has always known of his sadistic tendencies, especially directed towards him. But this? This was a mind game. Kacchan didn't do mind games.
"You want me to pick your concubine." He repeated.
"Of course." He gracefully slid behind Izuku and put his hands on his shoulders. Izuku tensed under his touch. "I thought it only right for you to pick considering you are the one that wants this regardless of how I feel."
"But Your Majesty–"
"I've made up my mind." he interrupted. "You are going to pick my concubine and that is final."
Izuku mouth clicked shut. He cannot disobey him. He is the ruling Emperor. His word is law. He has to do this.
Izuku's eyes burned. He had never felt so awful in his life. But why? He was the one who told Kacchan to get a concubine in the first place. But he hadn't expected for him to be the one who had to choose who it would be.
And Ochako and Melissa are here. That alone shows that Kacchan was toying with him.
His hands tightened around Izuku's shoulders. "Izuku. Pick."
Izuku nodded. This is the duty bestowed upon him. He will do it.
He cleared his throat. "What are your names?"
The first to speak was a tall woman with a rather large bosom. Her long black hair pulled up in a high ponytail.
"Greetings Shining Sun of the Empire. I am Momo Yaoyarozu, daughter of the Count Yaoyarozu. It is an honor to be in your presence Your Highness"
The second was a woman with short light blue hair.
"Greetings to the Shining Sun of the Empire. I am Nejire Hado, daughter of the Marquis Hado."
Then was Yu Takeyama. She was an older blonde woman but her beauty was striking. Then there was Anna. Another blonde. Fuwa, Hatsume, Kendo. All thirteen women told him their names except for the two he already knew.
"So who's it gonna be beloved?" Kacchan took his hands off of Izuku and approached Yaoyarozu. "She's the tallest. With genes like her's, I'm sure our heir would be the tallest heir in history. She's my personal favorite but you don't have to pick her just because of that." He strode over to Ochako. She tensed under his gaze. "But round face here looks like you. If she were to bear my children they could be mistaken for yours. I like that idea. What about you?"
He turned around to look at Izuku. He knew his face told Kacchan how he felt about all this. And he ignored it.
Ochako was his best friend. Why on earth would he even say that about her? And she looks so uncomfortable. He can't believe Kacchan would be this petty and cruel.
"...You are correct. Yaoyarozu would be a fine concubine."
"Is she your choice?"
"No." Izuku didn't have a reason for saying no. But maybe he didn't like that Kacchan had a favorite.
Kacchan shrugged. "Alright then." He walked over to Melissa. "You and the princess here are blood. I'm sure you would love to have a niece or nephew running around in the palace. Of course they would be your child though."
"No. That wouldn't be necessary."
"So who is your pick? Point at her."
Point at her. Like she's a toy from the market. Izuku has never felt so disgusted by him. He wasn't even disgusted when he killed his father. But this is just awful.
But he gave an order and Izuku has to obey.
He lifted his hand thinking of who was going to share bed with his husband. He knew who it wasn't going to be that's for certain. They're all beautiful and healthy so what does it matter who he chooses.
But before Izuku could randomly point at one of them, Kacchan cut in.
"Eijirou."
"Yes Your Majesty."
"At a time of my choosing, you will kill the woman Emperor Izuku points to."
Izuku's hand flew down before he could even think. "What?!" He almost pointed at Nejire. He almost got her killed! What in the world is that mad man thinking?!
Kacchan looked at him with a bored expression. "I'm obviously not going to execute her right now. Just some time after an heir is born. If you like, you can choose more than one concubine so we can get this out of the way quickly rather than waiting for siblings to be born years later."
"Kacchan, this is insane!" His royal manners flew out the window. How could he talk about human life so carelessly? And not only that, but to say it in front of them like they aren't even there?
"Insane?" He scoffed. "No. Insane is pressuring someone into being a fucking bull, that's what's insane."
"But there must be an heir–"
"You are the only one who has said such words. Not I, your Emperor or any former Emperor of the Musutafu Empire." What?! "This is a rule you came up with."
Izuku could not speak. This is all wrong. Why is he doing this? How can that be?
"If I had chosen Melissa or Ochako...what then?"
"Then they would give me an heir."
"And after that?" He felt anger begin to rise within him. He couldn't understand how he could be so calm as if none of this mattered.
"They would be executed at a time of my choosing."
Izuku gasped. He stumbled back staring at the devil in front of him. "Why? Why must they die?"
Kacchan stared back. "Any woman who dare tries to sleep with your husband should die. Don't you agree?" he said turning to the fifteen women lined up like cattle.
"Yes Your Majesty." they all said. Including Melissa and Ochako.
This is a nightmare. An actual nightmare. Izuku was just trying to preserve the Empire and Kacchan is threatening to take multiple lives over it. His best friend and his cousin included.
"See? They would be honored to die for your cause, Your Highness."
"My cause? No, this isn't for me it's for the Empire–"
He stepped into Izuku's space, towering over him. "I am the ruling Emperor. I decide what is for the Empire. Unless you forgot that fact."
Izuku swallowed back the feeling of throwing up. "Of course not."
"It seems like you have. If you were anyone else I wouldn't even bother with this clown show. But you are my beloved. If you really want me to bed one, if not all of these women, I will do as you ask. But they will not live."
"This is too cruel. How could you? My cousin? My best friend? These women have done you no offense and yet they must die? I thought you were a fair and just ruler but I see now that you're just a tyrant!" He felt so betrayed. How could Kacchan ever do this? He talks of honor and fairness but then he does this? Mindless slaughter against the innocent just to punish Izuku?
Kacchan didn't care about Izuku's disapproval. "If you don't want them to die then don't pick them."
Oh.
So that's what this was.
Izuku let out a disbelieving laugh. Of course this is what this is about. Kacchan was never going to get a concubine. This wasn't a concubine candidacy. It was just Kacchan being Kacchan. He knows Izuku could never sentence anyone to death, especially over something as ridiculous as this. Izuku wasn't picking Kacchan's concubine. He was being told to let it go.
"Are you unsatisfied with this bunch? I can send for more women you find suitable if you wish." Izuku shook his head. He couldn't even look at him anymore. He's so petty. "Oh. Oh I see. You don't want these women to die." he said as if it wasn't obvious which they both knew it was.
"Of course I don't want them to die! Are you being serious?!"
"Oh but Izuku..." He pouted like he was about to give some bad news. "It's not about what you want. It's about the Empire. Remember?"
Wow. Just. Wow. Using his own words against him. He couldn't believe this.
"You gotta choose beloved. Life for a life. Do you want me to have a concubine or do you want these girls to live out their lives? You can't have both."
"You don't have to kill them." Izuku pleaded.
"I'm not going to kill them. Eijirou is. And you're going to pick who dies. Now choose." He grabbed Izuku's hand and lifted it to the women. "Life is all about sacrifices. They understand that." he murmured in Izuku's ear. "Now pick."
An order. He...he can't disobey. But Kacchan is toying with him right now. He doesn't actually want Izuku to pick. There's a secret third option.
"Get out." When no one moved Izuku raised his voice. "Your Emperor has given you an order. Get. Out."
The girls seemed to understand that Izuku just spared them and all left the room, bowing to their Emperors. Kirishima followed them out without needing to be told. And finally they were alone.
"I'll have my people send more candidates in tomorrow."
"That won't be necessary." Izuku said through gritted teeth. He was so irritated. Not only because Kacchan just toyed with him but also because Izuku lost whatever battle they just had.
"Are you sure? The importance of an heir is very important." he said, mocking Izuku.
"Did you really have to do that? Threaten them while they were right there? Set that ridiculous condition just to get back at me?"
Kacchan rolled his eyes and walked over to their bed. "They were perfectly safe. Everyone knew it."
"And if I chose duty over a life? What then?"
Kacchan sat on the bed and lifted his brow. "Then I would have to come up with a different method. One that you would have no choice but to listen to."
Izuku scoffed and crossed his arms. "You're so petty."
"And you're annoying."
"Then why marry me?" Izuku was genuinely curious. He could have married Melissa. He could marry whoever he wants. And he chose Izuku. It never made sense.
"I told you why." he said pointing at Izuku with a scowl. "You just don't listen. As you can see with the stupid ass situation we were just in."
"No Kacchan. I'm serious. You went too far this time."
"I went too far?" He stood up from the bed, slowly marching towards Izuku. "You've been telling me to sleep with some random person for months, even though I told I didn't want to and I'm the one that went too far?"
"You wouldn't be the first ruler to have a concubine Kacchan! I don't see what the big deal is!" His father had a few concubines and he didn't rule such an impressive empire as Kacchan did.
"The deal is that you are my husband! You. It's not wrong that I don't want to sleep with someone who is not."
"Kacchan, it's not so bad. I didn't want to sleep with you at first and look, we're still friends."
He was trying to make Kacchan see where he was coming from and he was...failing. Really bad.
He stopped his march. "Are you fucking kidding me?! You think sleeping with your husband is the same as fucking some random person you don't know just for a spawn?!"
"I'm saying I didn't want to sleep with you at first but I've um," Izuku blushed, "come to quite like it!"
Izuku's compliment seemed to make him even more angry. "Oh screw you! You don't listen when I tell you I only want you and you don't listen when I tell you I don't want a concubine, what the fuck do you listen to besides your own damn head?!"
Izuku himself was also getting frustrated. Sometimes, he really didn't understand Kacchan."But don't you need a concubine to continue your bloodline?"
"No! I do not need a god damn concubine for that shit! That's what I've been telling you and you don't fucking LISTEN!"
That doesn't make any sense! How is he supposed to create an heir without a woman? "Then how are you supposed to, huh? In case you forgot, I'm a man! I cannot bear you any children."
"Do you think I'm stupid? I know that! When I feel the time is right for a kid, I will tell you and we will go from there. Until then, you are forbidden from ever speaking to me about concubines and children for the rest of your god damn life!"
Izuku stared at him. "Are you kidding me?!"
Kacchan's glare intensified. "Do I look like I'm fucking kidding?"
"Kacchan you can't just forbid me from–"
"I am your Emperor." he interrupted. "I can forbid you, or anyone from anything I fucking please."
"...Like a tyrant?"
Faster than Izuku could register, he was slammed into the pillar behind him. Kacchan grabbed him by the chin, glaring down at him as he grinned like a mad man.
"You haven't seen tyrant."