My Young Husband Comes with Me into Exile

[Blurb to be polished]

The uke was scrawny and gaunt, filthy from head to toe, with hair like dead grass. The seme thought he was pitiful and begged his mother to buy him from a human trafficker.

His friends teased him: "XX, are you raising yourself a child bride?"

Seme: "That's nonsense. He's not..."

Years later, the uke had grown into a handsome young man.

Mother: "How about I bring him into the household as your concubine?"

Seme: "No."

Later, the uke bought his freedom and left his slave status behind, while the seme's family was convicted and exiled.

The uke helped make arrangements all along the way.

Seme: "Does he love me that much?"

When they reached their place of exile, the uke quietly continued to help him.

Seme: "He really does love me!"

Seme: His heart stirred, and he fell in love with the uke.

Later still, the family's innocence was established, and the seme's family returned to the pinnacle of power.

Seme: "If I ask the uke to marry me, will he say yes?"

He confidently made his move, only to find the uke looking for a matchmaker to find him a husband.

Seme: "!!!"

The uke's friend asked him: "You liked the seme so much that you went through the hardships of exile with him. Now you're choosing someone else. Don't you love him anymore?"

The seme perked up his ears.

Uke: "I never loved him. I was repaying a debt of gratitude. Without him, I might have frozen or starved to death, or been sold into a brothel. As a servant in his household, I had good food and a comfortable place to live, easy work, a high monthly wage, and generous bonuses. The top servants were even taught to read and write, and trained in managing affairs and dealing with people. I benefited a great deal."

Seme: The sky fell.

Theme: Good people get good things in return.