The Hikaru Curse

I

I am a nobleman from Japan. I've been sent to China's Qing Empire to be consort to Empress Alexandria. I'm standing amongst other consorts during a tea party when we get interrupted.

"There she is. Never thought I'd see her here." Gongsun Liang smirks at me. He's tall with a lithe body. His pale hair is pulled back and tied neatly. Liang's green eyes shine with excitement.

"Who do you speak of?" I fold my fan for a moment. I feel like the only pure soul amongst those in the harem. A portion of my obsidian locks is tied back, braided alongside a few golden threads. My robes are the purest white as are my boots. My fan is elegantly designed and painted. My gray eyes cannot compare with Liang's emerald ones.

"It's true. The empress never brings her precious daughter to the harem." Hong-Rim bounds up to us. His brown locks flow about him freely. He carries a red parasol that matches his robes.

"Is it that rare? If so, it must be a special occasion of some sort."

A small child runs up and hugs Liang's leg.

The consort bends down and hugs the little one.

I look away. I know I shouldn't be jealous or ashamed. But I am the only consort in the entire harem who does not have any kind of relationship with the empress.

"Sorry, Genji," Liang frowns, "I know it's hard on you, but you need to let loose every now and then." His words ring true.

I know exactly what he means. But I can't. I cannot do what the others are urging me to do.

The curse prevents me from doing such things.

Memories of my father's words slip into my mind.

It's right before I leave for China. I stand before my father in his study.

My father, one of the most beautiful men in Japan, looks at me with worry and concern in his eyes. "Genji, there's something I must tell you."

I nod and step closer to the desk. "What is it, father?"

My father puts a hand on my shoulder and sighs. "I know you are going as a consort. But you must never make love to the empress. If you do, the curse on our family will be exposed to all.

A chill runs down my spine.

"The curse to make a man seem feminine," I mutter to myself.

My father shakes his head. "Do you know about your birth?"

I think for a moment. "I don't believe anyone told me much. I only know that it was a strange occurrence."

My father places his free hand on my other shoulder. "Because of you, I was forced to sit out of the war. Knowing how much war means to me, I want you to know that I was still happy."

My eyes widen and I unfold my fan to hide my face. "But father, I always thought you were angry with me," I quickly confess.

My father's eyes soften. "It's not you I'm angry with," his eyes harden again, "It's that witch."

I give my father a confused look. "I don't understand."

"I don't know if Ryoma told you, but the family curse was given to us by the witch Sisi. The curse does, as you were told, make the male seem feminine. I'm asking you not to make love with the empress because of this."

I feel like I don't want to hear anymore. But at the same time, I want to know. "What is it?"

"Genji, the curse cannot be exposed. Do you understand me?"

I put a hand on one of my father's. "Of course, I do. Just tell me what it is."

My father takes a deep breath. "The men in the Hikaru family are cursed to become pregnant when making love. The woman and the man will both be in the same position."

A chill runs down my spine just thinking about it.

"Genji, is there something on your mind?" Wenning joins me. His black hair is pinned back and his robes are decorated with a peacock feather design. Wenning was the empress' first husband and consort.

"It's nothing. I'm just thinking." My eyes drift over to the empress.

The young woman beside her looks my age. She seems uninterested in everything happening around her.

"Who is she?" I ask.

"She is Princess Yua, Alexandria's favorite daughter," Wenning replies while smiling fondly at the young woman. His gaze seems warm, his eyes soft.

"Do you know her?" I raise an eyebrow behind my fan.

"Of course. Yua is my daughter," Wenning answers.

Of course, she is.

I'm the only consort without children. I sigh.

Wenning notices. "Something is bothering you. Just tell me."

My eyes wander back to the empress and her daughter. "What makes today special?" I ask no one in particular.

"Today is the butterfly's birthday," Hong-Rim sighs dreamily," Princess Yua graces us with her presence and is presented with a gift from the empress."

I quietly watch their exchange. I notice how the empress seems excited whilst the guest of honor looks rather bored. I don't know what they are talking about, but it is no mother-daughter exchange.

A eunuch who works at the palace approaches us. "I apologize for interfering with your evening activities, My Lords, but the empress has made a special request of you this year. I need you to please arrange yourselves into a neat line."

We all scramble to arrange ourselves into a neat and orderly arrangement at the sound of his words. We all look between each other in an attempt to figure out what's going on.

My eyes once again land on Princess Yua and Empress Alexandria. I notice another figure joining them, but I cannot make out who it could be. I watch them hand the princess a parcel that has to have jewelry in it.

The princess puts the earrings on and smiles brightly. She wants to embrace whoever gave her the gift, but restrains herself.

The gift-giver hurries back to the main palace.

"Crown Prince Scorpio adores his twin sister more than anything. He always tries to be the first in giving her gifts," Hong-Rim explains.

"I wish all siblings could have a bond like theirs," Liang adds.

Tension fills the air as the seconds trickle down.

Everyone grows rigid as the tension ripples through the line.

The empress is close and she may not be as calm as she wants us all to think.