𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 ❀ 𝙏. 𝙁𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙤 ❀

I - Honey

I like the taste of honey in my tea. My mother would make it for me when I would get sick as a child. Sometimes I would fake sick just to get a taste. "You can just make it yourself." She would tell me, when I got caught in my lie. But when I made it, It never tasted as good. I can remember the first time my father called me Honey. When I questioned him, he said, "You are what you eat." That made me laugh. He was so odd. But somehow that name stuck to me like, well honey. It became my new name almost. Everyone in town knew me as Honey, some didn't even know my given name.

I liked that. I liked honey.

But today, as I heard the name Honey ring through the crowd, I felt like dying.

-

The Jujutsu Empire had been ruled by the Fushiguro Family for millennia. They were kind, generous leaders. They steered all of the tribes under them into peace and sanctity. There was only one large village, The people of Kaisen were broken into separate tribes. The Gojo tribe, The Zenin tribe, and the Inumaki tribe. The southern terrain was the land of the Inukami people. They were darker people, they were mostly farmers and carpenters. Known for their hard work most of the things found in the Jujutsu empire had the stamp of Inumaki on the bottom. The western area belonged to the Zenin tribe. They are comprised of mainly soldiers. The people were hotheaded and tyrannical but they were still respected for their resilience and bravery in battle. The eastern side was home to the Gojo tribe, the 'angels' of the empire. From a young age they devout themselves to prayer. Praying for the eternal grace and harmony of the Empire.

These three tribes lived in harmony until the King Fushiguro's daughter fell in love with an outcasted monster from the Zenin tribe. A group of people who's entire world was centered around war and destruction found that one of their offsprings were too bloodthirsty to ever live among them. He brought shame to them. No one ever thought there could be a soul too ruthless for the tribe but Toji was just that. He had no bounds, no limits. He killed women, children, elderly, and wounded.

His life was fueled by chaos and terror. That was until she met her. The princess. It was like the anger he held so abundantly in his belly was finally fed. She was so beautiful, so kind. She was the embodiment of light. Toji wanted it for himself, and he did just that.

Just as he did, the princess fell in love with her beast. She vowed her life to him, as he did for her, and not before long the two were betrothed.

The empire celebrated, such a foul man changing his ways in the name of love was rejoiced all over. 'The reincarnation of the Zenin Devil' even became a mural painted in the Gojo Temple. It depicted a brutish devil that resembled Toji being cleansed and slowly turned into a god by a beautiful angel that was a splitting image of the Princess. The story was sure to be passed down for generations to come!

As the current king began to grow old, his only wish was to see his daughter bequeath a Son, a Son that would rule this land long after him. The princess had been an only child. Though the queen tried and tried, she could not bear a son or even successfully carry a child after the Princess, they all died in her stomach.

Toji had no problem with embracing his new wife. She was like a treasure to him. He was sure to be gentle and kind to her body as they made love. 

Not long after, the princess was eating for two.

All was well in the kingdom life flowed beautifully. The sky seemed brighter and brighter each day. The water was so fresh and clean. One could look out and see children laugh and play. The princess was due to give birth to a King very soon. At least that's what was hoped for in the empire. Tribes all around prayed for a baby boy to be resting in her womb.

As the days grew shorter and the months rolled past rumor spread that the princess had gone into labor.

In absolute excitement everyone gathered to plan a festival. The townspeople awaited the good news.

But it never came.

Rather the night of the festival, It rained. Stormed quite actually. The sky was cloudy and grey. The thick clouds removed every ray of light from piercing the sky. Mud slid into the crystal blue water, turning it murky and brown. The winds blew crops down and washed away the little footprints of frolicking children out of the soil.

A terrible night indeed. But that wasn't nearly the worst of the news, for when the people of Kaisen woke the next morning to a darkened morning sky, they were struck by dreadful news.

The princess had lost her life at birth, and with it, her son died as well.

The former Zenin warrior was overcome with unbearable sorrow. But now without a Princess or a son, the only person left to rule was Toji himself. So following the later death of the King, Toji stepped in as Lord of the Jujutsu Empire. What others call 'The fall of Kaisen'.

Toji's brutish ways sparked all over again. He reverted to the same man he was before he met the princess. She truly was his light, the only thing keeping him sane.

One year after his coronation, The Lottery began. Something that was only held once every 30-so years became an annual event. Only ages 10-20 are allowed to participate, well, are forced to participate. They are rounded up from their homes and forced to sign their name on a sliver of paper. The names are thrown into a box and prayer begins. Townspeople circle the box and pray over it in hopes that the name pulled serves the king well. Whatever souls name that is dragged from that wooden box would be forced to devote their life to being a servant to King Toji.

In tradition the person selected would serve beside the king for the entirety of his reign but the 'new' king hasn't been able to keep one living for over 12 months. For the past 5 years families have sent their young children off to their death at the hands of their vicious king.

Hopefully now you understand why I began crying as 'Honey' was read from a thin sliver of paper out to the crowd.