Perhaps, She Does

ᴠɪɪɪ.

The clock is ticking. She packed up their things and included all the things they could sell if ever they needed to. She received a letter from her father that they should run away. She wanted to protest but he said that it would be his last wish, for them to be safe and for him to correct his mistake. Little Hanahime wiped her mother's tears while trying her best to be strong. She knew that they would run away. She knew that her mother would prefer them to have a peaceful life than to be a royalty where the nation would discriminate against them for being a commoner. She knew what was going on at such a young age.

"Send this letter to Father. Please tell him that I love him so much and I already forgave him. Please tell him that we will be safe." She whispered to her nanny as she also instructed that she should run away after giving the letter.

She knew that the Crown Prince will command someone to track them and they should live like dead from now on. Her nanny told them to go already and she left a kiss on her forehead, thanking her for what she did for their family. The mother and daughter used the back doors to escape to the forest. She carried Little Hanahime in her arms while running fast. She didn't dare to look back. She didn't dare to keep the love she had for the Crown Prince.

Her nanny prepared tickets for them to go on a ship. She would just need to arrive at the port before it could sail away. It would be too obvious if they would wear ordinary clothes, so she got the most expensive ones as she could also sell them once they arrived in another country. She asked her daughter to act like a newborn baby, wrapping her up with a silk blanket before they could arrive at the port. A few more minutes and they will be able to go on a ship already.

"Tickets?" The crew asked and she gave it immediately. The Royal family didn't know yet that they escaped, so she was able to pass through without any conflicts. All passengers were instructed to open their luggage for checking in.

Little Hanahime looked up at her as she was holding tightly on her. She smiled softly and assured her that they will leave soon. She sneaked inside the storage room and hid behind the huge crates full of traded items. The ship started to sail away and she let out a relieved sigh. Little Hanahime sat beside her, sharing the blankets with her mother in order not to get cold. She was afraid that someone might recognize her, so they hid in the storage room for their safety.

It has been only a few hours when Little Hanahime told her that she was starving and she needed to use the washroom. She carried her once again in her arms though her legs were cramped. She bumped into someone when they sneaked out of the storage room. Her eyes widened when it was the Young Master of the Higa Household. He was smoking and he recognized that it was her and Hanahime.

"Fuyu, why are you—" He stopped asking when a crew passed by. He knew she needed help because he heard rumors about the Master of the Hasegawa Household being imprisoned. She clung on his arm and he carried her luggage and Hanahime as they acted like a married couple.

"Dear, our daughter wants to go to the washroom." She said softly and he finally stopped from smoking to bring the two in his cabin. Little Hanahime held on to him and buried her face on his shoulder. They quietly went back to his cabin. Thus, she felt safe that Higa was there. Little Hanahime rushed to the tiny washroom available in his cabin and left them alone to have a quick talk. He hugged her tightly and she sobbed softly.

"Help me. Just this one last time. I'm begging." She whispered while looking up at him. He nodded before caressing her cheeks and kissing her lips gently. She could smell the lasting scent of the tobacco but she didn't mind it.

Meanwhile, he stared at the two dead bodies in front of him. He let out a deep sigh while staring coldly at nowhere. There were traces of blood on his cheeks as it splattered when the shoguns beheaded the Master of the Hasegawa Household and Fuyu's beloved nanny. Apparently, he caught her nanny visiting her father in the prison. Her father was able to read the last letter he could receive from his daughter and then, he threw it to the fire so it couldn't be read by anyone else.

"Burn their bodies and take all the remaining wealth of the Hasegawas. Find Fuyu and our daughter and don't ever go back here without them. I'm expecting good news after this." He commanded the shoguns and then, he left. He wiped the blood on his cheeks and then, he changed his clothes before meeting the Emperor and the Empress once again.

"Shogo, why don't you look for a real Princess to marry instead of chasing the commoner?" The Empress asked and he shook his head. She needed to use such words since she secretly helped Fuyu escape the country.

She knew that her son had a hidden obsession towards the poor lady and she found it out when she accidentally heard him talking to the Young Master of the Aoyama Household. After knowing about it, she also noticed unusual behavior from him, like asking someone to keep an eye on Fuyu and their daughter. She just doesn't know why he didn't ask for her hand when it was still not too late. As a mother, she thought of asking him about the truth but she got afraid of her own son.

"Mother, I don't think I can live without them. I have loved her since she was seventeen." The Crown Prince confessed and she gently hugged her son to comfort him. The Emperor thought deeply about it when his son asked if he could marry a commoner.

He had lived in his father's shadows for more than twenty years and now, he will finally inherit the throne. He needs to have a partner and an heir and the one he chose for those positions are the commoners named Hasegawa Fuyu and Hanahime thus the latter one has the royal blood. Crazy in love, as they say. Right after Fuyu left Shinmachi, he also stopped going there. He took a few ladies to be his consort but it turned out that all of them would only want his wealth and power.

This made him realize that Fuyu is the only one for him. She never asked him for anything despite carrying his child. He knew that Hanahime was his but he let her have her own freedom instead of tying a knot with her. He gave money for the child support but the late Master of the Hasegawa Household declined as they both know that he can provide anything for his granddaughter. Now, he wants to be part of their lives.

Going back, they just arrived in another country. He helped her with their things and since he was there for business, he let them live in his house. Higa is already twenty-nine. If he could just marry Fuyu, he would do it but he doesn't want to force her. He let them take a rest first as he asked the helpers to get them a few sets of new and clean clothes. He also asked them to prepare food and the room they would stay in.

"Are you hungry, Hanahime?" He asked the little one with a smile and Little Hanahime nodded her head before following him to the dining hall. He helped her sit on the chair and then, the helper served the food. Her mother was still asleep when she finished her meal.

"Are you Mama's lover?" Little Hanahime asked but he shook his head. He doesn't want to lie to the little one. It would be a bad impression for him if he would pursue Fuyu once again. Little Hanahime pouted and asked him to carry her.

"Do you want me to be your Papa?" He asked and she nodded. He asked her why and she just said that he is a good person and he helped them with everything. He chuckled softly and placed a kiss on her forehead before bringing her back to her mother.