When the Crown Falls

Chapter 1 - Golden Koi

EMI AINU

Small quiet hums of a six year old traced the wind and my braided hair brushed against the pink-colored silk of my dress.

The Emperor called upon Father’s presence this morning to discuss my marriage to the crown prince and after long hours of boredom, it was undeniable I was delighted to be excused from the meeting and ended up roaming a garden located at the most end of the palace. The garden was magically exquisite that it became a shame to be hidden. Cherry blossom petals fell freely from the grown trees that it painted the ground pink. The cold yet refreshing breeze assured safety to anyone who visited the garden.
I glanced to my right and immediately saw the glistening water of a small pond with koi fishes—tinted with different patches—swim around. The water rippled with their sudden movement of seemingly keeping a safe distance from me, yet one in particular caught my attention—a golden-scaled koi swam indifferently near me, its scales resembled the imperial throne.
I leaned closer to the edge to try to touch the fish and nearly fell when the sudden presence of a servant startled me. She seemed rattle as well and her excessive sweating gave away her on-edge situation.
I didn’t think much of it as she immediately asked me what I was doing there. Ignorantly, I answered honestly. Her questions led to another and I was oblivious of the fact that I much just had confirmed my identity.

Eventually, she left, only after she gave me a wrapped candy, claiming she could not finish it after eating the rest.

I tucked myself below a sakura tree and unwrapped the candy as the servant said. Being promised to the crown prince meant certain restrictions and sweets were one of them.

I contemplate, recalling the servant’s words, telling me to savour the taste to enjoy it more.
I raised the candy to my mouth and a sudden rustling from above came through my ears just as the candy was about to touch my lips. “Don’t eat it!” when I looked up, the figure of a young boy peeking down at me from among the branches of the tree startled me, causing the candy to drop to the ground, only for it to discolor. My heart fell at the sight and the world suddenly became scary. My lips quivered as I attempted to voice out my concern.

The young boy leaped down from the tree, landing before me with practiced ease. He walked over to the candy that was dropped, bent down to pick it up between his fingers and examined it. “This is poison. It is meant to kill you if you ate it.” he bluntly told me as he looked back up at my horrid expression. “Who gave this to you?”
His gestures were as enchanting as the garden, it was unbelievable I was facing a child like me.

The sun blinded my eyes yet his silhouette still managed to draw my breath that I struggled to speak once again “A…a servant.”

“Wait a minute! If that is poison, you can’t touch that!” I smacked his hand, causing the candy to flick to the ground. “Please use this!” The boy stood shocked at my sudden reaction, especially when I drew out a white handkerchief from my sleeve and wiped his hands with it. The silk enveloped his fingers and I noticed the red blemish on his skin. “Sorry… that must’ve hurt..” his eyes widened and guilt consumed me.

It must've really hurt.

“It was just a simple slap, I have endured worse.” his sudden calm tone surprised me. I had expected him to cry as that is what I would have done, as a child’s normal reaction, but I suppose this boy was purely much more mature than his age.

I looked up at him and spoke in a curious manner, “What are you doing in this part of the palace?”
“I like to watch the koi fishes in this garden.” he shrugged, looking down at the now fallen candy between us before returning his gaze to mine.

“What about you? Shouldn't you be in the meeting with the emperor?”

I halted at his remark “How did you know?”

"The emperor called for a meeting with your father today and the only child present in the imperial palace is you.” he looked at me with an amused smile.

“The garden is secluded as well as hidden from the main palace, not to mention the fact that this is the only place you are allowed to be alone.” he pointed out, gesturing to the garden with an elegant manner.

“You’re a child too.” I retort, almost seemingly pouting at the fact that he called me a child.

He let out a scoff that almost sounded like a mockery. “Being the son of a high noble counts for something.” he said, emphasizing the word 'son'. “Besides, even if I technically am a child, I’m still two years older than you.”

“You’re a noble’s son?” He leaned down to my level and mocked, “Can’t you tell? Or did the fact that I’m roaming around the imperial garden not give it away?”

“You’re practically calling me stupid.” I glared at him, yet my puffed cheeks tinted with pink from embarrassment gave the fierce away.

The young boy suddenly let out a cold chuckle, clearly enjoying my embarrassment. “Is that a glare or are you trying to puff up your cheeks like some sort of squirrel?” he said, an amused smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Embarrassed even more, I stopped wiping his hand, “Enough teasing!”

It was so obvious that he tried to hide back his laughter by hiding his mouth behind his hand.

I let out a sigh and placed the folded handkerchief into his hand, “Keep that.”

“You’re giving me your handkerchief?” Flustered at the realization of what I just did, this gesture indicated an affair or confession for adults, so I stepped back and crossed my arms to hide the raging embarrassment, “O-only so you can wash and return it!” He couldn’t hold it in anymore and finally burst out in laughter. He had to clutch his stomach as his laughter gradually grew. “I-I see…” he managed to say in between chuckles. “You’re so easy to tease. It’s like you’re a walking and talking tomato. Especially with that cute expression on your face.”

“I-I am  not!” but I was. My face was pink all over and it was deniable to be caused by the chilling wind.

“You’re so red.” The boy suddenly reached out his hand and gently patted my head. “Like a tomato.” he teased again. He poked my cheek with his index finger and his smirk widened even more as I stood there at a loss for words.

“You are so arrogant! I covered my cheeks to stop him from poking any more further and he let out a scoff, clearly not caring about my accusation. 

“Arrogant, yes.” he said shamelessly. “But I don’t think you can deny that you look like a tomato when your face is all red. Like right now.”

I shrieked as he grabbed my wrist to move my hand away from my cheek before continuing to poke it. “Enough!!” I shout and pointed at him, “I-I am going to tell your father!”

He let out another laugh. “Go ahead. You don’t even know my name.”

“Tell me, t-then I might--” my words got cut off by the yelling of a servant outside the garden. “Oh no, I have to go.” I scurried to stand and ran for the entrance only to look back and see the boy still standing there.

I whispered “Thank you…”

He mouthed back the words, “You’re very welcome.” and smiled at me.

I ran again and stopped at the last pavement to look  back once over my shoulder, only to see the boy gone.