When the Crown Falls

Chapter 2 - Intentions

EMI AINU

The air felt thin as I was pulled from the same nightmare that had been haunting my slumber for the past years since then.

A mere week is left before my wedding with the crown prince takes place.
The emperor stubbornly refused to rest on his deathbed before the matrimony. It took a toll on the entire empire, which drove more pressure into making the promise happen.

A servant suddenly barged into my chambers as I groggily set myself up. "Kyone..." I groaned out, startling the young lady.

"Oh my! My lady, my apologies for barging in, I was just about to wake you." She came closer and approached me with fidgeting hands.
"I'm assuming you didn't get a good night's rest. You've been having those nightmares again my lady, have you not?"

I let out a soft chuckle, far from amused. "You know me well, Kyone."

"You are too easy to read, my lady. But there is no time to dwell! You must get ready now, your father has asked you to hasten and head out for that." She reminded as she pulled at the curtains, making me squint my eyes at the light that seeped into the room.

"That is today?" I asked, almost quietly from the uncertainty.

Kyone only sighed as she walked towards the carved door of the closet, pulled out a fine silk of dress and laid it on the bed."I know how it feels, my lady, you have been dreading this day. But you must get yourself up and get ready. Yes, that is today. Do not worry, I've already called the maids to prepare your bath."

Servants lined up on the sides, waiting for any service needed by the royal family and guests.
Nobody dared to utter a word. The only sound that occupied the quiet room was the sound of the utensils clattering while everyone was eating their food.

The Emperor sat on the high end of the long table that is draped with a fine white cloth embroidered with golden lace. In our middle is the noble Duke who is my father, and seated in front of me is my fiance-Tenji Youzei-the crown prince who is seemingly bored of the situation.
It was like a silent prayer, hoping that someone would break the deafening silence.

The Emperor finally breaks the underlying tension. "Tenji."

The Crown prince was suddenly interrupted in his train of thoughts and straightened up. "Yes, Father?"

"What are your opinions on having a child with Lady Emi?" I choked out at the unexpected question. Everyone was at loss for words, especially me who immediately felt embarrassed at the impoliteness. "Cough ...Apologies."

The emperor merely chuckled, finding it amusing how uncomfortable I looked. "You should drink something, child. You look awfully flushed."

Meanwhile, I could feel the eyes of everyone around me as I hurriedly grabbed a cloth to cover my mouth, seemingly attempting to muffle the coughs threatening to spill from my itchy throat. "T-thank you for the concern, Your Majesty..."

The emperor chuckled once again, "Quite a delicate thing you are."

I felt Tenji's steel gray eyes linger on me, eyeing my every movement. "I suppose you'll be taking care of her, young one." The emperor added, and I immediately felt the piercing glare leave me.

"I will, Father." Tenji replied dryly
.
The rest of the meeting continued with the emperor's blunt questions about the marriage. Anyone with the slightest concern could tell the whole room drowned in awkwardness.

The meal eventually came to an end after the royal physician advised the emperor to rest.
The emperor's bedroom door shut close and I could finally feel the ease from the long hour burden. Father left almost immediately, leaving me and the crown prince all alone.

"You know, I'm surprised." He suddenly spoke and I looked at him, noticing the deep blue hue of his hair as he stood on the side of the closed door with crossed arms over his chest.

"Of what, Your Highness?"

He merely shrugged, looking away as he leaned back lazily against the wall before speaking again. "That look on your face...you looked like you were about to bolt out the door and make a run for it when father asked about marriage and children."

"I was merely flustered." I let out a soft scoff.

"I know that." He retorted.

He looked back at me. "I'm just...surprised that you'd look like you'd rather jump off a cliff than have children with me."

"Were you perhaps hurt by the assumption, Your Highness?"

"Offended. I believe is the word." He immediately emphasized.

He straightened up, no longer leaning against the wall and stepped closer towards me. "Tell me honestly. What do you think of the marriage?" He looked down at me as our breaths drew on the icy air, I could sense him studying my expression, searching for something.

"Well, it is destiny, Your Highness. My grandfather and your father the emperor did decide it to be."

He let out a scoff. "Destiny, huh? Of course, you wouldn't see much of a problem."

My heart skipped a beat as he moved a hand and grasped my chin so delicately, tilting my face up so that I was forced to look directly at him.."Are you happy about the marriage?" He asked. For a moment, the entire world fell silent.

Am I happy about this whole situation? Am I happy my destiny was played?
Of course I am not. But if my promised half was not Tenji, I would have pleaded with blood not to proceed with the marriage.

I plastered a smile at him, but nobody could ever tell the hidden chaos behind the genuine mask. "Of course I am. Being engaged to the crown prince is what most women in the empire wishes. They covet my seat endlessly."

"You are not a good liar, my lady." The corner of his lips pulled upwards for a brief second, a condescending smirk.

An unfamiliar heat built up inside me as I felt his thumb lightly traced down the side of my jawline, stopping right when it reached my chin. His touch felt like he was playing with a delicate sculpture.

"It's a lovely face." He muttered, his eyes roaming to the side. "...But that look in your eyes does not match up with that smile, my lady."

I gently removed his hand away from my face, maybe scared he would see more than he already had "What nonsense, Your Highness."

"You really are a bad liar." He stated with that smirk of his that slowly melted, a stoic expression replaced it as he leaned down a bit to meet my level. Immediately, I'm reminded of the boy from my dreams. "Say, do you think..." he began to speak, pulling me away from my thoughts as his voice became more lower and quieter. "...If it was another man instead of me standing in front of you, asking you these questions...would you give him a different answer?"

"I would not dare to even imagine of such." I simply retorted.

Tenji sighed and clicked his tongue in annoyance. "You are no fun."

He finally turned away and relief washed over me until I finally noticed that a servant was listening to us the entire time. It was a circulating rumour that a messenger would come in behalf of anonymous ladies that sometimes called for the prince. It seemed that a secret lover of his has requested for his presence yet again.

"Such a good , virtuous, soon-to-be empress you are." His words were left hanging on the wind as his footsteps became more distant.