When the Crown Falls

Chapter 3 - The Scarlet Bride

EMI AINU

I woke up at the first shine of dawn, the bride’s preparation originally takes four hours, but the most awaited wedding of the year required for mine to be at least seven. Seven long hours of being endlessly pampered to perfection. Seven long hours of waiting for the moment my life forever changes.

The bells of the empire rang and every noble and servant’s pacing could be heard all around as they all gathered at the main ground of the imperial palace.

Spring was in full bloom and the sun shone brightly than ever, as if the heavens personally welcomed the matrimony. The emperor sat in front of his people.

The heavy doors of the high walls opened with a breath-stopping thud and I took my first step off of the palanquin, draped with golden patterns of delicate flowers.
Attendees followed behind, helping me with the heaviness of my garments.

People interpreted my walk as graceful with the absurd belief that every step I took were filled with purity. But in reality, I was shaking so endlessly, breath hitching and heart constantly skipping a beat.

I felt like a faceless scarlet bride from the red veil that covered the entirety of my face.

At the opposite side end of the isle, Tenji stood stoically. The golden-trimmed royal blue robe with the dragon embroidered on the back hugged against his tall form, accentuating the broad shoulders and his frame.

The shaman began to speak, but his words never really reached my ears. I would be lying if I said there was not a hint of joy within me.

The whole bowing ceremony became a full turn of anxiety for me and the moment came when a chalice goblet was offered before us. The first cup represented a vow to heaven and earth. I took it with almost a haste, afraid things would take  a worse turn and everyone would see the trembling mask behind the red veil. I placed the cup down and Tenji took it from the shaman. He took his first sip of the liquor and I almost shuddered when he raised the second cup to my lips.

The second cup felt more chilling as the burning liquor slid down my throat with no ease. I shook the racing thoughts, raised the goblet to him and titled just enough for him to take an easy sip. Tenji leaned back and gently pushed my wrist down, lowering the goblet back to my side. I could feel his gaze lingering through the veil.

“I hope you’ll learn to be less timid after this.” he whispered, purposely lowering his voice enough just so only I could hear.

I could only mutter quietly “Apologies, Your Highness.”

The vows through liquor of cups finally came to an end and every palace attendees stood as the shaman announced the completion of the matrimony through the act of the groom raising the veil. I felt Tenji’s hands slowly reached up and lightly grasped the edge of the veil.

The hall was so quiet, so silent, that I could have even heard a pin drop.
The veil was finally raised, the sun blinded my sight for brief seconds, but for a moment, I thought I saw Tenji take a small gasp, only to recollect when the shaman suddenly shouted the final part of the ceremony: exchanging of the rings.

Tenji reached for a small velvet box containing a pair of gold bands. The cold metal felt stinging as it grasped around my finger as Tenji slid it through. The sensation was a reminder of my fate for  marrying the throne. 

His large hands enveloped mine as I slid the other onto the ring finger of his right hand.

The moment the shaman raised the goblet, everyone including noble guests and palace officials knelt and began chanting. “Long Live the Imperial throne!”

Later that night; after the matrimonial ceremony, I was told to wait in the chambers that the emperor personally sorted as a welcoming gift.

I sat quietly on the round bed that is covered with a rose-tinted silk. The room smelled as if it indulged more in the lingering scent of ambrette with every passing second as I waited for my husband to visit my chambers.

My trance immediately came to end when silhouettes of attendees slithered beneath the closed doors and a servant’s voice echoed through the deafening silence of the night, “His royal Highness, the Crown Prince!”

The door immediately opened and Tenji accepted the welcome and paced into the room.
I mere stared at him as he stood across my bed. A silent tension slowly rose between our distances, it silenced even the thud of the door as it closed.
No words were uttered. The room became even more deafening than before; like a thick fog of tension slowly enveloping the space, choking us in an unnerving stillness.

As the moment came that only our breathes were audible and the candles’ flickering lights became the only distraction noticeable, the image of the young boy from the cherry blossom tree came into mind. I remembered the feeling of excitement as I came running to father, all innocent and overwhelmed of exhilaration to tell him about the boy who just saved me from a threatening situation. I remembered father's face as he worriedly kept asking me if I was okay despite my insistence of knowing who the boy was. I remembered his words as he told me that the young boy was Tenji Youzei; the Crown Prince and my promised half. I remembered how my dedication immediately shifted onto serving the throne for the boy I merely met once. And now, that boy just happened to be standing before me as my husband.

He took a step forward towards me, and then another, and another. Closing the distance into inches until I was only a couple of breathes away from him.
He leaned down and a strand of  his midnight hair fell on his forehead, directly pointing at the small mole on his temple.

The world became even more dimmed when he leaned closer as if to embrace me. But instead, his voice came out in a low murmur, “I’m tired.” he muttered, “I want to rest.”

I froze there in shock while he laid down on the other side of the bed. The image of the sweet young boy from thirteen years ago immediately bore cracks.

I couldn’t accept the reality of how indifferent the boy turned out.
Tenji Youzei tugged at my heartstrings for thirteen years, only for him to finally shoot a full blow on the night of our wedding, nevertheless.

I laid on my side of the bed, completely drowning in confusion and denial.

The rest of the night felt unending, full of muffled cries, a bleeding heart, and  a failed duty.