When the Crown Falls

Chapter 24 - Confession

EMI AINU

Slowly, my eyes blinked open, vision still hazy and muddled. My mind was still in a daze as I attempted to get my bearings, taking stock of the bed where I laid and the room shrouded in darkness with only streaks of moonlight shone from the crack of the closed window. I groaned softly, sitting up as my palm pressed against my temple, trying to alleviate the throbbing headache that settled in. Everything seemed disjointed and blurred. Where was I? Questions came flooding in, barely able to keep up with my dull sensations.

Shatter!

I whipped my head to the door where the loud noise came. Kyone, wide eyed and frozen as if she stopped breathing, stared at me. My gaze fell on the shards of teacup scattered beneath her. And as if not noticing them, she rushed forward, her feet merely covered with cloth stepped on the sharp pieces without care. My lips parted to protest, but she grasped my hands and I realized she was trembling as she whispered, “My lady,” She pulled me into an embrace and I noticed how heavily her chest heaved as she bursted into tears. I froze in place, taken aback by the sudden reaction but as Kyone clung onto me, the tears streaming down her face and onto the surface of my garment, I found myself slowly returning the embrace with much more longing.

Suddenly, the door creaked open and someone walked in, grasping their sword in its hilt. My eyes widened and the moonlight illuminated Sujin’s face—brows furrowed and gaze sharp, but immediately, it softened and his hands fell from his sword and to his sides. “…You’re awake.” he whispered with a voice quieter, as if uncertain.

Kyone looked back and hastily wiped her tears. I stared at Sujin, the exhaustion very visible from his face. He looked like he barely got any rest. My lips parted and hoarsely, I spoke. “Sujin…”

He walked closer, carefully around the scattered ceramics and stopped just a few feet away from the bed. He turned to Kyone and stared at her feet. “You’re hurt.”

She looked down and finally noticed the blood slowly soaking the cloth of her feet and the pieces of ceramic that dug into her skin. She gently pulled away and gave me a small and reassuring smile when I nearly forgot to loosen my grasp on her sleeve. “Please excuse me, my lady. I’ll need bandages.” Hesitantly, I nodded at her and she hobbled off to take care of her wounds.

I looked back at Sujin, still standing with his head bent down. And for a moment, the casual demeanor he usually showed melted, he crumbled into a raw display of emotions. Tears welled up in his eyes, betraying the iron willpower he prided himself on. He stood before me, looking weary and helpless. I wanted to say something. But before I could, he had already made his way to my feet, kneeling and hiding his face on my lap. Sujin, the once intimidating man, had reduced himself to merely a mortal. I had once called him the ruthless white tiger of Aurelia but now, his face was buried against the fabric of my clothes. His shoulders shook involuntarily as he struggled to hold back the tears and his hands gripped the edges of the bed tightly, turning his knuckles white.

SUJIN SEIMU

Every fiber of my being was screaming, begging for me to keep my composure, but I couldn’t. Not in front of her.
I flinched as she reached out, laying her trembling hand on my head, her fingers gently ran through my hair and I refused to pull away. If anything, I leaned into it, craving the comfort it brought. The tears kept flowing, wetting the fabric beneath me and ragging my breath. Hoarse and choked, I swallowed the lump and forced myself. “I thought…I thought I was going to lose you…”