The Tale Continues (Saiunkoku Monogatari Fanfiction: Ryuuki x Shuurei lemon)

Chapter 11: A Lonely Ending

''That necklace really suits you Your Highness,'' Ryuuki said with a smile as he watched Shuurei fixed the tea cups. He really wanted this woman to be his wife; but he realized now that as king, he also like the official named Kou Shuurei.

Shuurei turned to him again. ''You trickster! I will return this necklace to you.''

''That's extremely rude of you Shuurei. I did not just give that to you as a gift. That is bestowed to you by the Emperor of Saiunkoku. Are you going to reject your Emperor's trust?''

''So you are using your authority on me now,'' Shuurei sweat-dropped. She said that more to herself.

''As Emperor, it is my job to give that necklace to someone who is worthy to wield it. The Empress is very influential and powerful too. I cannot just have any woman take that position. I need someone I can completely trust not to abuse that power,'' Ryuuki explained.

''And you are saying that woman is me?'' Shuurei said in disbelief. ''That's a little too high.''

''Have confidence in yourself Shuurei. Even Adviser Shou believed in you so much too. He saw the strength in you to be able to stand beside the king no matter what. I know that's why he chose to introduce you to me.''

''You mean he planned all of this?''

''Of course. That old bastard is pretty tricky. He meddles with my whole life. As you can see he tricked me so many times and took a huge role in manipulating me,'' Ryuuki said with narrow eyes.

''Old bastard?''

''But of course I will not force you to accept that kind of responsibility. Being in the Royal family is loneliness itself. I cannot just drag you into that darkness. Though I am sure once Adviser Shou believed that you will be my light I cannot force you to be that. I will dwell alone in that darkness if it means letting you spread your wings in the light of day.'' He wanted to see her succeed. He wanted to see her at the heights of her career. He hated taking away the dream he had allowed her to have a taste of.

''Ryuuki.'' She was touched at how he is seeing things. This man really thinks so much of her. But all Shuurei could think of is she is not worthy of him.

''I will not force you to be the Empress. Though you will always be the Queen of my heart, I will set you free if that is what you want. So, please keep that necklace with you. You can hide it behind your clothes if you do not want everyone bowing to you. Always wear it, it will protect you.''

Shurei stared at him. ''Are you saying that you will no longer marry me as the princess of the Kou Clan?''

''Yes.'' One word, that reply meant a lot for Shuurei and for Ryuuki as well. He is setting her free.

Shuurei smiled happily with tearful eyes. ''Thank you Ryuuki, please say that to the emperor as well.'' She cannot stop herself from smiling. She knew it had been so hard for Ryuuki too to command her to be in the in the Inner Palace against her will. He wanted to marry her not that way. ''Fine. I will keep it with me.'' Now she realized that this has a connection with the nightmares Ryuuki had been having. He also wanted her to be safe but now he knew that he cannot tail her around since he has responsibilities so he is giving her that.

''I will tell the emperor. I know he will be glad that you smiled. But honestly I want you to be by my side since I believe you cannot be dragged in the darkness no matter what. I believe that you will always be the one pulling me out of the darkness that surrounds me. Like you always did as you wake me up from my nightmares. I hope that you would soon agree to my proposal.''

''You are confusing. First you speak of letting me go and do as I please. Now you say you are not giving up,'' Shuurei said with a hand on her forehead.

''Well, I did not say that I am letting you go. I will still love you even if I marry someone else,'' Ryuuki said sadly.

''That's cruel. You should devote that love to your wife and totally forget me,'' Shuurei said. Ryuuki had said that if he marry someone else, it would be Princess Jyuusan. She did not want Jyuusan to be treated differently. She knew that Jyuusan had a very lonely past too. She kind of wanted Jyusan to live a happy life with a man she truly loves and loves her back.

''Indeed, but even if I marry someone else I cannot just throw away my love for you.''

That made Shuurei sad. If she refused to marry Ryuuki, then that means Ryuuki and Jyuusan would get married as part of their duty to Saiunkoku. Would they be happy like that? They would live as husband and wife without romantic love for each other. They would live knowing that both of them desires for someone else. That is what Shuurei thought since she had not yet heard of Jyuusan's plan. She still cannot deny thought that she is still unwilling to marry Ryuuki. She wanted to continue being an official. Now that Ryuuki had finally set her free, she would grab that opportunity to fly away.

It made Shuurei feel guilty. It felt like she is further pushing Ryuuki down to the depths of loneliness that he had been fighting all his life. Plus, she is even pushing Princess Jyuusan along with him to drown in that loneliness. She knew that Ryuuki and Jyuusan are both strong but it felt so wrong to make them suffer with all their life consumed in loneliness. Should she allow Ryuuki and Jyuusan to be in that state?

Without knowing it, tears flowed down her cheeks and Ryuuki dried it for her. He hugged her tight and she sobbed in his arms.

''It will be alright,'' Ryuuki said as if he is not the one who will be left behind.

That night, Shuurei played the erhu for Ryuuki. She slept with him that night. That is the last favor Ryuuki asked of her. But as he promised they will just sleep together, he did nothing weird. But in the morning, they found themselves hugging each other.

Ryuuki woke up and was surprised to find that his is head is comfortably rested on Shuurei's chest. He is holding her tight and he was more than delighted to find that Shuurei's arms wrapped tight around him. He enjoyed her scent, how soft she felt under him, the melody of her heartbeat, and the warmth her embrace gave him. It all reached his heart. He really loves this woman. But after this day, everything will be different. He would no longer see her running around.

During breakfast, Shuurei complained about how they ended up in the position they are in when they woke up. Ryuuki insisted that he did not know either, he just slept. They ate teasing each other. It was lively. Ryuuki enjoyed that as much as he could and he ate a lot that Shuurei scolded him. But even so he still ate as much as he could. This maybe the last meal that he would eat which is cooked by Shuurei. For in a few days, Shuurei will depart. He she will always return, but the next time she comes she may have fallen inlove with someone else.

Next Chapter: Departure