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

Chapter 81: Ryuuki's Voice

Seiga asked Shuurei to pass documents to Ryuuki regarding her investigations about the incident where Jyuusan was attempted to be assassinated or captured. Seiga had tasked Shuurei on that matter knowing fully well that it is dangerous.

Shuurei had found the ringleader after Jyuusan threatened to kill those she had fought before and they admitted who asked them to capture her. She also added reports on how some of the military officials from the Left Uringun had attacked Jyuusan and some of her soldiers. She cannot neglect the fact that bullying is rampant in the military too.

She was about to enter the Emperor's office when she heard someone singing.

Hajimari no kaze yo todoke messe-ji (Wind of beginnings, deliver this message)

''Itsu demo anata wo shinjite iru kara'' (''Because I will always believe in you'')

The beautiful voice enticed her to listen. Something about that song made her walk towards the singing as she listened. It was a gentle and loving voice, yet somewhat lonely and sad.

Ano toki yume ni mite ita sekai ni tatte iru noni (That time I was standing in a world I saw in my dream)

Miwatasu keshiki ni ashi wo sukoshi sukumase (Surveying the landscape, my legs tremble slightly)

Dakedo ushiro furimukanaide aruite yuku koto kimeta kara (But I won't look back, because I've decided to walk forward)

Miageta sora nanairo no niji anata mo mite'masu ka? (Looking up at the seven-colored rainbow in the sky, do you see it too?)

Shuurei blinked several times as she saw who the owner of the voice is. Ryuuki. That's why it sounded familiar. He is standing on the balcony and he looked out to the rest of the palace and the town outside it as he sang.

Hajimari no kaze yo todoke messe-ji (Wind of beginnings, deliver this message)

''Yume ni kakedashita senaka mimamoru kara'' (''Because I will watch your back as you run towards your dream'')

Maiagaru kaze yo omoi wo tsutaete (Soaring wind, deliver this thought)

"Itsu demo anata wo shinjite iru kara" (''Because I will always believe in you'')

Habatake mirai e (Fluttering towards the future)

Shuurei's chest tightened. She knew to whom Ryuuki is singing that song for. She could feel the loneliness in his voice. She turned to leave and bumped into Seiran who also heard Ryuuki's voice and walked towards his direction.

''Oujo-sama are you alright?'' he asked with worry as he noticed that Shuurei is holding back tears. He knew why as he continued to listen to Ryuuki. He hugged Shuurei to his chest and her tears spilled.

Ryuuki's voice is wholehearted yet lonely at the same time. Even Seiran could feel the pain behind the gentle voice. He had heard Ryuuki sing this before when he is all alone in his chambers. He often sang this while Shuurei is away.

Tatoeba, taisetsu na hito wo mune ni omou toki wa (For example, when a person thinks about the one important to them)

Daremo ga kitto yasashii kao wo shiteru hazu (Surely they have a kind look on their face)

Michi wa toki ni hateshinakutemo akiramezu ni yuku yo (The road through time is endless, move forward and don't give up)

Hajimari no kaze yo todoke messe-ji (Wind of beginnings, deliver this message)

Haruka na tabiji no sono saki de matteru (At the end of your faraway journey, I will wait for you)

Maiagaru kaze yo unmei mo koete (Soaring wind, exceed your destiny)

Negai wa todoku to shinjirareru kara (Because I believe my wish will be delivered)

Itsuka mata aeta nara ano egao misete (If I meet you again someday, show me your smile)

Shuurei held onto Seiran as she listened to Ryuuki singing. He is singing that song and is somewhat dedicating it to her. This is Ryuuki's wish and it pained Shuurei to have made this kind person always waiting for her no matter how far she goes. He always sent her off and waited for her even if it's killing him inside.

Jyuusan who was searching for her elder brother Shuuei to deliver a message from the Ran Clan, saw Shuurei sobbing on Seiran's chest. She was about to approach them, worried at why would Shuurei be sobbing like that; when she heard Ryuuki's voice.

Hajimari no kaze yo todoke messe-ji (Wind of beginnings, deliver this message)

Haruka na tabiji no sono saki de matteru (At the end of your faraway journey, I will wait for you)

Maiagaru kaze yo unmei mo koete (Soaring wind, exceed your destiny)

Negai wa todoku to shinjirareru kara (Because I believe my wish will be delivered)

Osoreru mono nado nai "anata ga iru kara" (There is nothing to be afraid of, "because you exist")

Jyuusan understood why Shuurei is sobbing. This is Ryuuki's feelings. He sung it with all his heart that whosoever was able to listen to it too must have been touched.

Even Seiran looked pained. It's hard for him to wish for his brother's loneliness to vanish when he knew that won't ever happen as long as he is King. He wanted Ryuuki's wish of little happiness to be granted but he cannot tell Shuurei to marry his brother. Only Shuurei could give what Ryuuki wanted but Shuurei wanted something else.

Seiran who loves Shuurei very much cannot tell her to give up her dream, and yet he cannot say that to Ryuuki either. He loved them both. He wanted both their wishes and dreams to come true, if only there is a way to make it happen.

But to Shuurei, Ryuuki is the only Emperor. Yet the only escape for Ryuuki is to abdicate the throne and marry her and Shuurei wouldn't want that. But Ryuuki would not be happy through that either. He wanted to be Emperor. He is the Emperor, and he can never give that up for the sake of his people and his subjects that supported him.

Jyuusan sighed at how complicated the love story of these two are. The Emperor and the First Princess of the Kou Clan. If the Emperor would marry Shuurei, it would only turn more people against him. They would think he favored the Kou Clan and the Ran Clan might send another princess to the King if not for the fact that he rejected them before by not taking Jyuusan as his wife.

A/N:

The song's title is Hajimari no Kaze Yo (Wind of Beginnings). It was used as the opening song of the anime Saiunkoku Monogatari.

Next Chapter: Shouka's Children