The Emperor's Concubine

Chapter 2: The Silent Emperor...Shiki Senri

This year’s autumn was colder than before, Shiki Senri noticed. He was reading the reports from the elders and other magistrates when the head of the Council entered. Ichijo Asato walked calmly across the room.

"Your Majesty." he bowed.

Ichijo Takuma who was standing beside him was glued into his place. “Grand—Ichijo-sama, it was a surprise that you have visited the emperor.”

The same calm look on Asato’s face never changed since the first day they met, Senri thought. He watched how his beard seemed to be the same even after all those years. He stared at his clear grey eyes that gives of a distant feeling of danger slowly creeping up.

"What can I do for you?"

"Have you read the invitation of the Council, Your Majesty?"

He sorted the scrolls before him and picked the single one that stood out. The scroll of the Council felt like a heavy burden in his hands. They really wouldn’t make anything easy for him.

"I haven’t."

"I would like to remind you, Your Majesty, that you must be well aware of your responsibility." the head of the Council bowed down and left with a meaningful look in his eyes.

He nodded sternly at his leaving figure. He always feared the day that the Council decided to take over his personal life. His existence as an emperor and his life as Senri were two different things. And he plans to make it stay that way. 

His way of ruling his people has always been meddled around by this group of people. Looking at the situation now…he worries that they are plotting on taking over his life.

"What are you thinking Takuma?" he said to the silent figure beside him. 

"You, Your Majesty."

He smiled. “Won’t you leave my side and join your clan?”

"No, I trust you. And I won’t ever leave your side."

Loyalty, isn’t it? He thought to himself. Ichijo spent almost half his life now running around and following his orders. He could never imagine ruling without his advice.

"Thank you Takuma."

The wind blew from the window and brought a leaf on his table.

"Throw these portraits away, Hanabusa." he called out to his assistant who was standing just outside the door. "I haven’t seen any one worth seeing. I will find a wife for myself."

And by that, he let the leaf fly away from his hand. Autumn, he wished for it to turn into Spring soon.