The Emperor's Concubine

Chapter 3: Home Coming...The Secrets of the Touya Mansion

"Okaasan," Rima answered.

They were taking an afternoon break when her mother called. Well, she was not her biological mother. Touya Maki is her aunt. Her parents died when she was five and her aunt adopted her. The Touya’s only heiress was her because Maki was not able to get birth to a child before she was widowed.

"Rima-chan, your obaasan…she’s in a coma…" her voice was shaking.

Rima’s world stopped.

Last night, she still met her grandmother with their butler. Touya Mariko visited her on her flat in the city.

"Please go and visit me some time Rima-chan."

"Okaasan, wait for me." she ended the call.

After fixing her schedules with Mori-san, she drove with her mother towards the Touya Mansion. Two hours have passed and they arrived at the tall gates of the ancestral home. Even the exterior of the mansion already exudes a regal aura. It’s big wooden doors his the maze of a huge single story home that catered the Touya’s for generations.

Far from the noise of the city, the intimidating property of their clan stood proudly before her eyes. She flipped her phone open only to shut it down. There was no reception as she remembered. 

A light tap on her shoulder made her aware of the opened gates. There stood the endless beauty of Cross Kaien, her mentor and the butler of the clan.

"Cross ," Maki stated with a light smile.

"Welcome home, Rima himesama."

The old man never changed, she noted. His pale colored skin almost matched hers, his sparkling eyes reminded her of the good old days.

"Sensei…" she said before hugging him.

The man cried. “Himesama!!! I told you to call me butler.”

As stubborn as she always was, she said, “Sensei.”

—-

Ten years…

The clouds hid the late afternoon sun. It has been that long since her foot stepped on the soil of this mansion. The leaves of the trees fell in a shower of gold and red as she walked slowly down the path.

"Rima-chan, come here."

"Papa!"

It was a faint memory of the late Touya Danzo, her father. Laughter filled the empty spaces of her heart. Everywhere she looked, she can see her younger self. Someone whose laughter doesn’t resemble her anymore.

"Himesama, do you want to see the master of the house?"

She nodded before he led her down the hallway.

There was nothing but the sound of the rustling trees and the continuous flow of water on the nearby pond. This huge property used to be the Tsuki Palace, the house of the emperor’s concubine. The mysterious lady of the night only named as the “Moon Lady” was hidden by these walls, away from the palace.

As they reached the farthest room, she heard the sound of the respirator. Her grandmother was lying on her back, not moving. Despite her old age, Mariko was a cheerful person. Unlike herself, Rima thought.

"Obaasan, I’m here." She said squeezing her hand. "Sensei must have taken good care of you. Forgive me…" she lent down and kissed her cheek.

She stayed and talked about her life. When was the last time she sat before this beautiful woman and talked? Even that seems like a lifetime ago.

"Sensei."

"Call me butler, himesama."

"I want to take a rest in my room," she stood. "Sensei."

He looked devastated. It was as if he was going to cry but decided to pull it back. She never called him “butler” like he always wanted. Because she loved him dearly…

—-

That night, a storm came. A sigh came out from her lips before she bit another stick of chocolate pocky. Lying on the bed and staring at her reflection at the mirror was a waste of time. She wasn’t used to it.

She thought about Mori-san who never ceased to remind her to go to sleep at night. Now she was there, eleven-forty in the evening wide awake and bearing the sound she hates the most.

She stood up and stared at herself. The six feet mirror stood proudly at the foot of her bed. She gasped when the sound of thunder roared…she really hates it.

"What is this?" she touched the frame of the mirror. An old engraving was there. She never noticed it before.

Ten years ago, this mirror doesn’t seem to have these markings. But maybe she remembered it wrong.

"Tsu…ki…", she read. "The moon…of the…world be—"

Another loud thunderclap startled her. The lights flickered. He hands started to shake.

"It’s all at the back of my mind…" she said holding on the box of pocky. "Where was I?"

She traced her fingers on the frame and went on. “The moon of the world be..yond that gives…gives light on the dimming skies. I call upon thee…illuminate…thy endless beauty…”

"What is this?" She chuckled. "Is this a spell or something?"

She fixed her hair and spoke. “Eherm…The moon of the world beyond that gives light on the dimming skies. I call upon thee…illuminate thy endless beauty.”

As she finished, another thunderclap made her jump. The lights went out. Just like that night fifteen years ago.

"Sensei! Okaasan!" she shouted covering her ears.

She cannot see anything. Just then, a spark of light reflected on the mirror.

"Okaasan?" she whispered and turned around. Nothing was there but pitch black darkness. "Sensei?"

She looked back at the mirror. It was dark again. Another thunder clap and even her knees started to quiver.

"Help me.." she whispered.

Another spark of light reflected on the mirror. When she turned she saw something moving closer and closer.

"What took you so long? Is it you, sensei?"

As the light went closer, she saw an old woman dressed in white. Clearer it got as it moved faster. She felt her heart skip a beat until she couldn’t take it anymore.

"Kyaaaaa!!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs and stepped back.

"Rima-chan." the woman whispered.

She saw it. Rima disappeared out of her sight in a flash. The lights went back and Maki together with Kaien rushed into the room.

"Himesama!"

"Rima-chan!"

The stood silently.

"Oka..okaasan?" Maki asked. "How did you get here?"

Mariko blew the candlelight and nodded at Kaien. “I wasn’t sick. I just want to be with Rima.”

"But…" Maki looked around. "Where is she?"

"I don’t know. She just…" she sighed. "Disappeared."