The Emperor's Last Consort

Chapter 3

A stranger at the lake...

Rukia stared at the newcomer as she stood by the lake's edge, her mouth open a little in surprise and awe. He was a very handsome man, tall and lean, dressed in dark blue robes that covered his arms and fell to his feet. His hair was jet black and reached his shoulder, perfect strands falling over one left eye. Thin lips set in a flawless face with a sharp jaw, and eyes the mistiest grey of which Rukia had never seen before. Everything about this man was refined, from the way he lifted his head to the way he easily held a manuscript in his hand.

Just looking at him made Rukia's self confidence evaporate bit by bit.

The palace is really filled with beautiful people.

Who was this man? He certainly was a noble, Rukia could practically sense it by the air around him. Was he one of the ministers? Or perhaps one of the Generals, Shinji did mention that Generals do walk around the garden sometimes when it wasn't training time. Who was he, why was he here?

The man stared at her for a full second, his expression unmoving. His eyes had betrayed the tiniest hint of surprise when he had caught sight of her, but then they had immediately returned to an unreadable cold grey shade. Both of them stood and regarded the other foreign person, unmoving, for a moment.

And then... the stranger walked forward.

Rukia could only watch, frozen, as he drew closer and closer. Unknowingly, her hands tightened around each other in front of her as her heart beat faster. The handsome stranger walked slow with each step and then he...

... walked right past her.

Rukia's eyes widened in shock as the stranger settled himself onto one of the stone seats at the table, without so much as a gesture to acknowledge or greet her. For all Rukia knew, she could have been nothing but a stone pillar in the garden.

The shock easily turned to anger in her veins. Why was everyone in the palace (minus her best friends) so snobbish and cold? Was it a way of life here, to care little for others and only focus on exerting your nobility and class?

This rude man... who cared if he was handsome anyway?

Fine, two can play at this game.

Giving her skirts a swish, Rukia walked over to the table and easily sat on her seat opposite the man. She wasn't going to be the one to move, she had been here first! What if the Emperor came?

For the first time, the stranger showed signs of emotion. He looked up, the subtle surprise reflected in his grey eyes that she had dared take her seat at the table. Rukia only gave him a snobbish 'So what?' look and continued to fiddle with her teapot.

After a while of silence, the man spoke.

"Who are you?" His voice was deep and laced with an overpowering tinge of authority.

Rukia immediately disliked him. He was so rude! He did not even greet her in any friendly manner, and acted as if she did not exist. Sure, they did not know each other, but some social manners would have been acceptable.

"I am the Emperor's consort, Lady Rukia." Rukia purposely lifted her head a little higher, as if to symbolize their difference in position. No need to remind him that she wasn't the Emperor's only consort, like she had made it sound. "And who are you?" Rukia let the blunt question fall out.

The man had stared at Rukia silently as she answered him, his face remaining expressionless. He turned back to the manuscript he was reading. "That will be no matter of your concern."

If murder was possible in the palace, Rukia swore she could have drowned the man in the lake.
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Byakuya had been looking forward to a peaceful afternoon in his gardens, the morning meeting had been filled with a lot of arguments between the officials. And so the young Emperor had decided to take the usual route to his favourite West gardens, for the quiet and solitary air.