The Escape From Empress (Anime Story)

Chapter 3: Farewell

- Tsukiko Hokke's POV - 

4 Years Later

In My Bedroom 

"Happy Birthday, Princess, it's time for breakfast." Airi touched me on my shoulder. 

I slowly opened my eyes and saw Airi smiling in front of me. "Good morning, Airi." I greeted her smile with my smile. 

"How are you feeling?" Airi helped me sit upon my bed. She put the pillow up against the frame of my bed and I sat back. "Today's the day you go to the House of Konoe." 

I clenched the blanket with my left arm and held my scar with my right arm. "I can't believe it's already been four years since that day." 

Airi sat on the bed and held me in her arms. "Try to forget the bad memories and try to think positive. After today, you won't have to see Her Majesty anymore." She moved her hand up and down on my arm. 

I put my head on Airi's shoulder. "But I don't want to be engaged to someone I don't know." 

In the Halls of the House of Kanshi

I walked toward the dining room until I saw Keiji walking towards me. "Keiji!" I ran towards him and hugged him. 

Keiji giggled. "You seem excited." 

"Why wouldn't I be? I get to see my big brother." I smiled brightly as I held him in my arms. 

He patted me on the head and suddenly his mode changed. "Is today the day you go to the House of Konoe?" 

I held him even tighter. "I don't want to go... I want to stay here with you." 

He sighed and then smiled. "Try to think of it this way, you're rarely going to see mother again." Keiji held onto my shoulders and looked at me. "I can't bear to see you in any more pain." He slid his right arm down to my scar. 

"I've endured the pain for some long. I can't even feel it anymore." I slightly smiled. 

Keiji held my left arm. "Shall we go in?" 

In the Dining Room

My father, mother, brother, and I were all sitting in one long table together eating our breakfast. 

We all sat there quietly until, "Tsukiko, isn't today the day you go to the House of Konoe?" My father asked.

"You don't have to remind me." I continued to eat my breakfast.

"Well, I'm proud of you. You're helping our family's status by marrying to the House of Konoe." Father put down his utensil. "If you're married to them, our family will continue to have a lot of money." He spoke proudly.

"Of course, Father." I fake smiled and then continued to eat.

"Isn't your birthday today, Tsukiko?" My mother asked, as my eyes widened. "Shouldn't we have you leave earlier so you can have your happily ever after?" She grinned.

"That's a great idea, honey, I'll have the servants prepare." My father held my mother's hand.

"Enough!" Kenji yelled. "Can't you tell that Tsukiko doesn't want to go? Is there a possibility where Tsukiko can continue to stay here?"

"Kenji..." I held my hands close to my chest as I looked at him.

"You don't want to go?" My father looked at me confused. "But your mother said..."

"Oh, honey, of course, she wants to go. Don't you, Tsukiko?" My mother questioned me, but I knew if I didn't answer the way she wanted I wouldn't see tomorrow. 

"Of... of course... I want... to...to... go..." I looked down at my ball gown and frowned. 

"Great." My mother stood up from her chair. "I'll go help the servants with the preparations." She exited the dining room with her fan covering her mouth. 

"Tsukiko, if you don't want to go, you don't have to." My father looked at me concerned. 

I held onto my ball gown tightly. "Does my opinion even matter?" 

In Front of the House of Kanshi

I hugged Keiji in front of the horse carriage. "I'll visit soon."

"I hope so and once you do, you would see me living my dream." He smiled brightly.

"I have no doubt." I let go of Keiji and walked toward the carriage. Once my foot was in the carriage, Airi came running towards me. "What's wrong, Airi?"

Airi wrapped a ribbon made of silk around my scar on my left arm. "No lady should have any markings on them." She smiled.

The messenger closed the carriage door and we took off. I looked forward without looking back, my new life was just about to begin.