PERFECT

The Celebrations

As we returned in the morning with our soldiers, back to the palace, we were warmly welcomed by our people at the capitol.
The children came running towards their fathers, women to their husbands, sisters to their brothers and mothers to their sons to hug them. At the same time their were sinking hearts among them because of not seeing the ones they expected. Thats the true nature of the war.
However the whole empire was a celebration at our victory. As i entered the palace it was busy for celebrations. The Emporer had summoned the ministers, Generals and the respective Officers to declare our victory.
The princess wasnt anywhere to be seen. But the Empress was seated next to his highness.
"Commander! Generals! I highly appreciate you'll on your loyalty, bravery and sacrifice! And i congratulate you all on our success. All the Officers and the Soldiers will be honoured.
For the Japanese allies, Minister Choi will have to distribute our appreciations and the harvest they asked for and as for the Princess's Army, the empress will privately honour them. So for the victory we'll have a celebration tonight and all the Officers are invited."
So thats it? Why didnt his highness appreciate the princess? Cause if she wasnt there, this war can be never won! I looked at the empire in a questioned manner but he didnt care to take it.

"Your majesty! Its not a secret that we are standing here today as the sons of dragons, because of the princess's help, skills and bravery. This loyal servant of yours kindly suggest that she should be honoured for everything"  general Shing spoke my words.

"Please consider your majesty!" Me and the other Generals requested.

"Of course! The empress will take care of that." His majesty had an annoying tone in his words.whats wrong?
So we were dismissed. I'll meet her tonight!

The celebration was outdoors infront of the main palace.The moon showed up brightly in the dark sky along with the stars. The palace was lighted with the torches. The tables were arranged to the sides in front of the stairway which led to the other palaces and the entrance. The Emporer's and the Empress's on the middle and the other alligned either side of them. I were seated a seat away from the emporer, between the Crown Prince who is about 12 years old and young spirited and energetic and General Shing. The Defence Minister Choi and the other respective ministers and the Generals were already seated. In the opposite side there are three seats kept fot the two concubines and the Princess.

"The Emporer and the royal family arrives!" One of the personal Officers of the Emporer announced.we rose from our seats. "Long live the emporer!"
His highness, though was still a bit weak because of his sickness proudly walked with the Empress to their seats. The two concubines followed. They all got seated. So did we.
But the Princess and the Crown Prince have not yet arrived.

"Where is the Crown Prince and the Princess?" The Emporer questioned strictly from the personal attendants.

"They must be on their way your majesty!" The Empress replied before the Emporer's temper explodes.

"Father! Your Majesty! Sorry for being late." The crown prince came running up from the stairs dragging someone else with him.
However It was not the Prince who drew attention cause his behaviour was usual, it was the person who came along with him.
Everyone stared at the Princess as if they were enchanted. Step by step she calmly paced down the stairs towards us. The moonlight reflected from her fair skin and made her pitch black round eyes glitter. The chillness in the night air had reddened her cheeks and her lips were rose pink. Her ebony like black hair was fallen flat behind her ears which was long enough to touch the ground if she kneeled. Her long curl which was swaying infront her cheek magnified her perfectness. She walked right infront of me towards the Emporer. She has no other hairdress other than a phoenix like silver symbol pinned at the back of her hair which along matched with the phoenix silver print on her long white dress with pink and silver shades on it which drew along the floor like a waterfall. She was glimmering under the moonlight. Charm yet the most baeutiful women i've ever seen in my life. She looked no human but god. She was a Perfect Beauty.
She paused few steps past me. Its as if the whole world has paused. She bowed.
Forget about me. I am frozen, charmed right now and of course speechless.