AAiko looked up. Her eyes glimmered sadly. "So soon?" She said, slowly. Something flashed in the Emperor's eyes. It looked like sincere worry for someone else's sake. Could it be for Aiko's sake...?

"I wanted to tell you that I will schedule the wedding, exactly one week starting today."

"I wanted to tell you that I will schedule the wedding exactly one week starting from today." Aiko's hand went to hide her face. A sob escaped her mouth. A tear rolled down her cheek. Her heart tightened. Her dream of freedom became more invisible as time went on. The palace would become her gilded cage.

"Go to your room. I'll call you when you feel better."

Aiko's arms dropped to her side. The news had destroyed her; she didn't care she looked vulnerable. She had feared this moment so much. It hadn't seemed real, just a sad moment in the distant future. But the future wasn't distant anymore, it was becoming the present. Her eyes were glossy. Red rimmed. Tears silently rolled down her cheeks. She didn't want to be a melancholic bird chirping sadly in its cage.

The Emperor's face was void of emotions, but he outstretched his hand and dried her tears them his fingers, escorting her to her chambers. His hand was firmly wrapped around her waist, holding her up.

AAiko entered her rooms, walking slowly. She approached the closed screen doors and slammed them open, her hand trembling. The frail rice paper shook. Aiko then leaned on one of the doors, her legs weak. She gently started removing all the ornaments in her hair, letting them tumble to the floor. They were laid forgotten on the ground. Her pale hands clung to the doorframe. Her kimono sleeves sliding down her arms. Her kimono was just as sad as her, barely holding on.

Her eyes gazed dizzily at her garden. The sun was just starting to peek from the clouds, bathing everything in peach colored light. Soft droplets of water still lingered on the flowers. A soft cloud of despair shrouded her eyes. She stayed still, watching the garden for hours. The light started to change. Her expression remained the same. She was void of any fear or pain, but tears slid down her cheeks.

Her head was empty, and the silence was too quiet; she started singing. Her soft voice rang in the garden. The flowers shivered in delight.

Meanwhile, the Emperor had entered her room, wanting to check on her. Her maids had told the Emperor she hadn't moved for a long time. He stepped in when she had started to sing.

He found Aiko leaning against the screen doors. Her hair moved gently in the nostalgic breeze. Her kimono sparkled. It was pooling around her feet. Her arms were clinging desperately to the doorframe. Her voice made his heart go soft. He stepped closer to her, in trance. The Emperor felt a strong urge to grab her and wrap her in her arms, shield her from the pain of the world. He hesitated, unsure, before his self-control broke, and he placed his hands on her waist, pulling her closer.

The two seemed to be in trance, anger and hatred gone. They were simply holding onto each other in this rare moment of peace. All prejudices were gone. The Emperor eyed Aiko's neck, leaning down, pressing a kiss to it, light and delicate. He didn't even try to contain himself. Aiko continued singing. She felt empty and blind to the future. She was only focusing on the feeling of his lips on her neck. Strangely, it calmed her down, her voice becoming steadier.

Her hand slowly rose to the Emperor's cheek, caressing it. She wanted to touch something, make sure she was still in the real world. They stayed like that for a long time. Neither of them moved, their hearts at peace for a few moments.

Without them noticing, someone had stumbled inside. Akihfumi. She had stepped inside to talk with the future Empress and ferociously underline that she was the the most adored concubine, even though she hadn't been called in a few days. She wanted to remind Aiko that she still had control over the Emperor's heart. Or so she thought.

Her eyes widened as she saw the scene unfolding in front of her; she wasn't so sure she still had control over the Emperor's heart.

A strong gust of wind blew inside the room. Aiko allowed it to push her, slowly sliding down to the floor. The Emperor followed her, holding her close.

The Emperor had spread his leg and had taken Aiko in his lap. She had her long, beautiful legs peaking out. The Emperor's hungry eyes looked at them.

The Emperor had spread his leg and had slipped Aiko onto his lap. Her long, beautiful legs peeked out. Aiko continued singing, her voice tired now, but it was the only thing she could do. The Emperor looked at his Empress. He found her beautiful and flawless, and even though it pained him to admit it, it hadn't been the first time he thought of her that way. The perfect women.

Tears brimmed in her eyes, not knowing what the Emperor was thinking. They spilled, as she nuzzled her head in the crook of His Majesty's neck. The Emperor dried her tears and kissed her wrist.

His arms went to latch below her chest, keeping her in place. Not that Aiko would even try to escape.

Akihfumi, on the verge of tears, turned around. She bumped into a man standing in the doorway. His callused hands gripped her shoulders, preventing her from falling.

Akihfumi recognised him, smiling brokenly. "Your Lordship Goro."