The three girls and the man bowed down even lower, their noses almost grazing the ground. Aiko flicked a speck of dust off her kimono sleeve, smoothing it, feeling the expensive material slide through her fingers like water.

Uncle Shin Sa slowly scooted forward on his knees, his clothes rustling in the silence. "Hello, my dear niece! Oh, how I have missed you!" He exclaimed; his small, pesky eyes lifted towards Aiko's feet. They darted from on corner to the other, full of lies and hate, already planning how to take revenge on this woman who had escaped his control.

"Of course, my dear Uncle." Aiko exclaimed, holding her kimono sleeve from and lifting it to cover her mouth.

CChiho's sudden sob shattered the silence. "I missed you, dear sister! When you escaped, we were all so worried and we searched you all over, before receiving the news we were to become Empress!"

Aiko's brow furrowed, realization tumbling om her like a ton of bricks: how did they know she was here in the palace? Someone must have invited him. Her heart cracked, could it have been him? She was about to turn to the Emperor, but that's when he decided to step into the conversation. Aiko locked away the question in her mind, ready to ask it when they were alone.

He felt excluded and wanted to remind them that he was the Emperor. He put his hand on Aiko's and pulled her closer. "I am honored to meet the family of my adored soon-to-be-Empress. My name is Emperor Hisato, but I doubt you do not know."

Aiko almost huffed in annoyance, wanting to hit I'm on the head since he was showing off, but then she remembered it was her old family and let him be.

The girls looked at him, their eyes void and fish-like. They smiled stupidly and giggled innocently, elbowing each other. "Tsk." Aiko thought. "Are you trying to seduce my husband? I won't let you."

The sun was high in the sky. It was pale but brought some rays of sunshine inside the tense room. The Emperor clapped his hands, shattering the silence. "I feel like having lunch together would be perfect occasion to get to know each other, wouldn't it be, my love?" The Emperor asked, turning around to Aiko. Aiko couldn't deny the nickname made her stand even prouder.

Chiho bit her lip in fury, her cheeks blotching red.

Aiko stood up, nodding. Her kimono swishing like water. The Emperor took her hand in his. They slowly descended the small steps. The family stood up.

Aiko glided past them without a glance. The Emperor led them to the Myth Room, thinking it the best room to impress the small nest of snakes. They all followed the couple as they exited the throne room.

As Aiko swished forward, the Emperor leaned in towards her and started whispering in her ear. "My, my, what a wonderful little reunion. I feel like I'm getting suffocated by love and happiness." The Emperor joked, his eyes cold as he heard Chiho laugh loudly behind them.

Aiko tightened her grip on his arm. She turned around and smiled at him. She yanked him closer. She pretended to whisper something sweet, while Chiho gripped her Uncle's sleeve and hissed. "I want His Majesty."

Uncle Shin Sa mumbled, "Of course my darling." Uncle Shin Sa knew that Chiho would be the one who would let herself be controlled, and he would have more power than he had ever possessed if she became Empress. Aiko instead, would never listen to him, rather punish him. He'd push Chiho in the Emperor's lap naked if he had to.

Meanwhile, Aiko chuckled, agreeing with the Emperor. "I know. And think you have only met them for a few minutes while I have lived with them for years."

The Emperor smiled at a little thought that had popped up in his mind. "It is strange that both of our psychopathic families have brought us together in such a way." The Emperor said absentmindedly.

Aiko looked at him confused. Some of her hair ornaments tingled against each other as she looked up at the Emperor. "My family made me run away, but what does Fumi have to do with all this?" Aiko asked, not knowing what he was referring to.

The Emperor looked down, realizing he had revealed something he had planned to keep secret, locked in his heart forever to not reveal his weakness. He cleared his throat; his eyes clouded. "I didn't tell you at the start, but Fumi wanted me to marry. I was afraid that she would pick a woman she could control. So, I lied, saying that you were the one I was about to marry." The Emperor admitted slowly, waiting for her reaction.

Aiko felt lost for a second. Her heart was about to explode. Fumi was the cause of this. The Emperor hadn't decided to marry her just to make her suffer. They were both victims, tied together by the red string of fate held by Fumi's long fingers. Aiko already hated her, but this made her loath her. She looked at the Emperor, seeing him in a different light. "It still is your fault," Aiko whispered in his ear, gripping his arm tightly. The Emperor laughed. Aiko blinked, and slowly let go of his arm, not wanting to hurt him at the moment. A small smile spread on her lips.