Chapter Song Suggestion - "Autumn Leaf, TaiGektou"
The woman stirred restlessly, feeling like the fires of hell were licking along her skin, scorching her alive. Her muscles cramped and pain ricocheted through the extremities of her head.
The drug! She needed the relief.
No! She craved it ─ had to have it. Where were those men who would come to feed her?
Cracking an eye open, she realised she was no longer in that dank prison. Her wrists and ankles were free. Cautiously, she flexed and rotated them, feeling a slight pinch of discomfort from the cuff marks. What was this place? It was extremely grand.
A foggy memory of the most beautiful man she had ever seen — stormy, green eyes framed by the longest lashes — slipped into her head. Had that been a dream?
"You're awake," said a soothing, feminine voice.
Turning her head, she found a fairy smiling at her from the doorway. With remarkable silver hair and eyes of the purest snow crystals, she looked ethereal. Perhaps she truly was dreaming, to be confronted by two beautiful creatures in such a short time.
She croaked, wincing at the soreness of her throat. "Am I dead?"
The fairy's laugh was soft and pleasant. "No, you're alive. You're experiencing the side effects of opium addiction."
"Opium addiction?" Her brows knitted in chagrin. Was that why she felt so...strange and...itchy?
"Do you remember anything?"
A frayed recollection of terrifying, masked men surfaced. "Y-yes, I was returning to the manor when we were attacked. I thought we were being robbed by bandits."
"They were slave drivers." The fairy clarified. "Do you know why they had abducted you?"
"N-no, I don't."
"I found this in your dress pocket. I believe it's the reason you were kidnapped." The fairy handed her a minted pendant shaped like a four-leaf clover.
She feathered her thumb across the raised surface. "This is my family's insignia."
"Are you from a noble family?"
"Yes, my name is Tsugumo Kuriko, the only daughter of the Tsugumo family. My father is Tsugumo Hisaishi, the General of King Akio."
"You're from Nanyang?" The only known information to Inka was that King Akio was the eldest brother who ruled the Northern state.
"Yes," Kuriko replied nervously. "W-where am I?"
"You're in Donggu Palace."
Kuriko nearly shot out of bed, her anxiety growing tenfold. "We're in King Shuhei's palace?"
Her vivid reaction struck Inka as odd. "Yes, we found and rescued you from the slavers' den. You were heavily drugged but luckily there's no permanent damage. Your body has been purging itself for the past four nights. You thrashed so violently we had to hold you down." A gentle smile. "But I believe the worse is over because you're lucid now. You might still feel queasy, but it means you're on your way to a full recovery."
That was a relief. She didn't want to be a mindless slave. She couldn't even recall how long she had been kept a prisoner – the drugs and lack of sunlight blended into an unending nightmare. Clearing her throat, she asked, "Can I have some water?"
"Of course," Inka hastened to pour her some. "By the way, my name is Inka."
"Inka." What a strange name but, it befitted the fairy's uniqueness. "Thank you for saving my life. I am indebted to your kindness."
"Oh, you don't have to thank me." Inka beamed from ear to ear. "Ryuu was the one who saved you."
"Ryuu?" Kuriko tested the name. "That's right. There was a man with me." She set her glass aside. "Where is he? I would like to convey my gratitude."
"I'll send word to him," Inka tucked her back into bed, fussing like a mother hen. "If he gives you trouble, don't mind him. Kairyuu is all bark and no bite."
Kuriko's gaze became alert. "Kairyuu?"
"Yes, the King of Shiryuu was the one who saved you." Inka was alarmed by Kuriko's ashen face. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing," Kuriko lowered her eyes in embarrassment. "I just get extremely nervous around the royal family."
Inka laughed aloud, kind amusement in her eyes. "Don't be. They're quite harmless if you aren't an enemy," she paused, realizing her err. "Are you?"
The thought of her — one who was afraid of her own shadow — being a villain was laughable. "If you consider embroidery and playing the guzheng as qualified skills to plot a nation's downfall, then all the noblewomen of Xi would have to be executed," Kuriko quipped.
"A sense of humour. I think you can handle Ryuu just fine." Inka relaxed. "Ring the bell if you need anything." She patted Kuriko's covered leg. "Get a good rest, and I'll see you at dinnertime."
Kuriko stared in bemusement as the fairy left, taking all her charm and vivacity with her. The doors shut and silence ensued, leaving Kuriko with her own muddled thoughts. What would happen to her now?
A few minutes later, she spotted a tall shadow outside her room. Timidly, she called out. "Who is it?"
"It's me." A masculine voice answered — one she recognized from her drug induced dreams.
"Come in," she responded, her heart pounding for unknown reasons. There was a soft shut followed by muted footsteps and then, there he was — the man of her dreams — literally. "You're real…," she gawked blatantly, suddenly short of breath. "I- I thought I was dreaming."
Ryuu stiffly scratched his head. "You were in and out of consciousness so it's normal to confuse dreams with reality." His jaw tightened at the memory of how Inka had screamed for help when Kuriko fell into a seizure attack. She could have died. To lose control of one's body was...unimaginable. And Kuriko had been selfishly forced down this wretched path.
"I'm sorry. I don't remember much of what happened," she admitted ruefully, her eyes downcast. "Inka said I was kidnapped and drugged. I-I would like to send a message to my family. I'm sure my father would compensate you for rescuing me."
"I don't need a reward. I'm just glad you're no longer suffering," he said gruffly, taking in the faded bruises and healing cuts of her injuries. Her speedy recovery filled him with a sense of satisfaction which heralded a frightening scowl. "Which family do you belong to? I shall call for a messenger to attend to you."
Kuriko wondered if she had somehow offended him. This man didn't need a lavished wardrobe to tell her he wasn't ordinary — it was in his bearing and manner of speech. "I'm much better now, thank you. I belong to the Tsugumo clan. My sire is General Tsugumo."
Ryuu froze over, the trifling warmth in his eyes vanishing. "General Tsugumo Hisaishi?"
"Yes, that's him." Undeniable pride saturated her words.
"That man is a corrupted manipulator!" His hostility stunned her. Ryuu's ease evaporated, the muscles of his shoulders drawing upward. "I can't believe my bad luck for rescuing his daughter."
"How dare you!" She bristled, taking offense. Her goodwill and genteel manners flew out the window. "I do not take kindly to those who slander my family's name."
"Your father is responsible for the opium related deaths in Nanyang. He leads a notorious drug ring that has destroyed plenty of villages across the four states. Corrupted nobles serve him, eager to line their pockets at the expense of innocent lives." Nothing could hide the contempt or disgust in his tone. Kairyuu knew he had no right to condemn another, but he drew the line at malignant drugs.
As a boy, he had witnessed his mother's descent into madness because of it. Day by day, she allowed it to control her and eventually, she forgot her name, her pride, and her son. Her death had been a blessing in disguise — a relief that she no longer had to suffer.
Kuriko's nostrils flared in anger. "I won't sit here and listen to you accuse my father for crimes that aren't true. You sir, have no proof." She pointed to the door. "Please leave."
Ryuu no longer had doubts about her recovery. Washing his hands off her, he tightly remarked, "Gladly."
"The nerve of that man!" She huffed indignantly when he was gone. "My father is no criminal." But she couldn't ignore the righteous voice in her head that supported Ryuu's claims. When Kuriko was old enough to talk, she noticed her father's indifference.
Her brothers received honorary praises for their achievements but, no matter how hard she tried, she was ignored. Even her mother was of no importance, the General's infidelity was notorious, yet no one dared to broach the subject — everyone turned a blind eye in fear of losing their homes or worse, their lives.
At age ten, she understood her family wasn't based on happiness. It was centered on politics, power, and status. Even her impending marriage was an advantage for the Tsugumo family. Deep down, she was tired of walking on eggshells. More importantly, she hated how Kairyuu might be right about the General.
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Inka was disgruntled by the brimming tension between Kuriko and Ryuu. Leaning into Kyou's ear, she whispered. "Did something happen between them?"
"I think my idiot brother had offended her." Kyou sounded nonplussed, like he had anticipated this. "Despite his pretty face Ryuu's unfortunate with women."
Inka recalled the first time they met. He had been thrown out from a tea shop for meddling with the shop owner's daughter. "That's true."
"I'm speechless that you're General Tsugumo's daughter," Shuhei announced over the dining table, turning everyone's attention to him. "You've been missing for two months."
A flash of hurt crossed the young woman's features, her lips trembling. "My father didn't send out a search party for me?"
"He did. For about a week and then it was called off," Shuhei confessed, feeling his heart go out to her. "I'm sorry."
His apology only increased the pressure behind Kuriko's eyes. This was the rude awakening she had been unwittingly waiting for — a confirmation that her father had never loved her. Rising to her feet, she mumbled an excuse and left before the tears fell.
A moment of disquiet.
"Aren't you going to go after her?" Rei addressed to no one in particular.
A chair scraped against the tiled floor. "Shut up, I'm going," Ryuu muttered and disappeared after Kuriko's invisible trail.
Inka and Shuhei exchanged snickering glances. And here she thought he didn't care.
"Based on the rumours I've heard, General Tsugumo isn't well liked," Kyou stated with a tight frown. Personally, he didn't either. A few months back, he had to burn an entire village to the ground because it was filled with nothing but disease and corpses. After a quick investigation, he discovered the villagers had been plied with opium and it was traced back to the General's men. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough proof for him to implicate the General. "I don't understand why Akio keeps him around."
"What's King Akio like?" Inka asked, wondering if the eldest King shared any similarities with his half-brothers. Hopefully, something good.
"Akio's personality is like the ocean," Shuhei contemplated. "On days when the wind doesn't blow, he's nice and gentle. But when a storm comes, he's unforgiving. In short, Akio's unpredictable. There was a rumour once that says when Akio smiles, it means you're going to die the next day." He chuckled. "I wonder what that bastard did to garner such a bad reputation amongst his servants."
Inka shuddered at the terrifying suggestion. How could he be worst? King Akio sounded like a deranged individual. "Is it...true?"
"I wouldn't put much stock in rumours," Kyou answered promptly. "But there might be a kernel of truth in it. Akio's always been...different. As long as you don't get on his bad side, he is easy to deal with."
Shuhei made a disagreeing sound that contradicted his cavalier smile. "Kyoutarou's a thorn in his side. Once upon a time, Akio was the crown prince destined to have the world at his feet. Then, he was miserably forgotten after Kyoutarou was born." He spread out his fan, mimicking a court gesture the nobles used when gossiping. "Better watch your back, Your Majesty."
Rei rolled his eyes at the King's dramatics.
"What about you, Commander Rei?" Inka turned to him. "What is your opinion of King Akio?"
"I've never met His Majesty."
This news was a surprise. She perked up. "Why not?"
"Akio was already the King of Nanyang when I first served as Commander. He doesn't visit the main palace except during the previous Emperor's birthday. During that time of year, I would be stationed at the border."
She leaned back in her seat, mildly disappointed. "I can't believe you've never met him."
He shrugged nonchalantly. "I've met all the princes. One more brother won't make a difference."
That wrestled a grin from her. Commander Rei must be weary of their royal antics — unimpressed and unintimidated. Being able to stand by the Emperor meant he had grit and a great fortitude. She highly respected him.
"I refuse to be lumped with Kyoutarou and that idiot Kairyuu," Shuhei grunted despicably.
"Pardon my insolence Your Majesty but, you're likely to be difficult if you set your mind to it," Rei responded fearlessly – to hell with propriety.
Inka's merry laughter resounded in the air. Shuhei's outrageous expression reminded her of a goldfish coming up for air.
Kyou disinclined his head in hopelessness. Enough was enough. He didn't want to sit here listening to grown men bicker like children. Helping Inka from her seat, he invited fondly. "Come on, witch. Let's go for a stroll in the garden. These two are blistering my ears with their nonsense."