She recalled what Shuhei had mentioned in passing. "When Akio smiles, it means you're likely going to die the next day."
"My brothers!" Akio spread his arms widely. "I cannot imagine what brings you here at this time of the year and together no less. I am honoured."
"Save your flowery speech, Akio. We are not here for small talk," Shuhei responded bluntly.
If Shuhei were anyone else, would he be beheaded for his insolence? Inka wondered.
Akio's expression remained unchanged. "Oh? Then perhaps you would care to enlighten me on why you are darkening my doorstep?"
"The main point aside," Shuhei barrelled on, "I'm pleased to announce that the Golden Thread Road is nearing its completion."
"Yes, I am aware of that."
"Speaking of which, Kyoutarou has agreed to open up the northern border. We still have yet to negotiate the details."
"Did he now?" Akio's gaze shifted to his youngest brother. "And how are you, Kyou?"
"I'm doing well, brother." While his answer was circumspect, his eyes spoke otherwise — distant and vigilant.
Inka was uncomfortable with this heavy tension swirling between the trio. Clearly, none of them wanted to be here, forced to tolerate each other. Ryuu stepped forward, wearing an unreadable smile. "It's been awhile, Akio. You've certainly aged."
"And you're still as beautiful as ever," Akio mocked. "I heard you're now called the Peacock Prince."
Ryuu shrugged, unaffected by the insult. Akio had always been sharp-tongued, and it was common practice in the imperial palace during their father's reign. As a child, he hated how the adults would twist and shape their words to slight or give the direct cut. He never understood the logic of — direct behaviour was crass, but it was acceptable to indirectly insult someone.
For instance, he once overheard his mother's friends shredding a poor lady's dignity to pieces. Instead of telling her that yellow wasn't a good colour on her, they laughed at how she blended in with the furniture. God forbid a suitor assumed she was part of the ghastly decor.
"Why don't we go inside and continue this little reunion?" Shuhei fanned himself. "This humidity is dreadful, and a cup of tea shouldn't be over the top for your guests, should it?"
"Of course, pardon my manners," Akio apologized. "I was simply overwhelmed."
Inka couldn't discern if he were being truthful or not. King Akio was certainly an enigma.
"We're here because we found your General's missing daughter," Shuhei continued speaking as they walked into an opulent grand hall. "She was kidnapped by slavers and horribly drugged. The poor kitten still suffers from withdrawal, and I can't help but wonder if your General has something to do with it."
"What are you implying, Shuhei?" Akio frowned.
"I am suggesting that your General is involved in underhanded business that has infiltrated Donggu. This greatly offends me," Shuhei remarked firmly, no longer carefree. "I want to know why a General's daughter would be held hostage in my jurisdiction, and I would like to personally clarify this situation with General Tsugumo."
Akio's shoulders stiffened and his brothers noticed the change of his aura — amicable farce vanishing. "Unfortunately, General Tsugumo is unavailable. He is attending his duties in the outskirts and will not return for a fortnight. If you came yesterday, you might have encountered him."
It annoyed Shuhei how Akio's face morphed into a serene portrait of regret — an emotion Akio lacked in his bones. He bit back a snarl. "How convenient of him to be absent."
"Pardon me, Your Majesty." A feminine voice cut into the conversation.
Akio's gaze shifted, recognizing the General's daughter. A sliver of genuine surprise flickered in his eyes. "Miss Tsugumo. It really is you."
"Yes, Your Majesty." She acknowledged with a deferential bow to his status. "Thanks to His Majesties' I was rescued from the slavers' den, and I am forever indebted to them. If I may request to send a message to my family to inform them of my wellbeing, I would be grateful."
"Certainly. Your mother has been beside herself with grief." He gestured for a servant to come forth. "This man will take your message to the Tsugumo manor."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." She curtsied, turning to the messenger. "Please inform my family that I am alive, and that I was rescued by the King of Shiryuu. As for my return, kindly relay that I am still recovering and cannot travel home."
"Yes miss." The messenger saluted and left.
"You don't sound happy to be home." Akio pointed out critically.
"She's recuperating," Ryuu reminded harshly, his body shielding Kuriko. "I saved her, so I will say when it's safe for her to return."
"You?" Akio's brows lifted in rare amazement. "Well, the surprises just keep on coming. The last time I checked, you're selfish and irresponsible."
Ryuu visibly flinched. "I am attempting to change."
Before Akio could respond, the maids streamed in with trays of snacks and tea, setting it down on the individual seats before the King's dais.
"Please sit," Akio invited, taking his rightful place while the maid poured him a steaming cup of tea. "Is my General the sole reason you came?" His gaze brushed over Kyou. "Have the two of you made peace with our dear Emperor?"
"Amazingly, we are changing for the better," Shuhei announced, casting a doubtful glance at Ryuu. "Although I think Kairyuu has a long way to go."
Akio wasn't paying attention, his eyes narrowing on Kyou's untouched tea. "Is the refreshment not to your liking, Kyou?"
Raising the cup to her lips, Inka paused at the blatant question. She snuck a wary glance at Kyou whose lips twisted in a smirk. "You'll excuse me if I'm not thirsty or hungry." An outright lie.
A smile ghosted along Akio's lips. Ironically, he would be disappointed if Kyou hadn't suspected him of attempting murder. "Rest assured, if I were to kill you, it wouldn't be poison. Murder is an art form, and I am anything but unoriginal. If you like, I can instruct the maid to perform a taste test for you."
Kyou held up his hand. "There's no need for that. I'll take your word for it." Bringing the cup to his lips, he drank. Their gazes held.
"Well, you'll forgive me if I don't," Shuhei piped up, motioning for the maid to test his tea. "I wouldn't put it pass you not to entertain yourself at my expense."
Akio refrained from rolling his eyes. "You're petty as always." He glanced at Inka who sat like a hunted deer. "And who is this beautiful young lady?"
Digging deep for courage, she replied, "My name is Inka, Your Majesty."
Her silver eyes intrigued him, rousing a traitorous itch to crush her like a helpless butterfly. His eye muscle ticked. He thought he had conquered this darkness within him. Apparently not. "Are you spoken for, Inka?" His abrupt question surprised everyone.
"I—I...," she stuttered, uncertain how to respond.
"She's with me," Kyou declared tightly, no longer willing to play nice. All bets were off when it came to his woman.
"That's a pity," Akio remarked wistfully.
"I heard you have a young son by one of your consorts." Ryuu neatly interrupted, getting tired of the strained atmosphere. It was suffocating him, triggering unhappy memories that spurred him to leave the imperial palace years ago.
"Yes, his name is Akihiko. He's four years old."
"This the first time I'm hearing this." Shuhei was astonished. "Do we get to meet our nephew?"
"Not today. He's with his mother."
"Don't you stay together?" Inka blurted, regretting her question immediately when Akio's mouth tightened at the corners.
"Inka's from a mountainous tribe. She doesn't comprehend our customs," Shuhei elucidated on her behalf.
"The King's consorts live on the other side of the palace," Kyou supplied, comforting her with a faint smile. "Isn't that right, Akio? Only the Queen lives with the King and sometimes they live in separate chambers and lead separate lives."
This reminded them of their father's infidelity and the dramatic chaos that followed. Silence blanketed the hall.
Inka kept her mouth shut after that. King Akio rarely smiled and even when he did, she noticed it was stiff — mostly forced.
"We heard about your mother's passing." Shuhei veered to a new topic. "I'm sorry we couldn't attend her funeral."
Akio's confidence diminished a notch. "It was a hard time. I couldn't do anything to help her, and she faded before my eyes every day."
"What ailed her?"
"The great pox. It starts with the sores, skin rashes and then comes the fever. My mother's clarity deteriorated until one day her heart just stopped beating."
A wave of heartfelt sadness ensued. Despite Akio's coldness, it was obvious he had loved his mother. His fisted hands were shaking, and Inka felt her heart go out to him.
"What was her name?" she gently asked.
Akio stared blankly. All these years, nobody sought to ask his mother's name. No one cared about the poor, forgotten old woman who was labelled the Emperor's whore. "Marika. My mother's name was Marika."
She tested the name on her lips, smiling widely. "It's a beautiful name, quite like a foreign princess. May her soul rest in peace, in the realm of Waya."
"Waya?"
"It means 'God' in her native tongue," Shuhei explained – a proud student.
"I too have lost my mother. She was killed before my eyes. I understand the pain that you're experiencing." She told him, hoping to make the slightest connection.
Akio didn't know what to make out of her but, he was genuinely touched by her words. She disturbed him. There was something about her that called out to people, and he wondered if she was the root of his brothers' peculiar changes. If so, it would be wise to be wary of her. He wasn't here to make nice, and women were tools to be used just like his father had taught him. Before the old Emperor found love, he enjoyed women and tolerated their tantrums for the sake of their bodies. While sex was pleasurable, Akio didn't believe it was everything.
His fool of a father had died of a broken heart and Akio wasn't going to follow a pitiful end. The only person he cared for was gone. His mother had abandoned him, and she left a haunting despair in his heart. "Which tribe are you from, Inka?"
"The Ashina clan."
Akio's gaze flew to Kyou. "Weren't you responsible for their demise?"
Kyou made a rude sound and crossed his arms. "That's a rumour. The real culprit was a member of her tribe. He has been disposed of."
"If my memory serves me right, his name was…Kusunagi?"
"Yes." Inka replied, wondering how he knew. "He betrayed us all."
"What was the reason for his betrayal?"
"Power and status, I suppose. He coveted the position of Chieftain and devised a plan to kill my parents."
Kyou didn't like the direction of this conversation. It wasn't what they were talking about but rather the unidentifiable gleam in Akio's eyes that made his skin crawl. Shuhei must have picked up on it too because he said. "It's getting late. Do you mind if we stay the night? It would be troublesome to travel in the dark. There's been a recent increase of bandit activities."
"I doubt they would attack a royal conveyance. With that many of you, their chances would be slim," Akio responded dryly. "But please stay the night. It is the harvest season after all."
"What's the harvest season?" Inka couldn't help asking.
"Nanyang is an agricultural province," Akio explained. "We cultivate many fruits and vegetables but, our main income source is our paddy plantation. Harvest season is when the paddy ripens, and the farmers will harvest them and package the grains for export. It's a beautiful time of year where the fields turn gold."
Her eyes widened with interest. "That sounds beautiful!"
"You are welcome to take a tour around the village and see for yourself."
She turned to Kyou, her body vibrating with unrestrained excitement. "Can we?"
"I suppose there's no harm," he obliged easily, anything to keep her smile.
"I'll instruct the servants to show you to your chambers," Akio announced, signalling the maids. "Remember, you're all choosing to stay here at your own risk."