Kyou was speechless.
Inka had been insistent about saving her virginity for her future husband — him, of course. While he was pleased that she loved and trusted him, he wanted to honour her decision. "Thank you, Inka. It makes me exceptionally happy to know that you are ready to be mine and I cherish your sentiment but," he palmed her hands and squeezed, "I promised to wait, and I won't break my word."
"But I am willing now," she reasoned, adorably confused by his reluctance.
"And this is my way of honouring you," he returned tenderly. "My mother died when I was five years old. I don't remember her face but, she had a beautiful laugh and she always made me feel warm and safe. The time I spent with her was fleeting but, meaningful. She taught me to respect and honour women because they are the bearer of life, the gentler sex who should be treasured and cared for but never underestimated." He released a soft laugh, shaking his head. "My mother was a romantic. She said that a woman in love blooms for her partner and grants him her undying faithfulness. I never understood her words then, and when I grew up, my responsibilities and the war overwhelmed me. Needless to say, love was the last thing on my mind."
Inka wondered if his mother were alive, would he have turned out a differently? She tilted her head in question. "And do you believe that she was right? About a woman's faithfulness?"
"I cannot speak for every woman because I have killed many serpents who sought to trick me," he answered truthfully. "But there is only one woman I care about, and I have no doubt that she is loyal to me as I am to her."
Heat rose in her face and neck. "You didn't have to be so frank."
He laughed aloud when she covered her eyes in embarrassment. "I don't believe in wasting time. Life is uncertain, and it's better to have lived and be honest than to have regrets, which brings us back to our topic. Mother was probably telling me her own experience and she wanted me to find someone to share that same happiness with. As Emperor there are less than a handful of people I trust, and now you are one of them. I have lost my faith in most people, so I say this with a clear conscience." Kyou's granite gaze was as tangible as his touch. "The only woman I vowed to honour, and respect is my wife and Empress.
Inka stared fixedly at him, the meaning of his words sinking in seconds later with her little gasp of indrawn air. Heart drumming against her ribs, her eyes went round. "A-are you asking me t-to...marry you!" Subconsciously, she eased away from him.
A keen hunter by nature, Kyou noticed her subtle retreat and trapped her with the intensity of his infinite gaze, which was part curious and a tinge of something else she couldn't understand. "I had a feeling you would react this way, so I thought it best to give you a hint." Stiff amusement laced his next words. "It seems what you needed was a warning. Is the thought of marrying me so off-putting?"
Oh dear, Inka thought in alarm. Had she offended him? Because a proposal was the last thing she expected, and not after Akio's death. "Don't be ridiculous! Of course, I don't find it off-putting. It just took me by surprise." She peered at him from beneath her long lashes. "You're not...angry...are you?"
"No, but don't say that I didn't warn you." He recovered quickly, grinning wolfishly. "This evening, I'm going to be selfish and indulge my cravings."
"What are you—ah!"
Snatching her back into his arms, Kyou touched his lips on her neck and shoulder, marking her without hesitation. It was blatantly possessive, hotly male as he rubbed the red marks that made her his. For the time being, this was the only way he could mark her, and he wanted everyone to know — this woman was his. Her protests weakened into docile purring, and she melted into him. Soon, he would make her his because he was in love with a woman who meant the entire world to him.
And, he was man enough to admit it. So long as she didn't know how much.
------------------------
Evening arrived and it was time to dine with his important guests. Kyou entered the hall dressed in his imperial robe embroidered with shots of golden thread. Flicking the long hem behind him, he took a seat at the head table, watching the servant pour him a cup of rice wine. "I apologize for my absence, King Qizan." Kyou raised his cup in acknowledgement, saluting his presence.
The foreign King lifted his own cup. "Qizan will do, Kyoutarou. And it was my mistake. I should have sent a message ahead of my arrival after I had received your letter."
The fact that his councilmen had plotted behind his back, fanned the flames of Kyou's annoyance. He glared at Lord Gaku who steadily avoided his gaze. Kyou made a mental note to punish him in private for his impudence — after — he had stated that he wouldn't marry the Princess of Ryoga. If this was how the council repaid his tolerance, they would never be able to think twice again.
He forced his mouth into the barest hint of a smile. "And I must apologize for the misunderstanding Qizan but, I never sent you a letter. It seems my councilmen were worried about my welfare and believed a wife would suit me. Isn't that why you're here?" Kyou watched the Princess sipped her tea with the dainty grace of a woman who had years to perfect her elegance.
Impartially speaking, she was beautiful, with sparkling violet eyes that put tanzanite to shame, and a bow-shaped mouth that would tempt a saint. However, Kyou was not a saint but, a sinner who preferred silver-haired witches with sharp tongues — one who awaited him in his chamber.
Qizan cleared his throat. "Yes, I have been searching for a good husband for my dear daughter, Amina. She's of age and a talented beauty who would make your Kingdom proud, Kyoutarou. With our joined forces, we can form a strong alliance, so powerful that we would be invincible, and our enemies would quake in fear at the mention of our names."
Kyou regarded the older man with veiled loathing and disgust. Here sat another carnivorous leech attempting to sell his daughter in hopes of gaining power. The man didn't even respect his flesh and blood, believing her worth rested in her face. And his daughter was no better, carved from the same mould. She wasn't worth his pity.
Power was King — that much Kyou understood because his name was a synonym of fear and glory. He didn't need more than what he had, ungoverned by greed as shocking as it might sound. Furthermore, his brothers were now his allies. It was better to be internally stable than to invite chaos from the outside. And blood ran thicker than water. "I'm afraid that I must decline your proposal, Qizan."
Qizan assumed that Kyoutarou would accept his daughter's hand in marriage, explaining his faltering speech. "E-Excuse me? You're rejecting my daughter's suit?"
"Yes," Kyou answered a-matter-of-factly. "I apologize but, I have already chosen my bride. It was my oversight for letting you believe that I was uncommitted."
Qizan appeared crestfallen. "May I inquire who your intended bride is?"
"The Princess of Ashina."
A flurry of disapproving whispers swept over the council. Qizan only incited their agitation. "You're going to marry a savage?" he cried out incredulously. "She is beneath your station, Emperor Kyoutarou!"
"She may not be prestigious like Princess Amina here," Kyou reasoned with icy calm. "But she is the only one I will marry in this lifetime." On the inside, he seethed at their baseless judgment. Stripped of their titles, these people were nothing but useless bags of flesh.
"B-but why? What does she have that my daughter does not?"
Qizan looked genuinely puzzled that Kyou 'almost' felt sorry for him. "My woman will not hesitate to look danger in the eye and sacrifice her life for mine. And I for her. Can your daughter say the same?"
The room hushed in thick silence.
Qizan's face turned ashen, and Amina couldn't even look at Kyou. He had his answer. "It seems there is no need for me to elaborate on this matter. I will not marry your daughter and my decision is final."
"Your Majesty," Lord Gaku bolstered his courage to speak up. "The Ashina tribe is not enough to contribute to our Kingdom's military support."
"I disagree, Councilman Gaku," Kyou responded evenly. "If you believe that I am biased, then I must disabuse you of that notion. I have my reasons for involving the tribe and we shall discuss this further on the morrow."
Gaku lowered his eyes in shame. The Emperor was right. They shouldn't be discussing politics in front of a stranger. "I apologize, Your Majesty. I shall accept punishment for my insolence."
"I will deal with you later, Lord Gaku," Kyou declared, an unmistakable threat in his tone. "Qizan, I apologize on behalf of my council and mine for wasting your time."
The King sighed in resignation. "I guess it cannot be helped. Were you aware that you have an infamous reputation outside of Xi, Kyoutarou? Now I understand why people call you the Iron Wall. You do not change your mind easily, and nothing can pierce your will."
Beside Kyou, Jin bit back a smile. It seemed the Emperor had another name to add to his growing list of monikers.
Kyou decided the Iron Wall had a nice ring to it — strong and principled. It complemented the Crimson King's title. "Thank you for understanding, Qizan. All I can offer in exchange is our unrivalled hospitality. Feel free to stay and explore Beihai before you return to Ryoga."
Qizan put on a smile, deciding to drown his sorrows in alcohol. He would be a fool to make an enemy of the Emperor. "Then, allow me to take advantage to my heart's content."
The remainder of the night passed peacefully and Kyou excused himself, eager to return to his little savage's arms. He was relieved that King Qizan never pressed the marriage. Now, all he had to do was plan a perfect proposal and wrestle a yes from Inka's lips. Deep in his thoughts, Kyou failed to notice the shadow slipping out to confront him. Instead, the rich scent of crushed cherry blossoms alerted him to her presence.
"Princess Amina," he acknowledged tersely.