"Yes," Shuhei nodded distractedly, missing the pain in her eyes and the way her hands shook as she relieved him of the food tray. "It's a solid strategy to strengthen Donggu's military defense. I'll not have other nations calling us weak again."
"I see," she murmured. "If you'll excuse me, I'll leave you to rest."
He caught himself lurching forward to stop her. "You're leaving?"
"If you're going to marry someone, then you need to get back on your feet," she remarked coolly, her gaze avoiding his. "If you need anything, a servant will tend to you."
Shuhei felt her withdrawal like a slap in the face, gripped by a panic he never felt before. Kira had been by his side for weeks, nursing him through his delirium and coaxing him back to life. The fever dreams that had plagued him drove him half-insane and when he was lucid, he felt like giving up on life.
Kira was his lifeline to this world. And she made him stay. Suddenly, he couldn't breathe. "Where are you going?" He lost his usual impassiveness.
She finally turned to look at him, and he choked at the bleakness in her deep-set eyes. "Do you remember the day I agreed to become your spy?"
There was a wealth of emotions in her question, hinting that it was important to her. He quickly nodded. "Yes, I do."
"I said that I would be your spy on one condition. Do you remember that?"
He nearly smiled remembering her intensity then. "How can I forget? It was a very odd condition to have."
"Good. Then you'll know that I won't be returning for a few days. I have some business to take care of."
"But I may still need you," he insisted, unsettled that he wouldn't see her for awhile. Already he was accustomed to seeing her when he arose and before he slept. It would be lonely without her. "My shoulder still hurts. I need help wearing my clothes, and someone needs to scrub my back."
"You have servants to do that for you," she reminded calmly.
"No," he refused stubbornly. "You're going to stay until my body is completely healed."
She threw him a murderous look. "That's going to take time. And I can't wait that long."
"What's more important than me?" he asked so abruptly that she didn't know how to respond.
"Of course, you're important."
Her voice was so soft that he couldn't hear a single word. "What did you say?"
"I said fine! I'll stay." She huffed. "Now get some rest before I knock you out cold."
"There's my kitten with claws!" he exclaimed exuberantly.
Kira wanted to yell in frustration at his childishness, leaving his bedchamber hurriedly before she threw something at his head. But it was one of his traits that she loved the most. Shuhei pushed her buttons like no one else could, and that made him dangerous, yet she couldn't help but be drawn to him. The first time he had found her in the streets, he gave her a warm place to call home. And she wasn't talking about the palace. It was King Shuhei himself, who liked to pretend he didn't have a heart of gold.
Her temples pounded. She wasn't lying about having business to attend to. Maybe she could sneak out of the palace when he was asleep.
Yes, that sounded like a good plan.
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FIVE YEARS LATER...
"Akkad! Hikaru! Come back here!" Their mother screamed at the top of her lungs.
Hand in hand, the boys giggled and ran into the maze. Their father had it built for Akkad's fifth birthday, and it was their favourite place to play because everyone always got lost — except them. They knew it like the back of their tiny little hands.
"What's wrong, witch?" Kyou slipped his hands around his wife's rounded stomach, feeling the light kick of their unborn child. A girl, she had claimed once.
"How do you know it will be a girl?" He was nothing but amused. "The last time you said that we ended up with two boys."
"I don't care. This time I know it's going to be a girl."
Inka blew the strands of loose hair off her face, her cheeks ruddy from chasing the boys. "Your sons have gone into the maze again. I told you it was a bad idea from the start."
"But it was a humble gift of harmony and good faith from Prince IIan. And the boys love it. I wished my father had built me a maze when I was their age."
"Like father, like sons." Inka sighed. "You know I don't mind them playing in the maze, but our guests are about to arrive. What will happen if the birthday boy is missing?"
Kyou kissed the top of her head. "Don't worry, witch. I'll fetch the boys and you welcome our guests. Agreed?"
"Agreed," she said at once. Inka loved her boys but, when she was forced to chase them around the compound in her very pregnant state, she was grateful for the rare moments of peace. While Kyou disappeared into the maze to hunt for their sons, she returned to the main garden where they would be celebrating Hikaru's third birthday.
"Empress Inka!" a childish squeal called out her name.
Spinning around, Inka's face broke into a wide grin at the sight of little Miya pumping her legs across the short distance. Bending as low as her tummy allowed, Inka received the little girl's kiss. "Hello, darling Miya. How nice to see you again."
"We could barely stop her from jumping out of the carriage." Miya's mother appeared with her husband, both wearing the royal colours of Shiryuu.
"Kuriko! Ryuu!" Inka hastened to envelope them in a warm hug. "Thank you for coming."
"You look well, Inka." Kuriko grabbed her hands, staring at her belly. "How far are you along?"
"Seven months."
Kuriko touched her own flat stomach, leaning into Inka's ear. "I haven't told Kairyuu but I think we're expecting again."
"Congratulations!" Inka contained her excitement with a tight squeeze of Kuriko's hands. "Come on in, the others have yet to arrive."
"Where's Kyou?" Ryuu asked, scooping his daughter into his arms.
"Speak of the devil," Inka chuckled, nodding at the three figures exiting the maze. Miya started screaming, insisting to be put down and the moment her father released her, she flew to her cousins.
"Don't look so sad, darling." Kuriko patted her husband's arm. "It's good for her to know her cousins."
"She's lucky they're only her cousins," he muttered under his breath, hinting at his protective streak.
Inka felt sorry for the poor fool who would court Miya when she was older.
"Hello, everyone! We're sorry for being late." A new voice entered the scene.
Everyone turned to see Queen Sarai and her twins approaching, while a tall figure trudged behind, obscured by a tower of presents in his arms. A young, impassive boy trailed beside the family.
"It's Renjiro!" Akkad exclaimed excitedly. To Renjiro's dismay, the younger boy had idolized him since their first meeting two years ago. Their mothers found it adorable, while their fathers — being more practical — thought it was a good foundation for them as the future Emperor and Commander.
Kyou walked up to his ex-Commander, relieving him of the presents. "I see your wife has trained you even better than before."
"Speak for yourself, Your Majesty," Rei retorted dryly. "The whole Kingdom has seen you fawning over your Empress."
Kyou wasn't even going to deny it. He doted on his wife and children as much as the little boy in him had yearned for. His family would never lack for love or anything else.
As the party began, a mysterious boy spied upon them from the corner of the palace, his face etched with uncertainty. Suddenly, something knocked and sent him sprawling in the dirt.
"Ho there, boy!" a man exclaimed, dropping the crate he was carrying. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. I couldn't even see where I was going." He dusted the child and adjusted his feathered cap in a jaunty angle. "Are you alright?"
"I...I-I'm fine."
Shuhei regarded the boy's striking brown eyes and exotic skin. Despite his colouring, he looked like an exact replica of someone he knew. "Akio...,"
The boy's brows snatched together. "You knew my sire?"
Shuhei heard that Akio's son was fostering with Kyou's family. Inka had written about Akihiko's reserved behaviour, worried that he felt he didn't belong because of what his father had done to the Kingdom. She even hinted that Akihiko was afraid of the Emperor. Shuhei hadn't expected to meet the boy at all. But he was glad he did. Flashing a carefree smile, he invited spontaneously. "Come on, we need to get this present to the party before we're too late."
The boy lowered his eyes, his tone trembling. "I-I'm not sure if I—"
"They'll welcome you. Don't worry."
"B-but...,"
"Trust me," Shuhei picked up the crate with a loud grunt. "By the way, my name is Shuhei. Or you can call me uncle if you prefer. It does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"
Akihiko's eyes widened. "K-King Shuhei?"
"Nope, it's just Shuhei or uncle to you. Come on, Akihiko. Only losers are late for parties." Of course, that was a lie. Shuhei was never on time because it was fashionable when you're late.
Akihiko stared at his uncle's broad back. He only heard stories about King Shuhei but, he had never seen him in person. The Empress said his uncle had been travelling the world to catch the love of his life, whatever that meant. Akihiko's first thought about his uncle was — silly. Perhaps he had been too hasty to judge him. His legs moved to follow.
"Shuhei!" Inka was happy to see him. "You made it!"
Shuhei accepted her kisses and set the crate down. "This is for little Hikaru, the birthday boy. And also, I found this lost puppy on my way in." He wrapped an arm around Akihiko's neck.
Inka's gaze softened. "Akihiko, I'm glad you changed your mind." This morning, she had knocked on his door and cajoled him to join the party but, he had refused. Inka knew his young mind was troubled about Akio's betrayal but, she didn't want the cycle of hate to continue and invited him to stay in the imperial palace and foster with her children. She wanted him to be surrounded by love, and she did love him like her own. His insecurities made her determined to make him understand his worth. Kyou was skeptical and continued to keep his eye on the boy, though it seemed he was warming up to his nephew as time went by. Besides, her sons loved him like a big brother.
The loud pounding of drums interrupted everyone, and the children shrieked at the sight of the Ashina tribe. It seemed Lupa had become their favourite uncle — being the youngest and mischievous — he acted more like their ringleader than an uncle.
"Your tribe is as flashy as usual," Shuhei commented.
Inka couldn't agree more. After Lupa became Chieftain, the tribe prospered — slowly but surely. Her adolescent brother embraced her in his much taller form, bringing tears to her eyes when she remembered how much smaller he had been.
"I'm here, igido," Lupa whispered, planting a kiss on her forehead.
Tears smarted her eyes. "Welcome back, iginvtli."
"I have two wonderful presents for my nephews," Lupa declared, gesturing for the womenfolk to bring forth two struggling furballs of orange and black stripes. "One for Akkad, and one for Hikaru."
"What are those animals, father?" Hikaru tugged at Kyou's hem, his silver eyes glittering excitedly.
"Those are tiger cubs, son," Kyou answered, not certain if he liked the thought of his sons playing with man-eating tigers — unique as they might be.
Astonishingly, Inka was already on her knees, playing with the cubs. Apparently, nature's cuteness was enough to make an Empress forget herself. "Where did you find them, iginvtli?" She turned excitedly to her sons. "Come children, these are rare tiger cubs that you cannot find in Xi. They won't hurt you." She picked one up and kissed it on its pink nose.
Akkad and Hikaru dove forward to join their mother, and soon, the other children followed.
"I don't know where they came from but, I discovered them while I was hunting," Lupa explained. "They were motherless, and I thought it would be ashamed to have them killed."
"What are you going to do with two tigers in your palace?" Ryuu smirked at his brother.
"I'm going to sic them on you the next time you come here," Kyou muttered.
"By the way, I don't see Commander Nakoda," Sarai remarked, glancing around the garden.
"Nakoda's on a mission," Kyou said. "He's still...grieving for Attaw's death."
"I'm still surprised that he loved her," Shuhei reflected bluntly. "But I do understand how he feels."
"The way I see it, we shouldn't let history repeat itself," Kuriko declared strongly. "Our children are the future of Xi and, it's our duty to teach them the importance of peace. Just look at how innocent and happy they are. How I wish they would stay like that forever."
The adults watched their children frolicking and playing on the ground — Inka amongst them. Kyou only had eyes for his wife. Kuriko was right but, she hadn't realized that it wasn't impossible for innocence to remain even after childhood. His wife was living proof. He watched her eyes crinkling with laughter, and the sun illuminating her brilliant smile. She was happy. His children were happy. And the Kingdom was currently at peace.
Life was good for him, and he was content.
"Father!" His sons yelled at him. "Come join us!"
Cheeks dimpling, Kyou didn't hesitate to join them. Even an Emperor knew how to play.
— THE END.
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Author's Message :
Hello dear readers! I'd love to hear a comment or review from you! Thank you for reading until the end. Feel free to send me a power stone, or buy me a coffee : https://ko-fi.com/nessawvera
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1. The CEO & His Mistress | COMPLETED | Link : https://bit.ly/3AWLQ9M
2. The Savage and Her Emperor | COMPLETED | Link : https://bit.ly/3wmkUfT
3. PREDATION (Season 1) | COMPLETED | Link : https://bit.ly/3AN0wqQ
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