The night fell and I followed a maid to Azusa's bedroom. I looked at the maid after reaching Azusa's bedroom then stroked her cheek. The maid blushed and bowed. I walked into Azusa's room and noticed her sitting at a mirror, brushing her hair in a white nightgown. I closed the door behind myself and she put down her brush.
"I can't believe your intentions. Who conquers a kingdom just to let their adversary keep their kingdom and all their men. I could betray you at any moment, Emperor. Are you really that trusting of people you've just met? Kotone attacked you for no reason, you let her live. Takesi tried to kill you, you let him live. I tried to kill you and gave the order to have Takesi kill you...you let me live and ask for marriage. Are you that full of yourself or are you just that stupid?" Azusa said and looked at me, watching me walk towards her.
I chuckled and crossed my arms then leaned against the wall. "My dear Queen...Kill me and the Yeshan Empire destroys Uthea. You will start war with an entirely different land. Like I said, I am not here to kill or truly conquer. I only wish to satisfy my lust and meet with the Goddess. I want to start my legacy, have children to continue that legacy. Teach them to be respectable noble men and women. Teach them to not go down my route of old. I want a new life...a large family. A legend for people to know in the history books. Our children will be more than nobility, but one for people. Like you are with your people."
"Ha...If I slit your throat right here, your people would not know of your fate. I have every chance to kill you now." Azusa glared.
"Then do it, I will not fight back. I want to see how badly you want me dead." I said then watched her quickly stand up and hold her knife to my neck. I rose my head and closed my eyes. "Just one cut will end my life."
Azusa glared and sighed then set down her knife. She gripped my kimono and looked at me. "How are you doing that..? Your arrogance...it's like a poison to me. You make me not want to only kill you, but you make me want to torture you a thousand years over."
I grabbed her hand then held her cheek. "Such hostility...It hurts me so that you can be so full of hatred."
"I'm not too fond of allowing another king in my kingdom and I can guarantee the other kingdoms aren't too fond of it either. I've been sitting in my chambers for hours thinking if I should give you the time of day or just end you at your weakest." Azusa closed her eyes.
I smiled and stroked her hair behind her ear. "I'm not asking to rule your kingdom with you. I already know this land is used to having a loving queen rule. All I am asking is to be your loving husband and a loving father to Mari and our future children."
She sighed softly and looked at me. "Fine...I will give this a shot again, but what I said before still stands. If anything goes wrong and it was your fault..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know that already. I heard your empty threat about that the first time." I sighed and looked at her.
She pinched my nose and I grunted softly. "They aren't empty threats. I promise you that much. Now that's out of the way, how about we get to the agreement and the contract of our marriage that will be happening in a week..?"
"Sounds good to me." I smirked.
We sat on the floor and began to write down the contract of our agreements. An hour has passed and neither of us has signed a single contract.
"By the gods, how many times do we have to revise these damned contracts? We've been at it for an hour straight!" I groaned.
"We will do this as many times as it takes until the contract is acceptable to us BOTH and not one sided!" Azusa said then sighed. "Here...look at this. This should be it now."
I grabbed the paper from her hands and mumbled and scanned through the contract. She read mine as well and scanned through the contract mumble reading as well.
"Ah- TEN children?" Azusa looked at me bewildered.
"I've explicitly said that I want to revive my bloodline. Ten children should suffice that." I said.
"How about two children?" She offered.
"Two? Ha! That's damn there an empty home. Seven children." I said.
"One." She glared.
"Nine." I said.
"THREE." She got in my face, glaring.
"Hmph. Four! Take it or leave it." I said as I was in her face.
"Fine." She sat back and sighed.
Another two hours passed and we finally came to an agreement and signed the contracts. We both sighed as we finally got our contracts signed and stood up.
"Finally..we got those details out of the way." I sighed.
"Agreed. There's nothing more stressful than this stage of a marriage.." Azusa sighed then walked to the door. "Now that's out of the way, I will show you to your room where you can rest."
I placed my hand on the door and she looked at me. "Not so fast, my Queen. We have one last thing to settle."
"What might that be?" She asked.
"If I catch you or any of your people trying to slay me...I won't hesitate to run your kingdom into the ground like I've down my own previous wife's precious kingdom.." I said and glared at her.
"W-What..?" She looked at me a bit afraid, but kept her composure.
"Her betrayal cost her own life and all of her people who joined together to help her slay me. Dare to try and kill me, and I'll make sure your death looked like an accident or something far worse than you could possibly ever imagine. If you give the order to have your retainers slay me, I will have them hung as if they were criminals and I will torture you until you beg for me to kill you. I will leave nothing left of your kingdom and move on to the next...as if nothing...happened.." I said coldly.
She looked at me and began sweating just a bit. She never expected to see the ruthless side of me and she felt the air become cold and heavier in her room. She gulped a bit then looked me in the eye. "You have my word...I promise you, we will be one. I have already made up my mind to marry you hence why I signed the agreement. You don't have to worry about being assassinated. I promise."
I looked at her and she held my cheek. She kissed my lips softly and I kissed back, giving a pleased hum. She wrapped her arms around my neck and continued to kiss me then we broke the kiss.
"I believe you now, Azusa." I chuckled.
"...Good..." She blushed and let me go. "I'll show you to your room now."
We walked out of her room and I followed her down the hall to my room. We stopped at a door and she opened it, revealing a bedroom with a king sized bed and other necessities. She nodded at me and walked back to her room. I wanted inside my room and yawned then closed the door behind myself.
"I'll get my bag when the first light arrives." I said to myself and got on my bed then quickly drifted off to sleep.
The next morning arrived and I woke up, sitting up on my bed. I noticed a few boxes on the ground and a letter to go with them. I got out of bed and walked to the boxes then picked up the letter. It was a letter from Azusa telling me the boxes were filled with clothes from the previous king. I smiled then opened the boxes and noticed clothing that fit my style. I unpacked the boxes and began to hang up the clothes in the closet. I picked out a white and blue kimono then walked to the bathroom to get myself ready for the day.
After getting ready for the day, I left the castle to obtain my bag and check up on Nebula. Once I reached Nebula, I noticed her laying down on the grass and enjoying the gentle morning breeze. I pet her muzzle and smiled.
"Good morning, Nebula." I said and she whinnied. I grabbed my bag and reached inside and pulled out an apple for her to eat. "I need to go buy more fruit for you and get you to a stable. Then find a suitable ring for my fiance."
She ate the apple and I sat outside with her and leaned against a tree. After eating the apple she laid her head down next to me and we enjoyed the first part of the morning together.
"I can't believe he's my new daddy, Mama! Someone like him is so cool! When's the wedding?" Mari asked.
"It's happening in a week, sweetheart." Azusa smiled as she braided Mari's silver hair.
"I can't wait! We are going to have so much fun! I want to do all sorts of things with him!" Mari giggled.
"You'll get the chance...now I want you to go have breakfast with Kotone and Takesi. I've gotta see if the old log is awake." Azusa smiled and finished braiding Mari's hair.
"Okay Mama!~" Mari hurried out of her room happily.
Azusa walked out of the room as well then walked to my room and opened the door then noticed the bed fully made up and the boxes neatly placed in the corner. She walked over to the balcony and walked outside to find me. She noticed me and Nebula together. She smiled and heard my melodic singing then closed her eyes to listen and leaned against the rails of the balcony.
"Alright...that's enough singing for now. We've got to hit the market for you and the jeweler for the week to come." I said then stood up then Nebula snorted, standing up. "Ah, don't give me lip. You know you want more apples."
She snorted again and I chuckled the got on the saddle then we rode out to the market area. Azusa smiled and walked back into the castle then went into her work room.