In the 228st year of the Benchu Era, the Kingdom of Purple, Crystal City, Crystal Palace
Three months remained until the date of the marriage agreement. Shizuru thought inwardly.
Nine months ago, when her elder sister first informed her about the engagement and demanded her compliance as the queen, Shizuru felt only shock and helplessness. Indeed, though she had grown up freely under her elder sister's protection and was not burdened with many royal responsibilities, her elder sister was like a clear mirror reflecting the rights, duties, and inevitabilities of the royal family. So, Shizuru had long ago secretly resolved that if the country ever needed her to fulfill the duties of a royal heir, she would do so with all her might. She just hadn't expected that this duty would turn out to be her own marriage.
"Why did the Benchu Royal Family specify me for the marriage alliance?"
Shizuru wanted to understand the details, but her elder sister was unwilling to disclose them.
"This matter concerns the mutual survival of the Benchu Royal Family and the Zi Royal Family. Currently, only the kings and queens of the two kingdoms are aware of the reasons. It is also the prophecy of the Fate Stones for both countries."
"As an elder sister, I would like to tell you now. But as the queen of the Kingdom of Purple, I must abide by the ancient covenant. After you become the queen of the Kingdom of Light after marriage, you will know everything."
With a resolute expression, Zi Zhao looked down at Shizuru from the throne as the queen. For the first time, Shizuru realized that her elder sister could become so unfamiliar. But she thought of the ancient covenant and her elder sister's previous teachings:
"In ancient times, the Zi Royal Family and the Benchu Royal Family formed a blood alliance, forging a covenant: the fates of the two royal families are henceforth intertwined, sharing life and death. If one family is destroyed by the evil destiny, the other family will also face destruction. If a family naturally becomes extinct, the covenant will be nullified, and the other family will remain unharmed. So, although we have little overt cooperation and communication with the Kingdom of Light, the royal families of the two kingdoms maintain close contact in secret, allowing them to fight together against the evil destiny and defend their shared destiny."
"So, is my marriage for the purpose of battling the evil destiny?"
Shizuru, unwilling to accept this, asked again. She saw her elder sister close her eyes, as if making a difficult decision. After a long time, Zi Zhao finally opened her eyes, showing not only the majesty of a monarch but also the affection and reluctance of an older sister towards her younger sister. Shizuru understood her sister's intentions. This time, it was her turn to close her eyes, pondering everything, as if she had no thoughts at all. After an unknown amount of time, Shizuru felt herself being embraced. From the familiar touch and unique fragrance, Shizuru knew it was her elder sister. In her sister's warm and soft embrace, Shizuru shed tears and secretly made up her mind. For the first time as a member of the Zi Royal Family, she would fulfill her duty and respond to her predetermined fate.
Three months remained until the date of the marriage agreement. Shizuru believed she could accept the arrangement of fate with equanimity, but she didn't know how to leave Kimoon less cruelly. Nine months had passed, and she still couldn't bring herself to break up with Kimoon. She didn't know if Kimoon would collapse again when she told her she was leaving, as Kimoon's world almost revolved around the two of Shizuru, and Yoko.
When Shizuru first met Kimoon, she thought she was timid and shy. But since getting to know Yoko, Shizuru learned from their conversations that Kimoon had lost both parents at a young age and had been left alone for a long time without anyone to care for her. So, her world had always been one of loneliness, not knowing how to interact with others normally. Later, Yoko began taking care of Kimoon and brought her to the Kingdom of Purple for a new life. But due to the psychological trauma she had suffered, Kimoon still couldn't interact normally with people and couldn't go to school. To help Kimoon take a new step, Yoko encouraged her to go out more, appreciate beautiful scenery, and try to open up. So Kimoon often went to the central garden, just staring at the beautiful flowers, and no one knew what she was thinking.
"Oh dear, this won't do."
Shizuru said to Kimoon in her arms. After months of getting along, Shizuru had entered Kimoon's safe zone. Yoko claimed it took her nearly a year to achieve this effect, but Shizuru had done it in a few short months. Kimoon also trusted Shizuru a lot, lying in her arms with closed eyes, gradually falling asleep.
When Kimoon woke up and heard Shizuru's words, she looked at Shizuru with watery eyes and then buried her head between Shizuru's breasts in a spoiled manner. Shizuru caressed Kimoon with one hand, lifted a cup of tea with the other, took a small sip, and then said:
"Next week is the start of the new semester in the kingdom. Shall we go to school together?"
Kimoon lifted her head, pouted, rested her chin on Shizuru's chest, and looked up at Shizuru again.
"Oh dear, do you want to drink tea? If you drink tea, you'll be an elementary school student, and you'll have to go to school."
Shizuru handed the tea cup to Kimoon's mouth. Kimoon started to drink the tea with little sips and finished the black tea in one go. Shizuru wiped away the tea that spilled from the corner of her mouth and smiled charmingly.
With Shizuru's help, Kimoon officially started attending school. Now she could gradually interact with teachers and classmates, although not much. Teachers and classmates were curious about this beautifully-featured blonde child, but they could also sense her lack of interest in most things. Occasionally, after school, others could see her transform at the school gate, running towards a purple-haired beauty, revealing an innocent smile. This was probably the first time others had seen Kimoon smile.
And so, Kimoon progressed from elementary school to junior high, and then to the high school division of the Saint Purple Orchid Academy. The reason for choosing the Saint Purple Orchid Academy was also influenced by Shizuru. Shizuru had been the student council president of the high school and university divisions of the academy. To this day, a photo of Shizuru as the student council president hung in the student management office. Sometimes, when Shizuru couldn't leave the palace for several weeks due to training, Kimoon would go to the student management office, look at Shizuru's photo, and wait until Shizuru appeared in front of her again.
Yoko had become a famous composer in the Kingdom of Purple. She also gradually discovered Kimoon's talent in the performing arts and created many songs for her. Seventeen-year-old Kimoon had become somewhat famous in the entertainment industry.
Shizuru eventually decided to leave. On that day, she left a final kiss on Kimoon's forehead while she slept, placed a prepared farewell letter on the bedside, and gazed at her beloved for a long time with a look full of reluctance, before leaving with her clothes on. Shizuru had already informed Yoko and asked her to take care of Kimoon after she left, and not to let Kimoon look for her. Because she knew that in two months, her identity would be revealed to the public, not only as the second princess of the Kingdom of Purple but also as the new queen of the Kingdom of Light. Yoko didn't know about her and Kimoon's relationship, but she didn't seem surprised by Shizuru's departure, just smiling and expressing gratitude for taking care of Kimoon all these years, and saying, "Perhaps we'll meet again."