Aiko is an extremely poor girl. She has less than nothing.
She lives in the Empire of Shintokanai, in a world where men rule.
She is forced to work day and night for her Uncle and Sisters. Until one day, she gets kicked out.
Without power, money...
The doors opened. She found the Emperor sitting in front of a small, wooden table that had been positioned in front of the open shoji doors.
His legs were enveloped in blue, silk pants. His kimono was a dark shade of green, with a white dragon sewn on it. His robe was slightly open, revealing his chest. Half of his face was bathed in sunlight. The left eye gleamed like pure water while the other was shrouded in darkness.
Another wooden table had been placed in front of his: it was for her.
Aiko clasped her hands together, trying to stop them from trembling. She wasn't sure if she was scared; her heart was fluttering differently today. She slowly walked to the table. Her eyes gleamed darkly. The red specks resembled blood.
As Aiko stopped in front of the table, one of the hair ornaments tingled, the delicate sound resonating in the tense silence. They should have been more relaxed since they had spent the night sleeping in each other's arms, but they weren't, fear clouding their hearts.
The Emperor looked up from the book he held in his hands. Aiko felt her heart skip a beat. His face split into an ugly sneer as he saw Aiko. His beautiful God like face was now the one of a monster. "Aiko, long time no see." He drawled sarcastically, slowly looking at her.
Hearing his razor-sharp voice in the morning made Aiko's heart crack. Her name rolled off his tongue like poison. She felt it burn her pride. She had been treated like a nobody last night. Aiko sat down on her cushion. "Ordering me around like that was a mistake, you bastard. I will make you pay." Aiko hissed in her mind, glaring at him.
The Emperor grinned at her. His teeth glimmered, his canines sharp. Something horrifying passed through his eyes. "My dear Aiko, I know what you're thinking. If you do anything...fire."
That one word made Aiko's gaze sweep the floor. The Emperor leaned over the table. His hand gripped her chin, pulling her closer. His hands felt like claws. "Do not dare, challenge me, ever, do you understand? You stupid maid-and I'm so happy to see you this morning." He finished. His eyes, for a moment were cloaked in darkness, then that was gone in a flash. His hand moved from her chin to her cheek. Aiko's brow furrowed, before she realized servants were walking in. Aiko still didn't understand why the Emperor wanted to keep a secret that they hated each other. It wasn't uncommon for royal marriages to be unhappy ones. She'd try and find out.
The Emperor leaned back as servants covered the small tables with food. Some golden chopsticks were handed to Aiko. The food looked exquisite; she didn't know what most of it was. Steam rose from the plates in front of her, curling tauntingly.
Her hands shakily took the chopsticks and started digging into the fish. The fish's eyes were clear. As Aiko swallowed her mouthful, her eyes moved to her soon-to-be husband. His face was carved in stone. His hands resting in his lap.
"I have called you here, not only to have breakfast and pretend we are happily in love." The Emperor said, thrumming his fingers against his thigh. "But...we need to start talking about our marriage."
Aiko's chopsticks fell in her lap.
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