Okay, so you're supposed to WHAT me?!

[Guest]

The morning... the morning rain had refreshed him. Out of everything, the young Xingese Emperor appreciated the rain. As he wandered through the courtyards of his Jade Palace, he looked up, letting the drops fall on his face. No matter what the servants said, he enjoyed letting the water fall over his body with the refreshing feeling flowing over his mind. The rain washed away the sin, let everything flow out of his mind. When he walked through the rain, the purity of the world was revealed to him, and he almost felt as if he didn't have to deal with that thing in the back of his mind. With a small chuckle, he steeled his mind. Honestly, he wasn't enjoying what today was supposed to involve. Today was the day that Saeji Aeries was supposed to choose his wife. He smiled to himself, and finally let the rest of the water wash over him as he took a few steps within the halls of his palace, placing a hand on the wall to let the water drip off of his body. He smiled to himself, and motioned for a nearby servant. Despite his attempts to get rid of them, he had to deal with these people every day, so he couldn't really do anything about it. They brought him a towel, and he wiped his forehead and handed it back, before walking back to his own room. He had to change into his more... regal clothing. His feet took him into the room, and he closed the door behind him. With a chuckle, Saeji opened his large closets and walked inside.

He stepped up to the several clothing racks, and picked up a shiny-looking set of clothing. Ugh. He disliked this... greatly. With a small sigh, Ace unhooked the clothing, walking out of the closet and behind a covering area, hanging it up in preparation. He reached up to his chest, un-clipping the wet clothing and letting it fall to the ground, revealing the scar on his chest. A second of remorse later, Ace removed the rest of his clothing, taking a towel and patting it over his body, letting himself dry. He reached up to the Emperor's clothing and brought it down, moving it over his form. He slipped the clothing off of the hanger, sliding the cool and light cloth over his body and adjusting it slightly, making sure that it was in perfect condition for what was to be expected of him today. The silk jacket that he wore was emerald green, embroidered with silver threads in the form of a pair of large dragons that spiraled around a golden Xingese Royal Crest, and the pants were a black as deep as the jet that adorned the buttons on the jacket. Ace adjusted the glasses on his face, making sure that no red light was getting into his eyes, before stepping out from the cover, coming face-to-face with a large number of servants, all clapping for the look that he wore. He smiled at them and waved them off, walking towards the door and opening it.

"Supposedly... I find a wife today. I don't think I enjoy these practices..." The Xingese Emperor let out a chuckle and threw his arms back... much to the disgust of the several servants, who all went back and started discussing how 'dishonorable' their Emperor was in hushed voices. Of course, Ace didn't really care that much; honor wasn't something that mattered to a man like him. Instead, he was going to lead Xing into an age where it could finally show it's worth to the world, instead of simply being the "country across the desert where Alkahestry comes from". Ah, yes. Alkahestry. Wasn't it strange, that the man who supposedly ran Xing didn't practice it? He was planning on doing it soon, in fact in conjunction with his new Alchemy, but right now, he was only an Alchemist. The people didn't appreciate that either, but Ace let them speak their minds, and that was that. Despite appearances and spoken words, Saeji was a kind, just and fair Emperor, one who took the sanctity of his country before anything else. That was his reason for true neutrality with every country, only choosing to make an alliance of blood with Sakuya.

His feet took him to his normal throne room, but he was then led further on, into a separate room off to the side. Hm? He'd never used this room before... he walked into the area and looked around, seeing the small, square room and blinking. Strange. He yawned and stepped further in, taking a seat behind a veil, placing himself onto the chair with a yawn. This was certainly not something to look forwards to, that was for sure. In fact, he'd rather be developing his new Alchemy, as opposed to being here. And as the first woman finally walked in, he let out an inaudible sigh. Long day approaching, it seemed. Although, he might find a diamond in the rough, that was for sure.

---

Three hours. THREE GODDAMN HOURS. Ace had spent three hours meeting and greeting the daughters of various clans, sampling the "best' that Xing had to offer. These daughters were... sort of beautiful, Ace guessed. They certainly had interesting figures, but there was too much make-up on the lot of them. They were extremely "fake" looking, and seemed to be only interested in the fact that he was the Emperor. Not to mention that most of them were too old for him, or too young; there were several stupid ones there, and honestly, he didn't like how bland and stiff some of their characters seemed. He lowered his eyes slightly, shaking his head. The woman looking at him blinked, and spoke in tones that were far too... sickly... for his tastes. She had just spent five minutes describing the last flower arrangement that she'd made, and how great her family was. He sighed softly and smiled at her with a kind face.

"Thanks for your time, Xinghua. I appreciate you visiting and trying; please be kind when you admit your failure to your family." She gave him that look. That look he received every single time. First, it was hurt. For a few seconds, she looked hurt. Next up, the hurt look turned to anger, as if she was threatening him with her eyes. Finally, when he didn't react, it turned to acceptance, and the woman would leave with a dejected look on her face. Honestly, she wouldn't have cared about who he was as a person. Despite being the Emperor, he felt the need to be appreciated as a human above all else; so to see all of these fake, money-grubbing women kind of frustrated him. With a nervous smile, he reached up a hand, speaking with a tired voice that showed exactly how sick of this he was.

"Bring in the next woman..." A servant reached her head in and spoke in dulcet tones to him with a soft smile on her face.

"This is the last one, my lord. She is from the Hua Clan, by the name of Peizhi." Ace nodded lightly at her. The Hua were a noble clan, one that his parents appreciated greatly; despite a few issues between their thinking styles.

"Thank you." He waved her out, waiting for the girl to walk through the veil, watching her silhouette carefully.

[Guest]

"What an awful day" Peizhi muttered to herself, as she fidgeted with the special dress that her father had tailored for her. It was really pretty, she liked the way it looked, with its flowing white silk robes and the aqua-blue colored top underneath, with a waist sash of the same color scheme, white and blue. A second layer over the first of the lower part of the dress was decorated with blue, pink and white floral patterns.

It was really nice looking, but to be honest, it was uncomfortable as could be! With the sash constricting her waist like a python of silk, she could hardly move or breathe, and that was the least of it. Like the scores of women sitting quietly around her, she wore white foundation makeup that made her face seem as pale as a doll's, and bright red, glossy lipstick, and pale red eye shadow, made to accentuate her bright brown eyes. Her hair was tied back into a braided sort of bun, adorned with a few ornaments, all of them really unnecessary, and made her hair feel heavier than it really was. Peizhi hated this feeling, this awful, stiff, stuffy feeling, she felt like she was going to suffocate in this atmosphere. All the other girls, some as young as her, some even younger, sat quietly in their formal positions, hardly budging an inch as they patiently waited out the spell of silence, waiting for the servant girl to come in and call for one of them. They were all daughters of nobles themselves, just like Peizhi, all here to represent their clan and to marry into royalty and provide there family with great honor. Each of them was probably nervous as could be, but eager to be chosen as a wife and blessed with the wealth of the Emperor. Well Peizhi was nervous too, but for different reasons entirely. Ever since she was escorted into the this gigantic palace by her servants, she had searched frantically for an opportunity to escape. But she was securely guarded by her servants, who could probably read her thoughts, knowing she was going to run off the second they took their eyes off of her, it wouldn't be the first time its happened. After a few minutes of walking into the interior of the giant complex, Peizhi had lost all hope of getting away, as she knew she would get lost in the labyrinth of ancient antiques, emerald green tapestry, and bright red silk carpets. Everywhere she looked their was some sort of old artifact, from various Xingese swords to statues made of jade and gold. It was overwhelming, all the decor and luxury, and she thought her estate was fancy!

But now, in this small square room, where there were no windows, only walls decorated with really old ink paintings, and two sliding doors on opposite sides of the room. One where the women were ushered in to meet with the Emperor in the next room, and the other where they had entered from, and where they would leave when they were rejected.

Peizhi deeply hoped that that man would pick someone before she had to go in, that way she could just leave already. She had no intention of marrying herself to this guy, afterall, doing so would mean she would be stuck in the palace all the time! NO FREEDOM! A fate worse than death, Peizhi thought to herself as she continued to fidget with her dress, a troubled look on her face as she glanced about nervously. Women went in, and they came back out minutes later, always looking flustered as they hurried out the door, trying to cover their embarrassed faces.

Minutes passed, then hours, and slowly the number of women in the room decreased. To pass the time, Peizhi daydreamed about what she would do when she got out. Maybe she would go to Shanghai and do some shopping, or perhaps go out on a countryside trip by herself after running away from her servants, get a nice breath of fresh air, go swimming in a pristine lake or something. Yeah, that would be awesome, she would do all that just as soon as she could escape from this dressed up prison.

"Hua Peizhi" a voice called out, snapping her out of her dreaming. Looking around, half confused, half shocked by the inevitable finally coming, she noticed that she was all alone in the room now, aside from the servant door standing in the wide doorway, a tired look on her face from repeating this for hours. Peizhi smiled half-heartedly as she rose to her feet, poised and graceful as she should be, out of habit drilled in to her through years of etiquette lessons. Following the servant's lead, she stepped into the room, her mind racing with all sorts of nervous thoughts as she drew close to the massive veil that blocked the other half of the room from sight. What sort of man was the Emperor? Was he like the ones in all the old ink paintings, old and balding, with a set of long, overdecorated robes and a long, stringy beard and fu-manchu to match? What if he was a pervert? What if he chose her!? She would have to.....no, best not to think about it. She would just come across as unappealing, yeah, that's it, she would be so unappealing that he would never choose her as a bride!

Taking a deep breath, Peizhi parted the curtain veil and stepped into the Emperor's space, her mind made up over how to deal with this horrible dilemma. But when she stepped through that wall of soft silk, she didn't see a balding, perverted warlord of a man, stroking his beard in his regal and lecherous state, but instead, she saw a young, geeky looking kid with thick spectacles set upon his nose, along with a meek looking body and tussled dark hair, all dressed up in brilliant green and silver, the colors of Xingese royalty. Shocked by the stark contrast of what she had expected, and what set before her, Peizhi had forgotten her proper formalities and immediately voiced her disbelief. "Waaaaa! I didn't think you would-" She cut herself short as she realized, with embarassment, that she had just acted indecently in front of the most powerful and important man in all of Xing! Her parents were not going to take the news lightly....

"I mean, uh, I'm Peizhi, from the Hua family, uhm, your highness" said she said in a soft, flustered tone, as she bowed in a traditional kow-tow, her forehead touching the floor as she bent forward, sitting on her knees.

[Guest]

He was honestly sick and tired of this by now. There had been NO women in the group that he'd felt a connection with; they'd all been this sort of fake, annoying sort. It, as a matter of fact, annoyed him no end. This boy didn't want a rich, powerful, homely woman. He wanted someone he could spend time with, hell, someone who could fight by his side for peace, as opposed to staying at home and nursing the kids. Because Ace wasn't anything like his Father, or the previous Emperors. No, Ace wanted to break that tradition. And so, when he watched the last woman walk through that veil, dressed in the same, mundane wear as the rest of them, face painted like the porcelain dolls that the little girls had, his heart literally sunk three feet down his chest. She was just like the rest of them. She was the last one, and they were all off a damn production line. He... geez. He had expected better, really. They all seemed too formal to him. However, there were some... differences in this one. Her hair, despite being tied back, was still quite short, her face showed signs of rebelliousness that most women would be afraid to show, and she was, actually, rather fetching. But she still looked like the rest of them... And so he opened his mouth to s--

"Waaaaa! I didn't think you would-" ...eh? Ace was speechless. He was sitting there, eyes wide open, mouth almost to the floor at the sudden act from this young lady. Had she just? Her voice, despite being shouted like that, was melodious to him. The general way she had acted had caused her to... he ... what? Ace tilted his head to the side, still not able to bring any words to mind that could describe what was going through his head at that point. Honestly, out of all the possible things that could've occurred... He... he was still really quite confused.

"I mean, uh, I'm Peizhi, from the Hua family, uhm, your highness" Her reaction after that was priceless. The fact that she'd managed to somewhat compose herself after a slip-up like that... At least she'd proven that she wasn't some random knave off the streets, however she still interested Ace. He thought of her as... most certainly new and interesting. He would have to probe further, that was for sure. He cleared his throat, and made sure that the next words he spoke weren't hiding any form of laughter of any kind.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Peizhi." He gave her a kind and sincere smile, one that was different to the smile he had given to the rest of the women of the day. For them, he had given a smile that denoted pride as an emperor in his people. While he did feel that, he had only given them that smile as an emperor, not a person. This woman was receiving a smile from him that was sincere and truthful. "I must admit, your reaction to my appearance was..." He raised a hand to his mouth and laughed softly, trying to keep up royal appearances, "Priceless." With a shrug of his shoulders, he slowly got to his feet and knelt down beside her, tapping her on the shoulder with a kind laugh and a carefree smile.

"I get the feeling that you're about as keen for this as I am." He tilted his head to the side and put a finger under her chin, raising her face to meet his cool grey eyes through the glasses, "How about we find you some less restrictive clothing. Unlike the rest of them, you don't appear to me as being 'fake' and 'money-grubbing'. I think I like you already. My name is Saeji Aeries, Emperor of Xing. However, those close to me know me as 'Ace'. If you want, you can refer to me like that as well..." He chuckled. For some reason, he felt compelled to do this, and somewhat closer to this girl than the rest. "Even if we don't become lovers, I'd rather make friends with someone my own age first anyway. The rest of them... I didn't like them. You, I like. You should be happy." His smile was bright, and he laughed, waiting for her reaction to this invitation. Here, he would test her. Most women would've accepted because he was the Emperor; even if they didn't like him as a person. He felt that this girl looked the sort to appreciate him as such, simply due to her surprise at his initial appearance. So maybe, if she acted right, they could go further? Who knew? He'd been looking for a flower all his life. Maybe... he could be looking for one made of jade?

[Guest]

Peizhi's stomach lurched just a bit when the thick tension of the silence that hung over the room was broken my the abrupt sound of the young emperor clearing his throat. She braced herself for the harsh punishment that she just knew that would follow. She messed up, She messed up bad! What was going to happen now? Would they lock her up in a dungeon? Would they strip her father of his title and wealth and toss her clan out on the streets? She dishonoured them so badly. All she wanted to do was to get turned down so she could leave, she didn't mean to screw things up so badly!

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Peizhi." soft and calm words rang out, echoing a mysterious sincerity that confounded the one kneeling on the ground. "I must admit, your reaction to my appearance was.......Priceless."

With her forehead still pressed against the cool, wooden floor, she heard as the boy got to his feet and walked over, his footsteps being the only sounds that kept the room from complete silence. She tensed up as he got closer, her body stiff as a statue, frozen there in permanent apology as she felt her stand over him. What was to happen next? He didn't seem angry, but there was no doubt that she had done something to set off such a strange reaction from the Emperor. But it honestly wasn't her fault! It was his, for being such an odd looking emperor, I mean, she had heard of young Xingese emperors before, but this guy looks more like a college student in a costume!

"I get the feeling that you're about as keen for this as I am." she heard him continue softly in a such a composed manner. He had that right! Were she not suddenly so nervous, she would have certainly agreed with him! Wait....was this not his idea? I mean, he did call for all the daughters of Xingese nobility to his palace so he could decide on his wife and concubines, hadn't he? This was starting to make less and less sense. Not only was the emperor NOT a scary old man with pointy beard and a cold scowl, but he wasn't even a demanding womanizer? What was up with that? She really should have payed more attention to modern Xingese history, rather than just the ancient.

Suddenly, without warning, she felt the gentle touch of the boy's finger upon her chin, as he softly raised her bowed head, bringer her eyes to meet his steady gaze. Behind those thick spectacles were a pair of calm gray eyes, unusual for any Xingese, yet seemed to define this boy in such a way that seemed fitting, though she could quite decide why.

"How about we find you some less restrictive clothing. Unlike the rest of them, you don't appear to me as being 'fake' and 'money-grubbing'. I think I like you already. My name is Saeji Aeries, Emperor of Xing. However, those close to me know me as 'Ace'. If you want, you can refer to me like that as well...Even if we don't become lovers, I'd rather make friends with someone my own age first anyway. The rest of them... I didn't like them. You, I like. You should be happy." he continued on, his voice a soothing source of assurance as he complimented her. Compliment her? Was that what had just happened? Peizhi pondered this in astonishment, trying to swallow all that had just happened. She was confused, but his sincerity and composure, it slowly dissolved her worry and anxiety over this whole ordeal. Despite seeming like just a egg-headed kid, he was quite affable and urban. Maybe...maybe he was the emperor afterall? There was something about him, something regal and distinguished, that betrayed his boyish looks entirely.

Wait, he had offered her hospitality and a friendly introduction. Years of lessons in formality kicked in, and she quickly responded, casting aside her musing. "Oh, uh, yes please, I can't stand these clo- I mean, I would very much appreciate your offer, your majes-, err, Saeiji, - Ace" She switched up her manner of speaking like a flustered and confused child. Was she supposed to be formal or familiar with him!? She had no idea! If she offended him she could land herself in huge trouble, she would never be able to escape! But if she acted to stiff, he might mistake her for one of those other stuck up porcelain dolls, and that would just hurt her pride as an individual!

"Ummm, I'm really sorry! I'm not very fond of acting like a noble, I always hated all the formalities and rules" she laughed and smiled nervously, rubbing the back of her head out of nervous habit. Oh boy, she was really walking a fine line here. And to think if she just kept her mouth shut, she would have been able to just leave. But he seemed nice, if only a bit on the dignified side, so he couldn't be all bad, maybe the emperor was really different from all the pompous noble men she had grown up around all her life?

[Guest]

"Oh, uh, yes please, I can't stand these clo- I mean, I would very much appreciate your offer, your majes-, err, Saeiji, - Ace" She was rather cute. Her reactions to his actual being there were most certainly priceless, and because of that, Saeji could only offer a kind smile to the woman and the way that she was speaking. She may have been from a family of nobles, but the way that she was acting was so obviously NOT noble, as Ace could see. With a smile on his face, he nodded at her, before shaking his head and placing a single finger onto her nose. He stood up and stepped backwards, stretching his arms out.

"Don't talk too formally with me; it frustrates me..." He laughed innocently and tilted his head to the side, smiling softly at her with closed eyes and a yawn. He placed his hands into his pockets while he waited for her to get back up and follow him, however she still seemed to be on his knees. Hmm... Maybe he should be some sort of gentleman, and help her back up? He would certainly do that, and began to walk towards her, kneeling down and preparing to reach a hand out for her to hold onto and get back up on. His clothing shimmered slightly in the light; he'd need to change them as well. He didn't really want to stand out.

"Ummm, I'm really sorry! I'm not very fond of acting like a noble, I always hated all the formalities and rules" Hm? He laughed again, and then properly reached his hand out, waiting for her to take it and stand back up. When she finally took it, he brought her up and stood before her, noting that there was only a 4 centimeter difference in their heights. Wow, she was rather tall... or was he short? As he pondered this, he remembered that he was supposed to be entertaining the female before him; so before his train of thought switched tracks completely, he spoke out again.

"You want to talk about not being fond of it?" He gave the girl a slightly roguish and teasing grin, leaning in closely and letting his voice brush over her ear, speaking with a whisper that only they would hear. "Today was one of the most boring days of my life. I've been trying to get rid of the fancy and stuck-up traditionalist Xing and usher in something more modern; I only did today to appease my servants. Honestly, I'd rather find a nice girl and fall in love, I've been looking for my little Jade Flower for a while..." He smiled and leaned away, turned from the girl and looking up, adjusting the glasses on his face and staring at the ceiling through the pair of deep and yet shallow grey eyes, taking in the patterns that adorned the surface in gold. He turned back to her and closed his eyes.

"But I got to meet someone who shared my dislike of this. So I think that this day ended up being worth it~" He nodded at her and started walking, taking her out from behind the veil and motioning to a pair of his female servants. The two girls approached him, and he spoke in hushed tones, telling them to take Peizhi to one of the other rooms and to dress her up in casual clothing, not anything too fancy and noble. With a smile, he motioned towards Peizhi, before turning back to the girl.

"They'll take you to a room, get you changed into something. You can remove the makeup too, if you want. I'll go get out of these... uncomfortable and unnecessary clothes," He was shot a dirty look by the twin, red-headed maids, poking his tongue out at them and continuing to speak, "And then I'll meet you in the courtyard. The rain should've stopped by now, and the garden within the Jade Palace is rather beautiful after this sort of weather." He nodded lightly and started to walk out of the room, making his way to his own chambers, entering the large closet and taking his usual clothes off of the racks, going behind the screen by the door and switching the clothing and returning to the original courtyard, leaning against a pole and waiting while adjusting his glasses. If she didn't want to stay, he'd let her go. But for now, he wanted to see what this unusual girl was like.

She... interested him.

[Guest]

{BUMP}

[Guest]

"You want to talk about not being fond of it?" said the spectacled boy, with a boyish grin that had once again, astonished Peizhi, for she had never expected the Emperor to be anything like this. Much to her bewilderment, the young emperor leaned in, his face so close to hers that she flushed with scarlet hue and her hear began to beat with such a pitter patter that she thought it was going to lurch out of her chest. "Today was one of the most boring days of my life. I've been trying to get rid of the fancy and stuck-up traditionalist Xing and usher in something more modern; I only did today to appease my servants. Honestly, I'd rather find a nice girl and fall in love, I've been looking for my little Jade Flower for a while..." his whispered breath brushed past her ears in such a way that she couldn't help but shudder. She remained speechless, even after he distanced himself from her, as her chest still continued to flutter. She hadn't even really grasped what he had said just then. Peizhi felt so confused and strange, nearly dizzy, and she couldn't even understand why, her thoughts seemed to flee her before she could make sense of them.

"But I got to meet someone who shared my dislike of this. So I think that this day ended up being worth it~" he continued with a nod. Peizhi nervously nodded back, unsure of what to say. He seemed like such a nice person, someone whom she would have made great friends with had they met in a normal place, like a shopping district in Beijing or Hong Kong, so why did she feel so nervous around him? She couldn't make sense of her feelings at all, she needed to catch her breath and calm down for a moment. It was probably just the fact that she had gone into this palace expecting an entirely different situation. As the Empe-.... as Saeji turned around to consult two red haired servant girls, whom had appeared from ornamental veil, Peizhi began to unconsiously fidget with her dress, her earthen brown eyes glanced around the room without her really knowing why she was looking about, until Saeji motioned to her from the corner of her eye, and she quickly snapped her attention back onto his figure, wondering silently to herself as to what he was speaking of with his servants.

"They'll take you to a room, get you changed into something. You can remove the makeup too, if you want. I'll go get out of these... uncomfortable and unnecessary clothes," Saeji said, as he turned his own attention back to her, then after giving a glance to his servants (Which seemed to upset them a bit, somehow, though Peizhi never caught what he might of said to them or what sort of look he had given the two), he continued, "And then I'll meet you in the courtyard. The rain should've stopped by now, and the garden within the Jade Palace is rather beautiful after this sort of weather."

"Y-yes, thank you....Saeiji" said she with a short pause, still attempting to condition herself to the idea of addressing the Emperor of Xing so informally, especially after all the lessons and training she had to go through on how to act in his presence. Well what a waste of two months that was! She would have laughed to herself then, but out of habit drilled into her, and her own nervous mood, she suppressed such a notion into only a weak smile, which she went with, imagining that she seemed unnaturally tense so far. She tried to continue, to say something, anything at all really, to calm down and leave a better impression, but to her dismay, she couldn't think of a single thing to say, leaving her only slightly red with embarrassment, her eyes glancing elsewhere so that he wouldn't see her in such a flustered state. "Iwillexcusemyselfnow" she blurted quickly, as she turned to the red haired servants and hurriedly followed them to wherever they had been ordered to take her to change.

She did not turn back as she left the room, following the servants quietly, her head bent low as she clasped her hands together in front of her. Why had she acted in such a way? Was it just because he was the emperor, and it was only natural? Or maybe it was just because she had been so surprised by his appearance and his mannerisms. Hmmm, yeah, the way he acted, he was so kind and warm, it had really surprised her. But he was also so composed and refined, especially with his manner of speech. He was honestly different from anyone she had ever met before. Different from the sons of other noble families she had the displeasure of spending time with at formal celebrations, and different from the guys she had met in her time out in the city with all the normal, everyday people, who were sometimes obnoxious and immature. She would have to look past the fact that he was Emperor in order to calm down and get along with him, she thought to herself as she reached the end of a long corridor, which was adorned with an ornate red carpet with intricate silver and gold patterns along the edges and center, along with smooth, wide red pillars, that lined up on both sides of the corridor. Small, highly decorated alcoves filled the spaces along the wall, each with a small resting bench with no legs, that was covered in ornamental pillows made of silk. The alcoves themselves were bordered by highly complex and intricate decorative wooden borders on all sides, adding to the overwhelming feeling of the Jade Palace's interior.

"This way please" said one of the servant girls as she opened a door to the left, her words interrupting Peizhi's straying thoughts. She smiled and entered the room, which was just as lavish as the rest of the palace, filled with sophisticated statues, beautiful potted plants and flowers, and very expensive looking furniture, that looked both fragile and comfortable. As she glanced around, admiring the room, the girl with the blue eyes opened a rather large closet and began skimming over the clothes, carefully selecting an outfit that Peizhi assumed was meant for her. Observing the two more closely, she realized that the servant girls were strikingly similar looking, and other than their different colored servant's outfits, and their different colored eyes, they were perfect twins. "Oh, Huian, that one looks nice, lets go with that~♪" the amber eyed one, with the ribbon in her hair exclaimed, a look of simple joy suddenly upon her face. Deftly snatching the dress from her twin, she skipped over to Peizhi's side and held it up in front of her, as to see if it would match and fit. It was a nice dress, slim and red with gold trim, short sleeves and a split sides along the legs. They would reveal her thighs, but at the same time, it would give her much more freedom of movement than the restrictive and overly tight thing she was wearing now. "What do you think, miss Hua?" said she, with a smile. "It's really pretty, thanks" Peizhi replied as she took the dress from her and held against her front. It really was a nice dress, and it didn't look too stiff, but even if she didn't like it, she wouldn't refuse, for she was still wary about offending anyone while in the Jade Palace.

"Huian, please help miss Hua dress while I got prepare some tea" said the amber eyed girl as she quickly hurried out the door before either Peizhi or Huian could object. "It's okay, really, I can do it myself" Peizhi said with a smile towards the quieter, blue eyed sister, who now approached her with a rather placid look, neither enthusiastic nor displeased with her job. Her protest went unheard, however, and Huian gently took the dress from Peizhi's hands. "Please allow me to help you undress, Miss Hua" said she whilst already setting to work undoing her sash. Peizhi gave up on objecting any more, as she realized that Huian would probably pay it no mind. As the sash came off, her dress unfolded and became loose, and it was fairly easy to remove the top, followed by the bottom afterwards, though Huian insisted on assisting her with that as well. After the layers upon layers of restrictive clothing was removed and she was now only in her underwear, Huian escorted Peizhi to a washroom connected to the room the were currently in. Peizhi went in alone, thankfully, it seemed that Huian didn't feel the need to help her with washing up. Turning the faucet of a very decorative sink, golden in colour, to match the red walls and carpet of the washroom, Peizhi ran her hands through the warm water for a short moment before she cupped them and brought a splash of water to her face. It felt so refreshing, finally able to relax in solitude after such a long day. Well, she would almost feel relaxed if she wasn't nearly naked. She felt so much more exposed than she normally would, undressing here. It wasn't that the Jade Palace made her feel uneasy, in all honesty, she was eager to explore it when she got the chance. Its not like she got to go her everyday. However, there was still that nagging voice in the back of her head that constantly reminded her what was at stake if she did anything wrong whilst in the confines of the palace. Honestly, why did formality always have to restrict her so?

After she had scrubbed and washed all of the makeup off of her face, she looked into the mirror and smiled to herself. She could finally recognize herself again! She thought she looked like an entirely different person with all the white, red and black plastered onto her face. She hated that makeup so much, never again would she allow anyone to put it on her face! Now in lighter spirits, Peizhi headed out the door and back into the changing room. Huian was waiting patiently beside the door, standing stiffly against the wall, her hands folded and hanging down at her lap. She really took her job seriously, didn't she? The other servant, her sister, seemed much more loose and carefree. Peizhi gave the girl a slight nod, which she returned with a bow. She then took the red dress that she held in her hands and skillfully undid the strings that fastened the front of the dress, which was the type that opened in the front, completely split in two sides. Peizhi turned around and held out her arms to the side, so that Huian could slip the dress on, seeing as she probably wouldn't let her do it herself anyway. After Huian had carefully put the red and gold silk dress on her, and refastened the strings the held the front closed, she bowed once more, and led Peizhi to the closet, which had been left open, revealing its treasure trove of traditional and expensive clothing. The red haired servant entered the closet, which was about as large as her own closet at her home, which was actually rather impressive, considering the fact that this closet here was probably just one of many spare changing rooms throughout the palace, the Emperor's closet must have been huge! Huian retrieved a pair of comfortable looking slippers and bent down on one knee in front of Peizhi, prompting her to lift her bare feet and slip them into the white footwear as she held them for her. It was all a bit annoying, she hadn't let any of her own servants dress her since she was ten, she didn't like the idea of people doing things for her that she could have easily done herself. The brown haired girl, now completely dressed, turned to a stand up mirror nearby, and gave herself a thorough glance. Wow, these really did look nice on her, didn't they? The dress was beautiful and emphasized the curvaceousness of the feminine figure, yet it was still loosely fitting and open enough to leave her feeling much less stiff than her other dress had, and the slipper were just as comfortable as she had hoped they would be. To top it all off, she had let her hair down as well, letting it fall neatly to the back of her neck (her shoulders at the front), leaving her with a much more casual look than she had started the day with, which greatly pleased her.

"Please, follow me" said Huian, as she opened the door that led back into the corridor and held it, patiently waiting for Peizhi to exit first, as was customary of any servant. With a friendly smile, back to her light spirited self, Peizhi briskly walked out of the room and back into the luxurious and fascinating corridors, which the servant girl then led her town a series of turns through the never ending labyrinth, until they had reached an open, roundly arched doorway, that actually lacked any hinged door, and instead, was covered with expensive looking curtains. Huian stopped just as they reached this arch, and with a bow, she stepped aside, motioning for Peizhi to enter alone.

What greeted her after she entered was a magnificent site that stole her breath away with awe. A beautiful Xingese style garden, far larger than her father's, spanned the entire area around her. A stone slate walkway winded through a picturesque scene of vibrant colours, across an arched wooden bridge with bright red wooden rails that spanned a crystal clear pond, filled with lily pads, floating pink flowers, and very large multi-coloured koi. The bridge itself led to a large Xingese style Gazebo that lied in the very center of the pond, complete with a blue-gray pagoda roof, red support columns, and a very polished wooden floor. It's rails were pieces of art within themselves, made up of neat, spiraling, curved patterns, ending with a wide surface on top, complete with a cushioned bench that adorned each side of the gazebo. Peizhi strolled along the path, admiring the carefully crafted masterpiece of art, with all of its beautiful and exotic Xingese flowers, which were scented with the most pleasing and vagrant smells, as well as the lush green plants, bushes, and trees, that swayed in the gentle breeze. The feng shui of this garden was absolutely perfect, so much effort must have been made by the Emperor's landscaper; she was really impressed. Passing by a pair of traditional Xingese lion statues, Peizhi treated carefully across the arched bridge, peering curiously into the water at all the large fish, drifting lazily here and there, looking for food. Stepping into the spacious pagoda, she plopped down onto one of the side benches and inhaled deeply, letting the fresh air of the serene garden fill her lungs and put her at peace. The garden was truly full of zen, she had almost forgotten why she had come here.

[Guest]

He leaned back, feeling the cool wood of the pole pressing against the fabric on his back, pushing the cloth closer in to his flesh and rubbing softly against it. He smiled softly at this feeling, and raised his face up, closing his eyes and putting the back of his head against the wood as well. He simply held this position, and carried himself as an Emperor would; letting his thoughts go throughout his mind. This girl that he had just met. That's where his thoughts were stationed right now, it seemed. He could only wonder why at this, as he let the wonderment of this all wash over his mind and cleanse his body of everything that was untrue to him. That girl was honest, it was why he had picked up on her within seconds. Even if she had originally been playing a part as a pawn for her family, he saw that she was not willing, or at least... she was the one who was obviously unwilling for this. A hand trailed from his pockets, sliding across the material of this clothing and planting itself against the wooden pole. He kept his balance for a second, before stopping his lean, bringing his head down, and looking out over this garden that he had made specially for this place. He hadn't gone and just given this job away to others; no. Instead, Saeji had chosen to build this garden with his own two hands, assisting directly with it instead of just using his power to order others to do so.

A croaking laugh escaped the young Emperor's mouth. Wasn't it ironic? No, not ironic. That was the wrong word for this. One step was taken, beating against the wooden floor around him, as he walked from the platforms into the garden. The next few steps clattered against the hollow wood, leaving resounding 'thump' noises as Saeji made his way down a small set of stairs. When his steps moved from the wood, the sound of crackling gravel was then followed by stone. Ace took slow steps along the path, looking up and around. He never grew tired of this garden that he'd helped create, for he did not wish anything against it. Because of his own wish to build, instead of simply wanting something to look at, Ace felt that this garden was a part of himself, as was the will of the world. This... this was why he never grew bored of the features. As he stepped along the stone path, Ace placed his hands into his pockets and started to meander along, wandering slowly towards the bridge with no real intention in mind. It always felt good, you know? He could always clear his mind during the sunny and windy weather, and when it rained... he felt the sins of his own past, and the history of his family, simply wash away into the ground beneath his feet. This garden had provided itself as a symbol of peace to Ace, and...

He stepped onto the bridge, hollow clatters with every step. This bridge was of wonderful build, in his opinion. He pulled a single hand out of one of his pockets and placed long, pianist-like fingers onto the wood and tapping, drawing them along the smooth and polished handrail. He clucked his tongue and took the hand off of the rail and placed it on his hip. He chuckled softly and took very deliberate steps down the length of the bridge, finally reaching the hardwood floor of the gazebo. While one would normally have stopped, Ace continued on, stepping through an archway on the other side of the pagoda. There was no bridge here, just steps leading down to clear and calm water. But Ace knew differently, taking careful and well-placed steps across the water's surface, putting his feet onto poles that were just beneath the surface of the pond. Koi fish flitted around the poles beneath his feet; Ace paid them no heed as he continued on, not noticing the sound of another pair of feet travelling just into the pagoda behind him. If Peizhi had been looking now, he would have had no way of not being seen by the other girl. His feet traveled along until he reached the other shore, and he started to walk along the soft grasses, shoes crunching against the gravel that littered the greenery. He walked forwards for another meter or two, and then knelt down, bowing his head low in repent.

Before Saeji were a pair of large Pounamu (greenstone). These stones were not crafted, nor were they shaped. They had been scraped of their outer coverings, but that was about it, in terms of beauty. Instead, they were simply placed onto the ground with Xingese characters engraved onto their sides. He smiled softly and spoke quietly at the stones, with no real purpose behind his voice save for a simple wish to speak.

"I haven't been here for a while," His natural and dulcet tones rang out in his native language, "But I've had a lot on my plate. I... I was met with someone today, Father, Mother. Normally, I see women, and they're trying to take advantage of me being Emperor, and I can see that in them." He laughed softly, shaking his head and not raising his voice above a soft whisper. Nobody would be able to hear him unless they were standing right next to him, so he was sure that he was sage. "But I met someone else today. I think... I think I like her more than the rest, and in that way..." He laughed and stood up, raising his hand up and wiping his brow from the perspiration that came from the beating of the sun. He turned away from the stones and looked back to the pagoda, seeing that there was a new figure in there. He laughed softly, and started to walk forwards again, his grey eyes taking in the scene as he walked. Through the gravel, to the poles. Over the poles, past the Koi fish, and through the shallow water. He stepped onto the small steps and lowered his gaze, placing a hand onto a railing as he walked into the pagoda. A small noise left the man's lips, and he turned towards Peizhi, giving her a kind smile and a tilted head.

"You know..." Despite his own recognition of his social awkwardness, this was different. He could be an Emperor. He could be like this. "You're rather cute, once all of that falsehood of nobility is gone." He spoke quietly and succinctly, walking through the filtering sunlight, and taking a calm seat beside her, sitting both somewhat close, and yet at a small distance.

[Guest]

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[Guest]

In the quiet serenity of the garden, Peizhi had never even noticed the Emperor's presence until he spoke to her as he walked into the pagoda. Such a kinda and friendly look upon his face as he gazed softly at her, that was an impression that embedded itself in her mind, that he was so gentle and kind, far more than anyone she had ever met, noble or commoner alike.

"You know...You're rather cute, once all of that falsehood of nobility is gone." said he, as he took a seat next to her on the intricately designed bench. Peizhi immediately glanced down at the floor and held her eyes on the soft wooden floor, her face tinted red with a bashfulness that was unfamiliar to her. She suddenly felt very warm, a strange feeling that made her fidget slightly in her seat. Her heart fluttered uncomfortably in her chest, seeming to spring up with her voice with every word she said. "T-thank you, S-saeji. You too...you seem better than all the nobles I know". She caught her breath, realizing that she would just make herself even more nervous if she let it reflect in her manner of speaking. Wait.....why was she so nervous still? Saeji....he wasn't in his royal robes anymore, he wasn't sitting on a throne, he was talking to her at eye level, he was being kind and gentle, not regal and condescending. So why was she feeling so strange and uneasy? She tried to force the thought out of her mind, she must have been simply overthinking everything. To be at peace, you had to have balance, right? Clear your mind and enjoy your surroundings.

"I really don't like all of those stiff noble dresses and fashions" Peizhi continued, calmer this time, but her eyes still averted from his, afraid that if she looked at him again, that he would see the strange feeling that possessed her. "I sometimes wish I was born to a common status, it would be easier that way, I think. I mean, my parents already have the son they wanted, so our clan can carry over to the next generation. I feel like they just sent me here so that they could get a chance to get closer to the royal family....you know, like everyone else who came here today". Peizhi giggled over the humour of the whole situation. Here she was resentful of her status as a tool for clan relations to the Emperor, the only one of the girls sent here that wanted nothing to do with him, but now she was talking to him, opening up to him even. Fate and luck were really strange things.

[Guest]

Heee... she'd just looked down at the ground as if she was completely embarrassed. With a slightly cheeky smile, he tilted his head over and chuckled softly, watching her face carefully with cheeks that were tinged with the softest pink. Heh. That was... rather cute, you know? He gave off a small giggle and closed the eyes of grey,

"T-thank you, S-saeji. You too...you seem better than all the nobles I know". Oh? A mischievous grin fluttered across his features for but a half second, eyes lit up by the light that filtered in through his glasses. She, at least, agreed with him. He wasn't a conventional noble, that was for sure. He was a man trying to remove the tradition of the world, because the world denied tradition on it's own. He sighed softly, and looked away from her and into the sky out the wooden front of the pagoda, trying to avoid stuttering, or saying anything that he may or may not regret later. He just gave a soft and kind smile, trying to bring the color back from his cheeks with the feeling of embarrassment that he was having going on right now...

"I really don't like all of those stiff noble dresses and fashions. I sometimes wish I was born to a common status, it would be easier that way, I think. I mean, my parents already have the son they wanted, so our clan can carry over to the next generation. I feel like they just sent me here so that they could get a chance to get closer to the royal family....you know, like everyone else who came here today". He laughed softly, placing a hand onto the bench and turning to the girl once more, making the smile of kindness that he had been doing for so long now; one of those smiles that he loved to give to others.

"Peizhi... There are times that I wish that I wasn't the one made to be Emperor, you know? My brother... my older brother was taken away, and I was made into Emperor. It's a hard life, one that I sometimes regret... So to find someone who I can understand and talk to... I appreciate it, y'know?" He laughed and gave an even kinder smile, cheeks shining with the red blush.

[Guest]

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"Peizhi... There are times that I wish that I wasn't the one made to be Emperor, you know? My brother... my older brother was taken away, and I was made into Emperor. It's a hard life, one that I sometimes regret... So to find someone who I can understand and talk to... I appreciate it, y'know?"

So he was just a normal boy after all. He didn't think of himself as a god, given the right to rule by the mandate of heaven, like Emperors of the past. He was simply himself, he was born into a role that he did not choose for himself. He was like her, he just wanted someone to reach out to him. She could be that person, though Peizhi.

She was so happy, to find a kindred spirit in this wide world. She timidly glanced at the smiling Emperor, no, the smiling boy whom she could call her friend, perhaps. She was the daughter of one of the most influential noble clans of Xing, he was the Emperor, yet, here on their own, they were just a normal pair, they didn't have to judge each other by their titles, they could know each other for who they were. The more she glanced at the gentle, smiling face of the boy next to her, the less she though of him as the Emperor. But she was still acting nervous, so silly of her, she could bury her face in her hands from embarrassment if she wasn't sure that would just cause her more. Maybe it was because he made her feel happy and excited and all the things he said made her insides flutter. But upon another shy glance towards the boy, as she tried to return his smile, she noticed that he too was tinged with red. Aha! This was quite a surprise, a pleasant one even. Despite all the suave and calmness about him, he was shy too! The girl couldn't help but giggle at this notion, unable to hold back her amusement and relief. Peizhi grinned at Saeji, trying her best to get over her fit of girlish laughter. "You know" said she, between stifled tittering, "we're both not that good at socializing, are we? Too many fake people in our lives, its strange to talk to someone like this, isn't it?"

[Guest]

"You know" Gentle eyes turned towards Peizhi's face, the glasses reflecting the filtered sunlight and shining softly from the light itself. He studied her expression carefully, watching for any strange discrepancies in the looks in her eyes, studying the motions of her face. He was truly interested by this woman. For someone who was raised in a place such as the Hua clan, she was most certainly not what he had expected. Closing his eyes, he shook his head and chuckled softly. "we're both not that good at socializing, are we?" A soft laugh left Ace's throat. Wasn't that the truth? He had never been great at it; to have his words heard by others. Instead, Ace preferred to keep his thoughts within, letting his actions speak for him. It was a simple matter, one that allowed him to avoid associating with those that only wanted him for his position, his power. He disliked people such as that, so this girl was refreshing for him, at least in his opinion. "Too many fake people in our lives, its strange to talk to someone like this, isn't it?" There were far too many fake people here. Masks worn by men and women who desired only greed, only power.

"Peizhi..." A chuckle, and Saeji turned towards her with a soft smile on his face. "I wish to ask a request of you. I have no romantic bearing on this question, though if romance comes into the equation, then it will be inevitable. Instead, I simply ask: Will you be my companion, girl? Not in a 'wife' sense, but as someone who could stand by my side and be there for me... possibly understand how I feel, and listen to what I have to say?" He proffered a kind smile, and laughed, before shaking his head with a soft blush on his cheeks. "That was... too hasty, wasn't it?" He lowered his voice to a whisper, "I knew I should've waited until we got to know each other better..."

[Shula Brighton]

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Such a sweet smile, such a poor boy, to be trapped by the roles placed on him. It was sad, so sad that Peizhi felt compelled to flee their lives together, run away from the nobles and thrones, to explore the world, as free as birds in the sky. But such things were not easy. He was the Emperor of Xing, he couldn't abandon the Xingese people. And she could not leave her father, she loved him so.

But it would be nice, you know? To at least escape for a little while. The two of them. Maybe they could....

"Peizhi...I wish to ask a request of you. I have no romantic bearing on this question, though if romance comes into the equation, then it will be inevitable. Instead, I simply ask: Will you be my companion, girl? Not in a 'wife' sense, but as someone who could stand by my side and be there for me... possibly understand how I feel, and listen to what I have to say?"

Silence...awkward silence, broken only by restless fish in the pond and singing birds in the branches of the ornamental trees of the garden. Peizhi stared at the boy, transfixed,a most vacant expression set upon her features, her bright brown eyes focused on Saeji's reddening face. Her lips quivered, slightly at first, then with greater intensity, as a short huff of breath escaped from her nostrils. She struggled, squirmed to stifle her giggles, but slowly, her poor facade crumbled and her small mouth curved into a wide grin, and her eyes shimmered in a fit of amusing glee. Abruptly, she broke into laughter, an uncontrollable fit of giggling and 'Ha has', so tremendous that her eyes shut tight and she clutched her sides tightly, as if someone was tickling her and she could not resist. She continued on for nearly a minute, unable to look Saeji in the face without losing it again, before she finally suppressed her giggling to the point where she could speak.

"I-I'm sorry S-saeji" she stuttered betwixt soft giggles, "That was just so..so s-sweet. You're so cute, I c-can't help it."

She was smiling so widely, she couldn't stop. She didn't know what to do, there was nothing she could do. It was a light hearted moment, and impulsive moment, so in impulse, she reached out and wrapped her arms around his body, squeezing him tightly as she rested her chin on his firm shoulder. She lost track of time....or time lost track of her. All she could hear was the sound of his breathing and the quiet noises of the garden. All she could feel was the warmth of his body and the soft silk of his clothes that comforted the soft, bare skin of her hands that pressed against his back. She took in his sweet fragrance, that was neither sweet nor pungent, only....comforting. However, it was only a matter of time before the girl returned abruptly to her senses, and realized, with a flush of red tinging her cheeks and a wave of chilled heat creeping down her body, that she had been clinging to the Saeji for..seconds? A minute? She pulled away, abashed, her eyes darting towards the smooth stone floor of the pagoda, her face bright red with embarrasment.

"S-sorry" said she, with a nervous smile.

[Guest]

E-eh? Why was she laughing... was he making a joke? Did he have something on his face? Saeji blinked a few times, raising fingers up to his face in order to check for any imperfections, slipping his glasses off and using them as a mirror; the eyes glowing a soft red tinge with the effects of his Alkahestry. He blinked, ignoring the sudden headache for a second, looking over his face and making sure nothing was wrong. He slipped the glasses back on and bit his lip. There was nothing on his face, and he was certain that he hadn't made a joke. Blinking, Saeji watched the laughing girl thought curious eyes, head slightly tilted to the side. "I-I'm sorry S-saeji" She was apologizing, yet she was still laughing? What madness was this?! "That was just so..so s-sweet. You're so cute, I c-can't help it." "Wh-what?!" It was Saeji's turn to blush, and the young Xingese emperor looked away from the other, closing his eyes and twiddling his thumbs. "I... I'm not cute, am I? I'm supposed t-to be prideful, strong and a man for my people..." He laughed softly, shaking his head. This was too strange, for him at least. Social interaction was rare, so developing a proper style was something that he was unable to do.

And with reckless abandon, arms were cast around his body. He blinked, and felt his breath disappear, the cheeks gaining red color. One... two... His mind began counting the seconds, the closeness of this youth would cause his mind to white out, just as any proper male would. He blinked, still counting. Thirty-five... thirty-six... He felt hands upon his back, their contact simply and pure; her chin upon his shoulder. Sixty-two... sixty-three... And then, they broke apart. Saeji looked at the girl as he slowly returned his body, shaking his head in slight disbelief. What was that, they hugged? Yes, that was right. They'd hugged, and kept contact for... over a minute. For this youth, who was used to people avoiding him for his position, or people being pushed away to keep him "safe from harm". "S-sorry" He blinked again, slightly confused. He had to wonder, what was there for her to be sorry about? "I... I..." What to do, what to do... His mind went back to one of those Aerugese animations he'd once watched--anime, was it? Looking at Peizhi, he simply gave a kind smile. "Don't be... sorry." Leaning in forwards, Saeji placed his lips upon her forehead, making a soft 'chu' sound and smiling. "I just wasn't used to it, don't worry yourself too much..." He giggled and pulled away, smiling softly and tilting his head to the side.

[Reila Tsukino]

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[Guest]

"I... I...don't be... sorry." Saeji stuttered with a smile. Ever passing moment they spent together, he seemed more and more human, and less and less like to imposing and arrogant Emperor she had always imagined all her life, and instead left her with the impression of a warm, caring, and thoughtful boy, if only a bit on the awkward side. Peizhi almost giggled to herself when she noted the last "quality" of his, but something had caught her entirely unawares. A soft pair of lips brushed against her skin, warming her skin with tender touch. So shocked was the you Xingese girl, that she almost let out an 'eep', though she managed to stifle it, leaving only her red tinged cheeks to give away her surprise and timidness. A k-kiss? But only on the forehead, plenty of family and relatives had kissed her on the cheek or the lips. But...but this was different, it felt different, it made her heart flutter, it tingle so much she thought there might have been something wrong. She was completely lost in swirling feelings and sensations, all she could do was give Saeji a meek smile, trying her best not to look too.....ah, she couldn't even think of a word. Silly?

"I just wasn't used to it, don't worry yourself too much..." said he, with his signature gentle smile. That smile was so assuring, those soft lips that had planted a kiss upon her skin, his calming grey eyes, hidden behind the frames of his glasses. Here in the beautiful garden, secluded from the rest of the world, it all seemed so....so....it was as if she were in a dream, and any moment she would wake up in her bed, back in the Hua manor. It would be so disheartening, to think that this wasn't real. Oh, but it was real, it had to be. The sky was beginning to grow dim, and slowly, but surely, the deep azure of heaven faded to a pale hue, then slowly seeped into a violet color, whilst the orange of the sun vanishing behind the walls of the garden did cast its orange glow across the western sky. Today had been one of the greatest days of her life, for she had finally found someone, had found a friend that understood her, who genuinely cared for her. How to make this last forever?

"Saeji?" said Peizhi, her words soft and low. "Will I be able to come see you everyday?"

The sound of footsteps on the stone path revealed that Huian, and not her more lively sister, had entered the garden. Though she looked quite tense, having intruded upon the garden, along with Saeji's and Peizhi's time together, she hurried along quickly over the arched bridge to the pagoda in the pond. She stopped just before stepping inside and dropped gracefully to her nears, bending forward until her forehead touched the wooden floor in a formal kow-tow. "I'm sorry to interrupt you, Wan Sui Ye*, but Lord Jemutin is here to see you. Shuang is keeping him and his company entertained for now. She apologizes for not bringing your tea."

Peizhi looked at the finely polished wooden floor somberly. She had to go back home now, it seemed. Saeji was the Emperor still, afterall. He had responsibilities and duties expected of him. The same went for her, when she returned home, she would be practically interrogated by her parents, asking her if the Emperor chose her and if they could expect marriage. It was all just an attempt at raising the prestige of the Hua clan, as it was for all clans, ever since the concubine system was repealed. If only she could escape that, escape that with him.....

"Promise me.......that someday, we can go somewhere, far away from all the rules and laws and clan nobility?"

((*A formal title used by servants to address the emperor. Means Something along the lines of "Lord of a Thousand Years"))

[Shula Brighton]

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[Guest]

"Saeji?" A voice shook his breath out of his body, the teenager slowly turning his gaze to face the woman through the large glasses. Closing his eyes for a second, Saeji stopped his thoughts to listen to what she had to say. "Will I be able to come see you everyday?" Blinking, he turned away from her for a second--his thoughts permeated every part of his mind and attempted to make sense of this proposition. So, she wanted to visit them frequently? Tapping his chin softly, Saeji thought over the repercussions of such an act. If she was seen to be coming to his house daily, would they recognize her as a Hua? If they did, then it would make life difficult. As the sovereign of the country, he was required to keep up some form of political balance. Those who saw this young daughter of the Hua would be convinced that he was taking bribes from such a people; that family would be working their way in. It would prove to be bad, especially if those from the North saw such things. Sighing softly, Saeji slowly rose up from his seat, hearing the approaching footsteps of one of his maids, Huian. The woman came closer and faster, eventually dropping to her knees and leaning forwards in a formal kow-tow. Ahh, that annoyed him, at times. A kow-tow was supposed to be a sign of respect; it just made Saeji feel too far above everyone to be happy. Closing his eyes, he waited for her to speak.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, Wan Sui Ye, but Lord Jemutin is here to see you. Shuang is keeping him and his company entertained for now. She apologizes for not bringing your tea." A few seconds later, Saeji sighed. Jemutin, of all people. Why today...? Shaking his head slowly, Saeji turned towards Peizhi with a soft smile, staring at her kindly from behind the glowing light. "Promise me.......that someday, we can go somewhere, far away from all the rules and laws and clan nobility?" Blinking, the man took a second to think this through. More and more possibilities opened up, the ramifications of each clearly defined in this teenager's mind. Tapping his chin, Ace could not help but smile softly. "Yes. One day, Peizhi. One day when my children have succeeded me and I'm simply an old man living out his days... When my debt to this country is finally paid, then I shall be able to leave those rules and laws, live out my days in peace..." Smiling softly, he turned away from the girl, looking over at Huian with a somber expression. "Lead Miss Hua out of the palace please; be sure to take one of the more surreptitious exits, in order to not rouse suspicion. I'd say the market exit, since she can just meld with the crowds" Suddenly realizing something, Saeji turned back to Peizhi. "Right! Visiting! Come whenever you want; just go in through the same exit you're brought out of. Wait in the garden, someone will bring me if I'm not busy. If I am busy, then you're welcome to stay and have some tea, or you may just leave. Either or, just let one of the maids know. There are very few of us in here..." Turning away, Saeji began to contemplate as to exactly what Jemutin wanted, power-hungry bastard he was.

"...so it gets lonely sometimes..."

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