THE VOW

JAPANESE WORDS USED IN THIS BOOK AND THEIR MEANINGS

Shuah- King ( Persian meaning)

Kingu- King ( Japanese meaning)

Oya- Parents

Haichīfu- High Chief.

Ōjo- Princess

Kuīn- Queen

Rōbu- Robe

When the world was still quite uncivilised, when the reigns of Kings and Emperors were still very much valued and equally respected, the Persian empire was ranked as one of the most powerful empires in the world, having power over all the existing expires, even the Chinese and Japanese empires.

It was believed that the secret behind the growth and power of the Persian empire was The Persian King, 'Shuah Azar'.

He is a very handsome, brave, and an influential man with the largest acres of land governed. He rules with justice, wickedness and equality but inwardly, he is a nice and caring man. He had over thirty wives and fifteen concubines. He loved women and takes them as a necessity for his sexual desires. Love is an old tale for him, and he did not care how many wives and children he had. 

All he wanted was just to have them and keep them. No doubt he takes care of them because he was very influential and so taking care of how many wives and concubines wasn't a big deal for him.

He lost his Oya when he was only four. The Haichīfu then raised him and taught him all he needed to know and how to act and rule as a King. He was crowned at the age of twenty one and just barely three years of his reign, he had accomplished greatly. He was revered and feared, powerful but just.

This caused jealousy among other empires thus, not having any allies. But still, the King had never lost at any war or battles nor have the Persian empire ever surrendered.

Tsumago Empire, a very powerful empire, but not as powerful as the Persian Empire was one of Persia's enemies. The empire believed that it supposed to be the most powerful and so, looked for ways to bring the Persian Empire down. Kingu Akimitsu, the Emperor of the Tsumago Empire was a man hungry for power, all he wanted was fame. He also had many wives, numerous sons and daughters.

Among all his children was the youngest of them all. Her name was Ōjo Caulifla. She was a very beautiful, respectful and cultured girl and is always regarded as 'The Fairest of them all'

Her mother, Kuīn Aiya was the King's last wife and favourite but died when she was in labour with her. Her father thus never showed any ounce of love for her because he believed that she was the reason why his beautiful Aiya died.

But he provided for her and made her live the way her step brothers and sisters live in the castle; as an Ōjo (Princess).

Her step sisters were very jealous of her regarding her beauty and they treated her as a slave. Her step brothers never even cared about her because they think she is not important and even sometimes always maltreated her.

Caulifla's only dream is to impress her father and make him proud of her. He wanted him to see that she was capable of something and also wanted to make him notice her.

She wanted a chance and hoped for one. And the chance finally came, a chance to prove herself worthy to her father.

1608年3月13日 (13th March 1608)

"Caulifla!"

Her eyes open like two flashlight beams, the new temporal inserts providing enough light to illuminate whatever she look at.

It was morning.

"Caulifla!" She heard her name again as she quickly got up. Her room door opened suddenly as Ōjo Aika, the eldest daughter of the Emperor came in, fuming with anger.

"Ohayō gozaimasu" (Good Morning).

Caulifla bowed in fear.

"Did i not tell you that i will have to get ready before Eight? And here you are, still sleeping!"

Aika said, ignoring her greetings.

"I... .. Gomen'nasai" 

("I.....i am sorry )

"I want you in my room in five minutes. The meeting will start by 9 and goodness knows what i will do to you if i am late"

"Hai anata no megumi" (Yes your Grace)

Caulifla bowed as Aika left the room, her footsteps still heard down the hallway. She let out a sigh of relief as she hurriedly put on her Rōbu.

Today was the meeting of the Council and all royals, including all the children of the Emperor. Everyone was expected to be at attendance. 

Looking at her clock, it read 08:05. Maybe if she hurries up and helps her sister get ready, she will have some time to spare so she could get ready herself. She hopes the rest will not call her today.

She quickly made her way out of the room, down the hallway and into her elder sister's room.

9:00am 1608年3月13日 (13th March 1608)

The throne room is the largest of the palace's audience halls, measuring ca. 9.8 X ca. 45.7 meters. All its walls were lined with bas-relief decoration and probably had painted plaster and brick decorating the upper parts of the walls. 

Entering the Throne Room from the Great Northern Courtyard through the western portal (so-called Entry 'D'), one is always confronted immediately with many images: across from the entrance, bas-relief (depicting the king at war) in two registers with a panel of inscription separating them; and, to the right, a pair of lion-lamassu administered by eagle-headed geniuses to the right flanking a portal to an anteroom (Area C).

Turning to the left, the length of the Throne Room will be faced towards the seated king and his attendants at the other end. It was at this moment that the visitor could see that the whole length of the room. 

Both sides were decorated with more bas-relief scenes of war, except for the panels beside the doorways which were framed with more geniuses, a pair of bull-lamassu at an entrance to the far right near the throne (B-b-2 and B-b-1), lion and bull hunts in the far right corner beside the throne (B-20 and B-19), and two sets of religious scenes depicting the king with divine attendants attending on the Assyrian "Sacred Tree", 

One directly behind the throne and taking up nearly the whole eastern wall (B-22, B-23, and B-24), and another directly opposite the main entranceway to that room, which was in the middle of the northern wall to the left, and on the southern wall of the Throne Room (B-12, B-13, and B-14).

The throne room was only used for meetings with only the royals and the Council. 

"Subete jōshō" Someone shouted.

Everyone stood up in respect as the Emperor made his way into the throne room with three of his personal guards.

"Kōtei no nagaiki ga arimasu yō ni" ("Long may you live Emperor") 

Everyone said as they bowed, the Emperor sitting down on his throne, raising his hand as a sign that all should sit.

Clearing his throat, he began to speak;

"I gathered you all here for a particular reason. You all know well that The Persian Empire is seen as the most powerful empire. It has been a problem for our empire because we have called for war many a times but still, they always come out victorious. We have to bring that empire down so that our empire will be known and feared"

"You are right My Emperor, it is high time we take that empire to its knees,but the question is how are we going to bring it down?"

No one said anything as murmuring ensued. Everyone tried to get a good suggestion but no one seemed to have.

"Subete shizuka" (All Quiet!) The King ordered as he raised his right hand up and suddenly, everyone became quiet at once.

"As you all know, the Persian King is the real power behind The Persian Empire. Before it can be conquered, he has to be eliminated"

"Who will bring me the head of The Persian King and prove his loyalty to my Empire? Who will make me proud and become a legend in our history? Who will make our Empire the most feared and powerful Empire?"

Everyone became silent as no one seemed to want to do as the Emperor had said.

The silence was like a restorative draught after the frenetic rush of the day. The silence covered the room as a fresh, pristine, white blanket of snow on a winter's day.

"Dare mo?" (No One?") The King asked again as he looked around.

"I will go" A voice said as everyone turned to the direction. Murmuring ensued as Caulifla stood up from where she sat and walked towards the throne, stopping just some metres after the two steps leading to the throne.

"I will go" She repeated as she bowed her head in total respect, the Emperor gasping in utter surprise.

"Kore wa jōdande wa arimasen Caulifla" (This is not a joke Caulifla)

"If it is a way to prove my loyalty to my Emperor then i will do it"

"You are incapable of this task, you will die Caulifla"

"Actions speak much louder than words my Emperor. If i die then so be it. I will do anything for my Empire, even if it costs my life" 

The Emperor looked dumbfounded as his eyes were on his youngest daughter. She looked and sounded so determined. He knew he could not convince her so he agreed.

"How will i be sure you will bring me back the head of our worst enemy?" He asked.

"I swear to you today, i will bring ye all the head of The Persian King and prove to you that i am ever loyal. If i do not fulfill this mission then i die. I am ready to lay down my life for my kingdom and kingdom alone"

"Sorenara sore de ī" ( Then so be it) The Emperor said.

"I will be expecting the head from you Caulifla" He said again as he stood up, walking out of the throne room, not minding the murmuring that ensued in the hall.

Everyone stood up in respect as he made his way out.

Caulifla raised her head as she looked at her father's departing figure. 

Now was her chance to win his heart. After a long time she had hope, hope that she will finally get her father's praise.

12:39pm 1608年3月13日 (13th March 1608)

Caulifla got ready, putting in sack clothes and removing her ornaments so she will look a lot like a slave. Everyone laughed at her and called her names, saying she will not succeed and will die in the Persian King's hands when she tries to kill him.

But none of these affected her decision. She was scared but still as determined to do what she had said. If this was a way to prove to her father she was capable and also win her father's heart, then so be it. 

She made her way to the house of the woman who had nursed her since she was a day old. She was like a mother to her and what she needed was her blessings.

"Haha" (Mother)

"Caulifla! What is this i hear? You have sworn to bring back the head of the most feared? Do you know what it means if you attempt to kill the almighty King of Persia? Do you want to die? Are you not afraid of dying very young?

"You are beautiful my daughter. Do not let your life go to waste. I know you want to prove your worth to our Emperor but is not this more than suicidal?"

"Hahaoya nashi (No mother) I will not die. I will bring back his head and i will be victorious. All i need is your blessings" She knelt down, touching the old woman's legs.

"If that is your wish then my daughter,

"Watashi no shukufuku wa itsumo anata to tomoni arimasu, itte seifuku shite kudasai"

(My blessings are always with you, go and conquer)

"Thanks Haha( Mother), I will be more than victorious now that I have your blessings" She said as she stood up and bowed to her as a sign of respect and left as soon as she had arrived. 

15:40pm 1608年3月13日 (13th March 1608)

She was from there taken with other slaves to the trade market where she would be sold as a slave. Caulifla is a very beautiful girl so many slave traders wanted to have her but since they were given strict orders to sell her to only the Persians, they waited till the Persians came, although they made some sales that day.

The Persians finally came around and one of the Tsumago men alerted them, and the slaves were brought out. They were three Persian slave traders.

"We have bought a lot of slaves and also, we do not buy slaves from people of Tsumago because they are the most dangerous enemies to the Persians" 

"At least take a look at our slaves. They are quite strong and reliable. We may be enemies but we can still trade with you" The man who had alerted them had said.

"No. We are not interested" The slim trader said and ordered the two others come with him so they can make their journey early back to Persia.

"Wait!" The other man, who was fat had said, spotting Caulifla among the slaves.

"That slave might be good for us. Take a look" He said as the other man turned to the direction at which he was pointing.

"Is that a slave?" He asked one of the Tsumago traders.

"Yes she is"

"But she looks too beautiful for a slave, she seems royalty"

"She is not, she is just a slave"

"How much will you trade her for?"

"Five hundred gold coins".

"Five hundred it is. We will take her" He had said as he paid the Tsumago trader"

"Come along young girl, we have a long road to cover. What is your name?"

"Caulifla"

"Where do you come from?"

"I do not know. I serve the great Emperor of Tsumago since birth"

"If you ask me, i think this one should go to the King. She is too beautiful to work for some random person" The fat man whispered to the man who had agreed to buy her.

"Yes you are right, he will pay us much money for her and that will be a gain for us. She is too pretty to be ignored. Let us get going so we can make it to Persia by tomorrow. We have a long journey ahead"

They tied her to the other slaves they had bought and they started their long journey towards the land of Persia.