10 Your Bride

3rd Prince Yang Qui scoffed silently and walked the length of the throne room. Light came in all possible directions from its huge windows that lined the wall. Drawings of cranes (the national animal of the Empire) ran down the pillars which were painted in blue and white (the Empire's national colors).

The prince could see his siblings on either side when he got close enough to the throne. He bowed to his father. "I have returned with victory, Your Imperial Majesty."

The Emperor let out a deep laugh. "No need to address me like you're a general. Do it again."

The Prince stared at the granite floor. "I'm home, Father."

"Rise, my son," said the Emperor.

"Welcome home, Brother," smiled the Crown Prince, who was standing on the side of the throne.

He nodded back.

"Oh, my son!" said Empress Li Xiu (The Empress, first wife of the Emperor), rushing and holding both of his cheeks. "Have you been well?"

"I'm okay, Mother," he answered, his lips could not help but go into a thin line. His Father's second family offered a fake smile and a nod to him—nothing new. Yang Qui turned to his father. "If I may seek an audience with you, Father? It's about—"

The Emperor waved him off. "Let's not talk about the happenings outside the walls! You just came back."

"But—"

"No, no!" said The Emperor, glaring at him a little. Right, he was forgetting his place. "We'll talk about this later. Get some rest and get ready for the party later."

The smile completely disappeared from the prince's lips. "As you wish, Father."

Everyone's attention snapped when the doors opened again.

"Princess Lin Yingyue has arrived in the throne room," said the announcer.

Prince Yang Qui's lips smirked as he turned to the entrance. The princess walked in a beautiful dress that looked like it was ready to fall off her body at any moment. She had her head down and she looked embarrassed—like she wanted the world to swallow her—with her hunched shoulders and back. Not much changed about her then, the prince thought. She was still the frail and pale girl.

She stopped in front of him and he could not imagine his delight when she stuttered. "W-welcome back, Prince Yang Qui."

Yeah, he had that effect on people.

Yang Qui turned to his older brother, the second prince, Prince Xiaodan. "I heard you're finally getting married. Congratulations."

Prince Xiaodan nodded, but his eyes were empty. Of course, this brother of his hated him too. "Thank you."

Yang Qui gestured to the princess in front of him. "Your bride." Then he stepped away from her and walked out of the throne room.

**

The 3rd Prince was right. Tianshi Xue wanted nothing more than to disappear from that world. While she was walking, she felt like those were the last steps that she would take on that land. They echoed like a second heartbeat. She heard because she was the only one who was making noise.

Here she was, an actress—uhm, no, a princess of a rebel land, she meant—walking in the throne room full of people who could order her life to be ended this instant.

It did not help that she saw the most loathsome face in all of the Empire. Of the world even! The face of the 3rd Prince of the Heping Empire. The face of Yang Qui, The Conqueror.

She felt like her knees would buckle under his slitted eyes. If the second prince's face was too soft, then the face of the third prince was the opposite. His face was filled with sharp angles and edges and pointedness from the corners of his eyes and eyebrows and the top of his nose to his jaw that (as some people say) could cut glass. As if that was not enough, she had to add the corners of his sneering mouth.

What a waste of red lips, she thought.

She hated that her voice shook. She guessed she could not help it. She was facing the man responsible for the deaths of a thousand people—enemies and their own. The man who faced the wars outside the walls. The man who burned and conquered lands. The man who always brought home slaves with him.

It was a relief when he left but she sensed his mockery with his last remark of being the bride of the second prince.

But she had something else to worry about. She declined dinner last night and now she was late from an emperor's summon. She deserved to die.

There he was, Emperor Yang Yong. The man who had made the largest and the most peaceful Empire (as they claim). He was the man who had slain the tyrant emperor, Lin Zhiquiang, the father of Princess Lin Yingyue. They all knew the history.

They all knew that Princess Yingyue was not here as a guest for the past 16 years. She was taken from her homeland, Shanmai Empire, as a hostage so her family would no longer challenge Heping Empire.

The Emperor was seated on his throne—it was the only golden thing in the blue and white room with the open windows. His face had lines but it was still strong and carried the meanness and stoniness of a leader's. His hair was short and he didn't bother to dye his salt and pepper hair. It swirled in loose curls under his crown.

She dropped her eyes to the floor because she realized she was staring. Everyone was waiting for her to say something.

"I-I am sorry I am late, E-Emperor," she said, her heart was beating too loud in her chest, she was sure she was going to have an attack. She didn't want to be scared. Maybe it was the princess' body reacting, seeing the man who had taken her from her home and killed her father. "I got a little lost."

"I have heard about your accident," said the Emperor and Tianshi Xue could not believe it but she heard worry in it. "Are you alright?"

"I-I…" she swallowed. "I am feeling well, Your Imperial Majesty. Thank you for your concern."

"Can I expect you at the party later?" He posed it as a question but Tianshi Xue knew it was really a command.

"Yes, of course, Your Imperial Majesty."

The Emperor turned his attention to his second son. "Show her the palace, I think she needs a refresher."

Prince Xiaodan nodded at his father's order. He knew that there was an underlying meaning in it. Bring her to the doctor and know what is wrong with her. "Yes, Father."

They both bowed before they turned to the exit. Prince Xiaodan was holding her by the elbow and steered her outside. Once they were out, Tianshi Xue felt that she could breathe again.

"Are you okay?" the prince asked worriedly. "Why do you look like you're going to faint?"

"I… It's the Emperor."

Tianshi Xue could not believe it. She had met the ruler of their country!

"What about father? Why do you look so nervous?" the prince smiled at her. "You've seen him more than a thousand times. He loves you like you're his own daughter."

Tianshi Xue realized that she was still in the body of the princess. "Yes, yes," she nodded her head vigorously. "I just… it hit me different today."

"I think it was Qui that made you nervous," Prince Xiaodan said understandably. "You always felt jittery when he's home." The prince took her hand and slung it on his arm. "Now, let's tour the palace for the hundredth time."