SPOILERS ALERT - Authors Notes : This scene is a fictional one that takes place based on the Saiunkoku Short Story/Manga world. The Second Season Anime left off where Ryuuki pose a challenge to Shuurei whereby after certain set period, if Shuurei did not enter the Royal Harem on her own free will, Ryuuki would have to take Jyusan Hime for his bride.
However, as the Short Story/Manga progresses, Ryuuki actually 'ordered' Shuurei to be his Royal Consort as a political move to buy back the then defecting Kou clan. Hence, foregoing the earlier challenge and indirectly unsure of knowing whether Shuurei accepted the proposal because she loved him or because she had to.
And so the story (in my world, anyways) continues. Feedback again will be savoured like warm caramel….yummmm….
Declaration
Chapter 1/2 - Assertion
"I'm coming in……is this all right?," asked Ryuuki as he pushed away the bed curtains to look down at her.
Days after Ryuuki had decided that Shuurei should join the Royal Harem as the Princess of the Kou clan, Shuurei requested that she travel to the Kou province to persuade her clan to declare their renewed loyalty to the King. That would serve as her last assignment as a Saiunkoku Government Official.
It was decided then that Shuurei would formally move into the King's quarters once she completed that last duty. However, due to foreboding thoughts that Ryuuki just could not get rid off after Shuurei's announcement to attempt at reconciling the King and the Kou clan, the young King decided to throw all cautions into the wind and requested her to stay within the palace grounds until her journey to the Crimson Province.
He then started to pay her nightly visits, much to his better judgement.
However, Ryuuki had thought, that if his earlier façade with his night time male companions did not cause much of a ruckus amongst the palace and government officials, then they should not do so his female ones.
It was after all, announced at the senate of his decision to take the nation's only female senator as his bride soon.
That night will be the third of such visits. Of course the first two visits had been purely platonic, with both parties secretly reminiscing of their earlier days as 'husband and wife' together.
On both occasions, they had said good night to each other over a huge bolster Shuurei had placed as a barrier between them. Nonetheless, they somehow found themselves snugly cuddled together the mornings after.
Hence, on the third night, Shuurei braced herself for the worst to come, or the best, depending on how one would look at the situation. She was already tucked in tightly with the blanket all the way to her chin, anticipating Ryuuki's arrival. However, there was no bolster that night.
At Ryuuki's announcement of settling for the night, Shuurei could only muster a meek, "Emmm".
Purposely playing on her nervous state, Ryuuki slowly pealed away the blanket to slide in beside her in bed. The air was so tense as Ryuuki settled himself under the blankets that one could hear a pin drop.
"Be careful you don't fall off the bed," chided Ryuuki at the sight of the nervous Shuurei trying to keep as far away from him as possible.
Shuurei huffed indignantly and turned away from Ryuuki.
Ryuuki seized the moment by grabbing Shuurei from behind to pull her to settle in front of him in a spoon fashion, with him cradling her from behind.
After a moment's silence, the young King began to speak.
"Aisheteru, Shuurei," Ryuuki declared with a tinge of sadness.
"You don't know just how much. I really didn't want it to come to this," said Ryuuki. "I wanted you to marry me on your own accord. Because you love me too. Not because I commanded you to."
"Even so, you must know that I did it for purely selfish reason…again. The problems I have with your clan can be solved in one way or another. You coming in as a consort is one of the last resorts we could use should everything else fails," he added.
"Gomenasai. I can let you go if you really wished it. The announcement we have made can be overwritten, I'm sure," Ryuuki stared into space, thinking of the consequences of his decisions or lack of.
Despite his willingness to let her go, his actions told her otherwise. His right arm which initially pulled her towards him, now tightened under her breasts.
Shuurei, who kept quiet through out his tirade, shook her left hand free from its trapped position under her, to slowly make its way to find Ryuuki's right one.
Her small left palm slowly clasped his obviously larger right one. Slowly she raised it to her lips, where she kissed its open palm.
The gesture clearly shocked Ryuuki.
Cupping her cheeks, Ryuuki turned her face to look at him.
"Shuurei?" Ryuuki looked at her questioningly, propping himself up with one arm.
~ To Be Continued ~
