A/N: I don't own FFXII and don't read if you don't like. That is all.
When Queen Ashe of Dalmasca declared that she would soon become engaged to Al-Cid, tensions rose between the Empire and the two nations. While its emperor knew they mean to ill towards them, convincing the people to calm themselves was another. Some have tried to find a way to get rid of the little emperor, but with Ganbrant by his side, it was hard to get anything through. Not to mention the boy emperor could take care of himself. Weeks, months, years went on by and the child emperor persevered. He had managed to calm the people down well enough, with meetings and meetings with the new . . . "couple."
Every time he saw the two, he'd greet them with a smile – a broken, twisted smile that no one seemed to have noticed, the boy emperor was expert at keeping up appearances. It was something he easily picked up, even before traveling with the once-princess and her band of sky pirates and resistance, which only grew as the years went on by. They were never to see his thoughts. It may mean the end of the Rossarian and Dalmascan alliance. . . . and he was never one to impose his feelings on anyone. Lies. Lies. Lies. The word nipped at his insides.
To tell the truth, he felt disgusted every time he saw the two together. He knew that the Rossarian marquis had plenty of other ladies in his harem. The moment they were married, he knew that Lady Ashe would simply be another part of his collection, left there to gather dust. Oh, they never noticed the tightness of his jaw whenever he spoke to them. How his fists curled slightly beneath the sleeves as voice of the marquis grated at his ears. He knew that she deserved better than this. To be married twice for political reasons must be a nightmare for her, and he wanted to take her away from it all.
What a hypocrite he was.
"Lord Larsa? Is there something wrong?"
". . . ?" He blinked, and looked up to where he had heard the voice. Feminine. Cautious. He quickly realized just who it was and stopped his writing. "Lady Ashe. . . Please excuse my . . . appearance." He said as he got up to greet her more personally. The now twenty – three years old emperor was dressed in something as simple as a night shirt and pants. He didn't notice how the lady's eyes widened slightly as she saw him. Instead, he was looking for a way out. "Oh my, is it that dark already?" Even he saw through that trick.
" . . . You're avoiding the question, Emperor." Ashe replied a little curiously. She wondered what had made the younger man act so peculiar lately. After their formal meetings at one another's palaces, they never seem to meet for, well, personal reasons anymore. Weren't they friends? It felt as if the young emperor was avoiding her.
"I am terribly sorry. What did you ask again?" He frowned slightly, berating himself silently for not listening to her. Oh, when his ears caught her voice, it had scared the espers out of him. Yet, he had not caught on to what she had asked him.
She sighed and walked up to him closer. Her hand cupped his cheek as she stroked it lightly, her eyes filled with concern for the younger man. "Is there something wrong?" She asked him.
He blushed at the touch. Just like a boy. Just like a child. It infuriated him. Even as emperor, is that all she saw him as? Just a little boy that needs someone to look after him? It infuriated him, but he let it go. Just like he always did. His hand rested on hers, pulling it away from his face as he looked away. "I'm fine."
That was the first lie he had ever told the Queen.