Sekiraku

Disclaimer: I do not own TK, except for the characters I create.

Page 1

How long has it been? A year? Two? Or three?

Even when Keiki recited the statistics to her, she still found it hard to swallow the fact that she had remained within the shores of the Twelve Kingdoms for 10 years. Initially when she started out as an empress, she vowed to return to her homeland every once a year to make sure she still has that connection, that desire to return home. Nevertheless, time flew. The memory of herself claiming her throne was still fresh in her mind; unfading. It was as if the said memory occurred just yesterday. Yet as she watched her mortal allies age, it dawned on her subconscious mind that she would continue to live even as they disappear from the surface of the world.

Perhaps that was why some emperors and empresses distanced themselves from the common folks. Save for En-o, who seemed unperturbed by his age. Or maybe 500 years was enough time for him to practice to overlook that detail.

Speaking of allies and friends, Youko had not seen Suzu or Shoukei since their last collaboration. But she did receive an unofficial letter saying that Suzu was well taken cared of by the local empress. Youko was slightly disappointed, naturally, that Suzu had not shown any desire to return to Kei or to contact her. However, if that was her choice, then Youko could do nothing about it. It was better with Shoukei though, since the former princess had chosen to stay in En with Rakushun. And due to her experience in the court and politics, En-o had extended his generosity to sponsor the girl to take the Imperial Exam as well. Through the bird and from the occasional visits from Enki, Youko was glad to know that both of her friends were doing pretty well within the court.

She was envious of them, she realized. Yes, of Asano too.

The general situation now somehow made her feelings insignificant, as if she did not matter. She had finally acquired a firm grasp on her authority as a ruler, Keiki was pretty satisfied with her current progess, and her friends were happy. Her country's economy was slowly, but steadily picking up. International relations between countries were not as bad. And of course, some of her ministers were slowly accepting (if not grudgingly) her capabilities as a ruler. So far, Youko had fulfilled her part as an empress.

But the rest of the world seemed to have failed her.

If Youko had known that becoming an empress would reduce her to this state, she probably should have screwed heaven and just return to Japan.

Wouldn't she like that?

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Kingdom.