I heard footsteps. Little feet running through the forest in a great hurry. A child? No, she was too grown up. It was a young woman with bloodstaines lips. She seemed familiar, but where from?

I didn´t know, I didn´t care. If she was important, then it would certainly pop into my mind. I turned around and continued my journey. A few meters ahead I heard someone whisper softly.

-I love you, Shuurei.

Followed by the silent thump of a hand holding something precious. His voice was beautiful, something I could listen to some more. Where did that voice come from? Shuurei? Could he mean the young woman from before? Most certainly, yes.

So that was Shuurei Hong, the governor-to-be. But if he loved her, why would she run away? Of course she loved the Emperor, but still. She wasn´t the type to leave someone hurt behind. Maybe she ran off to get help? I thought so.

I went on to see a man, holding a hairpin in his loose hand, his clothes bloodstained from the red coming from his mouth. He had kissed her. The young man had fair features, long rose-colored hair, that hang loose beyond his waist.. Now who could that be? If Shurei didn´t know him, she would have pushed him away instantly, but their kiss was longer than that. Maybe she wanted it, too? Interesting, just who was this man? And where was he wounded? He had dark rings under his eyes, there was blood pouring out of his mouth, running down his expensive clothing. But there was no wound. All right, poison it is. I was curious enough to get out of my little caravan and sat in front of him. I placed my hands on his face and moved it so he would see me, if he opened his eyes. Which he did.

I opened one of his eyes even further to see his pupil. It was one of my abilities to analyse any poison just by looking in someones eyes. I just knew.

He took a deadly poison. A poison free of taste, smell and color. It proceeded slowly, by far slower, than it should. I assumed he had a high tolerance to poison of any kind. But for this even he was not strong enough, noone was. I invented the most crucial part of it so i should know.

Poisons were one of my hobbies. But it was the part of me that i kept hidden. Always. Only my grandmother knew i inherited her addiction, but she passed away years ago. My parents were no longer around either. They were killed by my big brother who was now in jail for his crimes, which left me head of my family. I could do whatever i wanted, whenever i wanted. Right now i wanted to analyse this man a little further. He was barely conscious, if even that.

I turned around.

-Ginta, Muto, come here, please.

Two tall men came to me, looked at the man at my feet and then back to me.

-Hime-sama, what can we do for you.

-May we humbly ask who this man is?

-You may, Muto, but i´m afraid i do not know the answer. Actually, that is excactely why i wanted you two to come to me. I want to take him with me. Would you please be so kind and place him in my carriage?

They both blushed a little, like they always did when i asked something of them instead of commanding it. It made them feel more wanted and needed, as well as more attached to me. I did learn how to manipulate the people around me, but i really liked these two. They nodded and took the dying man. His head slumped back in his neck and his powerful body rested defenseless and vulnerable in the arms of my men. It made small whirlwinds appear in my stomach. Not the kind that you feel when you are in love. No, these weren´t those gentle buttelflies. These were the powerful whirlwinds of the greatest plasure i ever experienced.

This man sure was interesting.

Back in my carriage we resumed our journey and i watched the pale man laying in front of me. I took out a cloth and whiped the blood away that was staining his lips. What would it feel like to be kissed by those lips, to be touched by those pale hands?

If i succeeded in healing him i would know.

I took pit a scringe and filles it with my own blood. The beautiful mans´ breathing got shallow, too shallow. He woult not survive the trip to my residence. I had to do something about it if i did not want to lose my latest object of entertainment. And what could i do to prevent his death? I experimented enough with my own blood to know that it was a strong cure for most poisons. It was strange. My grandmother always told me i was ´special´, but i did not believe her until i was attempted to be killed by a poisoned meal. One of the nobels wanted me out of his way and got quite nervous when his method bore no fruit. He was arrested. It was then that i found out about my high poison tolerance. Later i did some experiments on myself and could prove that my blood could neutrilize most poisons or at least slow them down.

If i did not want the stranger to die i had had to give him my blood. I pulled up his sleeve to have access to his veins. Such smooth pale skin, yet muscular. I desinfected an area on his arm, then gunned him my dark blood. Taking out the needle i slightly bandaged him. He didn´t even stir.

He looked noble, his clothes expensive, no scars at all. Smooth skin and beautiful hair. His right hand was rough from swordsplay, but the left was not. He was not used to work. At least not with his hands. He had to be a noble.

Then i had an idea. The residence i was headed to was one i have never been visiting before. So there would be noone to recignize me, would there? I took out some paper and ink. I decided to play a game. It was a fun game and on top of that it would help me get rid of potential spies and such.

I told Ginta and Muto about my plan and they smiled a little. What i was abour to do was partly their job but they enjoyed it whenever i was at it. I gave them my letter and they went off. We stopped before the entrance of the large residence.

I smiled. Let the Game begin.