Chapter_01

Once again Asuka found herself sitting in the deepest leather couch in grandfather's study, waiting. The scent of this room always bothered her. It was the smell of…"old". Everything in here was at least a century older than her 16 years of living could contend with. She didn't have much interest in history and to her all these ancient books and antiques littering the room took away from its potential. Maybe it could be a second closet for all her clothes? She knew that was hopeless of course. Grandfather was the only one she knew in the palace who stood immovable to every whim. She respected that. She also hated that.

"What's taking Grandad so long?" She wondered. She slinked off the couch and approached one of the bookshelves. Eyeing them with little to no interest.

"You're always welcome to borrow any one of those you'd like." A soft voice said almost directly behind her causing her to jump. She turned around to see her elderly Grandfather's smiling face. He seemed to be always smiling. Asuka wondered if he was capable of any other expression. Maybe he had it permanently botoxed like that.

"Jeez, Grandad. You scared me. How is it I never hear you coming?" Asuka said.

"I'm part ninja." He said with a grin.

Asuka did her best to laugh his lame joke. "So…you called for me?"

"I did. Sit down, Asuka there are somethings we need to discuss."

Asuka returned to the couch as her grandfather sat in his usual chair directly across from her. She watched as he sat down with the polished grace that comes for decades of palace life. While he was a grandfather to her, he was also "grandfather" to the entire county. The Emperor of The United States of America, Jacob Washington Soryu. The title certainly sounds intimidating but to Asuka, who had spent her entire life being raised in the Royal Palace, he was just "Grandad". An old man who could always find a way to make her smile and feel a love that she never felt from even her own parents, King Robert and Queen Kyoko.

"Asuka, you will soon be 17 years old, correct?"

"Are you perhaps wanting to know what I want for my birthday?" Asuka asked brightly.

"I already know you what you want. You'd like to move to the east auxiliary wing of the palace to get away from all us old people."

Asuka was impressed. That was exactly what she wanted. She had been begun spending more time over on that side of the wing. It was currently unoccupied and was far enough from the main palace that it was practically like moving away from home. The idea of having her own place was too exciting to even bring up casually to her parents so she'd been practicing in the mirror how to broach the subject in a relaxed manner. But here her Grandfather already knew. Despite how busy he was, he always knew what was on her mind.

"Yeah, I guess that'd be cool. It needs a lot of work though." She tried to answer calmly.

"I have no doubt you can make the place look great. And I don't see any issue with you moving out there. Just make sure you continue to visit your father. He needs our constant support if he is to recover."

Asuka winced inwardly thinking about her father, King Robert. Her father had been diagnosed with a degenerative bone disease almost 3 years ago which had weakened him dramatically and caused him to become practically bedridden. She had heard the gossip around the palace that there was apparently no cure. Despite this, Asuka always paid her respects to her father in his bedroom when she woke up in the morning but it was growing hard on her to see him so emaciated, day after day. She needed to get out of the shadow of her father's illness. Her father's condition was hardest on her mother. She barely acknowledged Asuka anymore unless it had to do with King Robert. Her mother was blinded by her love for her husband. She couldn't see anything else but him. She seemingly refused to do anything but devote all her energies to him leaving Asuka to become a ghost member of her own family. She felt lucky that her Grandfather took up the reigns and began taking more of an interest in her but she still felt alone.

"...and while I look forward you your upcoming birthday, that is not why I have called you this afternoon." Her grandfather said.

Asuka sighs. She can already feel that a favor is coming on. She's going to have to do something for the family. Again.

"OK. What do you need me to do? Another publicity event?"

"Kind of. We have reached a difficult time in our family's history. The royal family is no longer as powerful as we once were. Public opinion is constantly shifting and we must always do our best to stay ahead. But since your father's condition has still not improved..."

Asuka frowned. "Yes, I know. But I am confident that he will better soon."

"Your spirit certainly gives him strength and I too continue to pray that he makes a full recovery. But there are some who are concerned that we must prepare for the worst possible outcome."

"You mean…if he dies?" Asuka says quietly.

"I do. I don't like to even think about it but we must be prepared."

Asuka realized she had hardly moved. It has occurred to her already that her father may die but only in a very casual sense had she thought about it. Like how fire can burn you. She is aware but not truly aware.

"What can we do?" Asuka spoke up.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Our family is dwindling in size. With your Uncle's tragic passing and the possibility of losing my only remaining son, we must do something to grow our numbers."

"Grow our numbers? What does that mean?"

"It means that if we are able to introduce new blood it will breathe life into our family and the perhaps the public will once again be with us in solidarity."

"So...what? I'm going to have a new baby brother?" Asuka replied.

"Haha. That would be nice but I'm afraid your mother is past the age of child-rearing."

"I could have told you that years ago. " Asuka muttered.

"Asuka, be nice. Your mother may have her faults, but she still loves you."

"I know, I know."

"Now, what I'm about to suggest is not going to be easy but I want you to give it some thought before you immediately respond OK?

"OK. Wait, you're not going to make me have a kid are you!?"

"Haha. No no. Come now, nothing that crazy."

"Ok, good."

"I just want you to get married."

"No." She said flatly.

Her grandfather sighed deeply. "Didn't I ask you to give it some thought?"

"…..No." Asuka replied after a few seconds.

"Asuka, listen to me-"

Asuka rocketed off of the couch. "Are you insane? I'm only 16 years old! Is that even legal?"

"Almost 17. And yes, it's legal. I got married around your age you know."

Asuka began to frantically pace around the room.

"Yeah, like a 1,000 years ago when that was normal. It's not normal anymore."

"Asuka I need you to accept that this is the only way. Even you must know how the public has been viewing us over the years. There is even talk of a vote being brought up in the House." Her grandfather said sternly.

"And how is me getting married helpful?"

"You will give the public hope for the future. You and your new husband."

"Husband….who am I even going to marry? I don't think I know a single boy my own age. It's going to take time to find someone I want to marry."

"Don't worry I have that matter resolved."

"Resolved? As in, what? You already have chosen my husband!?" Asuka shouted.

"I have, yes."

"I don't mean to pry, but you know as a courtesy could you at least tell me who it is? Perhaps some prince I've met once when I was 5? Or some twice removed cousin?"

"No far flung family relation. His name is Shinji and I think you'll like him."

"Shinji? I've never met a Shinji before. Where is he from?"

"He lives here in the city. His grandfather and I were very close friends."

"Wait. Is he even royalty?!" Asuka exclaimed.

There's a knock on the door. Asuka knew immediately who it was just by the knock. It was her personal attendant Misato Katsuragi. Misato walks in, impeccably dressed in her standard court uniform looking 100% professional as always.

"Please forgive my intrusion, I'm here to escort the Princess to dinner. If she is ready?" Misato asked the Emperor.

Asuka opens her mouth to say something but her grandfather cuts her off.

"Yes, she is ready. Asuka please think over what I have said."

Asuka begins to follow Misato out of the room without even a glance at her grandfather. She suddenly turns around and with a piercing glare looks directly into his eyes.

"I have a list of demands."

"Which will be met." He immediately replied.

Asuka throws the meanest scowl she can make towards a Grandfather that she could never hate and slams the door behind her.

"You're taking this better than I thought you would." Misato said as they walked down toward the dining room.

Of course she already knows about this Asuka thought. I'm probably the last to be told about this screwball plan.

"You already know about this?" Asuka asked.

"I do. We didn't broach you with it until after much deliberation it was agreed it was the best course of action."

Yup. Everyone knows.

"Who you knows, it might be wonderful."

"You're nuts. Prove it. You get married first." Asuka said challengingly.

"You know I am not allowed to marry when I took up service." Misato frowned slightly.

"Right. Sorry. Well I'm pissed alright. I mean I know I basically have like no say in life, but still. I don't even get to pick the guy?"

"Maybe you'll like him. Your grandfather knows you very well. I'm sure he has picked someone very suitable for you."

"Suitable for him and everyone else you mean. The guy's probably so proper he's got a stick wedged up his ass."

"Watch your language!" Misato barked.

"I just don't want him to be a complete tool." Asuka said quietly under her breath.

As they reached the dining room, Asuka put on the perfunctory smile she'd been taught many years ago to hold at dinner. She knows sleep won't come easily tonight. "Please don't be a complete idiot" She thought one last time regarding her future husband before she steps into the room.

That's it for now. Next chapter coming soon. Not like Evangelion 4.0 soon. Sooner than that at least.