Sakura's Emerald Eyes—Prologue
Sakura's father was a big man. Made to be a king. But the authority he had over her was only a father's authority over his daughter. His being King did not intimidate her. He was a handsome man who was clean shaven in the morning, but didn't look bad even in stubble. He was well-built with broad shoulders and a wide chest. A very fatherly man in his old age and a handsome yet loving and caring husband and son while he was young.
Now, he looked at Sakura on this particular day; she was fifteen and had grown into a lovely, shapely young woman. She looked like him. She had his nose, his lips, but her mother's beautiful, big eyes. He looked at her eyes more closely. They had intrigued him ever since she was born. For everyone in the family as far back as he could remember or his grandparents could remember, in all the paintings of the royal family, in all written records of their appearance, no one had recorded such eyes. Her eyes were the color of the brightest feather of the most colorful peacock. They were a mystery. But it was not to this purpose that he observed her, especially her manner and looks. There is only one thought that can come to a father after observing such things so intently; though he had not woken up this day with that intention, looking upon his daughter now, he found that she seemed old enough, ready for marriage.
After this thought occurred to the old man, he winced at having to tell her. He did believe that he could better find suitors for her, however, her choice would not be forced. He could not impose such a great will upon his daughter, for though obedient, he had raised her to be independent, to be a queen. And she would not consent her will on such a permanent decision very easily, unless she desired it.
But it has to be done, he thought to himself, for the kingdom will frown upon an unmarried daughter. And her mother would have wanted it. Sakura's father had loved her mother beyond death, but she had died, and it was this thought that led him to his resolution to tell his daughter that the time for her marriage had come.