Chapter 38
Sakura entered the palace with a reverence and sense of anxiety that she'll make a fool of herself in front of the Dowager Empress. Her worries were not unfounded and were indeed necessary because the Dowager Empress purposely placed her in front of the center of attention during the entire ceremony.
She first had Sakura knelt down in the middle of the room and introduce herself to everyone present, and everyone had to repeat back their introduction, family name, and their title. Something Sakura had to struggle to remember immediately, for it she doesn't it's a great disrespect to the individual.
She uttered words of blessing to the Empress, and the party of female royalty proceeded on to going up to a mountain and reach the temple where all the tombs of the ancestors were.
The Dowager Empress and the Empress lead the way in the front, Sakura followed them in largely elaborate robes and clothing, and climbed the stairs of the mountain step by step. It has been said that no one has the authority to ride a carriage up to the mountain because it is a sign of great disrespect. The stairs were symbolic of cleansing of the souls and mind, by exhausting the physical.
When they arrived to the top, they were greeted by elderly monks who have been familiar with the Royal family before, and made their introduction to Sakura, led them into the temple.
This is a grand temple for the previous emperor must've spent a lot of manpower and resources to build an elaborate place of holy worship. Sakura couldn't help but think this is an extreme waste and isn't in accordance with the current Emperor's frugal policies. But the Dowager Empress enjoys the temple's luxuries very much, for she offered up a treasure chest full of silver coins as donation.
The party moved on to the cemetery behind the temple, and it's built with marbled tomb stones and brick fences, The color was painted pristine white, no doubt recently retouched for this visits.
They visited each grave of the past emperors and knelt down to pay their respects and give blessing to the current Emperor. As Sakura looked on to the hundred of people, whether they are royalty or attendees and wondered if they realize in another few hundred years, the world would change so immensely that authoritarian rule would dissipate, and it is exactly the stubbornness and traditions of the royal family that made them disappear into a footnote in history of mankind.
After the tribute, everyone gathered back at the temple and rows of dining desks were set up with seat cushions next to them. Sakura's place was purposely sat next to the Dowager Empress, and she felt being scrutinized astute Dowager begin to proceed to having a conversation with her.
"Haruno-san." The Dowager Empress addressed her by her maiden last name, and said, "I have always had trouble with my two sons, and now that Sasuke is married, no words could express my gratitude. I prayed to the Gods thanking them to have my prayer answered. Do you know what I pray for now, with one thing off my mind?"
Sakura expressed in minimal words that she could not.
"A child, Sakura-san." The Dowager Empress didn't beat around the bush. She spoke slowly and with emphasis. Each time she speaks Sakura had to put down her eating utensils and listening to her words.
"A royal child." The Dowager Empress continued, "someone to take care of this great country after Itachi."
Sakura understood, she doesn't mean that Sakura should hurry up and get pregnant, she meant that Sakura should not get pregnant before the crowned prince was born.
"Dowager Empress, you do not have to worry, an heir will come, and he will rule over the country with great vigor, just like our current ruler." Sakura added a bit of a flourish to her words, hoping the Dowager Empress could stop talking to her.
"I have no qualms about my son, however, it would be a shame if a child was born that does not belong in its place."
Sakura nodded in agreement, while thinking that finally she turned her spear and pointed it right at Sakura's stomach. This is no less than a threat.
The Dowager Empress continued, "tradition, it is of the utmost importance in the world. Tradition dictates our lives and understanding. Tradition enforces rules and obedience. Naturally everything have to follow a grand order, doesn't it, Haruno-san?"
Sakura thought that if everything followed the proper order then she should be calling Sakura by her married last name by now, whom they share. Her contradictory statements were met with enthusiasm and nods as Sakura ate sparingly hoping this day would end quicker.
The Dowager Empress turned to the Empress and spoke with her for the rest of the meal, and Sakura was left to eat in peace. The Empress give Sakura a sympathetic look as she quickly received the Dowager Empress's attention with a lovely facade.
As the huge party proceeded down the mountain, they were surprised to find a small battle troop waiting at the foot of the mountain, wearing the royal family crest. Upon further investigation it turned out that Sasuke came in a carriage, waiting for Sakura.
This was highly irregular as the officials waited for their wives inside the palace. Sasuke apparently couldn't wait this long. He got off his house and knelt down in front of the Dowager Empress and asked for forgiveness, and at the same time repeated caring pleasantries asking if the Dowager Empress had a spiritual time as she had hoped to gain.
Mikoto looked down at her son with a weariness and waved her hand and gave them permission to leave. Sakura, in font of all the wives of officials and royalty, walked towards her husband and into his outreaching hands and arms. Now everyone in the country knows how much love he dotes on her.
He kissed her finger tips and helped her on the carriage, and left quickly, leaving everyone behind.
"I missed you." Was the first thing he said, hugging her in their cozy little carriage, lined with soft satin pillows and cotton backrests.
Sakura thought about today, and said, "Your highness, maybe consider visiting the Dowager Empress more in the future? She looks lonely."
Sasuke's grip on her waist tightened and said in a cold voice, "you've overstepped your bounds."
Sakura froze up.
This family was built upon a pile of bones. Bones of their relatives. One cannot use the normative familial bonds to measure them. Sakura doesn't know this, and she spoke out of turn.
Sasuke felt her stiffness and soothed her shoulders, "Silly Sakura. You probably thought we're a common family of silk merchants, like you."
Sakura pouted, feeling mistreated. She quickly buried her head in his adoring embrace, hoping to hide her tears. He chuckled lightly, and stroked her hair. He knew he had to correct her impression before she spoke out of turn again in situations where he couldn't protect her.
Something that comes from natural instinct, a love between a mother and her son, was stripped away in royalty. There's too much at stake, too many things juggling in the air, and this bond between his brother and him, was especially rare because it shouldn't have existed. Even though, he counts the times he's been in the palace each month, each week, careful never to get involved in policies, and remembered that he's not the Emperor, and he never will be.
Sometimes he couldn't differentiate his feelings. Because everyone acted as if they're threatened by his military prowess, he wondered if there'a a part of him caged deep in his unconsciousness waiting to be broken free and claim the throne as his own. He doesn't know, and he doesn't want to ever have the opportunity to find out.
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A/N: I've decided to speed this story up a bit, and next chapter will get into the next major arc. Thank you all for your patience. Please keep reminding me to update, they're my motivation to continue.