Chapter 1

Somewhere between the high mountains, the fast rivers, the endless seas and green meadows lay the powerful Seireitei Empire. Being under the rule of the 9th Emperor – Byakuya the prowess was only growing more and more. But beneath that success were hidden all the intrigues, lies and greediness of people. The negative traits of all human beings so hard to suppress in the face of riches and power. This is not a fairytale, but rather a story of the sacrifices one has to make to climb up and up and achieve more and more and perhaps the only cure of the painful ambition – love!

Byakuya was 33 years old, tall and handsome, with those deep blue eyes and flowing long black hair. And all the concubines in his palace and perhaps the women outside of the Empire were upset that he was cold and uninterested in anything besides politics and successful ruling. To the endless pleas of the people around him to stop all rumors and secure his position with more sons, he answered that his one and only son was enough of a heir and there is no other woman in this world who can give him what he lost with the death of his beloved Hisana.

"I need to look for a new vice-captain soon. I need someone young and passionate, ambitious and capable with the sword. Someone close to my age who will follow me on the marches to enlarge the lands of this Empire, not an old man interested in staying in the palace all time and tired of wars and changes. Did you understand, Ginpei?"

"Yes, your majesty!" The elder man bowed politely.

Byakuya nodded.

"Great. Then, you are dismissed."

He moved backwards to the door and Byakuya returned behind his desk, looking down at the map showing all the lands that belonged to him and all the others he had marked and planned to get a hold on during his rule. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Enter!"

The young servant bowed politely and asked without looking up.

"The princess, your sister wishes to see you, your Majesty!"

The Emperor's sister was named Rukia. A smart and ambitious young lady, quite well educated and too independent in the opinion of most. Rukia was already 23 years old and still unmarried, which had the advisors of the Emperor constantly reminding him that it's high time he found a suitable husband for his willful sister.

"Let her enter." Byakuya spoke and the young servant bowed politely.

Rukia entered the room in her riding suit, her favorite clothes. She bowed politely and came closer to her brother.

"Your majesty!"

"I think I told you that you can call me 'brother' when it's just the two of us, Rukia." Byakuya spoke, feeling quite uncomfortable to be called like this even by his own birth sister.

"Yes. I am sorry, brother." She nervously smiled.

"What's the matter, Rukia?" He asked even though he already knew the answer.

"Well, I just wanted to ask you…if I can go riding. I have not gone in the woods with Shirayuki for a week already and I…"

"Yes, you can, Rukia." He cut her off and she looked up at him surprised.

"Really?" Her eyes widening with satisfaction.

"I think you have already made up your mind since you are in that outfit."

"Ah…" She blushed feeling a bit embarrassed. "If you had not agreed, I would have taken it off."

"It's fine. You have my permission."

Rukia thanked him before cheerfully going outside, ready to go horse riding, her favorite thing to do. Byakuya looked outside of his room, watching her enthusiastic steps. He smiled. She was the perfect lady when the etiquette required it but when she could just be herself only her natural elegance remained. Just when he was about to go back and close the door he heard Ginpei's voice.

"Oh, God, how come she is nothing close to her brother? If someone sees this attitude she will have to marry a peasant. I hope we found her a good husband soon so he could tame her while it's still possible." He sighed as usual and shook his head in disapproval.

"Oh she is pretty much the same as her brother." Byakuya thought and the smirk appeared again on his face. "It's just that the burden of the crown does not lie on her shoulders. Luckily."

Byakuya had two children from different mothers – a daughter named Soifon, who was 16 and a son named Toushiro – 13 years old. The one and only heir to the throne. Handsome with his white spiky hair and blue-green eyes, the perfect combination of his father and mother Hisana. The only thing left to Byakuya to remember his beloved wife who had died shortly after giving birth to Toushiro. The young prince was recognized by everyone for his exceptional talent with the sword and sharp mind even at that age. He was a really cold kid, not easy to get along with. The only people who made exception were his old granny (Byakuya's nanny when he was a young child), who had already died, 28-year-old Matsumoto Rangiku – a cheerful and sexy court lady, who was Toushiro's guardian, personally arranged for that job by his own mother on her deathbed and Hinamori Momo – a 15- year-old girl servant at the palace, before being adopted by one of the captains of the Royal Army – Aizen Sousuke.

"Oi, Hinamori!" The young prince called out and the said girl turned back to meet him with a bright smile.

"Ah, Shiro-chan! You are always so quiet that I hardly feel your presence before you call me. It can be scary at times." She sweetly laughed and he almost smiled before clearing his throat.

"How many times do I have to tell you? It's not Shiro-chan, it's Prince Toushiro!"

An ordinary girl would tremble in fear in front of the prince but she just brushed it off with a smile.

"Ok, Toushiro. I am sorry." He pretended to be dissatisfied with her answer and looked to the side when she spoke again. "Have a nice day!"

Taken by surprise he was quick to respond.

"Where are you going?"

"I am going to see Renji and Izuru train. You know Izuru is already captain Ichimaru's right hand."

"You can come and watch me train tomorrow. I will make an exception for you. Consider yourself very lucky to be able to see me train." He responded full of confidence and that typical smirk appeared on his face.

"I don't know if I can come. If captain Aizen agrees to it then..." She put a finger on her lips, full of thoughts.

"What does his word mean when I am the prince?" He asked annoyed "But don't make effort, Bed-wetter. You were going to be a bother anyway." He kept his cool and walked away with his head kept high.

Hinamori opened her mouth to respond but then froze and closed her lips in a pout.

Byakuya's daughter Soifon was 16 – the hardest age to handle and he was reminded of that every single day. If it was just riding a horse or studying like her aunt he would have been happy, but Soifon wanted to learn sword fighting, hand to hand combat and go to wars with the army. When anyone tried to tell her how inappropriate that was she would always answer in the same way.

"Why shouldn't I do it when my brother does? And he is even younger than me!" She protested again when Nanao tried to explain for the thousand time that she won't train with the men.

"Because you are a princess, Soifon! Not a man! And your brother has not been to war yet."

"Why does this world favor men over women? I can never rule the Empire as though I am not of the same blood. And I have seen men with no talent fight. I am telling you – for sure I can beat them if I have the chance!"

Nanao just sighed and shook her head. It was useless to keep convincing her how wrong she was, because honestly speaking – she was not so wrong.

"You are precious to your father, princess! And he fears for your well-being."

Soifon's eyes widened and the corners of her lips curled to form something like a smile.

"He would have loved me if I was Hisana's daughter. But he hates my mother and me. His glare becomes piercing if someone even says my mother's name."

No one spoke after that sentence as both of the girls were consumed by sadness.

The brown-haired man, aged around 50 was sitting behind his desk going through the same set of papers again and again. If someone were to enter the room at this moment they will be engulfed in a warm atmosphere – tea aroma in the air, books all around the place and the man's warm welcoming smile. Everything about him reminded of a caring father – his expressions, his looks, his gestures and all of his subordinates loved him. But no one admired him more than his adopted daughter – Hinamori Momo.

He moved by the window and pulled the curtains. He saw something that made him smile.

"What is it, Captain Aizen?"A man with a voice as cold as a snake's spoke.

"The lovely sister of our Emperor needs a husband soon, don't you think, Gin?" The man smiled and his warm fatherly smile turned into a sly grin.

'I agree, Captain Aizen." The other man smiled without even opening his eyes.

Just below in the garden three men were sparring. The sound of swords-clashing was overwhelming. The red-haired man advanced towards the blonde one and took him down with a single strike.

"You are no fun today, Kira!" He grinned and threw his sword away.

The blonde-haired one was not paying any attention, looking somewhere in the distance. The brown-haired one slapped him on the neck.

"Hey!" He finally reacted and jumped to his feet. "What's your problem?"

"Where are you spacing off to?" He asked.

"Just wondering who that horse rider is? He seems really awesome!"

Both of the others looked in the said direction and noticed the figure that was nearing the castle gates.

"It must be the young prince. It's a petite figure." Hisagi said and turned back to collect their swords. "No more sweet talks – back to training, guys!"

Kira smiled. "That would explain why Hinamori is always speaking of his abilities with such admiration." Renji noticed the dissatisfaction in his voice.

The figure was getting closer and they heard the noise of hooves digging deeper into the ground as someone jumped from the horse. Renji smiled.

"Is that even a man? He looks too curvy. I bet he has many men drooling over him."

The hat was removed from his head and they all gasped when long straight black hair danced in the wind.

"A woman?" Renji could not keep his surprise.

"Aaah, that is the Emperor's sister! Heard she rides a horse dressed like a man." Hisagi answered. "Still waters run deep. I guess that's why so many men hope to get her hand in marriage. Too bad only few have that chance."

Kira spoke after.

"But she is too serious. I prefer the gentler type of girls to the Ice Princess. Someone like…"

"Rangiku." Hisagi loudly exclaimed. "That woman is fire. So funny and sexy."

Only the red-haired guy was still looking in awe at the figure in the distance.

"Come on, Renji! We don't have a whole day!" Hisagi shouted.

"So that is Rukia?" Renji asked for confirmation.

"Yes. For sure. I see her sometimes in the palace when we hold army meetings." Hisagi said.

"She has grown up well." Renji almost whispered.

Hello! This is my new story "Empire"! I was inspired by Tite Kubo's characters from "Bleach" and many wonderful historical series! The story is going to be long and more of a drama, but I hope also interesting and memorable! I will be happy if you read and review!