One morning a letter arrived with the imperial stamp containing a formal invitation to the palace. Apparently, the new emperor was searching for a bride. As you can probably imagine, this news sent Ayami and her equally vain and silly mother into hysterics. Although it is true that the Kawashima family had noble blood, their landholdings had greatly diminished due to past wars, so an alliance with the emperor would help solidify their social standing. And so, it was planned that they would leave at once. As Ayami's personal maid, I was to go with them as well. The entire household was a flurry of excitement as we packed up and set off the next morning.
For my part, I was excited to see the capital for the first time, but could have cared less about the royal family or political marriages. Besides, I had heard that the new emperor, Soo-Won, was rather useless and lazy, with absolutely no interest in state affairs. My father had taught me a bit about government, so I knew the importance of having a strong ruler, and couldn't help feeling disgusted by this man who had been born into a position of such power but had no desire to help others.
After three days of travel, we finally arrived. The capital city was everything that I expected it to be and more. It was unbelievably huge and bustling with people from every walk of life, just like my parents had described. They had visited the capital several times before I was born, and had planned to take me as well when I was older, but of course that never happened. I kept my face glued to the carriage window the entire time, savoring the feeling of driving through the same streets that my parents had also once traveled on.
As we neared the castle, we could see a line of carriages streaming out of the palace gates. I hid a smile at the look of distaste that crossed Ayami's face as she took in the sight. Apparently, she wasn't the only one who got the invitation, I thought to myself with amusement. At last, we made it to the doors of the imperial mansion where we filed into another line filled with powdered-faced, silk robed ladies just like Ayami. I eagerly strained my eyes toward the front hoping to get a glimpse of the emperor I had heard so much about, but the crowd was too thick. Finally, when there were only about twenty ladies in front of us, he came into view.
He was very young, just as the rumors said. I guessed that he was probably only a year or two older than me. He had long golden hair and blue-green eyes that reflected his boredom and disinterest. Slender and delicate boned, I couldn't help thinking that he would have been a beautiful girl. Still, what struck me most about his appearance was the bejeweled crown he wore. I looked once then looked again to be sure, but there was no mistaking it. Emperor Soo-Won was wearing his crown upside down!
Why hasn't anyone told him? I wondered in dismay.
I glanced around at the noble ladies in the room and then it dawned on me. With their futures on the line, they were all too afraid of displeasing him. After all, telling the emperor that he was wearing his crown incorrectly wasn't the most romantic of gestures. Still, somebody had to tell him. It was just too cruel to let him be embarrassed like this, even if he was a complete fool. As we inched our way toward the throne, I made up my mind. I would be the one to tell him. I was the only one who could.
Before I even had time to think it through, I found myself bowing while Ayami's father introduced her. It's now or never, I said to myself. Raising my head just a bit, I prayed that Soo-Won would look my way as I made desperate hand signals to try to get his attention. Thinking back, an onlooker would have likely thought I was either mentally unstable, had an intolerable itch on my scalp, or both. Finally, his eye fell on me, and after watching me for a moment I could've sworn that a smile flitted across his face. Putting up his hand to silence Ayami's father, he turned deliberately towards me and said, "What is it that you have to say, girl? Don't be afraid to speak up."
Now you've done it, I thought to myself in alarm. But it was too late to turn back now. Mustering up my courage, I stammered, "P-Pardon me your majesty, but your crown is…you're wearing your crown upside down!"
As soon as the words were out of my mouth, a murmur rippled through the crowd and I could feel many eyes staring in disapproval at my back. To them, I had spoken the unspeakable. I remained in a deep bow with my face pressed to the floor, so I couldn't see the emperor's expression, but after a moment he asked me to come up to where he was. Having no choice, I slowly stood and walked towards the steps.
As I passed, Ayami hissed in my ear, "You fool. He'll have your head for your impertinence. Not that it's anything less than you deserve."
I immediately blanched and glanced desperately towards the door, but I knew that if I tried anything I would be caught in a moment. And so I squared my shoulders and continued my walk of shame to the throne where the emperor waited to end my life. It was almost laughable, really. To die from something as stupid as correcting the emperor's head attire. Ah well, maybe it's actually a suitable death for someone like me who should have died five years ago. Just wait a bit longer, mother, father….
The emperor's hand on my shoulder dragged me out of my reverie. I detachedly observed that he was much taller than I had thought, and that for some reason he was smiling down at me. "What is your name?" he asked gently. I was in a daze, but I managed to answer his question.
"Lily," he repeated softly, as if testing it out.
My mind was becoming clearer now, and I noticed that he was looking at me quite intently, almost as if he was inspecting me. I felt myself turn red under his gaze and was grateful when he finally mumbled something that sounded like, "Yes, she'll do," and turned to face the crowd. By this point, I had no idea if I was really going to have my head cut off like Ayami had said or if his majesty had decided to cook me up like a pig for dinner instead, but I knew that I was about to find out.
He pulled me in front of him and made me stand in front of the crowd. I looked out and could see many expressions ranging from pity, to fury, even envy on the faces of the other ladies in the room. I couldn't help but find it ironic that some of these women were jealous of my current "intimacy" with the emperor, despite the fact that I was about to be killed or slaughtered or whatever. Finally, he began to speak and with an effort I turned my attention to what he was saying concerning my fate.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he began in a loud and confident voice. Here it comes, I braced myself. "I would like to thank you all for coming, many of you long distances, at my request, but I have chosen Miss Lily Aisawa to be my bride, so you may all return to your homes. Thank you again, and I hope that you will attend our upcoming wedding."
Before he had even finished speaking, I felt my body go tense. Bride? What on earth was he talking about? As if echoing my thoughts, Ayami shrieked, "Your majesty, you must be mistaken! She is merely a servant girl!" After her outburst, chaos erupted. I could hear shouting and crying, but it all sounded very far away. The words, "I have chosen Miss Lily Aisawa to be my bride," echoed loudly in my ear until they too faded into the distance and gave way to a heavy, all-encompassing blackness.