Chapter 34
The court was filled with political figures and their spouses. All dressed in formal attire. This reminded Sakura of what it's like to be in a large festival of some sort, except in this one everyone is extremely courteous with each other. Everyone seemed to know everyone, and conveniently, everyone brought their daughters. Both brother has been through enough of these to know that everyone was hoping that one of these daughters would catch the eye of the Emperor and step to the path of glory and power, but unfortunately Itachi has never budged.
The court above all the steps sat four people. The Emperor, his brother, his mother, and the Empress. Everyone sat below them in rows. The left row sat the men, and the right ones sat the women. They were organized according to their ranks and status, and therefore Sakura sat a in the middle, not that close to Sasuke. She knew it was because she's a Princess Consort, but a true Princess. To be a true princess she'd have to have the approval of the court and be married into the family with a full title. She was ok with that, because she felt nervous around people who could behead anybody any minute according to their mood.
Everyone treated her with caution and curiosity, a few people have approached her to talk to her answered as politely as possible. They were usual questions, either on the weather, or the gift, or matters of the court, or household necessities. Everyone knew their place, and everyone knew exactly what to ask, when to ask it, and especially what not to ask. Sakura felt bored after a while, knowing these people are beaurocratic tools. She doesn't have much interest in politics, unlike the women of these bunch who desperately want to help their husband to climb up the political pole. To be fair the Prince can't really climb anymore.
Sasuke kept looking over to Sakura during the banquet and ceremonial dancing. He found himself constantly thinking about what she's doing and worry that she might get uncomfortable. He was right, Sakura looked on to the dances with fascination at first, but after a while she sat in their cushion and had both of her hands hid in long sleeves and prop herself up from the sides to keep herself from dozing off. Several times she nods her head abruptly but quickly regained herself. The ceremony and banquet lasted for the whole day and the evening banquet is the hardest one to get through. By this time everyone should be exhausted.
Itachi noticed his brother kept looking at his wife, and chuckled a little before teasing him, "Dear brother, she won't run away while you're not looking."
Sasuke quickly straightened his back and retorted childishly, "you don't understand."
After the ceremonial dance, Sakura was approached by a young servant who told her to follow him, because the Prince was waiting for her somewhere.
Sakura quietly finished her food and snuck out from the lavish palace hall. She followed the servants to a small sanctuary in a corner of the Palace. The sun went town, but each place was lit up by various lanterns. It seemed this place was nothing out of the ordinary except for a huge cherry blossom tree right in the middle of the courtyard. The moon was bright and full that night, shining upon the freshly fallen snow and the empty branches of the tree.
Sasuke stood underneath the tree waiting for her. The entire scene painted in a subtle blue hue, and he was adorned in silvery robes. Normally he'd wear black, but one should never wear that color on their birthday. This is the robe Sakura hugged him in this morning, its train drifting along the snow, and the embroidery seemed so life life they could leap off of Sasuke any moment.
Sasuke turned around, his eyes softened when he saw her, and extended his hand towards her.
She reached him and fell into his embrace. Her head accessories dangling and long sleeves all tangled up. Sasuke spent the better part of a minute taking some unnecessary jewelries off of her and found her hands inside her sleeves.
"This is where we were born, and this is where I grew up." Sasuke said, leading her further into the courtyard. Sakura followed obediently, and they arrived in front of a series of decorative rocks. He led her into the crevices and showed her the corner of a rock, and on the surface there's a faint but recognizable childish squiggly writing of Sasuke's name. Also the symbol for "is the best".
Sakura smiled at the childish writing, and Sasuke quickly buried it up with soft moss and dirt.
"When did you write this?" Sakura asked, chuckling.
Sasuke said, "when I was 6 I guess. Before I had my formal education."
"I heard when you were born peacocks flown by, and the sky was bright red." Sakura said half teasingly.
Sasuke gave her a half scolding half adoration look, it looked like she has the audacity to tease him now. He squeezed her hands and said, "I bet it was a normal day. You know how people love to exaggerate. I knew father wasn't present when we were born, despite historical records. He has had so many sons and daughters, and now we're the only ones left."
"Really? I didn't know you had other siblings other than the Emperor."
"I had 24 siblings." Sasuke said lightly.
Sakura fell silent, and Sasuke didn't want this moment to be ruined, so he led her out of the courtyard and into a path that seem to be leading to a much grander place within the Palace.
There were four guards standing outside, guarding the place. Sasuke walked up and said, "let me in."
None of the guards acknowledge his existence.
Sasuke laughed and walked back to Sakura, "this is the place where my brother is keeping the love of his life."
"What?" Sakura was startled, "but I just saw the Empress."
Sasuke led her away and and whispered in her ear, "this is different. This girl once saved my brother's life and fell into a coma of some sort and never woke up. My brother tried everything but nothing worked, so he swore to always love and protect this girl and wait until she wakes up."
Sakura thought it was the strangest thing in existence, "how can one hold the future of their happiness over an unconscious person? what if she never wakes up?"
Sasuke shrugged, "then my brother will never have an heir. Many people tried to get a way past this, urging him hurry and produce and heir, but he never did. He's guarding her in that room, and no is ever allowed to enter unless it's under his strict supervision. Not even me." And especially not their mother.
The two walked past the courtyards hand in hand, as snow begin to fell. Sasuke looked up at the moon and said, "it must be past midnight."
They walked past various gates and steps, until they arrived at the final gate and wait for their carriage to come by. Once it came Sakura leaned into Sasuke and curled up in his embrace, "how did that girl save the Emperor?"
Sasuke wrapped Sakura in his arms and toyed with her hair, "I don't quite recall, but I think she dove into a lake to save him from drowning."
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TBC
