The wedding ceremony was held grandly, the whole Re Kingdom attended and witnessed the wedding ceremonial between their precious king and the princess from Anteiku Kingdom.

When Touka arrived in Re Kingdom three days earlier, Kaneki was anxious about meeting her. Thus he had been avoiding her all the time. The day of the wedding was their first reunion after six long years.

His breath halted when he saw her walking arm in arm with her brother. Miza did a wonderful job in accentuating her beautiful features. Both of her mesmerizing eyes were visible, and he could see her flawless complexion, supple lips, exactly- no, even way more stunning than in the photo. Tsukiyama did a great job in making her appearance seemed like a young queen, and the costume made her breasts look fuller, giving off a maternity vibe.

"Oi, it's your turn to take her." For some reasons Ayato became irritated seeing the way Kaneki stared at his sister. 'She always looks like a cow to me, why do you look so impressed?'

"Oh, sorry." He held out his arm, Touka let go of her brother's arm and wrapped hers around Kaneki's instead. They both walked along the aisle together, side by side, both were very handsome and beautiful, a match made in heaven.

"We need to talk."

"I know. Let's talk later. People are watching."

Touka grumped but agreed anyway.

They danced. It was super stiff at first. They haven't met each other for six years. Touka had become a graceful young woman, even though she still had her boyish and rough persona, her feminine side had been dominating her more now. Kaneki, on the other hand, looked more mature, no longer a young boy with black hair. His hair was dyed white and his body had become ripped. Due to his sleeveless costume, everyone could see his well-developed muscles, and with the middle part hairstyle, he looked so astonishingly handsome. A man now, no longer a boy.

The only one thing that remained the same was his eyepatch. It was always there on his left eye. That was how he had gotten the title 'one-eyed-King'. Rumours had it he gouged his eye out when the previous Queen died. Some other rumours were his other eye was dysfunctional ever since he was born. She had always wanted to know the truth, but no matter what he won't ever tell her.

Touka could feel his rough hands enveloping her waist and hand. It was different. Back then, she liked his kind personality. She knew he had muscles due to their sparring sessions but not ripped like now. Six years ago, he looked like a kid, but now he looked more mature. She blushed a bit when he caught her staring at him.

Kaneki noticed Touka's eyes on him. 'I really changed a lot, didn't I? You look so surprised.' Touka's hand and waist were soft and warm, despite being a princess who knows how to defend herself. It wasn't only him, she had changed a lot too. She was so petite before, like a little girl, but now she has the body of a young woman. Her shoulders became broader a bit, hips turned wider, and her breasts definitely grown bigger. The wedding costume did a magnificent job in emphasizing her cleavage, and Kaneki had a hard time averting his gaze.

He appreciated Miza's decision in parting Touka's hair so that both of her eyes were visible. Back then, the only time he could see her right eye was during their sparring sessions, but now, right in front of him, he could see both of her eyes. And she is so, so, so beautiful. Heavy lashes, perfect eyebrow, red lips that looked so enticing, how could someone turned into this beautiful in six years?

Touka 'accidentally' stepped on Kaneki's foot when she noticed his heavy gaze on her. "Sorry." She apologized. He just chuckled.

"You're too stiff. Relax a bit."

Touka widened her eyes. He said the same thing six years ago.

It was a grand ball held by Aogiri Kingdom and they invited all nearby kingdoms for that. Touka wore her best dress, any sane guys would not turn their eyes away from her.

But for Kaneki, even though she looked cute that night, all in his eyes was Rize. He was dancing and twirling with her almost all the time. A lot of other princes like Prince Rio and Prince Nimura asked Touka for a dance but she declined them. She was waiting for Kaneki, but the said man did not even spare her a second glance as he kept on dancing with Rize, their eyes sparkled, their lips burst into laughter.

"Forget about him, aneki. He's not interested in you." Ayato emerged out of nowhere.

"Said someone who can't even stop his crush from leaving the kingdom." She heard him sighing.

"Hinami followed that half-assed because she is useful to him, and he needs her. It was her choice to leave us, all we can do is respect her decision."

"I didn't mention Hinami." She tilted her head, smirking. She swore that if she were to put a tomato beside Ayato's red face, she couldn't differentiate which one is tomato and which one is her brother's face as both have the same colour.

"Just- forget about him-"

"Touka-chan, would you like to dance?" Suddenly Kaneki was in front of her, taking out his hand, waiting for her answer.

'Ah, no wonder. Rize is dancing with her half-brother, Nimura now.'

"Y-yes." She placed her hand on his and walked to the stage with him leading the way. They started to dance but Touka being a girl who has a crush on the guy she was dancing with, she couldn't help but blushed and being awkward at the close proximity between them. Sure, they have sparred before but this was totally different.

"You're too stiff. Relax a bit. Here, follow my lead."

She almost stumbled twice before slowly able to follow his lead.

"Yes yes, just like that." Kaneki smiled, encouraging her more. It's not that she couldn't dance, she was just nervous dancing with her crush.

"You're so cute today. And you're wearing that hair stick. I'm glad it suits you." Now instead of Ayato, it was her face that has the colour of a tomato.

"T-Thanks for the present."

"My pleasure." He smiled kindly. That smile just made Touka fell for him even more. 'Why am I falling for someone who doesn't even love me? I'm so stupid.'

"How is Hinami coping?"

"She's doing great. I'm glad she chose to come with me. She'll be a great spy, I can see that."

"What about you? How are you coping up?"

"Hmm… I think I'm good. You?"

"I'm good too."

He nodded. Silence accompanied them and she saw Rize has finished dancing with Nimura. She waved then smiled at Kaneki and Kaneki returned her smile. His eyes were beaming.

"Will you… are you… going to marry Rize one day?"

She could see his face turned full red. There was no need to hear his answer, it was so obvious whom his heart belongs to. 'Maybe Ayato was right. I should forget about him.' Her expression hurt, her eyes were teary, but of course Kaneki did not realise that.

"Touka-chan? Can you hear me?" Kaneki's voice had brought Touka's attention back to present.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." She was trying to reassure him but the way she said it, it was a bit stern.

Kaneki decided not to say anything and just continued dancing with her.

"Hey, now that we're married, what should I call you? Is 'Ken' okay?"

Kaneki stopped on his track, soon after the crowds started to whisper to each other because their king suddenly froze.

He cleared his throat, placed his hand on Touka's back and bent her body backwards, his head and body aligned with hers. She squeaked at his action. Her arms automatically wrapped around his neck. He smirked.

When he brought her up, she buried her face on his shoulder to hide the blush on her cheeks. Kaneki circled his arms around her waist and hugged her tighter. Crowds cheered at witnessing their king and queen moments together.

'Still 'Kaneki' huh… Even though we are married…' Her heart ached at his shock expression earlier. He was definitely not expecting that. 'What's the point of being your wife if I can't even call you by your first name? Stupid Kaneki.'

Later that night, when the ceremony ended, the newlywed couple went to their chamber. Kaneki sat on the bed and Touka sat beside him.

"Thank you."

Touka stared at Kaneki, waiting for an explanation.

"For accepting me. After what happened six years ago, I thought-"

"Don't you dare think I've forgiven you, because I haven't." She looked at him straight in the eyes. Face void of any emotions. Shock was written all over his face. He thought she accepted because she has forgiven him.

"Why me? Why marry me when you don't love me? Why marry me when you love Rize? Was it because my father asked you to promise something?"

Kaneki couldn't find any words to answer her questions. He did not expect Touka to know that.

"You're an idiot. Just like my father." She smirked.

"Touka-chan, I-"

"How does it feel marrying because of duty? How does it feel marrying someone you don't love? How does it feel having children with someone you don't have feelings for? How does it feel, forced to live the rest of your life with someone you don't care-"

He pushed her down onto the bed, both of his hands were on her shoulders.

"Now you are going to force yourself on me? That's not very gentleman, Kaneki."

He shook his head and tried to give a soft smile, but the expressions on his face were hurt and full of guilt instead.

"For whatever I have done to you, I'm sorry. King Arata died because of me, I'm sorry. I know you will never forgive me no matter how many times I apologise." He took a deep breath, his hand caressing her left cheek in a tender manner.

"Yes, I married you because he asked me to take care of you. So I will do that as long as I live. I don't love you. But I'm planning to. I want to fall in love with you. I'm not asking you to love me back, it would be selfish of me to ask you that. The fact that I proposed to you was already a selfish request from me. I'm sorry, for dragging you into this matter."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm sorry, Touka-chan. I'm really sorry. Thank you for accepting me."

He planted a kiss on her forehead and she could feel tears fell onto her hair. What she did not notice was the colour of the tears behind the eyepatch. They were black.

Kaneki left the chamber without even sparing a glance towards Touka, leaving her alone, dumbfounded. From that night onwards, that chamber has become Touka's, and Kaneki slept in another chamber. Kaneki had also been avoiding her, he did not show his face to her, they did not eat together, they did not study together, they did not rule the kingdom together. Whenever there was a meeting, Touka was not invited. Whenever Touka wanted to meet Kaneki, Nishiki drove her away. It had been continuing like that for almost two weeks.

Somewhere near the fish pond outside the castle sat a couple, discussing the current situation. The boyfriend laid his head on his girlfriend's lap, enjoying the peaceful sound of chirping birds and fish while the girlfriend threw bread crumbs onto the pond.

"I'm really happy that our king is married, but this isn't going smoothly."

"What do you mean?"

"They're married but they act like strangers! I don't know what His Majesty is accomplishing by avoiding his wife, that's not what a husband does. I think he feels guilty or something. But, the heir line needs to be continued or else some other Kingdoms will attack ours and claim as theirs! But how are they going to have children if they sleep in different chambers?!"

"Wait, you know how children are made? Please teach me!" Naki sat up, his hands grabbing his girlfriends' shoulders, the expressions on his face were serious and hopeful.

"Huh?" Miza was confused.

"No matter how many times I've asked His Majesty, he will never teach me. So I'm begging you, please teach me how children are made."

Blood started to drip from Miza's nose, she was certainly imagining something. Something that will never happen between them considering how dumb her boyfriend is, despite receiving an education from the king himself.

"Miza, you have blood dripping from your nose. Are you alright? Are you ill or something?"

Realising that, she blushed, and ran as fast as she could, leaving a very confused Naki behind.

"Wait. Mizaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" He went to chase after his blushing girlfriend.