Nico, Aogiri's Head of Public Affair waited in the throne chamber. His clothes were magnificent, as always. He wore a purple tabard with a long scarf wrapped around his waist, a long black coat with huge buttons on the right side and there was a pair of glasses above his forehead.
"My, my. You're as handsome as ever, King Kaneki. Queen Touka is very lucky to have you." Touka snorted. Usually, people would compliment the queen, saying the king was very lucky to have the queen. Not the other way around.
"On what business are you here for, Nico?" Kaneki was tired from the sparring session he had earlier, even though he was distracted by his beautiful wife, but still, he wasn't in the mood to meet someone from another kingdom. He wouldn't consider Aogiri Kingdom as their ally, but he wouldn't consider them as their foe either. But if one day he died heirless, he was very confident that Aogiri would be one of the kingdoms that would try to conquer Re.
"Rest assured, King Kaneki. I'm only here to deliver the scroll of a wedding invitation. Guess what~? The wedding ceremony of our cheeky Princess Eto and the beautiful Prince Kishou from Washuu will be held next week! Will you attend?"
"I thought the wedding should be held in the next two months?"
"Ho ho~ our princess couldn't resist Prince Kishou's charm. Of course, even I, Nico, can't resist him too. Such intellectual prince, tall build, cold, handsome face." He said with a dreamy look on his face, stopped when he saw the bored expressions of the king and queen in front of him. "Ah, I'm sorry. Anyways, under unplanned circumstances, they have to get married as soon as possible~"
Kaneki turned his gaze to his left. "Do you want to go? I'll go if you go."
"I..." Touka was finding words to say.
"Your brother, King Ayato is attending-"
"I'll go."
'That was fast.' Thought both Kaneki and Nico.
"Ah yes, before I forgot, Princess Eto has a gift for your wedding. It has been three months but she hopes she's not too late." He called his servant over, the servant stepped forward, kneeled down and on his hands, there was a big red box. Banjou took the box from the servant and brought it to Kaneki.
Kaneki opened the box and saw a dozen red ginsengs inside it. Rumours had it red ginseng was very popular in increasing men's sexual drive.
'She's messing with me.' He rolled his eyes, unaware of the small blush on his wife's face.
"Tell her... I appreciate it. Though I'm pretty sure she's just messing with me."
"I will inform her, King Kaneki. I hope you enjoy the gift. Now, please excuse me as I have to leave now."
"You're not staying?"
"Perhaps next time. But thank you for the offer." He winked while blowing a kiss towards the one-eyed-King.
That night, she was on his lap, straddling him, her arms wrapped loosely around his neck. However he just stared at her, he wanted to, but he was a little unsure, and she could sense it.
But the moment she leaned in, her lips moving softly against his, he couldn't help but returned her kiss ardently. Too absorbed in her wonderful scent and the small moan escaped from her throat, he pushed her down into the mattress, his body molded into hers.
A slight gasp was heard when his hand went to her breast, and he took the opportunity to explore her mouth further. Their tongues coiled around each other, clumsy but deep enough to leave them panting for breath afterwards.
His lips travelled down to her neck and collarbone, sucking on a soft spot, causing a small whimper to escape her lips. She took off her dress, a heavy blush coloured her cheeks as she revealed her womanly curves to him.
Kaneki took his sweet time admiring her startling beauty. The round mole on her plump breast, her cute innie belly button, her wide curvy hips.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, and he felt like he was out of breath.
He was about to take off his shirt as well, but suddenly his childhood memories flashed through his mind.
"You're unwanted."
"You were a mistake."
"I wish you weren't born, Ken."
He started to tremble, reflexively cracking his knuckles, his breathing became ragged and uneven.
"Mother, no! Please don't do this! Blurgh."
She pushed his head down into the ceramic bathtub filled with water, intending to drown him.
He was abused physically and emotionally, because of his existence. He wasn't supposed to be born into this world. He was unwanted.
"Kaneki, are you alright?" She looked at him with deep concern, but he just shook his head.
"I'm sorry… I can't."
"Huh?"
"I'm sorry. Forget all of these ever happened. You deserve better."
"Kaneki-"
She didn't have a chance to stop him as he ran out of their chamber, leaving her stupefied.
Kaneki knocked loudly on his High Chancellor's door, "Tsukiyama! Tsukiyama!"
Tsukiyama opened the door, surprised to see his king, looking dishevelled yet vulnerable on his front door.
"My King. What happened? Please, come in."
He went inside and immediately sat on the wooden chair in the middle of the room, covering his face with his shaking hands.
"I can't, Tsukiyama. I can't."
"What is it that you can't? Please, tell me properly."
"We- we were about to- to d-do it, and then, I remembered my mother. You know about me, right? About how I was conceived?"
Rape.
"Yes, I know. But it's a different case compared to you two. Do you think you're forcing yourself on her?"
He shook his head.
"Then if she's pregnant, it won't be an unwanted child. The child will be loved by both of you, I'm sure of it."
"But- I'm dying, Tsukiyama. I won't be there with her. I can still let her go. She doesn't have to rule this kingdom after I died. She doesn't have to suffer raising a fatherless child like my mother did."
"But what about our people? Are you seriously sacrificing your whole kingdom for the sake of the woman you love?"
He gasped, eyes widened.
"Love?"
"You love her, My King. I know how your childhood was, but please, don't let that blind you. You are loved by every one of us. And you love her. Think back everything you have done for her. Was it because of duty, or because you simply want to?"
He tried to think back. Having meals together, relocating her pets, having a walk in the market, in the garden, forehead kisses, wanting to see her smile, taking care of her during her injury, kissing her. They were because he wanted to. Not because he had to.
"I love her?"
"Yes, that's love, Your Majesty. The way you look at her is the same way as you used to look at Rize, or I may say, way more intense than that. And I used to look at you that way too." 'I'm still looking at you that way, but you can never see how much I love you.' "You love her, My King. Now, go back to your chamber. Make up with her. Alright?"
He nodded slowly, then started to leave the room. Tsukiyama just smiled softly staring at his king.
However, the smile on his face didn't last long as his king suddenly fell hard onto the floor, unconscious. Black tears flowed endlessly from his left eye.
"Your Majesty!"
"My Queen! Please, open the door!"
The door opened, revealing a very distressed Touka- her eyes puffy and her nose red. It was obvious that she had been crying.
She saw Tsukiyama was carrying her husband in his arms.
"What happened?"
"He fainted."
"What? Come in."
He gently laid his king on the bed, his hand caressing his cheek swiftly before giving some space to his queen.
"I have ordered the guards to summon Dr. Shiba. He will be here soon."
"What happened?"
"I'm not sure. He was telling me that he was- scared, to um- about tonight. So I comforted him. And he was about to go back to you, but then he suddenly fainted."
"Why was he scared?"
Tsukiyama bit his lip, wondering if he should be telling her.
"I'm not the right person to answer this. Perhaps, you can ask Banjou. He has known His Majesty longer than me. My apologies, Your Majesty."
She nodded. Then she saw the black tears pooling and flowing from behind her husband's eyepatch.
"His eye-"
"Yes, it has been flowing non-stop ever since he fainted. I don't know what's happening."
"Excuse me, My Queen." Dr. Shiba arrived, bringing in medical equipment with him.
He removed the black eyepatch to inspect his king's eye. That was the first time Touka saw her husband's eye- the sclera was pitch-black, with red iris in the middle. She finally understood why he was hiding it from her. For some people- his eye may appear gruesome, but for her- she didn't care. She accepted all of him, even his flaws.
"I have stopped the tears from his eye. Now we just have to wait for him to wake up. I have also relayed the message to Kanou, Washuu Kingdom's royal doctor. He is more knowledgeable in this area compared to me. He should be here tomorrow."
"Is there anything I can do?" Deep concern etched on her face.
"Just stay by his side. Inform me if he wakes up."
"I will. Thank you, doctor."
He smiled sympathetically at her before leaving the chamber. Touka turned to look at her husband, he looked so pale and fragile, like one of her rabbits that died months ago due to sickness.
She lay beside him, taking his hand in her left one, her head rested near his shoulder. She placed her right hand on his chest. Upon feeling his constant heartbeat, a sigh of relief escaped her lips.
"Please, wake up soon, Kaneki."
"How is his condition, Dr. Shiba?" Tsukiyama asked. Banjou remained quiet, anticipating the doctor's response.
"Call everyone who knows about his condition here. Let's hold a meeting." He simply answered.
A while later, Nishiki, Naki, Hinami, and Miza came into the meeting chamber and joined them at the table.
"Thank you, everyone- for coming here even though it is midnight now. But Dr. Shiba has an important information to discuss with all of us." Tsukiyama announced.
"Where's His Majesty?" Nishiki asked flatly.
"His Majesty had just fainted." Dr. Shiba answered.
"What?"
"Yes, and it was terrible. The black tears flowed endlessly from his eye. I'm gathering all of you here to discuss his condition. And also about the future of Re." Dr. Shiba stated. The atmosphere suddenly became very heavy, they felt an inexplicable sense of the impending dread.
"From his latest checkup, he has about five years more. But after seeing his condition just now, I'm afraid he doesn't have that much time anymore."
A collective gasp was heard throughout the chamber. Tsukiyama covered his face with his hands, unable to take in anymore.
"His eye has become very severe. The eyepatch made it even worse because it was trapped in humidity and not exposed to the air. He should stop wearing it."
"How much time does he have left, doctor?" Banjou asked, his voice sounded low and dishearten.
"I can't tell... a year, a month. It's out of my expertise. Dr. Kanou should be here tomorrow. But we need to prepare for the worst."
"What do you mean?"
"Everyone here realises that a war will break out if Re is left heirless, right? I think it would be best to prepare our people for the war. Everyone needs to fight."
"But we're heirless. We're doomed to be conquered!" Miza protested.
"Re has a good relationship with Anteiku. If we let Anteiku conquers us, it would be better-"
"Are you kidding me? Anteiku is ruthless! They execute assassins and drug dealers in public! Everyone is afraid of King Ayato!" Nishiki interrupted.
"I'm not saying King Ayato has to rule us. We can leave that to Queen Touka. She is still from Anteiku, after all."
Everyone kept quiet, absorbing Dr. Shiba's words gradually. He was correct, in a way.
"Both Queen Touka and King Ayato ruled Anteiku previously. They were both ruthless. Our King is trying his best to change Queen Touka's way of ruling." Tsukiyama added.
"How is it going so far?" Dr. Shiba asked.
"She promised not to execute assassins in public anymore. But that only applies to Re, not Anteiku. However, I think she will follow the rules of Re even if Anteiku conquered Re. Because she loves Kaneki, and she respects him, I can see that."
"What happens after Queen Touka died?"
"It's either she needs to have a child by remarrying or King Ayato's second son will be the new king of Re. We have no other choice now."
"We do have." Tsukiyama intervened.
"What is it?"
"We help King Tsuneyoshi conquer V Kingdom, then His Majesty can have the surgery."
"The rate of success is not guaranteed, Tsukiyama. He could have died during the surgery. Kanou even mentioned that." Nishiki said while massaging his temple. He remembered Kimi mentioned this to him several times as a reminder for his king not to undergo the surgery.
"Then he needs to consummate his marriage as soon as possible."
"Wait, what? How long have they been married? Three months? They still haven't consummated yet?! What were they doing all this time?" Dr. Shiba sounded very shocked and irritated over this information.
"They were about to, tonight. But His Majesty got scared. He was afraid that the child would end up being like him. Unwanted."
Everyone except for Miza lowered their heads in silence, they shared the same sorrow expression on their faces.
"But they love each other. So it should be fine, right?"
"You're new here, Miza."
"I've been here for three years!"
"Much shorter compared to all of us. Did you know how His Majesty's mental condition was after Queen Sayaka died? He was unstable! We tried so hard to make sure he didn't kill himse-"
"Tsukiyama!" Banjou raised his voice. Tsukiyama may have a higher position than everyone else in the chamber, but Banjou was someone who everyone respected.
"Miza, our King does not know what it's like to be loved. He may read a lot of books, but he had never experienced it. We all love him, but for some reasons, he couldn't see it. He didn't want to see it. After Queen Sayaka died, he asked everyone to call him King Kaneki, not King Ken. Even his best friend, Hide, called him Kaneki. He didn't want to get close to anyone. After Hide died, I think he doesn't care about his life anymore. He wanted to die too. But he held back because of his kingdom, his people."
"What made him propose to Queen Touka then?" Miza asked. Banjou turned to Tsukiyama, expecting the High Chancellor to answer.
"He was fulfilling his promise with King Arata, Queen Touka's late father. He asked him to take care of Queen Touka as his final wish. By doing that, His Majesty can also have an heir. As the saying goes, kill two birds with one stone. But I think he's doing a great job. He wants the marriage to work, and he also wants to make her happy. In the end, he ends up falling in love with her. He just found out tonight, though. All this while he thought he was carrying out his duty as a perfect husband. He didn't even realise that he loves her."
"How can we make him see that we love him? I don't want him to die not knowing that everyone loves him. That's... very lonely." Naki said, he bit his lower lip to hold back his emotions.
"...I don't know. Why are we being like this? Why are we preparing for His Majesty's death? Why is this happening to him? Why can't he live longer? I want to see him happy..." Tsukiyama cried, tears fell freely from his eyes, Banjou followed soon after.
There was a long period of silence before Hinami broke it.
"Don't you think Her Majesty deserves to know..? Her husband is dying and she's not even aware of it..." She started to cry too, but Miza was quick to hug her. "I love her... she deserves to be happy too..."
No one said a thing. Everyone in the chamber had signed an agreement not to inform their queen of their king's dying condition.
It must be kept secret, even after he died.
When Touka woke up the next morning, Kaneki was still unconscious. She patiently waited until afternoon, but sadly, there was still no sign of him waking up. Usually, he would have woken up by then.
She caressed his cheek lovingly, running her fingers through his soft white hair as she placed a kiss on his forehead. Tears brimming in her indigo eyes, threatening to fall any second.
And they fell.
"Please, please wake up." She gently kissed his lips, showing her affection even though he couldn't see it, hoping he could feel it in his dreams.
"Please, Kaneki. Don't leave me. I love y-"
A knock on the door startled her. She immediately wiped her tears away.
"Your Majesty? It's Banjou."
"Come in."
Dread filled his face as he saw his king was still lying unconscious on his bed.
"Dr. Kanou will arrive tonight. Let's hope he regains his consciousness soon."
"Yeah." She said, softly. "Banjou, can I ask you something?"
"Anything, Your Majesty."
"Could you tell me about Kaneki's childhood? Please, tell me the truth. I know you were hiding something about Queen Sayaka. I want to know the truth."
He was contemplating for a moment, then decided that she should know, after all. He sighed heavily before pulling out a chair then sat on it.
"His Majesty was an unwanted child. King Keiji fell in love with the maid, and he used her... sexually. She got pregnant, and later on, they got married."
"So Queen Sayaka was..."
"Yes, she was the maid. And she was forced to be the Queen, even when she didn't want to. And then King Keiji died on the battlefield, so she had to rule the kingdom and raise His Majesty to groom him in becoming the next king."
Touka remembered the night when he had his nightmare. He begged her not to hurt him, and he even called her 'mother'. That was when she deduced his childhood life.
"She hurt him, right?"
"In more ways than you can ever think of. I saved him from her so many times." His voice was mixtures of bitterness and anger. "Despite hating her role, Queen Sayaka did a great job as a queen, even though she was forcing herself. But she failed as a mother because she didn't even love her son. So to stop being a queen and stop raising her son, she was finding ways to ensure that Re is heirless. She wanted other kingdoms to conquer Re."
"W-what? You didn't mean she was trying to kill-"
"Yes. I meant it. His Majesty had a rough childhood. Unwanted, unloved by his mother. She wanted him to die."
'And now he's dying.'
Tears fell from his eyes as he turned to look at his king, lying unconscious on the bed, dying with each passing second.
Important announcement: I'm a working adult who's furthering her studies at the same time. So it's very hard to find free time to write but somehow I managed 11 chapters so far (yay!). Anyways, I have two big exams which are in next two weeks and a week before Christmas which require me to study every day T_T For Christmas, my company has 10 days break but I'll be having a vacation in Philippines to enjoy myself from working + studying all this time. With that said, I will not upload any chapter for the rest of the year, Chapter 12 will be uploaded next year instead. I'm very sorry for the delay and thank you so much for your kind understanding *bows*
I'm taking this chance to apologise for every grammar or vocabulary mistakes I've ever made. English is not my first language, so thank you for bearing with me. Also, thanks a bunch for all the favs, alerts and reviews. I really appreciate them! *hugs*
I know this is early but... Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! I'll be back next year so please kindly stay tune~~ ^^