It was such a lovely day for a special occasion. The scorching sun was partially obscured by the clouds, shading the trees that stood along the border of the huge castle garden. As it was the beginning of the summer season, the leaves on the trees were still green, as green as the hair of the bride for today's wedding ceremony.

Eto held out her hand as her bridegroom, Kishou placed a ring on her finger. She smiled cheekily as she stared at the heart diamond ring before she slid a simple white wedding band on his finger. They shared a sweet kiss afterwards, sounds of applaud were heard across the garden.

She was already an attractive woman to begin with, but with the long, white dress that flared after her hips- accentuating her curves and the heavy yet didn't look overdid makeup on her face, she looked gorgeous. The big pearls on her earrings and necklace were just to make her look more mature due to her small figure.

Kishou, on the other hand, wore a white tunic, with a leather belt in the middle and a black tailcoat with gold-coloured design to complete the look. Regardless of the height difference between them, as they stood side by side, arms snaked around each other, giving off a small smile to the crowd, no words could describe how perfect they looked as a couple.

The feast lasted for hours before they gathered in the main hall, where the dancing activity was held. The newlywed couple danced, and others followed after them. The hall was big enough to allow all the royal couples who attended the ceremony to dance at the same time. Prince Matsuri and Princess Iyo. Prince Koori and Princess Hairu. King Kaneki and Queen Touka. Knight Uta and Princess Itori. And a lot of other couples from other kingdoms across the region.

Ayato, however, felt so isolated. He wasn't the only one who wasn't dancing, but looking at the dancing couples all around him made him feel completely alone. Maybe it was time for him to get a queen. Maybe he should hope that Hinami would accept the proposal. His cheeks reddened at the thoughts. Why did his sister go through all the troubles just to propose to his sweetheart crush on his behalf?

'Stupid aneki, I don't need your help.'

The sound of familiar laughter made him avert his gaze to its source- where he saw his sister giggling happily when his half-assed bastard brother-in-law twirled her around before she ended up in his arms again. Ayato observed Kaneki's eyes and gestures, remembering his plan last night to see if the bastard truly loved his sister.

He sipped his wine, he could barely process the taste on his tongue as he gave a sharp, hard stare towards the dancing couple. He observed them for five long minutes. Kaneki's gaze was even stronger than Koma's, and he occasionally kissed his wife's forehead, or stroked her cheek lovingly, which made her flushed at the public display of affection. But despite that, both of them seemed very happy and very much in love with each other.

Ayato ended his night early by leaving the main hall with a soft smile on his face, satisfied with what he saw.

"May I have a dance with your husband?" Eto asked Touka as she smiled sweetly, but it was a little too sweet as if she was faking it.

Touka stared at the bride for a couple of seconds before turning her gaze to her husband. She didn't seem too happy, but she knew he would accept the dance anyway, so she nodded without saying anything.

"I'll be back." He gave her a peck on the cheek which caused her to blush slightly. Eto smirked as she witnessed the sweet affection occuring in front of her. After years of knowing the one-eyed-King, she could never imagine him displaying his feelings so openly.

Touka wasn't left alone for a long time as Nimura immediately approached her afterwards, as if in queue.

"I would like to have a word with you, Touka-chan. Or, is it Queen Touka now? My bad. I apologise." He grinned while bowing, she almost rolled her eyes watching his overdramatic action.

"There's nothing to talk about." She said, looking bored.

"Oh yes, there are a lot of things we could talk about. And I'm sure you will be interested in them."

"No, I won't be." She turned her gaze towards Eto who was dancing a little bit too close with her husband. But despite the closeness, his expression was too serious, as if he was interrogating her.

"Oh. Don't you want to know something about your husband?" Touka's ears perked up instantly, her head turned towards the cunning prince whose lips were spread in a sly smile.

"Congratulations on your wedding." Kaneki congratulated Eto, she placed her hand on his shoulder, while her other hand intertwined with his as they danced gracefully with each other.

"Thank you. Did you like my gift? I chose the best quality of red ginseng specifically for you and Queen Touka."

"I haven't used them." He answered plainly.

"Hm? Why? I tried it on Kishou one day, and guess what?" Her hand moved to touch her flat belly as she smiled. "I end up getting pregnant."

His eyes widened in realisation. "So that's why you-"

"Correct. He's such a gentleman, asking me to hold the wedding sooner so that no one could see my bulging stomach on our wedding day. He wants to avoid rumours as best as he could."

"He's a good man."

"Indeed. You should use it soon, you know? To save your kingdom." She winked.

"How do you-?" His brows furrowed hearing her words. "Kishou told you?"

She chuckled, her eyes appeared mischievous.

"Well, you can say so." She smiled deviously while watching the source of her information lead Touka away from the hall, towards the balcony.

"What is it?" Touka crossed her arms over her chest, impatient with what Nimura was planning to tell her. Ever since seven years ago, he had been proposing to her every single year. And she declined him every single time because Washuu families were always known to be cunning and would do anything to expand their territory. She was worried if he would kill Ayato afterwards, making him the new ruler of Anteiku.

"Have you seen your husband's left eye?" Her eyebrow raised at the ridiculous question.

"Of course."

"Hideous, isn't it?" A disgust expression displayed across his face, but she just gritted her teeth.

"Kaneki Ken is perfect in his own way, so if you dare calling my husband or any of his features hideous again- I don't care if you're a Prince from another kingdom- I will cut your tongue off." She warned him, but he seemed unfazed.

"Oooh~ Scary~"

Annoyed, she turned on her heels to leave.

"If there's nothing else-"

"If you cut my tongue off, how are we going to communicate once we're married?" She stopped on her track, turning around and stared blankly at him as confusion slowly etched on her face.

"What are you talking about? Why would I marry you? I'm already married."

"Oh my, Kaneki didn't tell you this?"

"...Tell me what?"

He let out an exaggerated fake gasp. It was so fake, she could've rolled her eyes if it wasn't about her husband. But she held back, and waited for his response.

"Don't you know? Wow, he's very good at hiding secrets."

"What secrets? Spill them out!"

"My, my. Don't be so feisty, Touka-chan. You're making me like you even more."

"Stop being so disgusting."

"I'll tell you. But not everything is free, you know?" He winked at her with a smug on his face.

"What do you want?" She started to get impatient with him.

"Hmm..." He placed his hand on his chin as if he was in a deep thought, "A kiss?"

"Wanna die?" Despite being a queen, the glare that she was giving him was deadly, she didn't care about their ranks at all.

"Ouch, I'm hurt." His hand clutched the front of his tunic melodramatically as if his heart was broken by her.

"Look, if you're just messing around-"

"How irony of you to ask me to die, Touka-chan." His expression changed drastically, he was grinning ear to ear now, the cunning vibe appeared more prominently by the second.

"Why?" His expression made her felt unease, as if what she was about to hear would change her life forever.

"Because the one who's dying is... your husband."

Time seemed to stop entirely as soon as the words left his mouth. Even her breathing seemed to stop too as she felt her body tensed, unmoved, no- she couldn't move at all. The sounds of the couples dancing in the main hall were deafened. Only the echoes of her own heartbeat were heard as her mind was heavily focused on processing the words she had just heard.

"What..?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"He's dying." The maniacal grin never left his face.

"You're joking."

"He's dying, Touka-chan. He only has a year to live. You think he married you because he loves you? Hah! So naive! You're wrong. You're just a tool to him. He needs you to bear his child so that Re won't be attacked by other kingdoms once he died. Because any kingdom can claim over an heirless one. That's why he married you. You're the chosen puppet to fulfil his selfish goal."

"You- you're lying."

"Why would I? Our Kanou is the one who treats him. That's why he always visits our kingdom. To have his check-ups."

Waves of realisation hit her. Kaneki went to Washuu Kingdom a month after their marriage. And when he was unconscious recently, Kanou was the one who treated him. The doctor didn't ask much, as if he was already familiar with his patient.

"No. No, no, no!" Her breath slightly ragged, her heartbeat started to pump faster. Her eyes were unfocused as more evidence flashed across her mind. She gripped the balcony rail so tightly, her knuckles almost turned white as she felt her knees weakening.

"Yes, yes, yes. He had a meeting with us last night, saying he wants to help us conquering V so that he can have his surgery."

She wanted to accuse the prince of lying but after putting things together, she knew that he was right.

Why Kaneki always talked as if he was going to die soon.

Banjou's plead to let him feel loved.

Kanou's familiarity with him.

The promises he asked her to keep.

His hand on his chin last night.

Each one of those led her back to that single truth.

'Now everything makes sense.'

She remembered the sadness in Kimi's eyes. Or Hinami's. Or Tsukiyama's. Or anyone's in the castle as they looked at her.

'They knew. They all knew!'

Her heart beat so loudly against her chest as if threatening to burst any moment.

Kaneki. Dying. One year to live.

She- just a tool to him.

Everything was too much to absorb.

"You seem very shocked. I'm not surprised. Say, are you pregnant right now? If you are, it means his goal has been accomplished. Because he only married you for that sole reason."

"Shut up." She muttered quietly as a surge of emotions overwhelmed her, hit her like a tidal wave.

"What? I can't hear you, Touka-chan~"

"I SAID SHUT UP!"

She stormed away, and she ran, as fast as she could, away from the main hall, away from everyone. She cried- anger, pain, sadness, betrayed- they were all piled up inside her. How foolish she was. Three months, he had lied to her for three long months, using her to gain his own goal. All his actions- teaching her about Re, making her happy, taking care of her, touching her, they were all lies. Lies. Lies! And she was foolish enough to fall for those lies. She was foolish enough to fall in love deeply. She was foolish enough for planning to stay by his side forever, when he was just using her all this time.

When Kaneki returned to their guest room, Touka was lying on the bed, facing the wall with her back facing him.

"Touka, I heard you left the hall early. Are you not feeling well?" he sat on the bed, feeling her forehead with the back of his hand.

'This is just an act. You're just acting. You don't even care about me.'

"Hmm... seems fine. Do you need anything?" His voice sounded worried, she would have believed him if she didn't know the truth.

"I'm fine. I'm just- tired."

"Really?"

She nodded once, still facing the wall.

"Okay." He brushed her blue hair with his fingers, they had gotten longer now. He could see her profile from his spot, her eyelashes seemed long, accentuated by her slightly pouted lips. She was undeniably beautiful even from this angle, and the words from her letter flashed through his mind.

I want to look beautiful for you.

He sighed lightly, she was already very beautiful to him, ever since he saw her on their wedding day months ago.

"You're beautiful, Touka."

Her eyes widened, but her heart ached painfully hearing his words.

'Liar.'

He lay beside her, his arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer as he breathed in her lavender scent. His planted a small kiss on the back of her neck, which made her tense up instinctively. His hand found hers, and he held it tightly, rubbing his thumb over the back of it.

"Today's wedding was lovely, it reminds me of ours. Do you feel the same?" When she didn't say anything, he continued.

"I... I want to say thank you, for accepting me. These three months... they are the happiest moments in my life. You were always there for me. Every time I woke up from having nightmares, I was already in your arms. You would soothe me and hold me close. You made me feel loved." He trembled slightly, his hand holding hers even tighter.

"You accept me for who I am and I- I am very lucky to have you as my wife. I'm sorry for taking so long to tell you this, but I..." There was a long pause, he took a deep breath before continuing, his face buried in her silky hair, "I love you, Touka." His eyes closed, and he felt her shudder against him.

Her eyes brimmed with tears hearing his confession.

'Lies. You're lying. You don't love me. You're just using me.'

If she didn't know the truth, she would have said she loved him too.

But how could she? When their marriage was based on lies?

She turned around so that they were lying side by side, facing each other directly.

"Why are you crying?" Worried spread all over his face seeing her cry at his confession.

"I'm- I'm so happy." She forced herself to reply. There was no hint of happiness displayed on her face but she smiled anyway, not wanting to worry him.

"Silly Touka." He lifted her chin up with his fingers, kissing her tears away, but she just sobbed even louder at his kind act. He pulled away slightly, his hands cupped her cheeks, trying his best to wipe the tears away from her beautiful face. Her shaky hands held his wrists, her eyes- they seemed hurt. But why? Seeing her cry made his heart wrench. He wanted to make her happy, to see her smile- especially when it had been a lovely day as they had just witnessed a beautiful wedding earlier.

And she witnessed him dancing gracefully with the bride.

"What's wrong? Is it because of Eto?"

She snorted. He heard her doing that numerous times ever since their marriage, but this time, it felt as if she was mocking him.

"No. It's not because of her. Don't worry, I'm just- too happy."

"Really?" His eyes gazing deep into hers, seeking confirmation. She nodded, and smiled, weakly.

"I love you." He whispered, his thumbs wiping her tears one last time before he leaned in, capturing her lips with his. He kissed her gently, so gently, conveying his feelings into the kiss. Her sniffles and soft gasps mixed together- his tongue seeking hers as the kiss turned deeper, his hands desperate to feel more of her soft skin. At that moment, he knew he needed to pull away, like he always did.

Every time you kissed me, you always stopped halfway, holding yourself back.

He paused, the words from her letter crossed his mind again.

Is it wrong if I want more?

He had always held himself back from advancing towards her, because he was scared of proceeding further- consummating their marriage. But after reading her letter last night, knowing that she loved him for who he was, that she wanted more than just a kiss- he felt as if he was given the permission to proceed further, and it made his heart ached at the thoughts.

'Are you sure you want more, Touka?'

Gently, he pushed her down onto her back, hovering over her. His eyes darkened slightly as he stared at her parted, swollen lips. Gathering up his courage, he wasted no time exploring her mouth again as his hands moved to her breasts, squeezing them lightly, letting her know his intention.

He was anxious, it hurt him to do this to her, as he had another purpose to fulfil. But he had to, to save his kingdom.

And because he wanted to.

With her.

She gasped loudly at the contact, and immediately pushed his hands away. His eyes widened, clearly taken aback by her action.

"Are you... are you still on your- uh..."

Period.

"No, but- I'm sorry, I'm- tired."

He was stunned for a moment, but sighed in relief afterwards.

"It's alright. I'll wait." He gave her a tender smile - which she didn't return - before his lips rested on her forehead for a lingering moment.

That night, her back was against him while his arm wrapped tightly around her waist.

Her silent cries went unnoticed by him.