The Emperor's Rose

Chapter 5 // Words and Shouts

(Credits to the rightful owner of the drawing)

Aiko felt her body tumble in a dark hole, swallowing her alive. A sheen of thin ice spread over her heart, slowly stopping it. Her eyes widened, the white clearly visible, her red streaks shimmering. The room was quiet, the pounding of her heart the only noise slicing the silence. A bead of sweat trickled down her cheek, almost like a tear.

Aiko thought she would be able to taste freedom for the first time, but it clearly wasn't what destiny had in plan for her. She couldn't run away now. The guard was blocking the entrance, and even if she sprinted, she had no clue where the gates were. And sentinels were guarding them. It was impossible. The weight of the realization settled on her soldiers, making her hunch her back in despair.

The guard felt his heart fill slowly with pity for the poor girl lying on the floor, clearly shaken. Nothing of his warm emotions were visible on his face. "The Emperor does not like to wait." The guard said, his voice softening to not agitate the poor girl. He helped her up, gently pushing her in the corridor. He had a feeling that if he didn't help her, the girl wouldn't move.

Aiko's feelings were a complete tornado, swirling around inside her. Uncontrollable and destructive. It destroyed the dam Aiko had built for her feelings. A tear escaped her eyes and splattered softly on the wooden floor. She was tired, her body was exhausted, a headache was conquering her mind and she did not have the strength to meet the Emperor. Even the short glimpse she had had of him was enough to make shivers cross down her back, mixed with the sadness was a spark of anger. Anger at being terrified. She shouldn't be scared, she was better than this, but still, she was shivering. The Emperor could kill her if he wanted, and she doubted he would hesitate.

As Aiko munched on her thoughts, she didn't realize that they were approaching the Emperor's chambers, the more decorated corridors a testament to that.
As they turned one last corner, two beautiful doors appeared. It would have been a remarkable sight for Aiko if she hadn't felt so many tragic emotions at once. She didn't pay attention to anything. She barely noticed the doors were engraved with jewels and diamonds.

A guard dressed in the same military attire as the other, was on the left side of the door. The right space was occupied by another guard. As the guard escorting her arrived, the guard on the left saluted, "Gaku, my turn is complete, if you could please take my space?" The guard presumably named Gaku nodded.

The previous guard took off and Gaku, who had been escorting Aiko, took his place, leaving Aiko alone in front of the doors. Aiko wanted to beg for them to help her, but she knew it was useless. The woman wanted to retain some scraps of dignity as well, drying her tears and stepping closer to the door.

The guards watched her, not sure if they should escort her or push her inside. Aiko slowly advanced to the door handles, wrapping her hand around it. She gently pushed it down. She had to be strong, Aiko told herself. She didn't have to show the Emperor she was afraid. She breathed in and tried expelling every negative emotion that was twirling around her head.

She knocked two times.

The same voice as before answered. "Come in." Aiko opened the doors and stepped inside, staring down at the floor. Aiko couldn't admire the room well, only seeing bits and pieces from the corner of her eyes. But she lifted her head, slowly, her eyes darting from one side to another, trying to assess if there was an exit.

The room was extremely spacious. Another room was situated on the right, the screen doors open, revealing the library where books had been stacked. A desk was placed by the window, a pen laid down on an unfinished letter, dripping its ink like tears on the white paper. The other sets of doors were barely open, but Aiko could see a bathtub.