The Emperor's Rose

Chapter 58//Jade Necklace

"My sister's requested a meeting with me. I need to look perfect," Aiko said, her eyes flashing with the madness of revenge. She wanted to make them pay for everything they had made her go through. Her cheeks still red from the previous moments, her hand grasping her clothes.

The maids, still fazed, nodded, distracted.
Aiko sat in front of her vanity, quickly passing a hand through her hair. Rin grabbed a brush and started passing it through the knots, while Hishi and Hibi tried finding a kimono to Aiko's liking.
She decided on a pink one with green decorations, a very summer-y one, even thought they were just finishing winter.

Aiko quickly slipped it on, Eriko tying the light green obey tightly around her.

Her hair was styled in a simple way. Most of it brushed to the side, a rose tucked behind her ear. A golden fan was placed in her hand.

"We have finished." Eriko announced as they scooted back. Aiko checked her reflection, her red lips contrasting with her pale skin. Her eyes glimmered.

"Perfect." She turned around and faced them. She bowed down. "Thank you."

The maids, now used to the Empress bowing to them, bowed down saying, "It was our pleasure." Aiko smiled as she quickly walked out of the room, heading to the gardens.

She slipped on her golden sandals. Hurriedly walking to the lavender bushes, where they should meet, before remembering, that even if she were late, she was the Empress, she had every right to make them wait.

She slowed down. Aiko passed a hand through her hair. Plastering a small smile on her face as she leisurely passed through the perfectly planned garden. All the small buds ready to bloom. The looming trees. The various birds and fishes.
She could hear the humming of the monks in the distance. A temple was close to the palace.

Aiko soon spotted her sisters loitering next to the purple bushes. Siho was observing the koi fishes in the small pond. Miho was fanning herself, while Chiho was lost in her thoughts.

"Please excuse me if I was late," Aiko said. Her hair gently swishing in the wind.

Her sisters seemed to snap awake. Miho jumped up. Siho almost fell in the pond and Chiho sneezed.
Miho gripped the fan. "Why are you late?" She asked, her teeth clenched.

"I had a vital decision to make. I couldn't pick what kimono to wear. The silk one with golden decorations or the silk kimono with small pearls...I just couldn't chose." She said, her hands flying up, stressing the world vital. The subtle message was that choosing kimonos was more important than being with her sisters. And she had picked those two examples to show the high level of kimonos she had at her disposal.

Siho smiled dumbly. Chiho wasn't even paying attention, Miho was the only one who caught the message. "We wanted to talk to you." She whispered. Her eyes flashing.

Aiko slowly went to pick a flower, inhaling the sweet scent. "What is it?" She mumbled disinterested.

"We find it unfair you are to marry His Majesty." Chiho said, her brow furrowing.

Aiko snapped open her fan, starting to fan herself. "The way you treated me was unfair." Aiko said coldly. Her eyes pits of swirling disgust.

"You deserved it!" Miho shrieked. Her fan clattering to the ground. "It's your fault mother died!" She yelled, her eyes lighting up with anger. Veins popping out in her neck.

"I didn't choose it! " Aiko said back. She was keeping her cool. The anger was pulsating like furious magma inside her, but, as she had learned, the ladies in the palace fought with snarky comments and veiled insults, the tone of voice always calm and cool. Not like the show Miho was putting on.

"I did what I could to survive!" Miho roared. Her sleeves trembling at her fury.

"No, you simply did what you could for yourself." Aiko said. Her eyes piercing directly through her lies.

Siho turned to stare at Miho, the leader of everything. The most intelligent out of the three. Chiho stepped in. "Let us become the Emperor's concubine's at least. If he marries you I'm sure he'll need us to please him."

Aiko felt the idea of them at the palace shaking her to her core. Never escaping them.

"Please! He already has a harem! And the ugliest one is prettier than all three of you put together!" Aiko laughed, covering her mouth with her fan.

Miho saw red. She lost the few ounces of self control she possessed. She lunged at Aiko.

Aiko moved to the side, crashing into someone behind her.

Chiho's eyes widened. They were focused on the person Aiko had crashed into. All of her sisters fell to the floor, bowing deeply.

"The Emperor."Aiko thought. She turned around.

Her eyes widened.

The kimono was a rich blue with purple decorations. A sunflower sewn on the center. Sunflower? That was the previous royal emblem before Hisato. Aiko thought.

The face of the man was wrinkly. His eyes sweet and kind. His smile taking up half of his face. Around his neck he wore a necklace of Jade.

Aiko realized who this person was. She dropped to her knees as well. The only person who could wear the previous emblem of royalty and a necklace made of Jade, was the Retired Emperor.
The Emperor's father.