Aiko heard those words, but only distantly, as if muffled. "Why...did he kill her?" Aiko mumbled, not knowing if she should believe her. Fumi wouldn't tell her this just to warn her: it was to frighten her. 

"Because the poor girl's heart was moving away from His Majesty's, and into another man's arms. She no longer loved him," Fumi sighed, fanning herself. "The Emperor's love had suffocated her. Too much even for that sweet soul. What was her name again? Ah yes, Noble Lady Riku. She was stunning, and sweet. Her death was painful to everyone."

A long silence stretched in the room after the sentence left her mouth. A response was needed, but Aiko was too busy worrying over Akihfumi's swaying body. It seemed the woman didn't know this story either, probably having entered the palace after Noble Lady Riku's death.  

"Um...Lady Akihfumi?" Aiko asked, watching as her knees buckled and she tumbled to the floor. Fumi turned around and sighed, clearly angry. She snapped her fan shut and slipped it inside her sleeve.

"What a useless woman," Fumi whispered, quickly lifting her up. "It seems our talk has to be cut short: Lady Akihfumi is as pale as a ghost." Fumi bowed down, starting to leave. Before she stepped out, Fumi turned around. "If I, were you, Your Highness, I would run away from my brother. As far away as you can. What stops him from repeating what he did to Noble Lady Riku to Your Highness?"  

Aiko said nothing. The silence was heavy, before Fumi turned around, her hair swishing, before she left.

The silence was loud, almost giving Aiko a headache. She slowly stepped out of the water, her heart hammering in her heart. She was furious at Fumi for trying to scare her away. "It probably isn't true! That lying woman could have told me anything." Aiko paused. "But what if it were true?"

While Aiko thought about this, she heard the soft splatter of water raining down on the floor. Aiko turned around and saw the Emperor standing still, in the middle of the room. His eyes were cast low, filled with sadness. The Emperor glanced at her. His eyes seemed...wet.

Aiko didn't know what to do. She wanted to lash out at him and start screaming, or even pat him on the back. Instead, she slipped closer and glanced at him, her eyes void of emotion. "I want to know the story," She said quietly.

The Emperor shivered, wrapping his arms around his shoulders. Aiko didn't know if he was cold or dark memories were coming back to him. Aiko watched as the Emperor leaned against the wall slid to the floor, his gaze turned to the side, his face pale. A pool of water spread around him. It was clear this memory was traumatic, and the wound was still open.  

Aiko sat down on the floor as well, water droplets sliding down her body and onto the already soaked floor.

The room was silent, only the sound of water droplets filled the void.  

The Emperor was leaning his head against the wall. Aiko had her legs spilled underneath her. She truly expected him to push her away and hit her for asking such personal questions, but she was shocked when he started speaking.  

"A long time ago," his voice was heavy, barely over a whisper. "I loved a girl. We were madly in love. I couldn't go a day without seeing her or reading the poems she wrote for me. I became a different man. I was...better. The best version of myself. I thought it was heaven. But tragedy is sudden and tears the normality of our life..." his voice trembled.

"One day, after a bad fight I left. Without harming her though." The Emperor said, looking at Aiko. His eyes shone with tears. "The next day, I rushed back to apologize. When I entered her room..."he laughed, almost choking on his words. "She was dead. Lying in the pool of her own blood. A dagger piercing her heart."

After his words trembled out of him, his gaze turned distraught. His face from sad and begging, became the one Aiko knew. "Fumi immediately blamed me. No one did anything to me, but everyone thought it was me. I could feel it, in the way they stared at me. I started widening my harem in response. Everyone thought I would kill all the women," he laughed in pain.

Aiko didn't say anything. She was still, observing the Emperor. "I..."she started to say.

He turned around, glaring at her. "I do not need your pity." He hissed, standing up. His eyes were wet, but he passed his fingers over his eyes. It was clear he didn't want to talk anymore. He had pushed down his walls for a mere few seconds, and now they were back up, as strong as ever. "Now, I need to get out of this room." The Emperor said, turning around to glance at the room. 

Aiko stood up. "You could sneak outside from the door. You could order the guards to not spread rumors" She proposed.

The Emperor shook his head. "No. Although I am the Emperor, nothing stops rumors and whispers from flying in the corridors. We'll already pay for my entrance. And they'll just be reminded of me if I walk out." Aiko raised her brow, wondering why he was so nervous about walking out. 

 "I can't go over the wall in your garden right now." He said, thinking aloud.

"Where would that lead you?" Aiko asked.

"In my private garden. The one in with the spring you fell in in."

Aiko stayed still. "Why can't you go?"

"The noise would be too loud. Tomorrow morning, I will get on the other side. For the night I will sleep here." The Emperor said, lying. He was still feeling dizzy and wasn't to his best capabilities. The lie was a mediocre one and Aiko could easily see through it: he didn't want to be alone.

Aiko huffed. "I get woken in the morning by my maids. You need to leave." She said, starting to push him out of the door.

The Emperor smiled darkly. "Only after the Emperor rises. So until I jump to the other side, and open my doors, and declare I'm awake, no one is going to walk in your chambers."

Aiko groaned. She just couldn't get rid of him.

She sighed, turning to her bed. As she started pulling back the covers, the Emperor joined her.

Aiko yanked the covers out of his hands, gripping it tightly. "Oh no. You won't sleep with me."

The Emperor got to the other side of the bed. He grabbed her wrist, pushing her against the side of the bed. "I will sleep in this bed. I am the Emperor and deserve to be comfortable. If anyone were to sleep on the floor, it would be you. The Emperor does not sleep on the floor." And with these words he slipped under the covers. He glared at her again, before letting go of her hand and slipping inside the bed. He placed his head on the pillow, closing his eyes. 

Aiko, infuriated, stood up. She understood he didn't want to be alone right now, but he was still pushing it. Now, he was lying to lie in bed with her, to torment her further. Aiko sat at the bottom of the head, laying her head on her knees.

The Emperor opened his eyes, grinning. He took the candle from her bedside table. He blew on it before putting it back down. "Goodnight my Empress. Sleep comfortably," He whispered mockingly.  

Aiko was still sitting on the floor. It was hard and uncomfortable. Her neck was killing her, and it was a chilly night.  

The Emperor was comfortable, starting to fall asleep but every time he was close to sleep, he heard Aiko shuffling at the bottom of the bed.

After thirty minutes of Aiko miserably trying to fall asleep, the Emperor huffed and got out of bed. He didn't think she would have lasted that long. Was it so bad to sleep next to him? He asked himself, doubt starting to spread before he quickly shooed it away.

The Emperor picked up the shivering woman and slipped her under the covers. Aiko started to protest but he shushed her. "Just behave this once," He grunted.

Aiko stayed still as he entered the bed. Aiko was still shivering, so the Emperor pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. Aiko didn't try and pull back, the warmth comforting. The Emperor pulled her even closer. "Good night." He whispered again. And this time, for good. 

CREDITS TO THE RIGHTFUL OWNER OF THE PICTURE