CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
"No." Princess Toyomike said as she pulled away from the Crown Prince and looked in the opposite direction.
"Do you greatly resent me that much?" The Crown Prince asked. "Am I that awful that I can never find redemption in your eyes." He added.
"This is beyond hate and resentment towards you Your Highness." Princess Toyomike replied. "You have no idea how different we are." She added.
"Are the differences between us good enough an excuse not to love each other, if you are willing I could alter everything you disliked about me so that I can become perfect for you." The Crown Prince replied.
"Your Highness." Princess Toyomike called in a lowly manner, "how ever in the world could you possibly love me?" She asked.
Turning around she looked at him and walked up to his face.
"With love I told you what you must be willing to do, on top of that you should be in the position of giving me the assurance of utmost security but can I find mine in yours, a catastrophic harem of Imperial Consorts rather than the Embrace of a common man?" She asked.
"My feelings for you are flawless, if someone were to lay a hand on you I would reward them with punishment hundredfold." The Crown Prince replied.
"I can not take your words to be true as feelings can change, I am a woman too with very many demands, I'd hope to dictate it clearly that I can not find the comfort of sharing my man with another.
No, I can not even stoop so low to become the concubine of another, you are the Future Emperor of this country and you must understand, to men like you that are dignified and powerful with a very high social status we can come and go.
We are like toys that you use to fulfill your every pleasure and when our use has expired we can be dropped along the way.
You can not compare the fate of a single woman with that of a country and I assure you that if I were to spend eternity by your side I'd create for you many enemies they'd one time force you to chose between the state of your people and I." Princess Toyomike said.
"Tell me." She demanded. "Can you embrace such a cruel destiny because of me?" She asked.
"Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes." The Crown Prince said loudly as he ceased Princess Toyomike by her shoulders.
"All my life I had lived but it's until I met you that I finally understand what it means to say that someone is worth dying for, it was from the very moment that I met you that I learnt what the word love itself really is.
You have no idea how it feels like, you have no idea how the burden if the Crown slowly isolates you from people even those that you once held very dear in the end you are nothing but the lonely and great god.
Can you be a guardian of the people when you yourself find it difficult to find guidance, can you be a protector of the weak when the people around you are nothing but traitors and wolves underneath the sheep's skin, how can you love all the people when there is no one to love you and worse you hate yourself because there are things that you see but with the intention of maintaining the stability of the country you can not do anything?" The Crown Prince asked.
"Yes Your Highness is smart and intelligent, you can justify yourself for not loving me and you can come up with two, three, ten or hundreds of excuses but look at me and at least have some pity.
I don't want to give up hope but you make me look like a fool when I keep on trying while you on the other hand have just given up." He added.
"Your Highness." Princess Toyomike said.
"Enough," he halted. "I believe that you have already said enough." He added.
"I had never spoken out my mind before but now that I feel I am on the edge I can not take it anymore.
I have done everything I possibly could do to meet your satisfaction but you are hard to please, I have decided to fight so that I can in due course possess Nippon and rule it because you asked me to.
I have followed you nearly everywhere, stood by you, I've even laid down my life and risked every single bit if it to protect you tell me where I have fallen short at least as a man because I even showed you how willing I was to make the choice of forsaking every privilege that I have so that I can live with you." The Crown Prince said.
"You are young but to think that I love you because I was charmed by your beauty you are wrong because the person that I had fallen in love with was someone whose heart to me looked more beautiful than anything and someone who saw the fault in me and apprehended me at the moment when the rest of this hypocritic world would have praised me." The Crown Prince said as he turned around.
"Your Highness, if you choose to cling to me then I can tell you that very many people including your mother shall oppose this love of ours." Princess Toyomike said.
"At least I'd fight to the bitter end if I had two, you are just too vicious and heartless, so powerful that I can never be the man perfect for you to look at and love with all your heart.
Live good for me, if you are not willing to hold my hand and walk with me, because I love you so much and I can't force you to love me back with your heart, if my presence is too hard for you to bear and perhaps I make life uncomfortable for you then I won't inconvenience you any longer." The Crown Prince said as he slowly started to walk away.
For the first time Princess Toyomike felt so hurt and her heart ached so much that she ceased the left part of her chest.
With every step that the Crown Prince was making away from her, she was feeling so suffocated as it had never occurred for her in her entire life to be that desperate.
Pulling herself together underneath the moonlight that had just emerged she found herself running towards the Crown Prince.
Before he would go any further she passed her hands under his and then she tightly embraced him from behind that he was forced to halt in his footsteps that very moment as he turned his head around slowly.
"Forgive me." Princess Toyomike said. "No matter how hard I try to convince myself but I can't stop thinking about you.
I put in a great deal of effort to avoid you bug now I have realized that I can hide my feelings for you no longer I feel confined and shattered deep down having to watch you break because of me.
You always made me feel so different, much more than I had ever felt in my entire life with all the other boys from the very moment that I met you and learnt the mechanisms of your heart.
To forget you I can not imagining how other men would give expecting from me just as much or even more while you would continue to lose everything and love me only giving back to me Everytime." Princess Toyomike said.
The Crown Prince was surprised.
"I admit that I am stubborn but you were the first person that ever acted stubborn with me and you devote your all to make me happy I can't resist the idea of making you my Nippon." She added.
The Crown Prince ceased her by her hands and then removing them he turned around and ceased Princess Toyomike by her cheeks.
"I took my pride and I threw it out the window, could I have lived well if not for you?" The Crown Prince asked as Princess Toyomike stared right into his eyes.
"All that I ever asked from this life ever since you came into it was to wake up everyday loving you more and more than I had loved you before and I don't care how many people I have to go against to be with you." The Crown Prince said.
"One thing is certain and that's my love for you, because with it I can assure you here and now that with heaven as our witness there'll never be a day that I shall ever let you go." He added as he pulled the Princess into a hug that was very tight.
Submitting to his will she let him have his way as it was growing cooler and cooler that The Crown Prince carried her off her feet and then they moved around the rocks.
Nearby there was a small cave that appeared to have been frequently used before there were even leaves that formed a soft bed on a large stone slab.
There in the darkness the Crown Prince laid the Princess as he watched her earnestly she let him make his way on top of her.
Eventually their heads coming together they each leaned into a kiss which later evolved into another greater phase of their lives.
The first ray of dawn was up in the sky and Sina, Kabane and Miwa no Sakau were back at the shrine wondering where the Crown Prince and the Imperial Princess Toyomike were.
They stood at the entrance of the shrine having been joined by a group of priests ready to search the mountains and find the two if they had gotten lost.
Before they would make a move, Princess Toyomike and the Crown Princess were spotted by Kabane in a distance as they negotiated a corner and were on the path that led to the main gate of the shrine.
"Your Highness." The three retainers said in unison as they rushed over to their masters at once.
"Your Highness, what happened?" Miwa no Sakau asked as he noticed that the clothes of the Crown Prince had been stained with blood as the same went for the Princess' sleeves.
"Nothing much." The Crown Prince replied.
"Hmm." Princess Toyomike shook her head in acceptance.
"I was attacked by a group of assassins but luckily, the Crown Prince was in the vicinity and he was able to risk his life and save me from them." Princess Toyomike said.
"Your Highness, how would you leave the shrine without telling us, we were both worried sick about you." Sina said.
"I'm sorry, I followed someone out of curiosity the moment I saw them leaving the shrine, it had not occurred to me that they'd be leading me to a group of assassins in hiding." Princess Toyomike replied.
"Your Highness, we need to prepare to depart for the Capital as soon as possible." Kabane said.
"Yes Your Highness." Sina agreed.
"Let's go inside." Princess Toyomike said as she was led away but as she walked she turned around and looked at the Crown Prince while Miwa no Sakau watched as a ghastly smile graced his master's face.
He knew it immediately that there was something wrong.
"What happened between the both of you?" Miwa no Sakau asked.
"Nothing." The Crown Prince replied.
"Your Highness, I have grown up with you and I have spent my entire childhood with you as well that I know you perhaps much better than you know yourself.
You can fool the others but not me certainly." Miwa no Sakau said.
"I said that nothing happened between the both of us." The Crown Prince Nunakakura replied. "I only saved her life and that's it." He added.
"I highly doubt that Your Highness." Miwa no Sakau said.
"Believe it or not it's up to you." The Crown Prince said.
"Alright." Miwa no Sakau reluctantly surrendered.
"Go and prepare everything that you can, we are leaving for the Capital immediately." The Crown Prince ordered as he walked further through the gates of the shrine.
"Yes Your Highness." Miwa no Sakau replied as he bowed his head before shortly following behind the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince and the Imperial Princess' procession left from the Kii mountain ranges and as the Princess Toyomike's Palanquin descended from the mountains along the slopes, all the people lined up to have a glimpse of her one last time as they bowed their heads.
Princess Toyomike looked through the window and watched how the people worshipped her and closing the window she looked back inside as a series of thoughts came back to her.
She could recall everything and the way that she'd held the Crown Prince the previous night, she would recall the warmth that the Crown Prince had given him and on top of that, she'd still remember very well how tightly he had embraced her.
The memory was something that was very sweet but the thought of an uncertain future was something that was very bitter.
As they rode on and on the Princess felt more and more secure and eventually, they halted for a while and Sina looked into the Palanquin.
"Your Highness." She called.
"Why have we stopped?" Princess Toyomike asked.
"Nothing much Your Highness." Sina replied, we were just checking on you." She added.
"I am fine." Princess Toyomike replied with a serious look on her face that Sina was forced to look out and they continued.
"Your Highness." Hotaru said as she bowed her head.
"Did they do as they were told?" The Crown Princess asked.
"Her Highness was ambushed and nearly killed." Hotaru said.
"By saying that she was nearly killed is she in a critical condition right now?" The Crown Princess asked.
"No Your Highness." Hotaru replied.
"If no then what happened?" The Crown Princess asked.
"The Crown Prince was their and saved her much as he got a very small minor cut." Hotaru said.
"What?" The Crown Princess said as she stood up at once.
"Yes Your Highness." Hotaru said. "His Highness hasn't been going to the office of Finances because three days ago he went ahead of the Imperial Princess Toyomike to live in the Kii Mountain Ranges and as I speak both of them are on their way back." She added.
"That characterless wench." The Crown Princess said as she tightened her fist.
"Your Highness, it seems that the Crown Prince has been Bewitched by the Imperial Princess." Hotaru said.
"She is too conniving, I thought that if I could kill her away from the Capital then His Highness would be at peace but her seduction is so good he was swayed to put his life on the line because of her." The Crown Princess said.
"Your Highness." Hotaru called. "What should I do?" She asked.
"Is there anything more that you can do, your men failed such a simple task and fortunately they are all dead they can not live to tell the story that they were working on my orders.
I entirely devoted everything that I possibly could to get rid of the Imperial Princess and if assassins could not do the job right then it seems that I must do so much more." The Crown Princess replied.
"Father." Umako said as Iname lay in his bed.
"The Imperial Princess Toyomike is on her way back to the Capital." Iname replied.
"Yes Father." Umako replied.
"Send a messenger towards her before she is led through the gates and tell her that her terminally ill grandfather wishes to see her." Iname ordered.
"Aye Father." Umako said.
He remained there for a while.
"What are you still doing?" Iname asked his son.
"I am wondering father, the Assembly is going to be held today in a few hours, won't you be going?" Umako asked.
"I'll go as soon as the Princess arrives, she shall have cured me and I would have felt rejuvenated after her return." Iname said.
"Father, who still believes that people are semi divine with the powers to heal?" Umako asked.
"The Imperial Princess has already risen in the eyes of the people to prominence, we must ensure that at least one or two miraculous things happen to elevate her position.
I know that you worry too much whether people would believe, it has been widely known that the Great Imperial Chieftain has been terminally ill with only a few days left in the world.
If the Imperial Princess graced me with her presence at the time I was nearest to the grave and caused this old soul of mine to revive, she'd undoubtedly be the saviour of ole folk and family alike." Iname replied.
"I see Father." Umako said.
"Some time soon when you succeed me you shall see for yourself, even the matters that seem to be the smallest are just as vital ad those you call very big." Iname said.
"Your Highness." Sakae said as she bowed her head while the Empress walked through the Royal gardens.
"I suppose that you are here to tell me that the Imperial Princess Toyomike is on her way back to the Capital." The Empress said.
"Yes Your Highness." Sakae replied.
"And what am I supposed to do?" The Empress asked.
"Nothing Your Highness." Sakae replied.
The Empress smiled.
"All the years that I tried so hard in my life, could they compare to the small efforts that the Princess has put in recently?" The Empress asked.
"No Your Highness." Sakae replied.
"I established my own clout in the Imperial court that I would firmly rule and govern the inner one but now that the Princess has become a rebel on the inside she threatens to crumble everything that I have worked for over the years." The Empress said.
"Your Highness, she is young and compared to you she has no experience and power." Sakae said.
"I am starting to see her grow much faster than she expected and considering that General Fujiyaro rose through the ranks to become the Head of Military affairs it appears as though she is establishing a clout of her own." The Empress asked.
"Is Your Highness certain about what the Imperial Princess is thinking?" Sakae asked.
"No." The Empress replied. "That's what I am going to find out." She added.
"How Your Highness?" Sakae asked. "Shall I hire more men to keep an eye on her?" She added.
"There is no need for you to stress yourself so much doing anything." The Empress replied, "I shall certainly ask her myself." She added.
Princess Toyomike was only a couple of metres from the entrance of the capital when a horseman rushed up to her.
"Your Highness, Your Highness." He shouted as he raised in his hands the token of the Imperial Chieftain.
Princess Toyomike hearing someone calling her title shouted at the Procession to halt and she looked through her window and saw the horseman who stopped right beside her carriage.
He unmounted his horse and with Princess Toyomike looking at him through the window he bowed his head.
"Your Highness." He said.
"What's it?" Princess Toyomike asked.
"Your Grandfather is terminally ill and he wishes to see you before you can continue to the Palace." The man said.
"What?" Princess Toyomike asked. "Take me to him." She ordered and at once the horseman complied and led the Imperial Princess Toyomike's procession into the Capital.
The moment that they rode through Capital gates, the people gathered along the streets as they each scrambled to have a glance of the Imperial Princess Toyomike.
Her Palanquin being led through she had her windows on both sides opened and through them, she was quite able to see the people and they were also able to see her.
"Her Imperial Highness." The people said as they bowed down onto the ground and worshipped the Princess while she was being Led towards her Grandfather's Manor.
The Emperor stood at the pavilion which overlooked Nara and there in a distance he was able to see the respect with which the Imperial Princess Toyomike was being accorded.
"They worship her this much." Emperor Kinmei said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Sato replied.
"In deed she holds the will of heaven firm enough to endear herself to the people." the Emperor said.
"This move that she has made might on her side in the near future become a fatal design." Sato said.
"Yet as her enemies have grown, she still has no one by her side in the Imperial court." The Emperor said.
"Your Majesty, speaking of which all the officials have arrived." Sato said.
"Great." The Emperor said. "Great." He added.
"Are you staying a while longer?" Sato asked.
"Not really, I was just wondering what you think they are going to bring up this time around." The Emperor replied.
"I don't know and I dare not say a thing to Your Majesty." Sato said.
"I can tell that you have something that is utterly perturbing your mind." The Emperor said.
"Your Majesty, you are aware of it all and there is nothing new that I am telling you." Sato said. "But now that the issue if the Prophecy has subsided and we can no more complain about it, the other matter that is at hand right now is that since Soga no Iname is terminally ill they are going to ask you if they can make preparations as soon as possible to choose a New Imperial Chieftain." He added.
"Of course they will." The Emperor replied.
"Your Majesty." Sato called. "What do you plan on doing about it?" He asked.
"I suppose that we should both wait and see for ourselves." The Emperor replied. "Could heaven still reside in Iname's favour?" He added.
"Aye Your Majesty." Sato said as he bowed his head.
The Emperor remained and watched the Capital for a while and satisfied he turned around to look at Sato.
"Let's go for the Assembly." He said and leading the way, Iname followed as the two were joined by a group of Imperial guards while they made their descent from the pavilion.
Princess Toyomike's procession halted and she lifted her head and walked out of the Palanquin with the help of Kabane as she made her way through the gates of the Manor.
At the entrance, she was welcomed by her uncle and her grandmother.
"Your Highness." They said as they bowed their heads.
"Where is Grandfather?" Princess Toyomike asked.
"This way." Umako replied as he led her through while Sina and Kabane followed and the rest if the others remained at the gates.
She was led up to the Chambers of Iname and flinging the doors open, she walked in and then approached the side of his bed.
"Grandfather." She called and at once Iname opened his eyes and looked up at her.
"Princess." He called weakly.
"Yes, it's me, Toyomike." The Princess said as she tightly held his right hand and placed it close to her chest.
"You have grown so beautiful and smart, it feels as though it was just yesterday that I was holding you as a baby in these hands of mine." Iname said.
"Grandfather, I heard that you were terminally ill, I did not think that it was this serious." Princess Toyomike said.
"I am very old and like it or not my time in the world shall one day come to an end." Iname said.
"And today is not that day Grandfather, I know it very well that you are very smart and very strong, you still owe Nara and Nippon one more favour before you can perish." Princess Toyomike said.
"What is that favour?" Iname asked.
Princess Toyomike kept quiet.
A while later, Sina and Kabane having waiting for quite long the doors of the Manor were opened and the Imperial Princess Toyomike stepped into their sight.
Everyone in the courtyard of the Manor turned to look at her.
"Your Highness." Kabane called. "What happened there?" He asked.
"I can not explain now." Princess Toyomike replied as she turned and looked at Sina who was standing on her left.
"Let's continue to the Palace first." She said and then descending the stairs she walked through the courtyard as the servants there bowed to pay their homeage while she made her exit and climbed back into her Palanquin.
It was lifted and her procession continued as she was headed for the Imperial Palace.
The Courtiers had gathered and they were talking amongst themselves when Sato arrived.
"His Majesty deigns you with His presence." He announced and falling into order, the courtiers awaited as the Emperor in all his Majesty made his way down the aisle towards the Chrysanthemum throne where he mounted a group of stairs before he stood and faced them all.
"Your Majesty." The Courtiers said in unison as they bowed their heads before the Emperor sat down.
"I greet you all." The Emperor said.
"Thank you Your Majesty." The Courtiers said. " Long live Your Majesty." They added.
"I know that a number of you could have anticipated this day." The Emperor said. " Is there anything that you wish to present as a concern to me?" He asked.
The Courtiers looked at each other before one of them replied.
"Yes Your Majesty." Mononobe no Suke said.
"What is it?" The Emperor asked.
"The issue of the Imperial Chieftain has risen public suspicion and the duties of this office have been neglected for a while, for the country to continue we as the Courtiers believe that Your Majesty should do something about it." Mononobe no Suke replied.
The Emperor looked at him and all the courtiers that were present responded positively to the request.
"Yes Your Majesty." They said in Mononobe no Suke's support as General Fujiyaro standing right in a distance reserved his own speech and watched as the Courtiers tried to Persuade their Emperor.
Princess Toyomike walked through the Palace gates and she was moving around to her side of the Palace.
Reaching the entrance to her Palace she halted when in the opposite direction, the Empress and her convoy arrived.
The two women halted in their footsteps as they looked at one another.
"Your Highness." Princess Toyomike said as she bowed her head. The Empress did the very same to her.
"To what pleasure do I owe the opportunity of seeing you?" Princess Toyomike asked.
"I believe that her Highness is quite kind and principled, won't you let me in please?" The Empress said.
"Of course Your Highness." Princess Toyomike said as she bowed her head and pointing towards her courtyard, she let the Empress lead the way as she followed her inside.
The two entering the Princess's quarters sat at the table that was not so far from her bed.
"Your Highness." Princess Toyomike said. "Pardon me that I have not given you quite the proper welcome." She added.
"I understand that you must have traveled a very long journey and you are now exhausted, it'd make no sense for someone like me who has been here in the palace to place a heavier burden on you." The Empress said with a smile.
"Even after all these years it is so good to see that you are still considerate to me." Princess Toyomike said.
"Of course, you are the favourite child of my husband so it makes me equally your mother as well." The Empress said.
The Princess smiled lightly.
"You are not just a mother to me, you are a mentor, I must say that all I have learnt about survival in this chaotic world that is overridden with politics is thanks to your tireless efforts and the opportunities that you have given me." Princess Toyomike replied.
"You have in deed become politically enlightened and now more than ever I can see how well you have grown under my guidance and care." The Empress said.
"I had you, Father and grandfather to learn from." Princess Toyomike said. "Looking at the things that you all did throughout the years made me realize that like you I could also become quite influential and strong." Princess Toyomike said.
"Strong enough to possess the will of heaven in your hands, to cause stars to fall and to also raise an army of Royal guards devoted to your service and your service alone?" The Empress asked.
"Yes Your Highness." Princess Toyomike replied.
"That's wonderful, what more should we expect from our dear Princess if Nara, a clout?" The Empress asked.
"No." Princess Toyomike replied. "I am also like you your Highness." She added.
"How?" The Empress asked. "Whereas I am the Empress of this country you are only it's Princess." She added.
"We are both Emperor's daughters." Princess Toyomike replied. "We are both women that are ambitious and have ulterior motives of our own and while the men play their game we also have ours." Princess Toyomike added.
"The role of the inner court is to nurture virtuous and dignified Royal women, not to foster strong and resilient ones." The Empress said.
"Pardon my impertinance Your Highness but where in the two categories you have mentioned to me do you lie?" Princess Toyomike asked.
"Not everyone can realize a common grace and not everyone can realize a common calling." The Empress said. "You can not equate me to yourself." She added.
"Of course I can not equate myself to you Your Highness but even you know it very well that we are not like any other ordinary women." Princess Toyomike said.
"Then allow me to ask you that all this that you are doing what is it for?" The Empress asked.
"As I speak now, the Courtiers are discussing the issue of replacing my Grandfather as the Imperial Chieftain with the Emperor right now given that his health is quite poor and he was sick terminally." Princess Toyomike replied.
"It is a pity that his days had to come to an end, he was really a very strong pillar of this country." The Empress said.
"No." Princess Toyomike replied, "He doesn't have to step down yet." She added.
"Why not?" The Empress asked.
"As we speak I bet by now fully dressed as a courtier he has made his way into the Hall, all the other Courtiers are looking at him surprised how someone as badly ill as he was is able to walk with such strength and confidence.
He is not pale and he is infact feeling better than he has ever felt his entire life and he is greeting the Emperor and everyone else while his son following from behind is not there to even support him as he walks.
The Emperor is going to ask him
"How come someone so sick like you had strived to be here at this hour when I had granted you the right to stay in your Manor and exempted you from any hard work?"
He'll reply saying, "Forgive me for being late Your Majesty but I am a pillar of this country and it was my duty Your Majesty to save you all the burden of replacing me when I can still serve my country."
And when the Emperor asks him how he is able to be in such a healthy mood today he'll certainly reply saying.
"Her Highness, the Imperial Princess Toyomike visited me." The Princess replied.
The Empress looked at the Princess with her eyes wide open she was quite shocked.
"Are you surprised Your Highness?" Princess Toyomike asked.
"I had never hoped that you could be this cunning." The Empress replied.
"Cunning?" Princess Toyomike asked. "I don't think that is the right word Your Highness" She added.
"I am unable to tell what it is that you want." The Empress said.
"I told you Your Highness that I do we are very much alike and you wish to know what I am doing then I shall tell you plainly." Princess Toyomike replied.
"Aha?" The Empress asked.
"I am going to contend with your might." Princess Toyomike replied. "No." She revoked "I wish to become like you and even better than the best version of Yourself." She added.