In the middle of the night

~The Imperial Palace~

The pale crescent moon shone like a silvery claw in the night sky with stars that stretched to infinity.

The occasional croaking of faraway frogs and the loud continuous chirping of crickets broke the silence of the night, giving off an eerie feeling to the few whose eyes were still open at this time.

In the middle of the night when most people were already deep into sleep, Empress Himiko was among the few still awake by this time.

A moment ago, she had been sleeping peacefully on her bedding with her black long silky hair sprawled behind her, when her lashes suddenly fluttered, and her eyes flew open.

Immediately, her lean body rose effortlessly, propping itself into a sitting position as the rays from the moonlight seeping in from the open window, cast its dull lights on her face.

Her peerless beauty was revealed even more with her long hair cascading down her back and fluttering lightly as the night breeze brushed across her face.

With straight brows, squinting eyes, and her thin pink lips pursed, Empress Himiko's hands joined together on her lower torso as the corners of her lips turned up in a smirk.

A glint of danger flashed across her eyes as she got to her feet and slipped her feet into the pair of wooden footwear at the foot of her bed.

Without wasting time, she adjusted her sleeping robe before walking out of her dark sleeping chambers in silent steps.

Passing through the sitting area, she shoved the entrance door open before stepping out, instantly startling the two guarding samurais in their full uniform outside her door.

The two guards moved a step away with their right hand quickly flying to rest on the handle of their katanas, ready to draw their swords.

But on seeing it was just the Mistress of the inner palace, the hands resting on their katanas, went back to their sides.

Quickly, they bent their waists to offer a deep bow of apology and greeting with their backs as straight as a plank.

Ignoring their greetings, Empress Himiko turned to her left and started walking down the hallway brightly illuminated by the yellow lights from the lamp stands at different positions.

Because of her soundless steps, the guards at her door did not know when she left. It was only when the eerie feeling she brought with her seemed to have dissipated, that they dared to raise their heads.

Looking at the end of the hallway, they saw no one, and immediately, a long sigh escaped from their lips and they went back into position.

They did not understand how someone would wake up in the middle of the night and walk so soundlessly given the kind of footwear on their feet that was known for producing 'koi' sounds when struck against the nightingale floor.

Fortunately, they were sent from the Shogun's side and were already used to the Empress's ways, otherwise, they would have fainted from fright.

It was also thanks to where they came from, that Empress Himiko knew their lips would remain tightly sealed to the incident this night.

Stepping out from the hallway, Empress Himiko's hands continued flickering a cloudy simmering light from her fingers and unto the guards that passed her.

Her gaze remained unwavering even as she stepped outside the building and saw more guards patrolling under the moonlight.

She continued to cast her delusional spells on them, forcing them to turn a blind eye to her as she walked past them in graceful steps.

Behind her were whispers from some of the guards in pairs. Their brows were knitted as their entire faces were contoured in a frown.

"I thought I saw Her Majesty a moment ago," one of the men said with his gaze darting around.

"Same here. I thought I saw her figure walking past us for a moment," another one corresponded with a narrowed gaze in the distance where he felt he had seen her.

However, another one of the guards stared at them as though they were confused fools. "Cut it out. You two must be delusional."

"I didn't see anyone. It looks like you two are already tired. Our shift will be over soon, just bear with it," a fourth guard added, calmly.

It was no new thing for some of them to think they saw things before in the past. However, when others checked, there was nothing.

Left to the fourth guard, the burden of having to watch at night, plus family stress during the day was something that could take a toll on the mind.

While that was there, one could not take away the fact that the Empress and her brother were reverenced, and as such everyone was on their toes when it came to working.

Such a thing could cause mental strain and make one think they saw things.

Seeing that they were the only ones who seemed to have seen wrongly, they agreed to have been delusional and hurriedly went back to their post.

Empress Himiko quickened her steps as she walked past several buildings in the palace.

Without the need to stop to rest, she continued that way until she went out of the palace through the back gates and entered the thick forest about two kilometers outside of the palace walls.

A few minutes later she halted in her steps at the center of ten long cedar trees.

Her firm gaze stared blankly ahead for a minute, taking in the opening which was large enough for a family of four to build a befitting hut to live comfortably in.

A small smile graced the Empress's lips as she stared at the patch of green grass beneath her feet.

"Little witch, how do you do?" Her mocking tone whispered while putting on a smile that reached her eyes.

Whatever it was that was actually beneath her feet, seemed to bring her the happiness which she hadn't had for the past few days.

As soon as her soft voice called in the thick forest, the night breeze carried her words across the surrounding in a soft echo that brought a dreadful feeling along with it.

Her normal voice sounded so unusual that it could easily shock and frighten those already used to it if they were to hear her speak now.

At the same time, below Empress Himiko's feet, there sat a woman on the cold ground with her hands spread apart from her body, and her wrists chained to the huge iron frame impeded into both sides of the wall.

The woman had her head lowered and sprawled weakly on her lower limbs as her tattered and dirty kimono stuck to her body.

Her hair had a large mixture of grey in her black strands which fell forward from the back of her head, automatically shielding her face.

In the dark underground cage, only her shallow breathing could be heard as the only lamp in that air-tight surrounding fluttered weakly.

Immediately the woman heard that familiar eerie voice of the female ruler, she slowly lifted her head, revealing her dirt-stained face.

Her eyes seemingly unfocused, stared ahead as her quivering lips uttered without moving. "Himiko."

Immediately, Empress Himiko heard her clear voice, she erupted in a thundering laugh, ignoring how far the night breeze would carry her voice.

The wrinkles that had formed on her face from having laughed out so much and her once creased brows, instantly straightened out.

All of her attention-seeking desires died down slowly as she wore a plain look on her face.

She was unbothered as her subject of interest had paid her the attention she craved so dearly for.

"You sound alive," Himiko stated with a hint of amusement laced in her tone while staring at the space before her feet as a dark glint flashed passed her eyes.

"I wonder for how long though."