It had been about a week since the presumed death of Octavi Kirayo, and everybody in the palace remained in low spirits. The Emperor himself had not been so intrepid and attentive towards you as he was before the incident. The days seemed to drag on for years, and the seconds for centuries. Everything seemed to remind you of him, and now, every time you looked up at the moon, you could only think of the words Octavi had spoken to you.

It felt as though you too were surviving through life during this tough time and not truly alive at all. The Emperor had noticed your dejected mood and resolved not to intrude or push any further at the risk of making things worse. With all, he concluded that the grief had sunken in and was beginning to fade away, so it was the perfect time to at least try to lighten your spirits.

He had left you short letters for each day of the week on your bedside table to wake up to. He eased the rule of the lockdown, allowing the staff to at least get some fresh air in the private gardens behind the palace walls.

On the following Monday of Octavi's passing, the first letter read :

Dear [Name],

Little by little, you will learn how to let go of this loss, but never of love. Love gives us the memories that we cherish so dearly and close to heart. Although the late Octavi Kirayo has made his departure to the heavens, he left you the memories built with the stability of love. Continue to grieve, but do not forget to live your life. Mourning is the last act of love, and gratitude, we can give to those who have left us. As they say, 'where there is deep grief, there was deep love'.

You didn't know who'd been leaving these letters, and all the confusion it brought you was understandable. The individual - most generally known as the stealthy Emperor - had been sneaking into your room at dawn to place them onto your bedside table, not making even the slightest of sounds. Whenever you opened your eyes, the first thing you would feel like doing was crying. But these notes much helped to ease the pain, and make this period of grief more natural to handle.

On Tuesday, the second letter read :

Dear [Name],

I have found quite an interesting quote in one of my poetry books. It reads, 'Grief is like the ocean; it comes in waves, ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.'

It was a lovely little quote to read, and with each passing day, your heart became somewhat jauntier.

On Wednesday, there was no letter. Instead, there was a small box of poorly handcrafted chocolates: two milk chocolate ones and two whites chocolate ones. Spattered upon the milk chocolates were pink sprinkles with modest details drawn onto them very crudely. On the white chocolates, there were cherry blossom flowers painted on with a sort of icing or coloured chocolate, but it too was poorly done. Either way, they tasted delicious.

"How does this work? The icing isn't coming out." The Emperor announced as he held the piping bag in his ghostlike hands. The elderly head chef of the palace looked at the Emperor with great concern, too frightened to stop him as the Emperor waved the piping bag around. Soon enough, the Emperor squeezed the piping bag much too toughly, and there was chocolate all over him.

"Goodness me!" He yelled in shock, only to earn a mental facepalm from the head chef. The head chef finally intervened with a new piping bag, directing the Emperor's hands along the chocolate.

"Your grip must be delicate. Do not apply it directly onto the chocolate, but slightly above. Allow it to fall neatly onto your craft. If you apply it straight on, the texture will look terrible, and it will look too much of a mess." The chef instructed as the Emperor had finally gotten the hang of things.

The Emperor spent, at the very least, two hours on just four chocolates with about three batches pushed to the side due to their horrific condition. Sadly enough, the best four that he had picked out still weren't in pristine, professional condition, but they would do. The royal chef sighed as the Emperor finally left with the small box of chocolates. The chef had never spent so much time to make four chocolates in his life and was glad that the Emperor didn't suggest any cooking lessons as it would most certainly mean his death.

On Thursday, you woke up to a blade of green tickling the tip of your nose. To your wonderment, you found an enormous and extravagant bouquet of exotic flowers on your bedside, more prominent than the bedside table itself. The plants were mostly in [F/C], which was your favourite colour. You placed this abundant bouquet into a giant flower vase and made sure to look after them to the best of your ability.

On Friday, you were shocked to wake up to a dark, red velvet box. Upon opening the box, there was a beautiful pair of golden earrings with ivory pearl teardrops hanging down. They looked incredibly expensive but complimented the frame of your face wonderfully. Even if you wanted to, you couldn't return it to whoever was supplying you with all these well-thought-out and fancy goods.

On Saturday, and Sunday was a small drawing of the sun, and then one of the moon with tiny smiley faces on them. You found it was quite endearing and thoughtful of them.

Presently, as you woke up on Monday morning, you felt a weight on your arm, pulling you down. You looked over your shoulder to see none other than the Emperor clinging onto you from behind, holding you in a deep embrace. You could barely pull away and were struggling against his grip for several moments until you eventually woke him up.

His dark lashes parted to reveal his drowsy red orbs. "[Name].. stop moving.." He mumbled into your ear, his hot breath on your cheeks, making you blush. He pulled you closer into his grip and gazed at you. "Hug me back [Name]." He ordered more than asked. Not having the strength to reject him so early in the morning, you simply decided to obey. He had saved your life twice after all, so it was the least that you owed him.

He blissfully sighed as he felt your arms around him, holding him close in return. "[Name], you drive me crazy." He whispered to you before leaning in closer to your ear. "If only I could do more than just hug you." He purred before pulling away. His sleepy eyes widened as a thought came to mind. He immediately sat up, and your arms fell off him as he did so. His hair was messy from sleeping next to you, and he was wearing nothing but his loose bedtime robe. How immoral could this man be? His entire chest was exposed, and it was as though the gods had sculpted him.

"[Name], there is an important matter I wish to discuss." The Emperor commenced speaking, looking at you from over his shoulder with an edgy look. "It may not be the right time, but I cannot wait for a second longer. Today, I want to take you on a date. This evening, I will tell you about this matter I've been thinking about for quite some time now. I promise that I can lift your spirits, little tailor." The Emperor said, a bright smile on his lips.

You sighed - you were still in the grieving period, and even though things were starting to become better in Octavi's absence, you didn't think you were anywhere near to finishing grieving just yet. Nevertheless, you were sure that the Emperor could raise your spirits as he had done before, and you could do the same for him. Despite this, you were unsure about whether or not to take him up on the idea of a date. Deep in thought, the Emperor stared at your pondering expression for several moments before growing impatient.

"I'll take your silence as a yes. I'll come to pick you up in an hour, so get ready. I'm taking you somewhere fun." The Emperor said before standing up from the bed. He walked over to your side and grabbed your hand in his own before leaning down to lay a small kiss on your soft skin.

"I shall take my leave then. Good morrow, little tailor." He whispered into your ear, hunching over your body once again. He pushed strands of your [H/C] hair behind your ear as he did so, looking at you with an unreadable expression in his eyes of immense feeling. You held your breath as he advanced on you, squeaking as he gently ran a hand up your thigh in a comforting manner. Despite the gesture being meant to give you comfort, the heat in your body began to concentrate into your cheeks, causing you to glow flamboyantly. A small chuckle left the Emperor's lips as he felt the heat from your cheeks radiate onto his skin, and finally pulled away and left through the door.

You sucked in a deep breath as the door shut behind him. Oh, the things you had to endure because of that Emperor. He was driving you up the wall with such bold moves, even at a time like this. You were glad he laid off such gestures for a little bit, though it seemed he had grown back into his old ways.

You laid still in your bed for a moment or two, wondering what had occurred, and taking the time to process your exciting morning. At long last, you sprouted from your sheets and let your feet come into contact with the shrilling temperature of the floor. Baring with the cold, you made your way over to your dresser and began to change into your daily wear. You were reasonably unsure of what to wear for your supposed 'date' since the Emperor had left you with nearly no prompt as to what the scenery or formality would be. You chose to wear a simple white blouse with a black knee-length skirt, the red ribbon that the Emperor had gifted you tied into a bow around your collar. To look a bit more ceremonious and presentable, you decided to wear the pearl earrings you had so generously received.

You then proceeded to brush your [H/C] hair and neaten up your appearance before eventually came a knock upon your door.

"Are you ready, [Name]?" Takahiro called through the other side of the hardwood door, prompting you to stand up from your desk and hurry over to the bedroom's entrance. You slowly opened the door to see a surprising sight. Takahiro was dressed in a humble ivory yukata, unlike the other times you had seen him after he revealed that he was the first knight. There wasn't a single red thing on his appearance other than his eyes.

"Indeed, your Majesty-"

" Just call me Takahiro from now on, [Name]." The Emperor cut you off before pushing the door further open to reveal your outfit. The Emperor blushed slightly from the joy of seeing you wear the earrings he had gifted to you.

"You're wearing the earrings I left for you, little tailor." The Emperor spoke with delight, causing you to blush. How were you so stupid? Of course, it was the Emperor of all people leaving you such extravagant gifts. The Emperor took your hand into his and guided you out of your room, leading you down the hallway.

"Thank you very much for the gifts.. you truly have spoiled me. I feel as though I should return them to you." You thanked the Emperor while feeling his cold skin press against your own as you both walked throughout the palace. You continued doing so in silence before approaching a door that looked somewhat old and out of place in the castle.

"Where are you taking me?" You asked sceptically. After all, ever since the maid incident, you had learned to be more careful as to where people were taking you, especially if it were through sketchy looking doorways.

"To the town." The Emperor curtly responded, his hand reaching towards the shabby door handle. Upon the first attempt, the door didn't budge. The Emperor tried again with a bit more strength - only to receive the same disappointing result. Finally, he let go of your hand and kicked the door down as forcibly as he could, the lock flying onto the floor with a clatter. The door was completely open, with half of it falling off its hinges. Terming what you felt as "shock" would be considered an understatement.

The Emperor gripped onto your hand again, and you looked around at the landscape surrounding the two of you. It was a disordered part of the garden, most likely forgotten about due to its negligent state. As he led you past the large trees shielding the entrance and the long blades of grass, you both neared a thick wall of hanging vines.

Takahiro pushed the vines to the side and enabled you to go ahead as they were rather cumbersome even for him. You got down on your knees and crawled through the small hole kept hidden by these never-ending vines. Was this the way he escaped so readily from time to time? And were the two of you supposed to be leaving the palace? After all, you were thought to be on lockdown.

The Emperor soon followed after you, and at the end of the dusty tunnel, you stood up to come face to face with a magnificent view of Yunoaiu. You could see over several story buildings made of colourful stones the large, broad river, alongside which the population seemed to be the densest. There were several remaining decorations from the parade, making it quite evident that they had not been informed of the death within the palace walls. That brought a thought to your mind -

Who had killed Octavi and in what way? You expected him to have been given the death penalty since the law books themselves stated it. You couldn't help but let your mind wander into a worrisome state before sensing the Emperor's heavy hand on your shoulder. You jumped and looked up at him to see a reassuring smile.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" The Emperor questioned you as he gestured to Yunoaiu in all of its matchless beauty. He took you by the hand and down a beaten footpath filled with overgrown weeds. As you both advanced into the city, the path became a shimmering, moon-like cobblestone. Tall buildings gradually surrounded the two of you, providing a refreshing sort of shade.

Before the two of you had the chance to step out of the concealed alleyway and into the busy street, you seized the Emperor's hand tightly and pulled him back with what little strength you had over him.

"Your Maj- Takahiro, won't the people recognise you?" You queried, lightly tilting your head. If the news broke out that he had snuck into the town with an enigmatic woman, it could take a heavy blow on his reputation.

"Oh please, they don't even know what I look like. I didn't wear red today either, so there is nothing to worry about. The chances we bump into somebody who has met me in person - face to face - out on these streets is fairly low." Takahiro explained, reassuring you that he wasn't risking his reputation for your day out with him.

Takahiro smoothly pulled you along with him into the busy road, and soon, his hand advanced to being snuggly around your waist to avoid a situation where the two of you would be separated in the hustling streets of Yunoaiu. You noticed that the road was identical to the one you had gone to with the first knight, but there were no stalls this time, most likely because it was only a night market.

"First off, I want to bring you with me to the boat market after buying some savoury treats from the bakery as a snack." The Emperor said, giving you a warm smile once again. You had noticed that he didn't smile nor talk to anybody the way he did to you. Whenever you were together, it was as though he was a completely different person.

"Ah, that sounds lovely. Shall we, your Majesty?" You proposed, a solicitous smile on your lips as for once, you led the way for the two of you. Arms hooked, you and the Emperor marched alongside one another towards the bakery. Despite the bewitching scenery of these hectic streets with multicoloured buildings several stories high, the Emperor felt in such a way that he couldn't bear looking away from you. You looked over to him, remarking his constant glancing away and back.

This time, both of you locked eyes. To your surprise, the Emperor crimsoned - by such a simple thing, though he'd made frequent bold movements towards you.

"[Name], don't look at me like that. I'll only want you more." The Emperor warned, regaining his composure as he averted his focus on your route to the bakery.

"Then why do you keep looking at me, hm?" You questioned Takahiro in a slightly teasing manner. As far as you could tell, the Emperor had begun to form a crush on you. It would be fun to taunt him further and such, but you refused to take advantage of his feelings. You had realised that just spending time with the Emperor made you feel a million times better.

"Because you're beautiful, [Name]. Even if you don't think so, just know that you are." Takahiro responded blankly to your question, as though he had not said something so endearing to you. You felt your heart beat out of your chest from such a comment and at last, you reverted your gaze towards the cobblestone path, cheeks dusted pink from the brief exchange you had both enjoyed.

The picturesque buildings encasing the bustling street delayed your arrival to the bakery a tad more than you had initially expected. The bakery was relatively large and high-end. It was named 'Mun Mun Bakery', as you could see those words painted in golden cursive on top of the white building. This building stood out from the rest due to its simplicity in the wide range of coloured buildings one could find on the street. Dull colours such as white, beige, black or anything in between was considered out of the norm.

The bakery was a few stories high, a large chimney - readily mistaken as two discrete units - sprouting out of the teal-tiled roof's top. On the first floor was the bakery, which showcased a vast array of delectable treats from sweet to savoury. They were all so dashingly presented that one would feel bad just to eat the creation.

"This is the infamous Mun Mun Bakery, yes?" Takahiro stared at you for reassurance as you both stood by the large double door entrance while endeavouring not to conceal the baked goods shown in the windows behind you.

You looked back at the young man and nodded your head in response, "I believe so. They have quite a plethora of branches throughout the country. Loads of people buy from this bakery despite its high price points." You disclosed to Takahiro, who nodded as he soaked up the information. For once, you felt knowledgable, but you only really had the Emperor's lack of experience in the outside world to thank for that.

Takahiro held your hand tightly in his own, escorting you through the large, white double doors and into the bakery. A homely scent overflowed your senses, and the lovely sound of happy voices and bread crackling made your heart swell up with joy. The Emperor seemed to enjoy the bakery more than you did, however: a simper on his lips beginning to show through his cold facade.

As anticipated, he had caught the eyes of many women in the bakery. Nobody could deny that he was quite the dreamboat. And despite his attempt to look like a middle-class foreigner, no one could overlook the expensive and gleaming fabric his clothes consisted of. Fashion was quite essential and a prominent factor in the lives of the Yunoaiu people. In conclusion - they knew expensive material when they saw it. The ladies were beginning to ogle at him, slowly advancing step by step as if hoping to sneak in a small chat with this parable of a man.

He walked up to the counter, and the ladies stepped out of the way, allowing him to go before them. Astonished, you began to realise that beauty and wealth did indeed hold immense power in this world. A light red glow emerged from their cheeks as they continued to admire him several feet away. Only now they had noticed your presence, their eagle-hawk eyes glaring daggers at your intertwined hands. This made you nervous, and you could feel multiple beads of sweat start rolling down your forehead.

The clueless Takahiro proceeded to speak with the man at the counter who had chocolate hair and eyes that matched perfectly with one another in such a sweet way; almost like he was made of darkened honey. He stood in awe at Takahiro's presence. Due to the other customers' reaction, he had no idea if this man was some sort of famous figure or high-class aristocrat.

"Wha... What would you like to order, s-sir?" The shorter man stammered behind the counter.

Takahiro looked over to you, freezing up at the question. Had the Emperor suddenly become apprehensive of talking to one of his subjects? Well, you could understand how he felt since he wasn't the best at not speaking in an awkwardly formal manner.

His glassy red orbs pleaded for help, and you decided to intervene and save Takahiro from any more anxiety. "We would like one strawberry loaf and four egg custard tarts please." You requested. You had chosen to order the items from the menu that you believed the Emperor would enjoy the most. You knew he had quite the sweet tooth, for whenever you had eaten together, you had caught him adding sugar to his tea or coffee and often picking more saccharine options with his desserts. Nonetheless, you also noticed he strayed away from anything too sweet so you could quickly tell his tolerance wasn't that high - even if he loved it.

Takahiro bent over and whispered into your ear, "Some shortbread matcha cookies too, [Name]."

"-And some shortbread matcha cookies." You added on at Takahiro's request. At the sight of this, some of the girls looked utterly enamoured by his timid yet adorable external nature. He could propose to them right this instant and, as it appeared, they would say yes, never regretting it in their later years of life. Their stares made you uncomfortable, and as Takahiro pulled away, he finally began to notice.

As a result, he wrapped his arm around your shoulder, letting go of your hand. His long and nearly bat-like sleeves shielded most of you from their curious gazes, and you felt a sense of comfort in the Emperor's arm. Were you finally beginning to feel the same way? It couldn't be. You believed it was ridiculous that the Emperor liked a low-class woman such as yourself and for you to have feelings for him would be frowned upon and shameful to the eyes of the public.

Your heart was slowly picking up its pace, thrusting in your chest restlessly as if the Emperor had never embraced you before. Where did these sudden feelings come from? Did you genuinely let him win over you?

Fortunately, the people surrounding you had no idea this was the Emperor, or else they'd call you prejudiced and greedy without a second thought. You were practically shaking in your spot at the very thought despite the Emperor hugging you close to his side as the man before you began to collect the goods you had ordered.

When he returned several moments later, he had an ivory box with the bakery's name printed onto it. "Your treats are in this box. That'll be-" Before the man could reply, the Emperor took three gold coins out of his pocket, one for each of the different things he had ordered for.

The young man stood on the other side, shocked to his core. Was this man really offering three gold coins? The bickering and dreamy chattering of the women paused as they only began to realise the Emperor's immense wealth. If only they knew it was the Emperor, then they'd be completely lost at the scene taking place in front of them.

Usually, several gold coins were enough to buy some of the most exquisite ball gowns in the country or imported goods from far off. After all, a thousand silver coins made one gold coin, and a hundred bronze coins made one silver coin. Some of the women nearly fainted, others whispered to each other once they had processed the scene.

"My husband hasn't spent that much on me in five years, but this man did on some bread?" One of the women whispered to the rest. Despite her hushed tone, you could hear her perfectly well.

"My husband spends more on alcohol than he does on me." One of them shot back in a whisper. The ladies were growing more and more upset with each passing moment, seeing that you were lucky enough to be on this confounding man's arm. Only now did they pay mind to you, they began to scan every inch of your form. They took mental notes of your movements and fashion sense.

They continued to do this, and their eyes finally met with the red ribbon tied neatly around your collar. Were you wearing red? The colour that only the Emperor was allowed to wear? Suddenly they burst into a sea of murmurs, hiding their lips behind their feathered fans and each other's ears.

"She's wearing red, do you see?"

"Does she know the Emperor?"

"Is she stupidly breaking the law, or does she know the Emperor? I need to know!" The voices whisper-shouted at each other. Before the situation could escalate any further, Takahiro placed the gold coins in the young man's hands.

"Keep the change." The Emperor insisted, and he swept the both of you out of the bakery, shielding you from any more distressing rumours and stares. The Emperor dragged you along by his arm, still shielding most of your frame with his draped sleeve as you both evacuated the scene. The Emperor held the box of baked goods in his other hand, the ones which he had yanked out of the employee's hands in your rushed exit.

Both of you seemed to silently agree with one another not to speak any more of the awkward incident that those women had caused. The tense atmosphere seemed to melt away as you both made your way onto the path consisting of different shades of grey on each cobblestone. There was a buzz of chatter in the air, much different to the one in the bakery.

As you both proceeded to walk along the busy street, your stiff muscles slowly became relaxed over several moments. Noticing your now comfortable position, the Emperor boldly wrapped his arm around your waist once again. You flinched at the sudden gesture, not expecting him to do it.

"[Name], I'm sorry you had to endure that." Takahiro apologised to you, looking down at your figure. He quietly admired your gorgeous [H/C] locks being caressed by the breeze in an oh so perfect way and the sparkling of your eyes as the sunlight danced across your irises. You could tell he was looking at you from the fact his dark strands of hair were gently poking your cheeks. Still, you kept your head facing forward, predicting that it would be reasonably inconvenient if you both randomly began to stare into each other's eyes while walking down the street.

"It's alright; it isn't your fault. Women tend to be nosy when it comes to handsome and rich men." You reassured him, remembering that he was just a clueless puppy when it came to interacting with other people informally.

These words piqued his attention, and his eyes widened slightly. The small gasp from his lips caught your attention, and you finally turned your head towards his, your eyes meeting with his broad and childishly roguish grin. You raised an eyebrow questioningly as you took note of his expression.

"Wha-" "Do you think I'm handsome, [Name]?" Takahiro interrogated you, his grin seeming to grow wider with each passing moment as he led the two of you towards the boat market. His grip on your waist tightened, resulting in your figures being pulled closer to each other. To you, he seemed to have no shame whatsoever and felt free to do whatever he pleased with you. He continued to look down at you with loving eyes.

When you locked your [E/C] orbs with his, you could see the red hot fires of an intense desire burning within him. It nearly made you jump. You had never expected somebody to be in love with you so profoundly. Well, if he did love you. All the signs pointed towards Takahiro's love growing more robust and more intense for you with each passing day, and with how things were beginning to escalate, you couldn't help but wonder what he would be capable of doing if something didn't work out in terms of his love life.

"Yes, I do. I'm not going to try and lie about it." You responded lethargically despite your pink-dusted cheeks. You felt inclined to be as honest as you could all the time and didn't want to lie to the Emperor himself, even if your relationship was becoming more relaxed.

You couldn't help but admit that the moment you had laid your eyes upon him, you thought that he was incredibly handsome. Life indeed seemed to be biased at this point - the man had it all. He had the looks, the riches and the power. What more could he need?

As if he could read your mind, out of the blue, he made the statement - "I want you."

Your eyes fluttered several times as your heart nearly leapt out of your chest. Was he messing around? He had said those words so loud and clear. However, you remained troubled and disputing whether or not you had heard him correctly.

"I want you, [Name]." He repeated himself in his bright and confident voice. It was official - the Emperor honestly had no shame and was most likely the bravest man in the universe. Did he know what he was doing to your poor heart? Wait, were you beginning to fall for him too without even noticing it? You shook your head, maybe the recent trauma you had gone through had done your mental state no good in that sense.

As you began to enter your usual cloud of thought, Takahiro took note of this and decided to change the subject for the best. He looked around for something to talk about and noticed the lines of houses and stalls that once surrounded the two of you on either side were gradually beginning to disappear and soon, a long and winding river could be seen.

One could finally perceive the natural beauty of Yunoaiu. The river was transparent, similar to a liquid diamond with water lilies floating upon the surface, so light-heartedly. The ground was covered in a myriad of algae on which the koi fish swam ever so graciously like it was an underwater ballet. Far off in the distance, you could see the town of Yunoaiu stretch for miles, only ending at the bottom of a high mountain that seemed to shield the rich and mighty from the lower class life on the other side of the river.

Takahiro did not need to distract you. The sheer beauty of it all caught your attention, your eyes focusing on the colourful and exotic birds which flew around in the air with authentic freedom and the sun still high in the afternoon sky, beating its warm motherly rays down upon the Earth, and onto the canoes and vast array of boats floating upon the river. Each ship was barely two meters away from one another, and it appeared that if one was selling goods, it had a blooming flower sculpted onto one of the ends. Although, if it were a potential consumer in this boat market, the boat had a sparrow carved into it.

The clouds in the sky were nowhere to be seen on this sunny day, inclining a lot of the people who were on the boats to use paper umbrellas which were uncommonly cheap yet beautiful to protect their skin from any damage.

You had not gotten the chance to venture any further in Yunoaiu than the street you were previously dwelling in, and at this moment you were glad that the Emperor had given you such of an opportunity. A pleased smile snuck onto your rosy lips, paying no mind that, despite the breathtaking view in front of the two of you, his eyes were still glued onto you - the most entrancing sort of treasure one could find in the whole of Intuuin.

"[Name], I'll let you get anything you'd like. Buy as much as you want - I will pay for it all." Takahiro asserted, a gleaming smile on his lips as he guided you by your waist towards the part of the dock where you could rent a boat to go into the market.

Unknowingly, Takahiro cut the queue - catching the attention of the people who had been waiting for quite a while. The women were about to make a protest until they beheld his handsome figure and wealthy fabric. They looked at him dreamily, causing quite an uproar among the husbands and other men who were in the line.

The person who was renting out the boats looked questioningly at Takahiro who proceeded to take out five golden coins. The man's eyes sparkled with delight and greed, his hands practically itching for the coins to be in his hands.

"Will this be enough, good man?" Takahiro questioned the man who instantly nodded his head up and down frantically before snatching the golden coins from Takahiro's hands. Upon closer inspection, the man's heart filled with delight as he realised the golden coins were indeed real. The others waiting behind were too shocked by the amount he had nonchalantly paid the man to even argue.

"It is plenty, please - one moment." The man replied in a hoarse voice before turning to his son, "BOB! FETCH THE FINEST CANOE!" He practically screeched at the top of his lungs, causing his son - who appeared to be in his early twenties - to jump with fright and nearly fall into the water below.

"Yes, father!" He instantly countered, promptly untying a black and golden boat and guiding it towards the dock on which his father's stall was. The son looked up at you as the ship made its way to the platform's edge and gestured fo you both to climb in.

Without a second thought, Takahiro hopped into the boat, causing it to sway nervously and nearly topple over. He then faced you and grabbed your waist firmly with his pale hands, carrying you onto the boat as if you were a princess. The women in the background couldn't help but fawn over him despite the fact he only had eyes for you.

You could easily conclude from experience that Takahiro was not like the rumours you had heard before meeting him - he was not fickle at all. Even though the two of you weren't yet in a relationship, he held onto you like a lost puppy who had finally found its owner.

"Would you like my son to row your canoe?" The man offered from his stall as if he wanted to get rid of his son if it meant getting more gold coins.

Takahiro shook his head, "No, thank you. I shall row this canoe on my own." Takahiro announced as he wanted to be alone with you.

"As you wish." The man responded before urging his son to leave the canoe. His son did as his father said and climbed back onto the platform. Takahiro took the oars into his hands and swiftly commenced rowing the two of you towards the boat market situated in the more central part of the river.

"I learned to row when I was seven years old, [Name]. I won several canoeing competitions." He boasted, hoping to impress you.

You chortled, quickly detecting his attempt. You decided to play along, not wanting to upset the Emperor on his big day out. "You're very talented, indeed. Women love a talented man, I must say. You must get on very well with the ladies." You responded.

"Do you love a talented man, little tailor? It does not matter if most women in general do; I want to know what you like. Besides, there is no need for me to get on well with any lady when I have my [Name]." The Emperor bit back, a smirk on his face. He knew perfectly well about the romantic words that kept sputtering out of his lips. Just by your facial expression, he knew if he kept saying things of the like, you would become flustered.

The whole situation was romantic, to say the very least. Takahiro was rowing a canoe with only the two of you aboard across the most breathtaking river you had laid your eyes upon. Sometimes, the sunlight would dazzle upon the soft waves, making it appear as though the water had turned into a sea of diamonds.

"Well, I like talented men. However, talent isn't the only thing that somebody should look for in a partner." You spoke wisely, a sweet smile on your lips as you both slowly advanced towards the entrance of the boat market. Most of the sellers had their ships anchored to the base of the river in order not to float away when they were busy selling goods.

"I couldn't agree more," Takahiro responded, and finally, the image of the boat market was clarified. The market sold all sorts of things, from appliances to accessories from different parts of the world. It was like a massive clash of different cultures; each boat painted in a way to represent the land of which their goods had come from, a remarkably clever thing to do as most buyers had a particular taste harmonising with a specific place of the world.

Long wooden poles were erupting from the ground and holding up large translucent and multicoloured sheets of cloth to help provide some shelter from the harsh sun. As Takahiro rowed the canoe between the different kayaks at a slow pace, you proceeded to take your time and admire all the different things that came from far away lands. You had never gotten the chance to travel abroad. Yunoaiu was the furthest you had ever gone from home despite it being in the same country.

Takahiro paused the boat, and his attention deflected to a florist selling bouquets on the river. Her canoe was practically erupting with exotic and eye-catching flowers. Notwithstanding the beauty of the bouquets, the price made many customers stray away.

"How much for this bouquet?" Takahiro asked the woman as he used his slender finger to point to some red and white flowers with smaller [F/C] flowers to accentuate the bouquet. It was one of the most expensive ones there, and she looked at him judgementally.

"More than you can afford-"

"Is this enough?" Takahiro questioned as he threw five gold coins which he'd quickly dug up from his pocket at the assuming and disrespectful woman before proceeding to take the bouquet from her canoe and rowing off in a hurry.

As you both fled the scene, you sighed, relieved. "You shouldn't judge people by their appearances." You stated, earning a silent nod from Takahiro.

"I couldn't agree more. Just because I'm not wearing something extravagant doesn't mean I'm a beggar." Takahiro acknowledged, his head held high and proud.

The sunlight falling on the sheets of cloth covering the market passed through them more softly and dimly in variegated shades of colour. Some sunshine became red, another green, and yellow, and so on. The market seemed like a kaleidoscope of colour, but the main attraction could be none other than you in Takahiro's eyes.

Takahiro placed the bouquet in your lap, "It is for you, [Name]." He said as he did so, causing your eyes to widen. Had he just spent that many gold coins on you of all people?

"Your Maj- Takahiro, I can't accept this. It's much too expensive-"

"It's rude to turn down a gift [Name]. You don't want to disrespect me again, do you?" Takahiro interjected. He would remind you that he was the Emperor, but he could not say that to you in such a public place, especially when the two of you were supposed to be locked up inside of the palace.

"If you insist, Takahiro." You accepted the gift, not wanting to be any ruder than you had previously been in the past. You clutched the bouquet tightly, the floral scent tingling your senses in a pleasurable manner.

"Look at all the koi fish, [Name]. They don't seem to be very shy." The Emperor mentioned as he noticed how the koi fish were also swimming below the market.

Had the Emperor just made a pun between the word koi and coy? You mentally hit yourself at the poorly made joke despite the fact he had managed to erupt a handful of giggles from you in the process.

Several hours flew by as Takahiro repeatedly tried to make puns or some sort of joke. Nothing seemed to catch your eye although the Emperor had offered to buy you anything you pleased. You figured such a suggestion would mean that you momentarily felt fulfilled in life. You both had finished the baked goods over time as you explored the market in what felt like only scant minutes.

As the day melted away and the sun slowly began to set, the two of you finally made your may to the platform, returning the canoe you had rented to the old man and his son named Bob.

"Are we going home now?" You asked the Emperor, easing a smile onto his face as you both drowned in the orange sunlight.

"It's nice to hear you call the palace your home. It certainly is a home to me now that you're around, little tailor." Takahiro pointed out before shaking his head.

"Also, we have one place left to go. What sort of man would I be if I didn't treat a beautiful lady such as yourself to dinner?" Takahiro questioned you, his nose high in the air at the fact he had been such a gentleman the entire day.

"Takahiro," You hesitated for a moment. You had begun getting used to calling him by his name, but it was still somewhat foreign to you.

"The restaurants are always fully booked in Yunoaiu; there is no way to get a table anywhere without a reservation made at least a week earlier." You explained, now not even noticing as his hand slithered around your waist.

"I have a special surprise prepared for you." Takahiro declared, throwing you off. Much to your surprise, he had justly thought this day through despite it seeming like he decided to take you out on a date on a whim. Your hand gripped tightly onto the stems of the bouquet as he used his waist to guide you along with him to an isolated part of the docks overlooking the sunset, with a candlelit table specially prepared for two.

While you were left speechless, Takahiro took this chance to explain. "I have an important matter to speak about, and I believe this is the best setting to do so in."

Takahiro pulled the dark wooden chair away from the matching table which had been covered with a cloth. There was a golden candelabra holding three readily lit candles, and well-installed cutlery.

The young man pushed you on one of the chairs while he went on to sit on his own, facing opposite of you.

Your eyes drifted away and focused upon the distant sun that was being swallowed by the Earth, casting red and orange rays upon Yunoaiu. There was no sunset quite like the one here. Where you had previously lived, the buildings were so tightly compacted and tall to accommodate everybody, and because of it, the sunset was barely visible.

A man slowly approached the table with a tray on his arm as he wore a butler uniform from the palace. You jumped slightly, your first instinct notifying you that the Emperor had been found out and was going to be in trouble.

Noticing your now frantic behaviour, Takahiro holds your hand gently. "Do not fret, darling. He is one of my most trusted butlers and has sworn not to utter a word to nobody." He reassured you with a loving smile as he gazed at you so keenly, not paying any mind to the butler who placed two plates of a dish that mainly consisted of a medium-rare steak upon the table.

Once the butler had retreated to god knew where, Takahiro emptied your hands by taking the bouquet and setting it on the edge of the table. Afterwards, he seized your hands tightly within his and looked at you with a stern expression. Neither of you could even begin to enjoy the gourmet meal prepared for the two of you.

"[Name] Fuyomui, you are to become either my concubine or consort," Takahiro stated, making it quite plain and evident to you that it was an order more than him asking you. He had given you two options, neither better than the other to a respectable agree.

"I have fallen deeply in love with you, [Name]. I need you not to leave me ever again. Either you become my concubine - my mistress who will stay by my side throughout my whole life like a sham marriage, or you can become my consort - practically my fiancée. You have stolen away my heart, and now you must pay the price. By picking one of these two choices, nobody can take you away from me - not even you." Takahiro said sombrely as his grip on your fingers dramatically tightened, the caressing of his thumbs over the backs of your hands doing nothing to alleviate the tension.

One of his hands retreated to take out a red velvet box from his pocket which he opened and placed onto the table, presenting it to you. It was a golden ring consisting of a large and clean-cut diamond that sparkled brighter than the river beside you. The diamonds were arranged in a way to form a small flower and to say the least - it was undoubtedly expensive beyond imagination and superb at that.

He pushed the box closer to you, urging you to make your decision as he grew impatient, his foot tapping restlessly against the ground.

"So [Name], will you be the emperor's concubine or consort?"