The Brilliant Royal Divorce Plan Chapter 3
I am so weak to luna-chan...XD *rolls eyes* here's your update!
[Royal wedding banquet, 1:00am]
“Your Majesty,” Ryo pushed a slumping Junno onto Tegoshi, “isn’t it time for you to be going to the empress?” If he’s trying to kill himself by alcohol poisoning, he’d better have a son. I won’t let him just escape from a job that we shed blood for…. Tesshi gave up too much for this. I gave up too much for this.
Tegoshi shoved Junno right back to Ryo. “You need to stop shoving all your life’s problems onto me Ryo,” he slurred, “I won’t be around to wipe your tears for very long.”
“How much have you been drinking?” Ryo was truly concerned, therefore put on a sarcastic tone.
“I’m not kidding,” Tegoshi stood up, knocking over several bottles of expensive sake, “My job requires a whole lot more blood than yours.” He pointed at Ryo in a haphazard manner, as if having trouble which image he was seeing was the real one. “And YOU * hic *don’t trust me,” Tegoshi started to raise his voice, “what’s wrong with my choice of empress?!? Did you have to give that Kamenashi boy as a present * hic * I bet he’s part of the secr-“
Out of nowhere, Koki threw a grape into Tegoshi’s mouth. With it, in one fluid movement, he scooped up Tegoshi and dragged him out to the kitchen corridor with his hand firmly clasped on the drunken man’s mouth. Maru nodded approvingly by the emperor. As the duo passed, he grabbed onto Koki’s arm.
“Tanaka-san, feed Tegoshi-sama a fist sized ball of ginger extract and lock him up until he no longer acts like a monkey please.”
“Of course.”
At the kitchen, Tegoshi was put to rest at one of the cupboards, leaning precariously. Koki frantically sought ginger, or something that can wake Tegoshi up from his unsightly state, It’s like you’ve been dumped or something… I mean, all Ryo did was place a suspicious man to guard your cousin - it happens all the time - actually I’d be worried if he didn’t do anything to counter such a suspicious marriage in the first place.
“You know Koki,” Tegoshi suddenly spoke clearly, “I’m not that drunk, or I would have hit you two. You know I hate ginger. So does he.”
“You’re drunk enough not being able to throw that grape back at me... It could have been rat poison,” Koki stated coolly, “so I’m confident that even if I’m not as skilled as Jin, I could beat you to the ground right now.”
“Nee Koki?” Tegoshi forced himself into a standing position by sliding up the cupboard door, “do you know why I had to choose Ueda Tatsuya?”
“Because she’s the only lady in the Ueda family who has recently lost a father?”
“Exactly. Do you believe that Ryo doesn’t know of this reason?”
“He might not. He’s never been into social relations before… He might think you’re trying to take power,” Koki answered as-a-matter-of-factly.
“Bullshit,” Tegoshi spat, “He doesn’t trust my choice of anything! Did you SEE that Kamenashi kid? He had the words ‘secret service’ written all over his face! Ryo even gave orders to siege when I directly ordered an assault!! He STOLE my order slip and replaced it!!”
“That was two years ago Tesshi,” Koki looked tired, “and you were hardly sane when you ordered mass assault... What if we lost?”
“But the people in the castle didn’t have to die!” Tegoshi muttered uselessly, “My father didn’t have to die.”
“Our men didn’t have to die either, but your father did. I’m sorry. The one time I failed my diplomatic mission, I messed up everything.” Koki stared at the ground. I can’t believe to this day my social side failed. After talking to Kyushu and Shikoku, I can’t believe I failed a surrender contract with a city of cowards…..
“You didn’t have to appeal your post as foreign affairs minister though,” Tegoshi reached up to ruffle Koki’s hair, “nobody would have been able to do a better job.”
“I’m better left in charge of human resources. Now eat your ginger and get back to the party.”
Koki left without another word or facial expression.
“Your Majesty,” Ryo was still trying to coerce Junno into waking up, “come on, the sleepy prince game has been played far enough. You can’t keep running from responsibility.”
“Junno slowly opened his eyes. His head was still resting on Ryo’s shoulders, “Can’t I run one more time Ryo?”
“You have no obligation to do anything to empress Tatsuya you know, “ Ryo said softly, almost with pity, “At least, not until I figure out what Tegoshi is planning anyway.”
Junno gave a sad smile, “It’s so scary. Even without the pressure for children.”
“More scary than Hokkaido and another bloody siege?” Ryo fixed his gaze on the doorway where Tegoshi and Koki had left.
“But there’s no guarantee this will even work, is there?” Junno tried feebly, “Hokkaido isn’t stupid.”
“It’s your job to do whatever is necessary to protect what you fought to obtain. Keeping an empire it is always harder than getting it, right Your Majesty?”
“You’ve learnt a lot as head of a country haven’t you Ryo?” Junno took his head off his shoulders, “So diplomatic.”
Ryo pressed Junno’s head back to it’s original place, “I don’t know what Tesshi is planning with the empress who can’t be touched, but I have one last ounce of hope that he’s not doing anything wrong. For that hope, unless proven otherwise, I am begging you as a friend to do your best.”
“Maru,” Junno suddenly changed the subject, “why aren’t you doing anything?”
“When you’re in mortal danger or are about to make a fatal mistake, I will interject. That is what I promised and I will carry it out.” He opened yet another book to read.
“Fine,” Junno tossed his head, “Where is Jin?”
“Gathering intelligence about Kamenashi Kazuya,” Maru glanced up at Ryo, “He’s been gone for quite a while now.”
“Then I’m off to try my best.” I can’t keep this wife. I don’t care about the formalities, it’s not fair to anyone.
“Kame,” Tatsuya spoke through the door, “What’s the time?”
“The next morning Your Highness,” Kame yawned.
“Nee, do you think His Majesty will even come?” he whispered, “My legs are getting sore and these hair ornaments are heavy.”
“He will. If nothing else, Nishikido-sama will make him come.” I don’t know who you are or what you are being used for, but to be ditched here like some commodity is just wasting your pretty face.
Kame lifted his eyes at a movement around the corner. Jin stepped out from the shadows and motioned Kame to come to him. It’s the emperor’s guard… What could he possible want with me?
“Excuse me Your Highness, but I really need to make myself redundant for a short period of time,” Kame politely asked, “may I take my leave?”
“Go and have a rest,” Tatsuya answered, “There’s no-one for you to guard apart from me anyway.”
And you’re perfectly capable of defending yourself.
Around the corner and on the nearest roof, Jin began his interrogation of the suspicious guard. “I checked your records in the secret service,” he glared, “they’re too clean.”
“Oh,” Kame chuckled, “You really are paid to be suspicious of anyone aren’t you? Let’s start on the right terms shall we? My name is Kamenashi Kazuya, born third son out of four in the Kamenashi family based in Sendai-”
“I should finish the sentence,” Jin interrupted, “Joined the secret service after recommendations as infiltration personnel and was based in Shikoku for training 3 years ago. After the war broke out and Shikoku pledged alliance, you were withdrawn without having completed any missions. Basically an innocent, 17-year-old virgin boy.”
“How kind of them to write about my virginity in the archives,” Kame laughed coyly, “I can admit to that part not being true. So who are you?’
“Akanishi Jin of Chiba-ken. 19-year-old personal guard to His Majesty Taguchi Junnosuke. So who are YOU really?”
“Someone who you have no need to be probing around with,” Kame arrogantly replied, “only a handful of people of high rank know exactly who I am. And even less know my face.”
“Indeed, one may find it hard to ever forget your face,” Jin said dryly.
“I’m not interested, sorry. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an empress to guard.”
Back at the empress’ room, Tatsuya was nodding off. It had been such a long day of individual rituals and speeches…. At the end of it, the emperor himself was probably getting drunk at his own bachelor party. I didn’t even get to meet him. Tatsuya didn’t mind the continuous kneeling due to long hours of archery practice, but not having anyone trustworthy to talk to was such a pain. Kamenashi was out of the question before he found out exactly why the boy was even here.
The sliding door opened and a tall, beautiful man entered. The man had long, slender limbs and flashed a smile Tatsuya had never seen before. Pearly white teeth shone and his defined, childish face worked together to form a smile that was... comfortable. It was different to Tegoshi’s - Tegoshi’s smile was cute non-the-less, but this man’s smile did not seem to contain any animosity… almost like he was truly happy to be here, unlike Tegoshi, who seemed to always be thinking about something. This man seemed intent on smiling, and nothing else. He was dressed simply in a yukata, and carried a tray of tea.
Probably one of the emperor’s higher ranked servants, or a socialite.
“Why are you here?” Tatsuya remained sitting, “Nobody is to enter unless he is the emperor himself.”
“I know,” the man smiled again, “Your Highness must be tired. Would you care for some tea?”
Without a word, he motioned for the man to put down the tray and sit down. Swiftly, Tatsuya began to brew the green tea, whisking with absolutely no expression. His surreally beautiful face flickered with the candle light as the pair sat drinking tea and studying each other.
“Did you want to marry into royalty?” the man questioned out of nowhere.
Tatsuya didn’t want to answer, but there was something compelling about this man. He seemed like someone to be trusted, and could order people to do his bidding without raising his voice. “No.”
“I heard you haven’t left the Tegoshi residence your entire life. No omiai arrangements, no other friends for 20 years of your life,” he went on, “are you not lonely?”
“I’ve always had Tegoshi-sama,” Tatsuya immediately defended.
“Words like that will get you in trouble in the palace Your Highness,” the man smiled kindly, “please be careful.”
In surprise, Tatsuya choked on his tea for a moment, dropping the cup and spilling most of it onto the man’s lap, “How rude! It’s not like I’m in love with my own second cousin or anything!” cried a furious empress.
“And I am not ready to be a eunuch yet Your Highness!” the man swatted at the tea stain on his lap, “That tea is boiling hot! Do you have any other clothes here?”
Tatsuya opened his mouth to refute yet another order, but never got a chance to produce sound before the screen door was flung open by Jin and Kamenashi broke in through the open window. The man stood in surprise and attempted to step forward before stepping onto the dropped teacup.
“ARE YOU ALL RIGHT YOUR HIGNESS?!?!” Kame yelled as he broke in, “We found His Majesty’s discarded ceremonial robes in the corridor! I thought someone’s kidnapped you too!”
“Umm, Kamenashi-san, let’s leave,” Jin calmly started dragging Kame out the door he came in.
“Huh?” Kame still hadn’t realised.
“Baka! That IS the emperor himself!” Jin pointed at the man then lowered his finger to the man’s damp lower half, “And we just interrupted him on his wedding night!” He turned a rather peculiar shade of red, “I’m terribly sorry Your Majesty, and we shall take our leave now!” The door slammed as Jin and Kame returned to their previous post on the roof.
“Wait! You guys have it all wrong!!” Junno shouted after them.
“Is there any reason why the emperor himself would try and serve me tea?” Tatsuya stood and bowed.
“Never mind that,” Junno grinned, “we’ll get to know each other soon. Now you can undo your hair ornaments... they look horribly heavy!”
“His Majesty is interesting,” Tatsuya smiled. At least not ugly.
“I know! I have a great sense of humour too!” He undid his own hair. Black locks fell to the emperor’s waist as Junno loosened his obi sexily.
Tatsuya watched, not sure whether to run or just be captured by the emperor’s display.
“Enough with the games now,” Junno winked, “Undress yourself and come to bed.”
PS NOW you'll have to wait for real ^^