EMPEROR AND I

THE BORDERLANDS

Four seasons have elapsed since Le-anne"s incident with Brother Hu-go. She wanted to be resentful about how he had deceived her but could not bring herself to. Afterall, they had grown up together and being frustrated towards him was like her hating a part of herself. Besides, she was the one who had initiated the whole thing.

All she had wanted from him was for him to ask her father for her hand in marriage then she would not have to go to Nevoria but all of that was too pointless now. Her father and his whole entourage were waiting for her, her sedan ready.

The day in which she would leave for Nevoria had arrived.

She sauntered towards her audience which had come to see her off, Ai trudging behind. She was the only maid-in-waiting she would take. She had chosen her considering the fact that she had waited on her for the longest time than the rest, therefore, she was well aware of her taste and preferences more than any other. But most of all it was because Ai had made efforts to learn about Nevoria with her.

"Greetings to his Majesty, the King," she bowed before her father using the formalities of Nevoria. She had intended to spite him with it but he guffawed with much excitement.

"A beautiful lotus flower floating on the deep sea indeed," he inhaled eyeing her white magnificent robes "Mistress Kei, you shall be rewarded heavily." He smiled widely with much approval.

"His Royal Majesty too kind." Mistress Kei blushed. Until now Princess Le-anne had thought her stoned expression was the only facial look she possessed.

"Her Royal Highness must not worry about anything from here onwards but becoming empress. If the emperor gets curious about your heritage, do not fret about it because the Wei Clan will acknowledge you as their daughter. Is that right?" A man beside him bowed in agreement, he was probably the head of the Wei clan she presumed.

"Princess must always cover her face until the emperor makes her his woman," he instructed. The reason behind that, she did not know. It was not like beauty could be stolen but all the same he had forced her to cover her face from the day she arrived in Huticah. Her people had then identified her as the "faceless b.a.s.t.a.r.d child."

"General Feng will set a secret meeting with you as soon as you enter the Imperial Capital," he continued, "if you perceive that Huticah is in potential danger send me a letter asking about my health, if you sense exposure about your real ident.i.ty write to me asking about your mother"s health. General Feng will provide the pigeons for courier and any news from me will be relayed to you by him."

"If Mother was really unwell, would Father care?" she blurted out.

He ignored her question completely, like father like son, "Political matters will be handled by the South wing (a political group of clans mostly from the Borderlands subjected to the emperor) and General Feng will be in charge of military matters so if possible, paint a good image about them before the emperor." What surprised her was the power he appeared to have in Nevoria from behind closed doors.

She kept her head bowed in a respectful manner, knowing that he was also battling from within on how to see her off.

"This shall be it," he fidgeted. "You may leave."

What she had expected, she did not know. It was the norm for her father to be unfeeling.

Ai came to her side, ready to help her into the sedan.

"Lady Wei!" Mistress Kei softly called her from behind. She looked back, startled by the emotion that her voice carried.

"This unworthy servant wishes Empress Wei longevity." Mistress Kei bowed and Le-anne"s heart swelled. Did Mistress Kei believe in her? She nodded and began to climb the sedan. Only on two occasions Mistress Kei had called her a lady; on her arrival and departure.

Wretched woman, had she feigned that for his majesty? Or maybe she really did care. Princess Le-anne could not decide.

The journey was more than uncomfortable. The heat was unbearable that breathing was impractical and hot air clung to her like she was locked inside a fiery furnace.

It was on the second day that the princess insisted to use a horse, unless they wished for her to die inside the sedan. It felt like a burning furnace stationed to cook her alive.

The vast deserts made the journey all the more uninteresting. There was nothing entertaining to observe. It was on the seventh day that little vegetation became to emerge but that did not sway her mood for the better.

Their water had also run out.

S.V