Churu let Kei state whatever he wanted to say in silence. On the other hand, Churu cursed him inwardly the longer they were together. The longer they share this afternoon tea, the more Churu realized that Kei was a complicated man.One minute he was complimenting Tora and the next thing, he sounded as if he was criticizing her decisions; including the fact that she adopted a child. Overall, one thing that Churu understood was that if it wasn"t for her, Tora would remain untouchable.
Thus, her existence was Tora"s weakness. Coming in her life, it put Tora in a tough situation. Obviously, the fake emperor made sure that she would feel like that as it was the truth. Churu knew that as well because she, being Tora"s adopted daughter, was the downside of the fearsome general.
Soon, the emperor departed, leaving Churu in the pavilion with a sullen heart. Although she somehow hated the emperor, alas, what he was implying was all true. He didn"t say it directly, but she was smart enough to understand the hidden message: she was a hostage.
Churu"s hope of leaving the imperial harem, it was more impossible than getting blood from stones. Even though Tora was a general, she wouldn"t be able to set herself free because, once a person entered the palace, there was no leaving.
"Tora… don"t do something foolish." Churu whispered.
In a few days, the emperor set a date where Tora could visit her. Churu would use that time to tell her that she liked this place, and she must calm down.
After all, dying inside this host"s body, Tora might turn this whole palace upside down — that was what her enemies wanted so they could label her as a criminal — Churu wouldn"t want that to happen. Hence, the only thing Churu could do was to rea.s.sure her so she wouldn"t do something foolish.
Even if she has to be away from Tora, Churu would prefer that instead of bringing a series of misfortune just because Tora deeply loved her as if she was her biological daughter.
****
Later that night: Aki"s private manor.
When Aki arrived at this private residence, which he often stayed as beautiful memories in this place kept him motivated, he sensed someone"s presence. However, since he got used to Tora"s presence, his mood brightened up knowing she was inside.
Upon arriving at the garden, Aki knitted his brows as he saw Tora, sitting outside with a tray of sake as her companion. Regardless, he thought that she was just trying to chill from several days of working nonstop.
"Hanako-san, will you mind if I join you?" Smiling, Aki slowly strode to her direction before he perched beside her. Tora just turned her head to him before she meekly smiled. Aki took it as she was exhausted hence, the odd aura emanating from her.
"You looked tired. Had you confirmed about the uprising?" Since she was not saying a single word, Aki innocently asked. However, Tora perceived that he was trying to extract information from her. Thus, a light scoffed escape her mouth.
"Mhmm," Humming a tune, Tora stared at the tree where she would usually meditate with Churu, while Aki would usually read a book or sleep next to them. "It was true." without a second hesitation, Tora bluntly said, which caused Aki"s brows to knit.
The rumors were just mere rumors. So how could it be true?
"Someone will covet the throne." Without taking her eyes away from the tree, Tora added. Her tone was rather calm and unconcerned for the arising problem in the kingdom.
"What?" Surprised at her last remarks, Aki frowned. Although he knew that everyone wanted to covet the throne for their own greed, it still displeased him that Tora seemed she could not care less.
Wasn"t she on the emperor"s side? She should be the first who was enraged about this. Yet, granting that she had been working, Tora might just be exhausted to show emotions.
"Aki, let"s forget about each other." Slowly, Tora turned her head to face the puzzled Aki. When he absorbed what she had just said, Aki instantly frowned, showing displeasure about her joke.
"Hanako-san, what are you saying? Was it because of that?" In his understanding, Tora was breaking up with him because she might die if there"s an uprising happened. Hence, she didn"t want him to be tangled with her and just find someone else.
However, how could he do that if no one could replace her in his heart?
"Yes," Tora slowly nodded her head in response. "He took my daughter away from me so I will take everything from him to get her back." Glancing at her reflection on the sake"s surface, Tora"s grip tightened, breaking the cup in her hands.
The sudden shatter of her cup and her statement momentarily stunned Aki. "Daughter? They took away Churu? Who?!" A glint instantly flashed across Aki"s face as he ground his teeth in anger. Little did he know, he was the one who he took Churu and made her his concubine.
"The emperor." Slowly, Tora stood as she removed the fragments of the cup in her bleeding hands. "I will ascend to the throne and kill the emperor sitting on it." Taking off the last piece that pierced through her skin, Tora slowly raised her raging pair of eyes to meet his shocked front.
"What…" His heart was pounding, faster and louder with every beat. He could not believe the words that escaped her mouth and the pair of blazing eyes, determined on her vendetta. What she was saying, Churu being taken away by the emperor, Aki only knew one child whom he took and that was the general"s daughter.
And this, Tora saying the emperor took their daughter away from her… she"s the general all along? The hints he disregarded were correct all along? And he, Aki, just placed his beloved child in a situation?
This revelation, Aki felt that his breathing was limited as if being strangled by reality. No, this could not be.
"I, Chisaka Tora, the general of the four season military, the s.h.i.+eld of this nation will draw out my sword and slay anyone who comes in my way, even if the real emperor stands before me." Looking at him dead in the eye, Tora neglected her aching heart as her jaw tightened as she gulped. "The next time I see your face, I won"t be merciful anymore, Your Majesty." With that said and done, Tora started walking away from him.
Every step turned heavy as she tried to suppress the tears falling from her eyes. She could not break down, not in front of him. Giving him mercy for saying her plans and not killing him was her last gift to him.
On the other hand, Aki could only stare at her retreating figure drew farther and farther away from him. He could not say a word as they were stuck in his throat, stinging his eyes as his heart felt being clenched by someone.
"Hanako…" He whispered as he hanged his head low while gritting his teeth, resisting the striking pain in his heart but to no avail.