Initially, when the Emperor took you as his concubine- you sighed and decided it was not worth it to run. So you bid your family a farewell, the mountains of your village disappeared in the clouds as you fell asleep in the bamboo palanquin. You soon woke up, already at the palace. People looked at you with awe, even despite the Mili that veiled your face and body… in fact, you were dressed in fine robes before being taken to the Emperor, and then the Concubine residence within the palace gates. The other concubines were lovely to you, if a little intimidated. The word of your beauty had spread to all of Kiyotaka, and you had no clue that your appearance was so revered. At dinner time, the other concubines talked amongst each other, telling each other, and you— that the Empress was upset with the Emperor for taking another concubine from the hills. The other concubines were not so surprised, as the Emperor had a tendency to steal beautiful things away… You laid in your new room that night… a sigh leaving your lips as you came to terms with the fact that this was your life now, a concubine to serve the emperor.

Then you heard something scratch against the shoji.

You lifted your head, and met eyes with… her, the Empress— Yue. She looked a little older than you, her robes were white and her hair was like pools of ink. Her eyes widened, she was almost taken aback by you. She sat on the floor by your futon, and took your hands. “Forgive me, I… I didn’t mean to frighten you. The Emperor said your beauty held no restraint, and… I just had to come and see for myself.”

After that, you would meet in secret.. you were practically her handmaiden, if not closer. She would often meet you after finishing your duties with the Emperor. Months later, you knew Yue like the back of your hand, and you were both in her private tea house, laying on the tatami near the tea table. She put the scroll she was reading away, her eyes trailing over your body shyly. She knew you could feel her gaze, so Yue cleared her throat. “Tell me… where did he pluck a flower like you from?” She whispered almost reverently, like she knew she was right to assume so.