Chapter 116: The Emperor's "Blessing"

We are summoned back to the Palace.

Not by Kenichi. Not by his father.

By the Emperor.

Fuji is tense. He is wearing his 'Prince' suit again. I am wearing a proper dress that Rika forced me into. (It is navy blue. It itches.)

We are escorted into the Emperor's private chambers. It smells like medicine and old paper.

The Emperor is sitting up in bed. He looks frail, but his eyes are sharp. Like Fuji's.

"So," he wheezes. "This is the 'scandal'."

I bow. Deeply. "It is an honor, Your Majesty. I am Isuzu Aoi."

He studies me. He does not look angry. He looks... amused.

"Kenji tells me you beat him at everything," he says.

"Only the important things, sir," I say, without thinking. "Like video games and street fights."

Fuji stiffens beside me.

The Emperor... laughs. It is a dry, rattling sound.

"Good. He needs beating. We all do. We have become... stagnant."

He looks at Fuji.

"Your father is a fool," the Emperor says, his voice suddenly strong. "He cares only for the image. Not the reality. You chose reality, Kenji. It is messy. It is loud." He looks at me. "It is apparently very aggressive."

I blush.

"I give you my blessing," the Emperor says. "Not just to marry her. But to... shake things up. Do what you must. The throne needs blood that is actually alive."

He waves a weak hand. "Now go. Before I change my mind and have you both beheaded for insolence."

We leave.

Outside the room, Fuji leans against the wall. He lets out a breath he must have been holding for a year.

"He likes you," Fuji says, stunned.

"He threatened to behead me."

"That means he loves you."