Royal Intrigue

Kaiki's Thoughts

Far from being calm, Kaiki himself was rather disturbed by the slow response of the princess. He had only seen her in passing when she visited his sister's chambers to be shown items from their family that Tsukimine had apparently mentioned. Staying the appropriate distance from her, he only saw her robes and her hair. Surprised to find that she almost always wore the same hairpins, not a common practice, but one that showed how much she treasured them. When he asked his sister, he was surprised to find that they had been a gift from her father, that they were not particularly special in terms of materials or price, but that the emotion attached to them was the reason she continually wore them. This bit of sentimentality endeared her to him even more, making it clear that she was a woman who appreciated thought rather than overt gestures.

With this in mind, he had a set of simple hair pins commissioned with some fine shells that he had brought from home. The inlay gorgeous but inexpensive, something that one would not normally give to a princess, but that would instead convey his love for his home. Kaiki knew that she had been delighted to learn about their home and his sister had requested to borrow the case for his ceremonial sword, showing off the same type of inlay to the princess and teaching her about the process used to create it. While there were not many artisans from his home in the country, those who were available were more than happy to work on his piece. His sister was a favorite of the masses and her kind demeanor had always endeared her to the artisans. It was simple enough to let them assume the pieces were for her, disguising his true intentions.

He also commissioned a set of the histories of his country to be sent along with the next group of traders. The bound volumes precious and requiring much work on the part of temple apprentices to produce. Volumes were kept on hand for those with strong court affiliations or royal blood. The finishing touches would be added when his payment was received and they would come to him rather quickly. Until that time, he waited and hoped that the small bits of information he sent to the princess were enough to keep her attention.

Letters from home also had him concerned. His mother wrote that his uncle was getting impatient with his absence from their court, his inability to control the nephew he had worried about since Kaiki was in his infancy beginning to wear his patience thin. His mother urged him to do something that would bring honor to the family before it was too late. Being the last male in his family, thanks only to his age when his uncle took over and executed his father, brothers, and grandfather for treason, was a dangerous position to be in. Truthfully, his family had been happy to marry off his sister, even to a loveless marriage, as it would ensure she could not suffer under his hand.

His mother had always been happy to indulge her young child, even when under heavy restrictions within the court. She had always hoped to live in a future where both of her children would be well taken care of and happy, far away from the prison that she found herself trapped in. She had sacrificed everything she could to ensure that they were educated and unaffected by the political turmoil. Thanks to her efforts, they had both been able to leave the country and come to another, but even she could only keep them safe for so long. Her letters were filled with love, but also fear. The code that she had devised with her children over the years showing her stress, her unsteady hand showing her age, Kaiki feared she would not be long for this world, and without a miracle of some kind, he worried that he would never be able to tell her goodbye.

All of this compounded with his other worries; the other suitors. It had become obvious that the man from far-away islands and the Rus were among the princess's favorites. Invitations to tea were held by all the servants of the island man, waiting for the time that he would return. The Rus, on the other hand, had dined in her chambers multiple times over the summer, and had even begun to give her gifts. He knew from his sister that she didn't favor the man, but she did see him as an option. His cold country worrying her for her own safety and the attitudes of men from his region contrasting with her own. He also knew that the Rus had a habit of taking other women to bed after his visits with the princess, women who would come away from their experience fearful and forelorn, not speaking of it to anyone. The mans sparkling blue eyes did nothing to warm the evil in his heart to Kaiki.

It was these thoughts that kept him up late at night, pushing him to find a way to impress the princess. On one such night, wandering the palace, he happened to hear two lovers talking to each other from one of the small garden pavillions. Speaking as if to the moon, the couple traded back small phrases, smiling and laughing as the other would complete their words. It was a scene that tugged at his heart and made him wonder if he would ever have those feelings. It was also the reason that he found himself now composing a poem to the princess. Hoping that it would win her heart.

Sighing heavily he looked at the scroll he had just finished work upon, an image of the princess's favorite bird - the heron in the corner. "Flying through darkness, the blue herons beak, the night call awakens the soul." Kaiki was aware that his poem didn't fit with the agreed upon court traditions, but he felt constrained by the ways of the court and wanted to show that he was different. Before he could think much more he rolled up the scroll and placed it in a simple tube, the same style reports had been delived to the princess in, and summoned a servant. He hoped that his clumsy attempt would persuade her to consider him, despite his lack of courtly knowledge. It was now in the hands of the gods and he knew he would not sleep that night.