"I LOVE YOU"

JAPANESE WORDS USED IN THIS CHAPTER AND THEIR MEANINGS

Shuah. - King.

Kyanpubeddo - Camp bed.

Tōrō - Lantern.

Matto - Mat

Rūmu. - Room

Towa chōku. - Permanent Chalk

03:00 pm 1608年3月18日 (18th March 1608)

Caulifla tried to make herself comfortable in the highly furnished room. She still could not believe that this was the room being given to her by the Shuah. 

She expected a poorly furnished Rūmu with Kyanpubeddo, a very poorly used Tōrō and maybe a worn-out Matto at the middle of the poorly lit Rūmu and also expecting outnumbered impoverished servants who will be sharing with her this little room. That was how servants were being treated back in her Empire.

She knew that this is not how servants are being treated. She clearly knew that servants were given worst treatment than this. Then why was hers so different?

Why was the good looking man who was being addressed as King giving her a almost seemful guestful treatment? She has heard worst tales about him. 

How wicked, just and cruel he was!

She was expecting a more worse treatment judging from the part that she was from Tsumago empire, Persia's number one enemy. 

But now he was being so nice to her although she would say he was being too cruel just because of her. Giving strokes to a guard just because he had touched a mere servant's back does not at all make sense.

"Thank you" She said to the guard who smiled and closed the door as he left. She admired the room once more and discovered there was a door twenty feet away from the King sized bed which was situated in the middle of the gigantic room. 

Walking towards it, she admired the iron door. The door was the shiny era of beautiful silver, shiny and spotted despite the years it has been since it was bought and maybe used as a door. Where there should have been some fancy matching handle was only a square diamond of white ravishing metal.

She wondered what was behind the door.

Opening it, her eyes admired the most beautiful bathroom she had ever seen. For perhaps a split second her thoughts were suspended, the surprise protecting her until it shattered like glass.

The bathroom had an earthy feel. The walls were as white as the rare diamond combined with white honed travertine. and the floor was made of light brown tiles. The vanities were of a fine wood and the counters were a brilliant white quartz.

One golden faucet in this king- sized bathroom would surely be enough to earn a fortune. The light in the bathroom was bright and sterile, lacking even a trace of warmth. 

This was even more expensive and more royal than her own bathroom back in Tsumago. It was not a doubt anymore that the Persian Empire was the most richest Empire known. She closed the bathroom door and suddenly realized that the room has a balcony.

The balcony was a concrete ledge, square rough edges and a rusty rail, but it felt as if it was her She always enjoyed sitting on her balcony back at home because on her balcony she could enjoy the breeze, the sun and even sometimes sit out in misty rain. 

Looking down the beautiful balcony, below the city flowed in it's tense way, bustling and honking. But ten floors up she was far enough removed from it to be a passive observer, not troubled by it's strife. 

She could not accept all these. This was far too much for her. Even though she was a Princess, she supposed to be a mere servant and she supposed to be treated as one.

And there was a knock on the door.

"Please come in" Caulifla said as the door opened.

Caulifla gazed at the old woman before her. At her age she should have one foot in the grave. Her gait should be wonky with arthritic joints and eyesight failing faster than my school grades. Were it not for the lines in her face she would think she was Sixty years at the most given her sharp mind and easy motion; 

But they are so deep and saggy - like the skin no longer has a connection to the skull underneath. In maybe a photograph, a person my clock her as ninety or more, and Caulifla thinks that's where she is. 

It is her litheness and articulate speech that gets the person she is having a conversation with, an echo of youth in someone so old. She was dressed in black regalia and her hair was packed behind her.

"Are you the new servant?" The woman asked, jilting Caulifla from her thoughts.

"Yes, i work for the Shuah. Greetings ma'am" She bowed in respect to the woman who looked at her suspiciously.

"How low of a servant to get such a loving room. You do not deserve this because you are a servant. You must have manipulated the Shuah just like Shāhbāno Abreshmina, the cruel woman who calls herself a Queen. 

"I do not blame you young maiden because your beauty is enough to make a sane man insane so count yourself lucky. The Shuah has asked me to get you some clothes and prepare a routine for you and here it is. May the Lord be with you" 

The old woman had said as she handed Caulifla the slate and the clothes, walking out of the room. The woman was right. She was a mere servant who does not deserve this. But who was Shāhbāno Abreshmina?

She looked at the slate which was carefully outlined with Towa chōku. She was scheduled to be in the King's chambers in thirty minutes. 

She dropped the slate and quickly entered the bathroom. 

If she was going to serve the King then it should not be in her unclean state.

04: 00 pm 1608年3月18日 (18th March 1608)

Shāhbāno Abreshmina walked into the King's chambers in an angry state. She had made up her mind to face the King and if made possible, fill the King's thoughts about this useless slave with lies. There is a high possibility it will work judging by the fact that she was the King's favourite. He supposed to listen to her.

"I request to see the Shuah at once" She told one of the guards at the entrance of the King's chambers. 

"I will alert him at once my Queen" He had said as he entered, coming out a minute later.

"The King is quite honoured with his Queen's presence" He said as he bored to the Queen.

And then Abreshmina entered.

"My lovely Queen,what brings you here?" The King said as he stood up from his chair.

"I request to speak to my King in private" She said as she bowed her head.

"You heard your Queen, alert the guards at the entrance and tell them to leave at once" The King has ordered, causing the guards to leave at once.

"What bothers my Queen so much to honour me with her presence?" The King asked as he sat down.

"The reason for gracing your presence is about that new servant whom you had carried to the guest quarters. It is not at all normal to treat a servant as a guest. People gossip and this is their main topic of discussion. She is a servant my King and is not worthy of your attention".

Burning rage hissed through his body like deathly poison, screeching a demanded release in the form of unwanted violence. 

Every word stung only fueling the fire that burned inside of him. Every violated phrase was like gasoline to it, his fists began to clench and my jaw rooted.

It was like a volcano erupting; fury sweeping off him like ferocious waves. When the final mento had been added to the coke inside of him, he exploded with anger, with no control objects levitated and broke. 

"I had told you many times not to question my actions. I am the King and no one tells me what to do and how to do it.Ifgossipers find it fit to gossip their Shuah then let them gossip. No matter what you say the girl deserves it because i say so. Now if you don't know what to say then get out" he said.

"How cruel to talk to your Queen and mother of your heart. You do not behave towards your Queen like this. You have turned your back towards me because of this girl. You have forgotten how to love me but you love this girl instead"

"Who i love does not concern you. I don't believe in love Abreshmina. I keep you here because i trust you and you are the mother of my heir. Do not kill the trust i have for you. Now leave my presence" 

The Queen frowned as she turned and was about to leave when the King had said;

"One more thing Abreshmina, do not by any chance oppress the girl. I have heard well of how you always oppress my other wives. So if you think i am giving this servant soft treatment and maybe love them you must be mistaken. I feel that for no one. You may go"

03:26 pm 1608年3月18日 (18th March 1608)

Shuah Azar sighed as he held his head.Ever since her eyes locked with his, he had carried her in his arms, her velvet like voice reached his ear, he knew he would be putty in her hands. 

He had never been in love but still, he wanted to get the same feeling someone gets when someone confesses his or her love for the person. Picturing her lips against his gives him such a rush that nearly makes him fall over. He cannot seem to get his mind off the maiden.

Ever since he had carried her to the guest room which was about two days ago, he had always sent his guards to check if she was awake. When he had heard she was awake this morning, he was very happy.

He remembered how impatient he was when his guard told him that she was awake and has told her to come meet him in his chambers. Seeing her again took his breath away. She was even more beautiful than he had last remembered. 

It really hurt him when she had bowed her head down in what seemed like fear. Touching her chin sent shiver down his spine and meeting her beautiful blue eyes made his heartbeat skip faster.

He had assured her to be free around him and to not be scared around him. 

What was going on with him?

He walked to class thinking. Its been a while since he had seen her, more like thirty minutes ago. Maybe he likes her or he just seem attracted to her. Maybe he was sick.

He didn't feel it was love at all because judging by all he had done and all he had acquired, his last wish was to never be trapped in a myth called love. 

He does not understand what happened all of a sudden. He was not someone to like a woman or feel for a woman, especially a random slave.

Maybe things have changed.

No, he cannot agree he was in love with her.

He is not in love with her.

He tear his thoughts away from her and think about how he has changed. 

No, he cannot still agree to the fact that it was love.

He sits down on his bed pretending not to care about having her in here right now. It is good that he she was not here because then he can further shrink this ball of affection that rules his heart.

He is not at all in love with her.

His thoughts are interrupted when there was a knock on the door.

"Do come in whoever it may be"

His thoughts went wild when she enters the room with her head bowed. Her long and beautiful black hair is damp with beauty. Her angelic, porcelain and pale skin has a faint red flush. 

Happiness is not an ideal of reason but of imagination, yet for him, happiness is not an 'ideal,' nor conjured by imagination, yet is a state of being that thrives when we are at peace within ourselves. 

Happiness is in the moment, the more focused the more intense, like a beam of light to the soul. And just as with well focused light, it is then we find better resolution.

He didn't know if it was love, but one thing was sure;

This girl was his happiness.

03:28 pm 1608年3月18日 (18th March 1608)

"Do come in whoever it may be" Caulifla had heard and opened the door, her eyes going at once to the floor as a sign of respect for the King.

"Salaam alaykum Shuah" (May peace be upon you King)"

"I had told you not to bow your head in front of me" The King had said in a harsh tone, ignoring her greetings as fear slid through her veins.

"Look at me" He commanded, but she wasn't sure if she should.

"I said look at me" She looked up to see the handsome man she was so scared of.

The Handsome King.

"Never bow down to me. Tale me as a friend not as a King. You are here for your work?" He asked as he looked quite stern.

"Yes my King. It is expected of me to clean your room if you will permit me"

"You have my approval. There should be where the cleaning materials are kept" He said, pointing to a store room.

"Thank you Shuah" She said as she walked to the store room and took the things she will be needing.

She came out to still see the King sitting on his bed.

"If the King does not mind, can he please leave the room so your number servant carries her work?"

"I rather remain here. It will be a waste of time heading to the throne room" He said as he crossed his legs.

"As you wish" Caulifla said as she started her work.

Fragments of thought, splinters of words, and droplets of silence spun into a kaleidoscopic jumble, shifted infinitesimally, and fell into an incredible new pattern as she did her work.

The silence stretched thinner and thinner, like a balloon blown big, until the temptation to rupture it was too great to resist. The way the king stared at her made her feel quite uncomfortable. 

"How old are you Caulifla?" He asked as he watched her do her work.

"Eighteen"

"I am thirty-three"

He's so much younger than she had expected. He has that grown-up choir boy look except the tattoos that swirl above the neckline of his regalia. 

"You must be a lot surprised are you?"

"It is very much hard to accept that my Shuah is twenty six. He has acquired much and he is so quite young"

"I do not know but you calling me your Shuah has an effect on me. It makes me smile in delight" He said as he smiled.

Caulifla seemed surprised as she looked down. She has an effect on Shuah Azar?"

"How my Lord?"

"I do not know but i like you. You are from Tsumago empire?"

"Yes My Lord"

"Tsugini, anata mo karera no gengo o hanasanakereba narimasen" ( Then you must speak their language as well)

Caulifla opened her mouth in surprise as she looked at the King.

"Watashi no ō wa dono yō ni watashi no gengo o totemo ryūchō ni hanashimasu ka?" (How does my King speak my language so fluently?)

"Haha wa tsumagojuku shusshin de, tsumagojuku kōtei no te ni yotte nakunaru mae ni watashi o kangaemashita" (My mother is from Tsumago and she thought me before she died by the hands of the Tsumago Emperor)

Caulifla looked him with surprise. Her father had killed his mother? How was that possible?

"Haha wa tsumagojuku no shimo bedeshita. Kanojo wa itsumo kare ni tsukaete imashitaga, kanojo ga watashinochichi to issho ni iru tame ni kanojo no teikoku ni hantai shita koto o kare ga hakken shita nochi, futō ni korosa remashita. 

"Watashinochichi wa watashinohaha nashide wa dekinakattanode, kare wa jisatsu shi, watashi o kono sekai ni hanatte oita. Soshite sore ga watashi ga itsumo sono otoko to kare no hitobito o koroshitai to omotte ita riyūdesuga, watashi wa jibun no rieki no tame dake ni tsumi no nai chi o koboshitaku arimasendeshita. 

"Awanakatta no wa ureshīdesu. Atta koto ga naikaradesu. Anata wa karifura o nakushitadeshou."

( My mother was a servant for the Emperor of Tsumago. She always served him but was killed unjustly after he had discovered that she had gone against her Empire to be with my father. My father could not do without my mother and so he killed himself, leaving me alone in this world. And that is why i have always wanted to kill that man and his people but i never wanted to spill innocent blood just for my gain. I am glad i didn't because if i did, i wont ever have met you. You would have died Caulifla.)

She watched as he turned away from her, trying to control his almost pouring tears. How can her father be this cruel? Here she thought this man was an enemy, not knowing her father had done something to earn being an enemy. She suddenly hated her father, pitying this man. Now this all explains the enmity between the two empires.

"I never knew this ever happened Shuah, i was unaware. I am sorry for your loss"

"You are not at fault Caulifla, that Emperor is at fault and i will make sure i end him"

"Anata wa kōtei o koroshitaidesu ka?"( You want to kill the Emperor?)

"Yes"

"Anata ga kare o korosunara anata wa watashi no kōtei o koroshimasu" ( If you kill him then you kill my Emperor)

"He is not your Emperor, i am"

"Shikashi, watashi wa kare ni zokushite imasu, watashi wa kare no ōkoku ni zokushite imasu" ( But i belong to him, i belong to his kingdom)

The King stood up and walked to her in anger, holding both her hands up and pushing her to the wall.

"You are mine and you belong here. I am you King and you are mine"

"Watashi wa anata no monode wa arimasen" ( I am not yours)

"You always will be mine Caulifla. You are mine because i love you"

"My King?"

"Call me that again"

"My King"

"I love you. I never thought i will ever say those three words for a woman but i cannot help it right now. You are mine because i love you. You will never return to that empire because i love you. You will remain here and serve as my Queen because i love you. "

"I love you Caulifla right from the first moment i laid my eyes on you and i want to love you till the end" He said as he held her cheek with love.

With passion.

With care.

"I love you"