Accost Splendora C-3_22 Book by Ryan T.S

Chapter 3

Page 22- _Down the memory lane_

Ayami... _A few years back, prince Kei and Hiro used to share the same room all the time. Since this is as good a time as any, i might as well tell you about some of the Ohshiba family's history. This will take a while to explain, so bear with me throughout this boring story._

Rintarõ... _Don't worry, i love long stories._

Ayami... _Takahiro and Keisuke, although born from different mothers, share the same birth year. During the time baby Keisuke was born, his mother, former empress (*Kasui Senami*) passed away. The doctors explained it as high blood pressure, but the attending nurse knew the real cause. Rumors say she got a heart attack right after receiving in-telling news of the Emperor having an affair. Soon after she got suspicious, the former empress asked her most trusted servant to acquire the hidden pictures. Hearing the tragic news of her death, the servant vanished leaving an informant for future purpose. That being Kusaka Inata, my father. Empress Kasui passed away holding a picture of the woman and her pregnancy, whom in-turn was the current Empress and her twin children. In courtship with the current empress, lord Ayanami claimed of divorcing his former wife (*Kasui*) before Keisuke's birth, but not officially nationwide. He knew it would be problematic if his newfound wife became aware of the news. So he lied about his last child being a year and a half older than Takahiro, when in fact it was a few months. For his lie to become the truth, he sent prince Kei to live with his aunt Aosaka Senami, and built them the Senami mansion along with the Senami restaurant. Aosaka later on grew in terms of wealth, enough to build her own hotels. All she had to do was live with her sister's son 'till the time was right. Keisuke grew up knowing his aunt as his real mother, and untold of the past secrets, he used her maiden name. Emperor Ayanami coerced his new wife into sending her along with Takahiro to her brother, Shōta Akamaru for safe keeping. He laid it out under false pretenses of the media finding it suspicious. "It would cause an uproar over the country, if they were to question how another woman entered the palace soon after the death of the Empress," he'd say. Takahiro used his mother's last name taking into consideration his uncle as his father, but he was aware it wasn't true. His uncle got the now-famous Akamaru fashion and design company from the emperor. Keisuke and Takahiro were heirs to these companies, but from the beginning Aosaka didn't receive as much money for Kei's upbringing as did Takahiro. Instead, all her income came from the restaurant she had acquired, until she was as rich and famous as Takahiro's uncle. At the age of six during elementary school, Takahiro's mother made the decision to finally show her children their real father the Emperor. With a year passed, she had finally entered the palace as empress. The emperor thought of it as a great opportunity to bring his third son Keisuke, talk things out and show him his new mother. Around the same time my father the lord's servant, passed away leaving me as the Emperor's new right hand trusted servant. I knew everything about the emperor from my father. They sat in the Imperial throne room and began the introductions. "This is my third son Keisuke who was living with his aunt," he said, while his eyes averted the empress' look. But this came as a shock to Keisuke after believing his aunt was his mother. He kept quiet for the time being, but cooled with a perplexed look on his face. While on the contrary, Takahiro was surprised to hear that his father was the emperor, on top of that he had older siblings including Keisuke. Emperor Ayanami could understand the two boys' feelings, but he couldn't jeopardise their future as heirs to the throne. After a few preparations, both boys were taken into the Imperial Palace as the third and fourth princes. As Lord Ayanami's most trusted servant, i was assigned to attending their every needs. Grooming them into proper princes, mannered pupils and good brothers was part of my work. My father always told me that if by any chance i was to serve the princes, making sure they were as close as ever would be of essence. I made sure they did everything together, including giving them a room to share. But one day a scandal occurred. When Keisuke was around the age of nine, he discovered a letter addressed to him, dropped on the floor..._

To be continued........