“Ena!”
It took a few seconds for Akihiro to realize that the shout came from him, and a few seconds more to realize that he was running towards the broken chandelier. As his servants and advisors lifted the chandelier off the ground, Akihiro almost dove for the girl he only just realized he loved.
He took in every inch of her. The kimono was torn almost beyond repair, and her arms were covered in cuts from where the now-broken chandelier slashed her skin. Her eyes, bright and glittering seconds before, were now closed.
Empress Hekima pulled Empress Yuri up and checked the insane woman’s pulse. “Yuri’s dead,” she said. “She won’t be exploiting Matsu anymore.”
“And Ena?” Akihiro said. Hekima shook her head in response.
Akihiro looked back at her, taking her limp wrist in his hands. It might have been the light, but Ena was pale. He felt no pulse. “Please, no,” Akihiro breathed, brushing hair out of Ena’s eyelids. Her skin was ice. Akihiro’s shoulders shook from convulsed sobs.
Princess Ena was dead.
~
Ena knew she would die from the moment the chandelier fell, so she was surprised to hear Empress Hekima’s voice sadly whisper, “Time of death…midnight, at the emperor’s coronation ball.”
She stirred, surveying the room through half-closed eyes. Hekima looked white as a sheet as she carried her stepmother’s limp body in her arms. The people attending the coronation had their eyes glued to her. Akihiro’s head was bent in mourning, and Ena could feel the cold splash of his tears through her torn dress onto her torso.
“Ngh. Akihiro…?” Ena said, wincing at the pain in her arms as she lightly touched his hair.
“Wh-what?” He replied, finally looking up.
Ena’s eyes fully opened. “Where’s the chandelier?”
~
The rest of the day passed in a blur. After Ena’s revival, the coronation ball went off without a hitch. Akihiro’s face was still tearstained, and Ena’s dress was still ripped to shreds, but they managed to still be the most breathtaking couple at the ball.
“I love you,” Akihiro whispered into Ena’s hair.
“Likewise,” Ena replied. “What about my stepsisters? They wanted to kill you, too.”
“They’ll be punished. We haven’t figured out how exactly, but they will.”
“Good. And of Matsu?”
“I was going to ask you about that. All of us know that Yuri is dead, and neither Kimi nor Aratani are good rulers. Therefore, seeing that you used to be a princess
before renouncing your title…”
“Oh, I didn’t think of that!” Ena said. “Yes. I’ll rule Matsu, and I’ll split our riches with the townspeople, where they should be.”
“Brilliant idea. I don’t suppose your family should get a few extra jewels?”
“Kimi and Aratani?”
“No. Your family. Masao-san. Kohana. The people who cared for you all this time.”
“Ah. I should’ve known. And no – they might be my family, but I’ll give them as much riches as the next citizen.”
“Really?”
“Well…I might give them a few extra yen.”
“Oh, Ena.”
The music ended, but Ena didn’t let go. Not yet. Even so, they were forced to stop when a servant handed Akihiro a piece of paper. “For you, Your Majesty.”
Akihiro thanked the servant and eagerly took the paper out of his hands, reading the writing inked on it. “My marriage annulment!” Akihiro cheered. “It’s as if my marriage to Kimi never took place now!”
Ena cheered along with him, and the two went back into their dancing positions. “Are you sure you aren’t hurt anywhere?” Akihiro asked Ena.
Ena shrugged her left shoulder. “I’m a bit sore, but it was like I never was crushed by a chandelier in the first place! It’s amazing, isn’t it?”
“Yes. And so is this,” Akihiro said, caressing Ena’s torso with one hand and lifting her chin with the other. Slowly, as if they were still out in the courtyards and were completely alone, Ena’s lips met Akihiro’s.
Ena’s dark eyes fluttered closed. There was a time where she thought that this would never happen to her. And yet, here she was, kissing the emperor she had just rescued a few hours ago. They stayed in the position, not moving, until Akihiro moved his lips away from Ena’s.
“Do you want to know what else is amazing?” Akihiro whispered.
“What?” Ena replied.
“Tonight. When you saved me. When you died for me. When you revived. You.”
“I try to be,” Ena replied, a second before she kissed him again. ~~~~~~~~ And that's it for Ena and Akihiro's story! Big thanks to my family and friends – I never would have published this without their help. Also, a shout-out to Mrs. Houlihan, my former math teacher for the 2015-2016 school year – congratulations on becoming part of the Math Department Chair!
Don't miss the next story I'll be publishing here: the prologue and first chapter of Golden Straw, a retelling of Rumplestiltskin. I can't say anything more, but it involves a prince with a crippled leg, a female head of the local Resistance, and a threat on their city and its inhabitants. Hope you like it, and mata ne!
