Touko Amekawa

“Oliver, ready my coach. Wait, no. That will take too much time. Bring me a horse.”

“At once, Your Highness. Might I ask why?”

Arnold didn’t respond—he just grinned like a hungry wolf catching scent of his prey.

She looked down at Arnold again. “Your wife?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“You want me to become your wife?”

“Yes.”

I’m sorry, Your Highness.” Rishe reached out to him, took his face in her hands, and peered deeply into his eyes. She knew it was rude to touch him like this, but she couldn’t stop herself. “I don’t know the emperor. To me, these are not your father’s eyes; they’re your eyes. They may be hateful to you, but I’ll say it as many times as I must.” She looked into that frozen sea and smiled. “I think you have the most beautiful eyes in the world.”