Empress (A Tickle Commission)

The Lost Princess Returns

As Sima turned to head toward the palace kitchen, a small force reached for him from a dark crevasse. He jumped. The advisor turned swiftly. He faced the figure, hands raised defensively, ready to strike whatever invader was trying to catch him off guard.

"Sima," whispered Yuanji. The princess stood before him. The cloak she had been wearing to conceal her identity out in the village was draped over her head and shoulders, slightly tattered and dirty, far more so than any of her royal garbs. Her eyes were wide and alert. Sima blinked and cocked his head skeptically.

"Yuanji?" he asked. Yuanji's head and eyes darted around, still trying to stay hidden in her own home.

"Yes," the princess said hushly. "Sorry it's been so long, I've been-"

"You're okay," Sima said. He exhaled heavily, one of many worries lifting from his shoulders. "You are okay, right?"

"Yes," Yuanji said. She spoke impatiently, quiet and quickly. "I'm fine. I'm better than fine. Sima, it's been wonderful. I can't tell you how alive and grand life is out there. There's so much I want to tell you about."

"That's great, but-"

"Sima, the woods beyond the palace," Yuanji started, getting lost in her own thoughts. "They go on forever, it seems. And the commoners are all colorful and passionate."

"Yuanji-"

"They care for one another," Yuanji continued to ramble happily. "They make things for each other. Sell flowers and food they make themselves. They keep pets. They make art."

"Yuanji-"

"And I met the most amazing-" Yuanji started again with a wide smile until Sima cut her off, taking her hand and pulling her around the corner.

"Yuanji," he said more firmly. "You're back. That's what's important right now. You're okay and you're back. We need to get you cleaned up and changed. Your parents have been asking how you've been and Ai and I have been doing all we can to hide that you've been gone." Yuanji paused and stared back thoughtfully.

"Ai has?" Yuanji asked. She swallowed. "Well, thank you both very much for what you've been doing for me. It really does mean a lot." Sima started to pull Yuanji's hand to hurry her toward her room.

"We need to relieve her," Sima said. "She'll be so happy that you're back." Yuanji started to follow before stopping, pulling her hand back.

"Sima," Yuanji said. "I... I'm not coming back." Sima turned to face her.

"What?" he asked. "No, you absolutely are." Yuanji shook her head. Her face bore a fearful whiteness. She clenched her jaw and stood firm before him.

"I'm not," Yuanji said. "Not right now. I just can't."

"Yes you can," Sima said. "You're here now. We need you to."

"Sima, I just came back to see you again and to let you know what's been going on," Yuanji said. "I'm not coming back right now." Yuanji thought with a pained expression. Her voice shivered in her mouth. "A few more days. Then... I'll come back."

"No, you need to be here now," Sima said. "The crown prince Fu Jie will be here any day now to discuss his alliance with the empire and you need to be there for that, do you understand?"

"Just a few more days," Yuanji said. "Sima, I... I met someone. She's amazing and beautiful and she... lives, you know? Like, really lives. She... is life, I can't explain it, but I think I-" Yuanji paused when she glanced down the hallway to see her mother approaching, accompanied by two servants. The Empress Dowager, Hong Niyu, relayed to them a series of idle duties to be carried out in preparation for the neighboring prince's arrival. Yuanji's breath halted for a moment. She turned back towards Sima quickly. "I... I'm sorry." Before Sima could react, Yuanji turned and raced back down the hall away from her mother. Sima reached, trying to catch her.