Reborn

BACK HOME (1)

''Sister are you ready?" Ichika asked, knocking on the door, as if she respected her privacy. Where were her manners at Orchid Pavilion, Sakura thought?

Sakura opened her door smiling at her sister and proceeded with her towards the palace gates. A carriage was waiting for them to depart to their home.

They were in the Imperial garden right now which was very huge and blooming with different species of flowers. Complimenting the surroundings with its presence and she remembered her breakfast with the Empress. She went into a flashback.

Sakura was rushing towards the Imperial garden with the maid. She was hurling comments at her politely like how Sakura should act gracefully with the Empress and not to act rashly in any situation, how the Empress preferred to not be interrupted during her conversation especially by a person like her. Sakura looked at her blankly showing a rigid and cold face not bothered by her comments. As they reached the meeting place, Sakura saw the Empress was not even surrounded by a single attendant. Maybe she wanted to spend some private time with her, Sakura thought. The maid accompanied her only till the threshold of the garden and asked her not to delay anymore.

There was a small tea house in middle of the garden with chairs and a large table laid with delicacies. The infrastructure was elegant and fitting for royalty. There were beautiful carvings on the wall embedded with rare crystals which made it look grand. The Empress was sitting on one of the chairs drinking fresh orange juice in a long sleek glass. She looked gorgeous, if Sakura was a man, she would have fallen for her. She had a curvy figure and slim waist. Her face was small and delicate with purple eyes, dark brown hair, neatly tied into a bun. Adorned with a dragon hair clip, which truly enhanced her beauty.

She was wearing a long white dress that had patterns of purple lilies. A pair of lotus earrings, a pearl necklace around her neck and a jade bracelet on her wrist. She motioned for Sakura to come and sit beside her and Sakura followed. She picked a glass filled with orange juice and drank it slowly. The Empress was staring at Sakura all the time making her feel uncomfortable. Sakura finished the juice and looked at her.

''How are you feeling now? "she asked warmly.

"Better than before, in fact staying here makes me feel good," Sakura replied.

The Empress looked at Sakura with a sad expression and said, "Only if you were married to Danuja (son), it would be so nice to talk to you every day and look at you lovingly. Only, if I had a daughter like you''.

Sakura felt nice hearing her words. If her mother was alive, she would just be akin to her.

''If I was your daughter, I would be a mockery to royal family with such an appearance and body," Sakura stated as a matter of fact. Sakura doubted, that she would probably be left abandoned, if she was born in royal family with an ugly appearance.

The Empress scorned at Sakura's comment and replied, "Remember Sakura, outward appearances do not matter it's what inside you that matters and only good people can recognize it. Don't let yourself be disappointed, because of rude remarks from others. An ugly duckling can also turn into a beautiful swan one day".

''Okay, your highness, the Empress," Sakura smiled and said.

''Call me Aunt Sara," she replied.

''Okay, Aunt Sara," she said pleasure emitting from her eyes.

''Now eat the breakfast soon lest the food should become cold," she replied, patting Sakura's head lightly. Sakura looked at the delicacies with huge eyes. There were ham and cheese sandwiches, a jug filled with orange juice, blueberry cupcakes, a bowl of hot porridge. She tasted each one of them with relish. 

The Empress thought about what hardships this child had to go through, to make her so fragile and weak. Sakura's appearance  itself told her that she was ill-treated and malnourished. Someday, she will surely obtain justice for Sakura, but now was not the right time, as Danuja was the Crown Prince. None one other than herself knew how he had plotted against his elder brother to obtain this position.

She still remembered Daiki's face as he was on brink of death before he went into a state of coma. He held pure hatred towards his younger brother. How the Empress wished she could tell her son that he was not his real younger brother. Just an adopted son from an orphanage who had some skills that attracted the Emperor's attention.

The Empress hugged Sakura while going back which startled her, however, she returned it back and suddenly felt a cold gaze directed at her. She looked back, her eyes fell upon the Leader of the Blood Devils. He was still wearing his mask, if she wanted, she could see through his appearance at one go. However, Sakura respected privacy of others, even if it was an enemy. Sakura acted scared and weak and it worked out and heard him whisper ''Weak girl "and he disappeared. Sakura snorted after he left, was he the Almighty to look down on the weak.

She was back to the present when she climbed onto the carriage with her sister glancing at the Imperial Palace the last time. At last, home sweet home, Sakura thought.