At first, he was the last person she liked. She even hated him. But in the end, his care, shown little by little, and the warmth he gave her moved her. Even if they were siblings, what did it matter if their love could never be spoken aloud? He would never marry, and she would never wed. What did it matter if they stayed together until old age?
But the trouble was that everyone in their imperial family was selfish enough.
After the late emperor died, the realm needed a capable ruler. She had to help him ascend the throne, where the Golden Hall and its three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two consorts awaited him. She was only his younger sister, with no right even to become a concubine or a beauty.
So she would rather hurt him, just to steal a little more of the time she longed for, no matter the cost.
And he would rather claim her, even though she no longer remembered him, than let her slip away.
Who hurt whom, and who made the other's happiness possible? If they could choose, would they rather never meet in their next lives, so they would not hurt each other through their own selfishness?
If they had not been born into the royal family, if they were not related by blood... would they have been happier?
This story contains incest between siblings, is non-explicit, and ends in tragedy. It is also a short story.
Proceed with caution if this isn't for you.
Also, please don't lurk without commenting... That's not very nice...
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