There's going to be like one curse word (or maybe two - I don't know its an actual curse word) in this chapter so.... warning, I guess?                                     Do I even have any children readers? Ah well...****************************************************************

Ashley felt like her mind had stopped processing at that moment, and maybe it actually had, for the words that fell out of the Emperors mouth made no sense to her. It was in perfect English and the Emperor had even repeated the sentence for her twice. But why was it that no matter how much she rearranged those words, it just didn't make sense? Shaking her head, she gripped the side of her shirt, as if it kept her from slipping out of reality. “Please..please tell me that you're joking.” she whispered, looking up at the Emperor, feeling her body tremble from the sudden cold that spread through her. She didn't care if she appeared like a little child to him, because she really did feel that vulnerable and small. ‘This has to be some cruel induction ceremony for people coming to Japan. Right?’ she thought, even though she knew for a fact that there was no such thing. The Emperor signed and closed his eyes, suddenly looking older than his age. “I’m sorry Ashley. I'm so, so sorry dear.” he said, his eyes casted down. Now Ashley didn't know him well but she did know that it must be very rare and a big deal if any emperor apologizes to you. But the shock that the very emperor was telling you that you were his daughter-in-law was even greater. Shaking her head, she brought her hands to her face, not able to trust herself to not cry. She felt her nose began to sting, her hands couldn't stop shaking, her shoulders were deflated, and she just wanted to scream. “C-can I please call my parents?” she stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper. “Of course.” the Emperor said, stepping back and walking over to his wife who quickly pulled him to a corner and started whispering in Japanese. Ashley walked over to her own corner, dialing her parents who were probably getting ready for bed. The phone rung and rung and just as she was convinced no one would pick up, the sound of her mother came through, hesitant and small. “A-ashley?” her mom said, “Did you...reach our friends house?”. “Is his last name Himura?” her voice quivered, praying that this was all a mistake. “Yes. That's him.” she said, a long pause following after. It felt as if a something thick hung between them, even from oceans and lands away. She knew that her mother knew what she was about to ask next. “Then i-is what he said true…?” she asked softly, begging her mother to say no, that it was all just to teach her a lesson so she would study more. But it didn't come. It never came. Not a laugh or a ‘what are you talking about?’. Instead, a “It's true” came, quickly followed by a “Mol, Im so sorry we couldn't tell you but--...”. Ashley began to feel a bit light headed. Her ears felt like they were stuffed with cotton and she swore she was either dreaming or hallucinating because this wasn't reality. This couldn't be reality. “Mol? Ashley? Ashley?” she heard her mom call out, but the voice faded and the muscles in her legs were trembling, struggling to hold her up. Finally unable to take it, her knees gave out and she dropped to the floor, not caring is she was going sit unlady-like on the floor of a palace. “Oh dear!” she heard the Empress exclaim, as she vaguely felt her grab onto her arms to try and steady her up. With the firm touch of her new mother in law behind her and the concerned voice of her new father in law in front, the tears that threatened to fall finally descended downwards.

The Emperor took her phone that had slipped out her fingers and proceeded to talk to her mom (about what, she didn't know, she couldn't focus on anything) while the Empress wrapped her arms around her, trying to soothe her. Ashley was grateful that she was trying but another part of her wanted to push her hands away. After all, the Empress was one of the reasons for this mess. How could they do this to her? How could they all gather and plan out her life like this without even asking her? How they hide this from her? How could they just rip her away from the life she has known and throw her into… into this?! She hated crying in front of strangers. She hated feeling so trapped. She hated being lied to. And most of all, she hated THIS. All her life, Ashley had always been surrounded by arranged marriages. From her grandparents to her aunts and uncles, even her own parents had one. She had literally grown up with a bad marriage. Her father, as much as she loved him, was what Ashley had always looked as the example of what she DIDN'T want in a husband. How her father acted sometimes and how much her mother suffered had made a deep scar in her mind and heart. She has always been determined to never be trapped and sad like her mother. In fact, she had even decided that she wouldn't get married at all. Maybe just live with two dogs and adopt a child? But now, not only did she suddenly have a complete stranger as a future life partner, but a prince on top of that?! She had never fell completely unconscious before in her life but suddenly, Ashley felt like she was going to faint right there and then. “Um...may I please have some time to myself?” she muttered, her eyes glued to the carpeted floor. “Of course dear. We’ll take you into your bedroom where it's more private okay?” the Empress said. Ashley stood from her spot and followed her new in-laws, not even bothering to look around as she usually would as they walked through many rooms and hallways. She felt (and probably looked) like she had just died. Like her body was an empty vessel with no living soul within. Her footsteps felt heavy and her mind, empty. They eventually stopped walking and the Empress, who had a hand on her shoulder the whole way gave her a small smile while extending her arm. “Here you are my dear. This will be your new room. I hope it's to your comfort.” she said, warmth and worry flowing out her. “Thank you…” Ashley practically whispered, standing under a large archway that led to her new room. It was almost funny really, how she had always dreamed of having a room to herself. To escape from the tiny closet sized space she has always shared with her brother and have something to call her own. Who would have ever thought that this was how she was going to get it? She almost laughed out loud but Ashley knew she was practically delirious at this point and laughing might crack her sanity. Instead she stepped through the flowing chiffon curtains of red, gold, orange, and yellows.

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It was amazing how time seemed to blend together, then wash completely away when she stopped keeping track of it. In fact, the only indication of time not stopping was the sunlight that streamed into her room and the meals the maids brought in. The Emperor and Empress also visited every single day (or so she assumed was everyday). They would just sit with her, not really saying anything. She knew they were just trying to make her feel better...make her feel less lonely. However, it had been days and she refused to move from her spot, barely touched her meals, and never said a word. She could feel her body weaken but she ignored it because her mind and heart felt even worse. It was like a dream - a strange nightmare. But even after four days, when she awoke with puffy eyes each time, she wasn't back home in New York. She had been ignoring the multiple calls from her parents but she knew the Emperor and Empress were giving them updates to not worry them. She couldn't talk to them yet. She was afraid that if she did, she would receive answers she didn't want.

The first day, anger and confusion coursed through her. The second day, she cried nonstop till her eyes swelled. The third day, she was filled with worries and anxiety. And today, she just felt so lost, blank and empty. She didn't know what to do, what was she supposed to do? She just couldn't sit here till she died! A sudden burst of adrenaline from what she assumed was from up above raced through her. Praying had calmed her but gave her no answers back at the moment so Ashley did the only thing she could think of: she called her best friend. Veronica was someone who she knew she could rely on at times like these. Although Veronica would panic at first, she would simmer down quickly to provide advice that Ashley so desperately needed. Hearing Veronica's voice felt like drinking a cool glass of water during a heat wave and she grabbed onto that feeling to prevent herself from falling back into a pit of hopeless despair. She had barely even let Veronica say “Ashawee!” in her cute voice before spilling everything she had kept locked up in her for four days. It took a good hour and a half to explain, pause, vent, cry, catch her breathe, then resume but they made it through. A long pause stretched between them as Ashley assumed Veronica was trying to collect her thoughts. Yeah, she knew she sounded like she was reciting the plot of some Saturday night Indian drama that married middle aged women loved to watch and that any sane person would need at least five minutes to absorb everything (heck, four whole days had passed and she still couldn't believe it). “So?” Ashley asked softly, needing something...anything from her best friend. Veronica sighed, “So...” she said back. “Veronica! What should I do?” Ashley whined, clutching onto her wrinkled shirt. “Well...the first step is that you need to take a bath.” Veronica said, and Ashley could only image her wrinkling her nose. “Well… yeah that's probably a good idea.” she said, shuddering as she realized how truly dirty she felt. “Second step is that…” Victoria continued, “...Ashley, you HAVE to talk to your parents. Try to convince them out of this f*ck’n contract! Oops excuse me for my French…”. Ashley smiled at her friend's outburst. Veronica rarely cursed but when she did, it was serious. She, on the other hand, never cursed so her best friend was the perfect transmitter for her feelings But the thought of talking to her parents made her groan. She knew she’d have to do it eventually but really, why did it have to be step two?! “And if they say yes, then you're FREE! But…” Veronica said, “...if they don’t, then my Ashley... you're going to be the BEST DAMN Princess Japan has ever seen!!!” she exclaimed. Ashley felt her heart miss a beat, “What?!” she practically yelled. “Yeah!” Veronica said, as if it was the most obvious thing ever. “Veronica!! Me, a princess?! Have you ever meet ME!?!” she asked, positive that her friend has gone absolutely insane! “Yes yes I have! Ive known you since sixth grade and I know you will do fine! You’re Ashley!” Veronica said. “What? What does that even mean?!” Ashley exclaimed, frustrated beyond anything. “Ashley, I've always told you that you'd be a great mother, right?” Veronica said. “Yeah...but what does that have to do with...wait YOU WANT ME TO HAVE KIDS WITH SOMEONE I'VE NEVER EVEN MEET!?” Ashley cried out, feeling herself go slightly faint again at just the thought. “Wait what? NO! I'm not talking about THAT!! Im saying that a princess is basically like the mother of an entire country...well except in your case, you'd be like the adoptive mother. You just have to learn how to take care of the baby - er country.” Veronica said. “Well… okay” Ashley said. She didn't know how long it would take her to not only learn Japanese but also its history and laws but she guessed it wasn't too bad of a thing, she had always been interested in Japan. “What about the whole marriage part…” she asked, slumping her shoulders. “That...is something you're going to have to do yourself. I mean, you don't have to love the guy, you could just be friends.” Veronica said, trying to conceal the sadness in her voice. But Veronica and her both knew how difficult that was going to be for her. She was never good at talking to guys or making new friends (that was more of Veronica's forte) . If it wasn't for Veronica, she would probably be a complete social outcast. Ashley sighed, holding her cellphone a bit too tight. “Fine… I'm going to go call them okay. And thank you so much, I don't know what I would do without you…” she said. Veronica hummed, “I don't know what I'd without you either. Good luck Ashley. Call me back right after okay!”. “Okay… bye…” Ashley said, unwilling to end the call. Staring holes into her screen, her finger hovered over the green call button under her the words ‘Amma’. She had never put so much importance in a call than the one she was about to make.

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