(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ee/Midori.jpg)<br/><br/>She wanted to flee, to turn and run and just disappear forever. Forget trying to please her father, forget she was Princess Midori, betrothed to a man she'd never met, forget this marriage all together. She forced herself to remain calm, to take the next step down this one-way tunnel of a hallway that offered her no way out. Wedged as she was between the men of power in front of her and the guards behind, Midori now knew the feelings of the condemned man headed for the chopping block. Peasant women were little more than chattel in this day and age, and, for all her titles, her father treated her no differently than he treated his servants. She was given no choice in her fate, and it was time now for her to face it.<br/><br/>Sudden quiet told her they had reached the throne room, and she stood tall and proud, her delicate features unreadable.  She took a look around the richly decorated chamber, ignoring all the eyes glued to first her father, then herself. She heard Master Lao introduce them, catching the hesitation before announcing her as his betrothed. Did Shun Tai not know about this?  While this would be a way out for her, she knew her father would not be pleased and demand marriage or war.<br/><br/>For the first time, Midori looked at Shun Tai. The fleeting expression of surprise in his eyes was not missed, but the look of absolute shock she glimpsed on the blonde boy in front of him, brief as it was, told her even more. Shun Tai did not want a wife, he wanted a boy. Her heart dropped to her toes, even a she assessed the gorgeously handsome man as he rose from the throne. She had asked for kindness and understanding, and that may very well be the only thing she received from this marriage.<br/><br/>She bowed to him when he welcomed her, her senses of duty and pride the only things holding her together right now. "It is a pleasure to meet you, My Lord," she told him dutifully, not sure what else to say. She was trapped, with no options. She would suffer the fate her mother had never wanted for her, a loveless marriage. She would endure, just as her mother had. She would run his household, see to his comfort, greet his guests, perform her duties as Empress, and(maybe) produce his heirs. She had no choice. It was this life her father had chosen for her, or a shameful death.<br/><br/>(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/8/86/Ethan.jpg)<br/><br/>Ethan ran a sensuous hand down Master Feng's chest, giving him a promising smile before returning to his pillow at Master Tai's feet. He leaned back against the throne, resting his head on Tai's inner thigh. Life was good. Tonight, he would please both Tai and Feng, and all would be well.<br/>the sudden quiet caught his attention and he sat straighter, more formal, and looked out past Master Feng.<br/><br/>His eyes widened in awe at the man in golden armor, taking in the fierceness in his regal stance. This was not a man to mess with, he could tell, but Master Lao's next words shocked him completely. Married? But Master Tai couldn't marry! What would happen to him? Would the wife force Tai to sell him? She wouldn't do that!  Tai would never agree...would he? No. He would never leave Tai. He loved Master Tai, truly loved him, and it would take more than a wife to make Tai sell him...wouldn't it? Hate began to fill Ethan, began to seep into his heart.  Ethan had never before felt hate like this.<br/><br/>His gaze moved to the beautiful woman who bowed to his Master, seeing past her delicate features and regal movements, knowing instinctively she wanted to be here even less than Tai wanted to be married. He couldn't hate the woman, but he could hate the Golden Man that forced this fate. He vowed that he would do all he could to get his revenge on this man that threatened his love for Tai.<br/><br/>