**_Han Kanna_**

Mater, my empress mother, is getting suspicious.

I had returned rather late from my…monthly exhibition. Now, I suppose, she is punishing me by making me listen to the ramblings of Ole Adviser Jorge.

He is on his twenty page on “what could be fixed in the empire” and I’m dozing off. One, because of his deathly boring monotone voice, and two, because my bat-cat, Ticks, is on my lap and very warm. But I should probably take him off; we call him Ticks for a reason.

“…and that is all that I have to offer for you today, My Prince. I am very sorry I don’t have more ideas to please you with.” Jorge says solemnly, casting his head down.

How in the world does this man have a wife? I would have died from the first paragraph he uttered from his mouth. “No worries, no worries.” I bat a hand at him and throw Ticks to the ground.

Ticks recovers quickly and flaps his bat wings to avoid colliding with the marble ground. He hisses then flies out of the conference room.

I back away towards the door as well. If I don’t get sunlight in the next hour, I will die. “Now goodbye, Jorge! I’ll make sure to take your suggestions to the Emperess.”

Then I bolt out of there and out to the courtyards, where my oldest sister, and heir to the Han Empire, sits braiding my other sister’s hair.

***

**_Han Lea_**

Kanna is known to be the most secretive of all our family. This is a great skill he has, to lie with a straight face. Of course, it’s quite annoying when he does it to us.

I can tell that that’s what he’s doing at the moment. Lying where he was this past night.

“Sit next to me,” I pat the ground to my right, then dust my hands off before I return to braiding Han Dealla’s thick, black curls.

Kanna does, and I can tell he’s restless. Mater made him listen to Advisor Jorge rambling. Bless the old man, but he is rather boring.

“Brother, be at peace. Smell the flowers, listen to the whispering wind.” Dealla has her eyes closed and head tilt back to give me more access. I toss another finished braid to the side and bring my fingers to her root to start again. “Kanna, be at peace.”

He frowns. “There’s nothing wrong with me, Lea.”

“You know, you seem restless every time you return from your trips. What’s the deal with that?” I ask.

Kanna pauses, then gives he a lazy grin and he lays down with his back to the ground. “What if I told you I met someone nice on my trip.”

I say an apology when Dealla whimpers. “I would believe that. Could we meet this lover of yours?”

“No.” Kanna says quickly.

Dealla turns to him and signs, _Why?_

“Because he doesn’t like attention.”

Dealla and I exchange a look. “So you don’t want Mater to find out about _him_?”

“No, she’d…make a whole spectacle about it.” Kanna bites his lip and sits up. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I’m going for a run.”

He leaps up to his feet and takes off towards the forest, jumping over the courtyard fence.

I sigh, than toss the last of Dealla’s curls to the side. “Alright sweety, I’m done.” She gives me a smile and kisses me on my cheek.

_Thank you_, she signs, _but will we tell Mater about Kanna’s problem?_

I shrug. “Honestly, even though he told us, I don’t think it’s any of our concern. I just feel if we dive too deep, we may get hurt.”

Dealla’s eyes go flat. _You think too much about simple things, Lea._

“Maybe I do, but that is one of the reasons Mater has trusted that I will make a fine Empress.”

***

**_Han Kanna_**

I feel dirty. Though I’m spectacular at lying, I hate doing it. But no one can know, no can.

I lean against a tree for a little bit, my breath coming in rapid bursts. My hands finding purchase on my knees. Sometimes I wish that I wasn’t born into this life of continuous war. So many secrets to keep. So many things that people are expecting you to do. The untrusting nature of your heart.

I collapse to the ground and bury my head into the space between my bent legs.

“Why? Why is the world like this? I just wanna have a peaceful life with the man I love. Just us two in a quiet forest living in a cottage. Just the quiet with us, no war, suffering—

“Oh, who am I kidding. We can’t do this anymore. The consequences are too great and I’m just being so damned selfish!”

I have to end this. I have to end us.

Which is why I hurry back to the palace to plan how I am to meet Jan next month. And how I will break us apart.

Forever. For the sake of the Han Empire.

***

**_Emperor Twig_**

“The three children of Empress Han Kite. Is it Han Lea? Or maybe Han Kanna? It wouldn’t be Han Dealla, too young.”

I lean back in my large, study chair. “Which one has blinded my son with the promise of love?”

I toy with the Hanite medallion that was just outside Jan’s window on the forest floor. Twirling it in my hand.

“Which one…which…one.” I grin. “Which one indeed. We shall find out next month when they come to visit.”

***

_(Ah, yes. Another thingy done. Anyways, if you’re wondering, Dealla’s mute (not deaf) so she signs. Everyone in the castle is taught sign language for her benefit. That’s what I call a good mother. Thank you for reading and have a great day!)_