fourth princess's residence

@驸马⁴ ❀ tonglun ᵈᵒⁿᵍʳʸᵘⁿ Home. She had only known one all her life— her family, her people, her kingdom. That had been her home, and it would continue to be for as long as she lived, until the day she would draw her last breath in the mortal realm. That was home to her, but what exactly was home to him?

A home that now lived only in his memories, a fleeting vision of a family and his kingdom. One that reigned no longer. Though glad Bitna was that she grew up by his side and found a genuine friend, perhaps more in him, how she wished the two could have met under different circumstances. Bitna loved her father dearly, and she would always cherish her family (albeit not being the most functional at times, they were family nevertheless), but to build the grand empire her father did, he had to do so by shedding the blood of the innocent. It was the price to pay. And what many military strategists called “collateral” damage and unfortunate consequences of war Bitna disagreed. They were not collateral damage. They were people, they had names, they all led different lives, they all had a unique story to write— and one day it had been taken from them and set ablaze until only ashes remained…

She had just finished her morning routine, her studies as well as her archery training, hurrying back to her private quarters and carrying a wooden tray with chrysanthemum tea, one of her favorites and a few red bean pastries she managed to /quietly/ snatch from the kitchen.

Bitna stands outside her door, careful not to make a sound as little Jianyu’s voice fills the room. ‘Home’. It was a rather sweet and innocent sentiment, and she cannot help but to stiffle a soft giggle, surely making her precense known. “Good morning— I hope I’m not interrupting. Well, I suppose I am but,” she pauses and takes a look at the boy in his father’s lap, “I come bearing some really delicious and much needed treats!”

@公主⁴ ❀ bitna @侍妾 ❀ xiaosheng Family. To Tonglun, family was when Xiaosheng told him he was going to be a father. Family was sunny afternoons in the South, with sunrays warming up his cheeks as he tugged along a small brown kite with his sisters at his heels while his father laughed and his mother yelled at them to be careful. Family was when he was pried from the arms of his desperate mother while his father fought off heavily armed men. Family was the tears he shed when news of the Southern Kingdom's surrender reached his 15 year old ears.

The Eastern Emperor tried to give him a new one in the form of a fancy building with his daughter in it. Bitna was beautiful, she was kind, and would have been the perfect wife to any man. Any man that never had to receive news that his own country, his people, his family, were no more. Because of /Him/. And here he was living lavishly as a traitor of his people.

"Father!" a small voice breaks his focus on the calligraphy spread out in front of the former crown prince. "My son," he drops his brush to pick up the little man and sits him on his lap, "do you know what this word is?" The boy peers over at the single character painted in glistening black ink and shakes his head. "This word is home, do you know what home is?" His mini-me takes a moment to ponder over his father's question and nods. "It's you and me and mummy and mother." he giggles softly, picking up a brush to wave.

Yes, it is. The lovely residence they live in is home, the Eastern Kingdom is his son's home. It should be his too, but he doesn't know if he'll ever get used to it.