Summary: Long ago, a political marriage between the imperial throne and a barely noticed noble family lead to an amicable, if cold marriage between the Imperial rulers; However things have changed, and one party wants out of the marriage, the thing about imperial marriages is, they are very difficult to get out of once you have entered them.
– Roles:
Major:
- The Imperial Ruler |IR|: The speaker, the ruler of the empire, aptly named the guardian of the empire; They are also deeply obsessive and a yandere for their partner—the heart of the empire—the listener.
Minor:
- Personal Servant |PS|: A servant of their imperial majesty, the heart of the empire, personal confidant of the listener, and most loyal retainer.
Scene: The Palace of the Heart, morning, dining hall
[The sound of a pair of doors opening and closing are heard, along with the steps of the listener walking towards the table; A chair slides inward a bit]
|PS|: (Softly) I greet the heart of the empire, your imperial majesty. I do hope you had a fantastic morning, my majesty. For today’s breakfast the chef prepared a fantastic dish of scrambled eggs with various ingredients mixed into it. Naturally we used the list your imperial majesty provided to us of ingredients you prefer. For a drink we also have hand squeezed fruit juice, naturally prepared to your specific likes;
[The sound of a metal or tin lid being lifted from a plate is heard]
|PS|: (Softly) Of course the chef also prepared a replacement dish should this one not be up to your standards or if your imperial majesty would simply prefer a lighter meal; He prepared a full plate of various sweet breads and the most perfect coffee he has ever made. Will there be anything else your majesty? (Pause for 3 beats) Very well, I shall be outside, naturally, if the heart of the empire ever requires my assistance all your majesty needs to do is ring the bell on the table. I shall now excuse myself so that you may have a peaceful breakfast, your imperial majesty.
[Once again the heavy door opens and closes, as soon as the doors close the sound of dining ware being used fills the air]
|PS|: (Muffled and panicked) Y-your imperial rulership! W-what brings you to the palace of the heart?
|IR|: (Muffled and calm) Can I not have breakfast with my other half? Is the heart of the empire really that disgusted with my presence that I cannot even show myself to them? Or are you saying that I need their permission to be in their presence?
|PS|: (Nervous, still muffled) N-no of course not your majesty, it’s just that we weren’t expecting your rulership to appear all of a sudden so we didn’t have a second seat ready.
|IR|: (Muffled and calm) Then maybe instead of wasting my time you should introduce me, and then promptly get another seat ready, don’t you think?
|PS|: (Nervous, muffled) R-right! Yes! Please forgive this lowly servant your majesty, right away!
[There’s a knock on the door, a slight creak sounds throughout the room]
|PS| (Back to normal, still nervous) P-presenting their imperial rulership, the guardian of the empire.
[The doors open and the sound of two pairs of steps sound throughout the room, cutting off the sound of the dinning ware; Following this, a chair is pulled out then dragged back into place. A lone pair of hurried steps scurry through the room, and closes the doors again.]
|IR|: I greet the heart of the empire, my most precious partner in marriage. (Calm) I trust your morning has been well, your majesty. (Pause for 4 beats) Awww, are you giving me the silent treatment? What did I ever do to earn the scorn of the most precious work of art found anywhere in the empire? (pause for 3 beats, cruel and calm tone) Of course, if you’d much prefer, I could always simply pay attention to someone else…your servant, the one you brought over from your family’s estate was rather adorable, a bit rough around the edges, but I think they would be a fantastic plaything for me. The dungeon has been particularly quiet as of late, and you know how much I despise a quiet dungeon.
[The sound of dining ware slamming onto the table sounds throughout the room]
|IR|: (Pause for 3 beats) Oh, now the heart of the empire decides to talk. (Calm and smiling) In a bit of a bad mood are we darling? That’s okay, I’m sure you’ll get over it soon, you always do.
[There’s a knock on the door, the Imperial Ruler allows the servant to enter]
|PS|: I greet both the guardian of the empire and the heart of the empire, I have brought another dish for your imperial rulership, so that the two majesties may enjoy a fantastic breakfast together.
[A cart is rolled into the room, along with the steps of the servant as they rush to put down the dining ware along with the dish and replacement dish]
|PS|: (Nervous, rushing) Have an excellent breakfast your rulership
[The cart was only rolled for a bit before it was stopped]
|IR|: (Calm, irritated) So are you implying that the guardian of the empire deserves to eat a dish that they both cannot see nor have any knowledge about?
|PS|: (Nervous) M-my apologies, your imperial rulership, I…yes, right, I shall introduce the dish now…
[Before the servant could speak, the lid is removed]
|IR|: (Irritated) Forget it! There’s no point now, I feel terribly sorry for their imperial majesty; Having to deal with such an untrained servant, it’s a miracle that you’ve kept your job this long. (Suspicious) Or perhaps this was planned, maybe you’re trying to tell me that the position between the heart and the guardian are imbalanced, that I’m somehow in a weaker position?
|PS|: (Panicked) N-no! Not at all your majesty! I-I have no excuse for my behavior! I should be punished severely for my lack of both manners and forethought.
|IR|: (Exasperated) Honestly, the only reason you’re still around is because you hold quite the sentimental value for their imperial majesty, the heart of the empire. Otherwise I would’ve had you executed by now. Get out, don’t let me see you for the rest of my visit to the palace of the heart.
[There’s some slight stumbling before the cart is hurriedly pushed out]
|PS|: Yes, your imperial rulership! Thank you, your imperial rulership! Please forgive this idiotic servant, your merciful rulership!
[The door closes behind the servant as they leave the two imperial rulers to eat and talk among themselves]
|IR|: (Calm) I apologize that you had to see my nasty side darling, but I just had to do that, otherwise that particular servant might think that they can do whatever they want in my presence. (Pause for 3 beats) Awww, you’re giving me such a nasty look my love. If I were anyone else, I would’ve taken offense to it. But just to have you staring at me is more than enough for me to continue letting such insolence slide. Still, can’t I have a meal with my lovely wedded partner?
[The guardian of the empire takes their dining ware and begins to eat breakfast. The sound of both of the imperials eating slowly fades into silence.]
|IR|: (Smiling and happy) That was a delicious breakfast, I’ll be sure to send the chef a bonus for making a meal that even I enjoy. (Slight laugh) Anyways, my darling, there is one other thing I wanted to bring up with you. (Calm) So, I guess I should start from the very beginning; Yesterday I was going through the administrative work I usually do; Though for obvious reasons I didn’t get through much of it, on account of how much I was thinking of you, and how I wish I could spend more time with you. (Slight chuckle) And as I was going through the correspondence, I found the funniest little letter on my desk. I looked at it and realized that it was from your parents, now naturally I thought that they had accidentally sent it to me, with you being the primary recipient of said letter. Then I saw who it was actually addressed to and so I opened it, because obviously they rarely send their child-in-law correspondence; (Laughter) And when I opened it, I saw that your family was petitioning me for a formal divorce between us, and I’m sitting there thinking that this might’ve been either a mistake or a misunderstanding. So naturally I decided to come here and ask you personally. (Gentle fury) Why would they ask for a divorce? Unless that is, you want one? But I know you would never ask for it, because we love each other so much, right?
[The sound of a chair scraping back is heard, along with the rushed walking steps of the heart of the empire making their way towards the doors. The guardian of the empire follows soon after, copying the same noise as their marriage partner]
Scene: Palace of the heart, hallway
[The door opens and out come two sets of steps fast walking down the hall]
|IR|: (Firm) Hey! Stop!
[The two sets of steps abruptly stop]
|IR|: (Cold and detached) So it is true, you do want to divorce. Can I at least have the reason why you want to divorce? (Pause for 3 beats) Because I’m not the person who you thought I was. And pray tell, who exactly did you think I was? (Pause for 4 beats, mocking and softly) Not an insane tyrant, (normal) darling, you have to be a tyrant to run this empire; All these nobles and the peasantry, all they care about is power and stability, respectively. As long as I can give them each what they crave, they don’t care what I do with my empire. So what if I play the nobles against one another, better they fight each other rather than fight me for the throne. And as long as the peasants can stuff their faces with food and drink, they care not what happens in the halls of power. As for the insanity situation, well, that’s your fault my precious darling. You made me insane with everything you showed me about yourself, I can’t stop loving you even if you ordered me to. I just love you so damn much that I can’t bear the fact that you want me out of your life.
[One set of steps continue down the hallway]
|IR|: So you’re going to choose to run away rather than tell me to my face that you want to divorce me!?
[Another set of steps follow the first down the hallway, they are now out of sync, before the imperial ruler has a chance to say anything, a pair of doors close]
|IR|: (Calm, low) So that’s how it’s going to be huh? I love you more than you can ever imagine, and now you want to leave me? (whispering, slightly threatening) I can’t let that happen. I won’t let that happen, after all of the sacrifices that I’ve made for you? I’ll never let you go, my precious little caged bird.
[A pair of steps walk away from the closed door,only for the steps to slowly fade into nothing]
Scene: Palace of Heart, bedroom
[There’s a knock on the door that joins the muffled songs of the birds outside the closed window]
|PS|: (Slightly muffled) Your imperial majesty, it’s us, we’re coming in to get you ready for the day!
[The door creaks open and soon many sets of steps working their way into the room, the room becomes busy with noise, chief among them is the sound of the curtains being drawn and the personal servant coordinating the other servants on what to do]
|PS|: (Calm) We greet the heart of the empire, your imperial majesty, with your permission we would like to begin dressing you. (Pause for 4 beats) Thank you, your imperial majesty
[Soon there’s scurrying about as the servants begin dressing the heart of the empire, the listener. The noise slowly starts to die out, until it is silent for a bit, only for it to pick up with the scribbling of pen on paper, followed closely by the knocking of a door before it creaks open.]
|PS|: (Calm and curious) You wished to see me, your imperial majesty? (Pause for 4 beats) Oh! Yes!
[There’s the click and clack of shoes on marble or stone as the personal servant rushes to the side of their majesty.]
|PS|: (Determined) Yes your majesty! I can deliver your letter with the utmost secrecy! I’ll tag along with some of the younger servants who have to go and deliver the grocery list at the food distributor’s warehouse; I’ll figure out an excuse and have one of my family members that lives in the city deliver the letter to your parent’s estate.
[The scurrying click clack of shoes is once again heard as the personal servant moves towards the door. It opens and closes just as quickly]
|PS|: (Muffled) Ah! I greet your imperial rulership, the guardian of the empire!
|IR|: (Muffled) Is the heart of the empire awake?
|PS|: (Muffled)Y-yes your majesty!
|IR|: (Muffled) Good, as you were
[There are muffled steps leading up to the door, before it is opened and the guardian of the empire enters, closing the door behind them]
|IR|: (Calm) My darling, we have an unfinished talk that I think would benefit the both of us, if we’re able to clear up any lingering misunderstandings.
[The sound of a chair sliding out is heard, though before any steps could be taken, the clunk of a set of doors being locked takes the stage first]
|IR|: Sorry, but you’re not escaping me today. I need to hear it from you, tell me that you want to divorce me. (Pause for 4 beats) I don’t know, tell me that you’re going to divorce me and we’ll find out if I say yes or not. (Pause for 4 beats, let out a frustrated breath) See, was that so hard? Did it really have to take you this long to tell me to my face that you want to divorce? (Calm and emotionless) Well, that’s fine, we both knew that this is what you want, I’ve done everything I could to give you what you want, I try to give you jewels, clothes of the finest materials, food that lesser kings would kill for. I even try to give you all the love inside my heart, yet you still want to divorce me. (Slight chuckle) Well, I guess there’s no getting past it then is there? My precious caged bird, if you want to leave me, you’ll have to do it when death comes for you. I’m never letting you go. And before you start trying to tell me how your parents would never stand for it, well…
[There’s the muffled rushing of shoes on stone as the door tries to open, only for it it to not budge, giving way for someone to frantically bang on the door]
|PS|: (Panicked and muffled) Your majesty! Your majesty! Please open the door! I have urgent news!
|IR|: (Smiling, slightly sadistic) Oh my, I wonder what news your servant brings us.
[The locking mechanism is released and the servant opens the door]
|PS|: (Flustered) Y-your imperial rulership! I-I greet your imperial majesties! If this is important I can come back another time.
|IR|: (Smiling, happy) No, this is actually one of the few times where you might actually be useful to have around. Now what were you saying? What is so important to the heart of the empire that they must absolutely hear this particular piece of news.
|PS|: (Nervous) Y-your majesty, I overheard some servants talking about it! Y-Your parents, they’ve been placed under house arrest!
|IR|: (Smiling, slightly entertained) My oh my, I do wonder why such a thing would happen? Pray tell servant, why would their imperial majesty’s parents be placed under house arrest?!
|PS|: (Nervous) I-I investigated a bit more and found out that they’re being investigated for various criminal acts!
|IR|: (Sadistically) Oh what a turn of events! How could this be? Maybe they were using their connection to you to strong arm the citizenry into paying protection racket fees. Regardless of the facts, we really must thoroughly investigate this, though I can’t trust you my love, they are your parents after all, we wouldn’t want you to cover for them. So as of today you are hereby sequestered to the palace of the heart pending both a full investigation and a trial should the evidence show your parents guilty. Don’t worry about your safety, no one would dare harm you here, though just to be sure I’ve already tasked two companies of imperial guards to patrol your palace. You’ll be surprised how much land four hundred people can patrol with the right mission instructions. That said, you must understand darling that I’m doing this for your own good, once the nobility hears of this, they’ll want your head, so two companies is the minimum amount of guards you should have. Don’t worry, they’re under strict instructions to not let anyone in or out unless they have my explicit permission, and I do mean no one, not even you. We have to be cautious of assassins after all. Oh, I almost forgot to mention, my dear sister has arrived today, something about ensuring that the empire is properly administered. Quite auspicious if you ask me, however, seeing as though your family is under investigation we can’t have you doing your usual half of the administrative work, the nobles would have my head if they catch whiff of the fact that I’m letting you continue working despite the scandal your family is in. So in your stead, I’ll have my sister take over your half of the work. I’m sure that all of this is rather upsetting and that you need to take some time off; I completely understand my precious darling, I’ll protect you, so until the investigation is concluded, why don’t you live how you should, without a care in the world and in the lap of luxury; Almost like a bird in a gilded cage, if you would. Now have a good day, there’s going to be a lot of paperwork and petitioners for me to get through.
[The Imperial ruler opens the door and closes it shut]
Divine Writings 
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