Chapter 11
She arrived at the bedroom door, its now-familiar swirling pattern a fixture in her mind. Had it been a true vortex, she might have hesitated, then flung herself into its depths.
The door opened, and as soon as she stepped across the threshold, just like yesterday, it slammed shut. Jia leaned against the heavy, unyielding wood, her head bowed.
“Come closer. You know what to do.”
Jia shuffled forward, her slender legs trembling as if they might give way. His eyes swept over her, taking in her face, her hair, the curve of her neck, and the lines of her body beneath. It was a different gaze than yesterday’s, and her heart instinctively recoiled.
“Little one.”
He spoke curtly. Jia’s eyes darted around, unsure how to respond.
“Were you like this before you came to Erendia?”
“Y-Yes. Y-Yes, Your Majesty.”
As soon as she answered, he tossed a knife. It landed with a kaching at her feet. The same dagger as yesterday.
“Do you know what this is?”
“I-I don’t know, Your Majesty…”
One corner of the Emperor’s mouth lifted in a sneer. Jia clutched her linen dress. Had she displeased him? Should she brace herself for pain? Her heart began to race.
“It’s a holy sword, bestowed upon the first Emperor of Eustanville by the God Erun. The blade remains sharp, despite being 467 years old.”
“….”
“No one, not even this blade, has ever marked my skin.”
Jia found it hard to believe this small dagger was a holy sword, centuries old. It looked so ordinary.
“Only you have wounded me. Though it was shallow.”
The Emperor traced the faint red mark on his neck, a genuine smile now replacing the sneer.
“Take the sword. Come here.”
He commanded, reclining on the bed. He gestured towards it, and Jia’s eyes widened, her gaze flickering nervously.
“Come.”
I do not like to repeat myself. His voice echoed in her ears. Jia picked up the dagger and slowly approached the bed, her mind wrestling with the implications of stepping onto it.
“I-I wouldn’t dare, Your Majesty…”
“Come up.”
His leather slippers fell from his feet with a soft thud. Jia climbed onto the vast bed and crawled towards him on her knees, slow as a tortoise. He watched her approach, silent and still.
She had no idea how close to go, where to stop. He shifted, making space for her between his legs. Until finally, she arrived.
Could it be…?
The Emperor reached out, grasped her hand, and pulled her closer. With a gasp, Jia fell forward against his chest. Her eyes flew open, and the dagger slipped from her grasp.
“Can you hear it?”
“W-What… W-What…?”
Not only her lips but her voice trembled. Jia couldn’t think straight. She didn’t understand what he wanted. Why the bed? Why…?
“Here.”
He spread open the loose fabric of his tunic and placed her hand against his chest. Startled, Jia’s fingertips flinched. She had expected his skin to be cold as ice, but the warmth radiating through his flesh was surprising. And… she could feel his heart beating.
“My heart is here.”
“.…”
“Stab it. Deeply.”
Thump-thump.
He had a heart, just like her. He possessed human warmth. If that was true…
Jia picked up the dagger again. Her hand shook so violently that she had to repeatedly grasp and release the hilt before the tremors subsided. As they did, the holy sword, imbued with divine power, began to glow.
The Emperor’s eyes curved into crescents. He spoke.
“Kill me.”
A short command. Jia gasped, her breath hitching again.
“Quickly.”
Jia raised her hand. Then, squeezing her eyes shut, she plunged the blade downwards.
Thwack!
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