Chapter 20
It became part of Jia’s routine to go to the Emperor’s bedchamber before Mutatio arrived. She went dressed as the maids had prepared her. Although she had been told she could sit or lie down, she preferred to stand. Julia stood silently behind her. Jia wondered if her presence was also the Emperor’s command, but decided to wait and ask him.
Mutatio arrived. Gazing at the rising moon, Jia imagined the Erendia Empire, far away, and wondered if a country called South Korea might exist somewhere out there.
If it did…
The door burst open, and the Emperor entered. He wasn’t alone. Dangling from his hand were two severed heads.
“Huk!” A small cry escaped Jia’s lips as she stumbled back, nearly collapsing.
She recognized the severed heads. They belonged to the maids who had been taken to the dungeons. She covered her mouth with the back of her hand, her trembling refusing to subside.
Thud. The Emperor dropped the heads. They rolled to a stop at her feet. Jia clenched her jaw to stifle a scream. Her teeth chattered uncontrollably.
No, no, no…
She wanted to turn away, but his gaze held her. Look, it commanded. She forced herself to look at the severed heads. Their eyes were wide open, as if their deaths had been too sudden, too brutal, to allow them even the peace of closed eyelids.
“I thought you’d be pleased.”
“….”
“You seem more frightened.”
The Emperor spoke casually. Jia was horrified. She couldn’t comprehend his thought process, the idea that she would find this pleasing. Had he gone mad from living so long? …Yes, he must be mad. There was no other explanation for such casual cruelty.
“I don’t recall summoning anyone else.” The Emperor looked at Julia, standing behind Jia. Julia placed a hand on her chest and bowed.
“My apologies for the late introduction, Your Majesty. I am Julia Distevan.”
“Leave, Distevan. I have no memory of calling for you.”
Despite the clear dismissal, Julia showed no surprise. “Yes, Your Majesty,” she replied simply, and left the room. The Emperor chuckled.
“What was she thinking, coming in here with you?”
“…I…I believed it was Your Majesty’s…command…”
“Distevan must be quite anxious.” The Emperor murmured. Jia, unable to understand his meaning, lowered her head and clasped her hands together. He nodded. Understanding his silent command, she moved before him and began to unbutton his shirt.
They had been intimate once before. She had thought it would be easier this time, but as his bare skin became more exposed, the memories of the previous night flooded back, slowing her movements.
The severed heads remained behind her. Jia felt their vacant eyes boring into her, making it impossible to maintain her composure.
The Emperor, now naked, looked down at her.
“Do you intend to dress me?”
“…I apologize. I… I will dress you…right away.”
She guided his arms into the tunic and loosely tied the strings, leaving his collarbone and chest exposed. Last night, she had been beneath that strong body, tossed and turned relentlessly. The memory sent a shiver through her. She stiffened her jaw and took a step back.
“I wondered if it was simply a desire for a woman after so long, or if it was something about you.” The Emperor continued in a languid tone.
“Out of curiosity, I tried it with those two before I killed them.”
His gaze fell upon Jia’s downcast eyes, her long lashes fluttering slightly. She waited silently for him to continue.
“I found… I didn’t particularly want to.”
“.…”
“I wonder why.”
There was no answer to his question. Jia didn’t know the answer either.
“They knelt and wept, even though I hadn’t done anything yet.”
“.…”
“Begging for their lives.”
Jia thought of the captives who had knelt before the Emperor, weeping, clutching at his robes, desperately pleading for their lives.
“I just… wanted to kill them…” The Emperor’s hand tightened around the nape of her neck. Jia gasped, her eyes lifting to meet his. A flicker of something ignited in his otherwise languid gaze.
“You, at least, won’t die.”
“Kuh…” Jia choked, struggling to breathe. His other hand grabbed her dress, twisting the fabric. The thin, soft material ripped easily.
“So why… am I aroused?”
“Huh…huk…”
“I’ve never been aroused before…”
“.…”
“You are an exception, in so many ways.”
Finally, the hand at her throat released its grip. Jia gasped for breath, her hand rising to her flushed cheek. It burned.
The Emperor gestured towards the bed with a flick of his finger. Jia sank onto the mattress. The tattered dress gaped open, revealing the curve of her b*****s. She reached down to pull the torn fabric closed, but it ripped further, exposing the lace of her undergarments.
“Are you aroused too?”
That hadn’t been her intention. If it was going to happen anyway, as it had the night before, she simply didn’t want to prolong it.
She wanted it to be over quickly… so she could be alone.
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