Chapter 23 (1/2)

Chapter Twenty-Three

LF woke up after a restful sleep. She saw XST standing next to NL who was sleeping on a table.

‘Why am I here?’ LF asked.

LF didn’t understand why NL would give up his bed for her when he was the emperor.

‘LF, you’re finally awake,’ XST said.

‘XST, why did I sleep here?’ LF asked.

XST signalled LF to follow him outside so they wouldn’t disturb NL’s sleep.

In NL’s courtyard, XST and LF sat at a table.

‘LF, do you remember fainting?’ XST asked.

LF remembered what happened before she fainted.

‘I remember fainting,’ LF said. ‘Why didn’t his majesty send me to a different bedchamber to sleep?’

‘His majesty was worried about you,’ XST said. ‘He took care of you the whole night. He didn’t let anyone take you to a different bedchamber.’

‘XST, I don’t understand why his majesty chose to take care of me,’ LF said.

‘LF, the truth is you’re someone important to his majesty,’ XST said. ‘His majesty is a prideful person so he doesn’t want to admit to you that he cares about you.’

‘XST, don’t jest,’ LF said. ‘His majesty hates me. He always tells me he wants me to leave the palace or he mocks me about being a wild bird that wants to become a phoenix.’

‘LF, why would I jest about his majesty liking you?’ XST asked. ‘You’re the first woman his majesty let sleep on his bed. You’re also the first woman who opposed and defeated his majesty. At the start, his majesty would grind his teeth and resented you. But after spending time with you, his majesty can’t take his eyes off you.’

‘XST, I think you’re mistaken,’ LF said.

‘I’m confident I’m not mistaken,’ XST said.

‘What am I supposed to do?’ LF asked.

‘LF, this is your fate,’ XST said. ‘Perhaps you’re meant to be his majesty’s empress.’

‘I don’t want to be empress,’ LF said.

‘LF…’ XST said.

‘And I don’t want to be his majesty’s consort either,’ LF said.

LF didn’t want a husband who had thousands of women.

‘LF, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity,’ XST said. ‘Thousands of women dream of being the empress.’

‘I’ll give this once in a lifetime opportunity to one of the women who wants to be the empress,’ LF said.

‘LF, do you hate his majesty?’ XST asked.

Chapter Twenty-Four

‘I’m not suited to climb to a high status,’ LF said. ‘Besides, his majesty wouldn’t like someone who is a better fighter than him, and who isn’t obedient.’

XST saw a shadow pa.s.sed by. He didn’t need to think twice to know it was NL eavesdropping.

‘Why don’t you give his majesty a chance?’ XST asked.

‘His majesty, can have any kind of woman he wants,’ LF said. ‘He doesn’t need a commoner like me.’

‘LF…’ XST said.

‘Enough,’ NL interrupted. ‘LF is right. There are thousands of women who wants to be by my side. Why would I want a small skinny eyesore?’

‘Your majesty, I won’t stay here and be an eyesore,’ LF said. ‘I’ll let your majesty rest.’

‘You’re not allowed to go anywhere,’ NL said. ‘Have you forgotten, someone poisoned you? XST, take LF back to one of the bedchambers in my courtyard. She’s only allowed to eat the same food as me.’

‘Your majesty, I can protect myself,’ LF said.