Chapter 328 - Petty Scales (1/2)

”We should get dressed...” Lei Xing said, not even making an attempt to move. She was resting on the Emperor's chest with her eyes closed. While the Emperor sat slanted on the throne chair, resting his back on one of the arm pillows put up on the back, with his legs stretched out with Lei Xing sitting in between them and both arms around Lei Xing, one petting her lightly stroking her hair with the other wrapped around her waist.

Lei Xing was always up for lazing around but they were not on their bed and it felt weird being n.a.k.e.d in such a huge and open space. They were in full, elevated view of the doors - if anyone opened them... Lei Xing inwardly sighed, she could not believe they just did that here, wasn't the throne chair supposed to be sacred or something? But then again...it was just a chair - albeit a fancy one, but the Emperor who technically owned it apparently did not care so why should she?

”Not yet.” The Emperor said, snuggling her closer as he rubbed his face into her hair, eyes closed with a lazy smile, ”There's no rush, no one will come in here...”

Lei Xing opened her eyes and scanned the huge room, her eyes fixed on the doors and she quietly went, ”Still...”

”Not yet...” The Emperor repeated, taking her one of her hands and bringing it to his lips. Knowing the main reason for Lei Xing's concern, he sat up, still not releasing his hold on her waist as he leaned down and picked up his dragon robe from the ground. Then he rested back with her and dr.a.p.ed it on her, ”Better?” He asked with a smile.

Lei Xing looked at him with a raised eyebrow then she smiled and shook her head, ”Fine, I guess we can stay a bit longer...” She responded, resting her head back on his chest and circling her arms around his waist and closing her eyes again. She was so happy that this was so easily resolved, then again, it should have never been a problem.

The Emperor happily smiled and wrapped his arms around her under the robe. They quietly stayed like that for a while until the Emperor kissed her hair and very quietly said to himself, ”... I would regret not having you in my life.”

”What was that?” Lei Xing lazily asked, not quite having heard what he said.

”My voice - Well, that old man I guess. He said I would regret it if I let you leave the palace that day... My life would have been different without you...still unhappy and - Well, very different.” He said rubbing his face in her hair again.

Lei Xing opened her eyes, thought for a bit and then said, ”I'm sure it wouldn't have been that different. You would have simply fallen in love with someone else.”

”I wouldn't have.” The Emperor swiftly responded.

”You would, when someone seeks out love, they often find it ...Given the many opportunities around you, you would still have found happiness in someone else.” Lei Xing said, closing her eyes again with a yawn.

The Emperor was quiet for a bit and knit his brows, ”So you're saying you would have too... with someone else.”

”I don't know, maybe, maybe not...” Lei Xing offhandedly responded, ”Unlike you, I was never bothered about these things...” She added with another yawn.

The Emperor's knit eyebrows tightened and he went silent again. Lei Xing was already dozing off to sleep when the Emperor suddenly asked, ”What did you think of my brother when you first met him?”

Lei Xing immediately frowned and sat up, holding the robe over herself as she glared at him, ”Are we going to keep doing this today?” She irritatedly asked. She could only indulge jealousy to a certain extent.

The Emperor quickly sat up as well, grabbing her arms, worried she was about to storm off, ”I'm just curious...” He said with a smile, ”Truly...”

Lei Xing tentatively scrutinized his face and did not say anything. They had already been over this twice today and today was not the first time she had to clarify this to him. It was honestly quite the irritating subject for her and the more times she had to explain herself, the more irritating it was becoming.

”See...I'm not upset. I really just thought of it and was curious what your thoughts were. Nothing more to it, I promise... If you don't want to talk about it, we can talk about something else, hm?” He reassuringly and apologetically said, rubbing her arms as he slowly brought her back into his embrace.

”Fine...” Lei Xing mumbled and settled back in, still with a frown on her face.

The Emperor stroked her hair and kicked himself in his mind for asking that question. He was not even sure what he was thinking when he did. He was just wondering how life would have been like for them if he had let her leave the palace at the competition - if the Voice had not interfered. Would they still have met and fallen in love? Or would she truly have ended up with someone else? And who that someone else could possibly be. And in light of very recent events, the thought of someone else with her led to his brother and that question came about... and then he stupidly, blurted it out without thinking.

”Annoying...” Lei Xing quietly said, cutting through the Emperor's thoughts, he blinked down at her head and tentatively asked, ”What is?” Worried about upsetting her...again.

”Your brother, he was annoying...still is.” Lei Xing said with a disgruntled pout, hidden from the Emperor as she kept her head down.