"..."
Was he mad at her? Maybe he just wanted to blame her for his feelings. His excitement, anticipation and disappointment.
Li Wan admitted defeat, resting his head on her small shoulder, "I wasn't mad,"
The way his heart was behaving felt discomforting. An unfamiliar territory that he was entering, one of no mere momentary excitement.
"Is work getting exhausting for your majesty?"
Let's believe it's work, "yeah."
"Do you want me to help you?"
"What can you help me with." He looked at her.
"Write, or read."
"..."
"I can read the scrolls, summarise them for you, I can write letters however you want. Then your workload can soften; you would only need to complete the calligraphies."
The princess was coming up with practical ideas.
"But you shouldn't trust a concubine, though," she continued, "I may be smart and talented but it would get questioned."
Chuckles escaped his lips, "You talk a lot, Luqi." He whispered. "Is this you sweet-talking me? What is it that you want from me, Luqi?" His arms reached out, pulling her closer. "Come."
"What do you mean?" The princess crawled into his embrace. Somewhat confused at the sudden contact, but understood.
"You're doing all this to get my attention, aren't you, being so try hard?"
"..." She glared at him with unpleasant eyes.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Why is Your Majesty talking like this?"
"Tell me, what are you again?"
"What do you mean…"
"Your title."
"Princess of Qi Tia—"
"In the empire."
"Um, a concubine?"
"Then say, if Your Highness asks you to fulfil your concubine duty, will you?"
"…I... am serving you, aren't I..." Luqi sweated nervously.
"Are you?" He hummed seductively, his voice lowering as his hands started working to undress her from behind.
"…" She was not breathing.
Silence fell, her robe slowly gliding off her skin. "You are not resisting?" His eyes glistened with stagger.
"…"
To be honest, she didn't know how to react. She definitely did not expect this.
"This is not in the script."
"Script?"She was trying to be funny again, and he was trying not to laugh at everything she said.
"I've never thought of a situation like this." Her eyes darted around awkwardly. "I don't know how to function, Your Majesty."
"Pftt." Li Wan's hand reached out to her face, pulling her back to face him. His lips found hers, her softness and sweetness taking their breath away. The hint of alcohol was spreading. His hands trailed over her delicate body, and he whispered, "Leave it to me then."
She had yet to collect her own messy thoughts and feelings. They were really going to do it. A hint of inner struggle was apparent in her eyes.
"You don't seem too happy now, do you?" He observed. "What is it that you want?" His gaze softened.
She looked away, avoiding eye contact.
"If you do not speak up, I will do as I please then," he said nonchalantly before scooping her up and carrying her towards the grand bed of the emperor.
Beneath him, she lay, her delicate half-naked form on display. Her expression was avoidant.
"Stop looking like that now." He squeezed her cheeks. To be honest, it was beyond hard for him to control himself. The dichotomy of her perky mannerism and now lack of intimate experience excited him, to say the least.
Silence filled the room. She was finding her own words.
...
...
...
"Your Majesty," she murmured, "can we do something else?" Her eyes were dazed.
...
...
"So you don't want to fulfil your concubine duty, I am getting?"
"I do…" Her voice trailed off.
Another silence fell over the room.
"But?"
"…"
"Um… something like, in some other way, I'd like to serve you…"
"And if I don't accept your request?" He chugged the question casually, his hand trailing down her waist towards her thighs. "If I still want you to carry out your role as a concubine?" Maybe he was just curious what she would do, how she would react.
She carvoted in her own mind for a moment. "Then I will undress myself."
A light scoff escaped his lips.
It almost felt like he was forcing himself onto her. It was amusing.
"Undress yourself then." He stood upright, gaze of anticipation fixed upon her as he watched.
She calmly sat up and began to undress herself, her movements composed. Despite her earlier refusal, she barely showed any reluctance.
Her slim figure was unveiled. She was rather toned. There were a few scars on her body from all the training she did as a kid, adding to her charm. Her long hair was freed from all pins and accessories. There was something raw about her. She looked up at him, her arms open as if inviting his embrace.
"My my, what is all this act after saying you don't want it?" He slowly undressed and positioned himself on top of her once more. "Why are you so contradictory," he whispered. "Is this your other way of getting my attention?"
"No." Her soft voice caressed his ears.
The heat between them grew as their bodies drew closer together.
"Then…?" Her cheeks flushed as his lips trailed along her skin, leaving marks of gentle kisses behind. "Tell me, why did you not want me to bed you?"
A long silence fell between them as she spoke, her words barely above a whisper.
"…"
"Hm?" He examined her expression.
She looked away. "…"
"…"
"I just prefer to serve in some other ways…"
"Ah, is it that you don't think I am worthy of bedding you?" He provoked.
"I don't mean that."
"Really now?"
"Something like… I want to keep myself special." She blushed and covered her face, muttering the words with a serious voice.
"Special?" He tried to pull her blocking hands away. He wanted to see the look she was making.
"I want to be valued." Her eyes were revealed, they looked at him, flustered. "My body." She was… pouting.
His gaze danced down, trailing her feminine figure as he contemplated.
"But you are valued," he laughed softly, caressing her cheeks, "by the emperor himself."
"No."
"What do you mean no?"
"If you value me, your heart would be beating like drums and you would be all nervous… to see me. To bed me." She totally read that in novels.
…
"Pft—"
"Don't."
…
"How do you know I am not nervous?"
"Because I am."
Thup Li Wan unceremoniously dropped himself down on the bed, lying next to her, ceasing to straddle her body.
"How presumptuous of you to compare your worth to that of the emperor himself," he uttered. Despite his harsh words, however, his face betrayed no obvious mockery. He lay there nonchalantly, his body sprawled lazily on his own arms, expression rather detached. "Do you realise you are questioning my authority?"
She looked at him, mirroring his gaze. Silence enveloped the room.
"…"
"You are really not scared of me, are you, Luqi?" His stern expression dropped. He was tired. He didn't want to act tough anymore. The gentle eyes returned as he watched her, every one of her movements, her breathing.
"I am," she whispered, "maybe."
"Don't be." He pulled her closer, their bare bodies touched. "I am sorry." He shut his eyes, allowing his body to ease.
He didn't know why he apologised either. Perhaps something she said got to him. Unconsciously.
...
...
...
"Your Majesty."
"Yes." His hands gently caressed her soft skin as he hugged her.
"Nothing."
She was thinking too much to know what she wanted to say. Luqi closed her eyes as well and turned her body towards his, face buried into his chest.
"Your Majesty, can I sleep?"
"No, I will behead you."
"…"
"I was joking." He sighed. "Sleep."And laid her head on his arm as their clothless bodies snuggled. The candles blew out as the two slowly fell into deep sleep, just like that.