The chamber was silent except for the sound of rain against the windows.
Himeka had kissed his hand.
The Emperor's crimson eyes froze on her trembling lips, a spark of heat he hadn't expected twisting into his chest.
His hand shot out before he thought. His fingers wrapped around her throat, crushingly firm.
She gasped, her back slamming against the bedpost, eyes wide in terror.
---
Emperor's POV
Pathetic.
This fragile thing, this girl. She dares touch me, kiss me, as if I deserve warmth? As if I am human?
Her neck is so thin. So delicate. One movement — and gone. I should just kill her.
Yes. End this weakness now.
Her eyes shake. Tears well. I can feel her pulse hammering against my fingers.
How disgusting. How foolish.
She whispers through broken breaths, "P… please…"
How laughable. Pleading with me. The Empress of an empire — reduced to nothing in my hand.
I should crush her.
I should silence her forever.
I should not allow this softness to exist near me.
"Kill me if you want," she rasps, voice shredded but steady. Her tears fall hot against my skin. "But I'll never… hate you."
Stupid woman. Idiot.
Does she not realize she is holding on to a blade? Does she not understand I am not a man to be loved?
Why does her voice not break into curses? Why does she not spit venom at me? Why does she still cling to me?
My grip tightens… but my hand trembles.
No. Unacceptable. My body will obey. I am control. I am silence.
And yet… I cannot close my fingers.
Her lips… still stained with the softness of that kiss.
Her tears… warm against my cold hand.
I should kill her.
But I don't.
---
Third Person
Himeka's breath rattled as his hand finally loosened. She collapsed against him, coughing, but instead of fleeing she clutched at his robes, trembling, desperate.
Her tears stained the black fabric. Her voice broke with quiet, stubborn words.
"I'll stay. No matter how much you push me away. No matter how much you hate me."
The Emperor stood motionless, staring down at her. His crimson eyes glowed like the edge of a blade, but his silence cut sharper.
His mind screamed kill her.
His hand refused to move.
And in that clash of shadow and light, the abyss within him only grew deeper.
---
End of Chapter 23