The Abandoned Imperial Concubine - Chapter 347

“Oh no, Your Majesty. I was just distracted by something else…”

“Really? Don’t you think you’re so mean? How come you are distracted when I’m combing your hair? I feel like I’m getting offended.”

“Oh, well, I don’t mean it….”

I just felt frustrated as I could not move my tongue as I wished. I could not understand why I couldn’t tell him anything like a fool despite my intense nervousness.

He might have thought I was weird by now, but he quietly watched me babbling on, then said casually, “Hmm. Would you like a drink?”

“Pardon? What do you mean…”

“I’m talking about wine. Don’t you think the maids who brought the wine bottles here will feel sorry if we don’t drink?”

“Oh, I see…”

When I barely nodded, he silently lifted a wine bottle and poured wine into two glasses.

Then he perched on the bed and lifted a cup to me and said, “Come here and have a seat. Come to think of it, I think it’s the first time I am having a drink with you.”

“Ah…that’s right.”

My heart beat like crazy when I thought I would sit with him side by side on the bed, but I caught my breath, pretending to be casual, and sat down next to him. When I received the glass cautiously while hiding my trembling, he said with a smile, “Well, I think I have to say ‘Cheers!’ even if we drink just a little bit. How about this? Cheers to your eyes!”

“Pardon?”

I felt I heard it somewhere, so I blanked a couple of times until I belatedly remembered its origin. Oh my god! Little did I think he would quote that famous phrase!

Cheers to your eyes!

It was one of the well known lines of a conversation in a romance novel that has been very popular among the people these days. I also read it a while ago because Lina goaded me on, saying that it was a must-read. The line in question was from the male protagonist who proposed a toast to his lover. I thought the emperor was funny for doing that. Even though the novel was famous, it was a mere novel, so little did I think he would quote the line from the romance novel usually read by women.

The more I thought about it, the more funny it seemed. So, I forgot I was nervous until a moment ago, and broke into a hearty laugh. How could he utter that like with such a serious look? Indeed, it didn’t fit his image.

“Oh my goodness…Your Majesty, I’m so surprised that you know that line. Have you also read that novel?”

“Um, no. In fact, Earl Penril has advised me to say it to ease my tension… I didn’t mean to say it.”

I smiled again at his embarrassed voice, but I suddenly realized something, as he watched me laughing loudly. I realized that he cracked a joke like that on purpose to make me feel relaxed because I felt so tense that I could hardly move my tongue.

Come to think of it, I found myself relaxed much more than before. Thanks to my hearty laugh, I could feel nervous no longer even though I was close enough to him to feel his body temperature.

When I smiled brightly, deeply touched by his consideration, he cleared his throat and emptied the glass at once.

“Tia, I have one question.”

“Pardon. What is that? ”

“I wonder if you can pick up where you stopped talking with Lina a little while ago. I want to know who was your ideal type.”

“Oh, that person was…”

“Who was he?”

As breathing touched my earlobes, I could feel his heat against me. My shoulders where he touched were heating up as if burned by fire. I barely whispered, with my lips trembling again.

“In fact… he was you, Your Majesty.”

“Me? Are you sure?”

“Yes, because I thought my ideal type would be the man who would kneel in front of me and swear he would never abandon me…”

“Ah.”

He said something in a low voice, then touched his lips to my forehead gently. When I trembled at the thrilling sense of his kiss, he put down the empty glass and said, pulling me gently into his arms, “Thank you for telling me that. And… I’m sorry to have made you think like that.”

“Oh, no, Your Majesty. I didn’t mean it that way …”

“As long as I’m alive, I’ll never abandon you because you’re already the owner of my blood and heart. ”

“Your Majesty…”

He looked down at me with serene eyes. He slowly raised his hands to touch my face gently, then kissed my lips. When I flinched a bit at his soft kiss, he pulled my waist closer, biting my lower lip lightly. Something hot came into my mouth between my slightly open lips.

“Haa…”

I moaned, feeling his hot body temperature when he stuck his tongue into my mouth. I felt a quiver of excitement running through me when he touched my body. While I was carried away with his caressing of my body, I felt the soft fabric of his clothes touching my back.

When I opened my eyes in surprise, his navy blue eyes were up close. Unlike his usual calmness, his face was full of excitement. I was reminded of my past nightmare when he put his body on mine, but his deep blue eyes were gazing at me with lots of mixed feelings in a break with his coldness in the past such as awe, praise, affection, and strong desire.

When I looked at him with his trembling eyes, he asked, slowly reaching out to tie up my disheveled hair.

“Are you still afraid of me?”

“Yes, a little…”

“Actually, Tia. I’m afraid I am going to hurt you too. I don’t want to see you get hurt anymore even because of me. ”

His low voice was also trembling. The moment I heard his very kind words, and I felt he was trembling like me, I let go of my tight grip on the bed.

“I love you, Tia.”

After carefully holding my hand and lifting it carefully, he kissed it slightly.

His breathing, which was soothingly slow and soft like a feather, began to be rough.

As if he enjoyed a delicious dishe, he kissed every part of my body passionately.

I moaned in spite of myself.

The moment I moaned, biting my lip tightly, his breathing began to be more and more rough from his strong desire.

Was he waiting for this moment? Just like the day we confirmed each other’s love, was he waiting for me to make love to him? He had been suppressing his desire with reason, though he wanted to have me so much.

At that moment, my lingering fear of him was shattered, along with my nightmare from the past. Feeling reassured and satisfied, I slowly reached out and hugged his neck. Then I pulled him, who was looking at me as if he was asking me something, and kissed him gently.

“You?”

“Your Majesty.”

Although I wanted to say more, I could hardly move my tongue as if I didn’t have the guts anymore. Apparently, I heard a lot of useful tips from Lina that I could make use of in a situation like this, but I could not figure out anything because I was so absent-minded.

So, I closed his eyes and hugged his neck with my arms tightly. The moment my trembling lips touched his again, he pushed the tip of his tongue into my mouth. Unlike his rough and passionate kiss, he unbuttoned my clothes gently, and I began to let my body relax slowly.

I recalled the moment when he and I walked together under the same umbrella. Rebuking me kindly, citing his authority as the emperor, he took it from me, then wrapped my shoulders with his strong arms, asking me if I was wet. I still remembered his serious look when he asked me when I would be willing to open my heart to him.

I also remembered the moment I breathed in his arms. I remembered his swearing before me, kneeling on the cold snowfield that he would love me all his life, and the snow-covered garden where we left footprints side by side.

“I love you.”

He looked at me with the same affection that he had shown me at that time. My figure reflected in his eyes was fully naked. However, I had no reason to feel fear or shame because I decided to give all of me to him.

The rain of love was downpouring in my heart. Just like many a little makes a mickle, I began to melt into him gradually. And finally he made love to me passionately.

I woke up when I felt tickled and floated in the air. Someone was slowly sweeping my disheveled hair. I unwittingly smiled because he was stroking my hair carefully as if he was touching a valuable artwork. I felt really good because I felt he treated me so preciously.

While I was tossing and turning in a dreamlike condition, I opened my eyes, surprised by the feel of his strong muscles that I felt through his thin pajamas.

Where am I now? Who the hell dares to lie on my side… Ah.

“Did you have a good sleep, Tia? Good morning. ”

Since it was early in the morning, his voice was somewhat subdued and soft. My face blushed suddenly when I saw his warm blue eyes up close.

I hurriedly looked down and hid my face under the blanket. As I was very embarrassed, I couldn’t meet his eyes face to face.

I felt a bit relieved under the blanket when he pulled me into his arms strongly, removing the blanket and revealing my face again.

Looking at me mischievously, he said, kissing my temple gently, “Honey, you’re so cute!”

“Your Majesty.”

“Didn’t I tell you to call me Rube when you’re alone with me? You called me Rube well last night. Did you forget it already?”

“Your Majesty!”

Although I screamed not to think about last night, I already found myself recalling what happened last night. I felt heated up, recalling that he teased me several times when I hesitated to call him Rube. Even though I called his nickname repeatedly, he kept pressing me to repeat it, as if he didn’t hear me.

So, I called his name several times, moaning in unbearable sexual pleasure. On such occasions, he hugged me more tightly and licked my wet eyes.

‘Oops! Hey, wake up, Aristia. What are you thinking about in the morning?’

Barely pulling myself together, I raised my aching body, he stopped for a moment while reaching out to me with a smile. I noticed him making a little frown, so I quickly got close to him, stunned, forgetting to avoid his eyes.

“What’s wrong with you? Are you sick?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I think I’ve got a cramp.”

“Pardon? How come you had a cramp all of a sudden? Ah…”

Only then did I realize that I had been lying on his arm until then.

If that’s the case, I could understand the situation. Even if he was diligent in physical training as a rule, it was possible that he would have a cramp in his arm because he pillowed my head on his arm all through the night.

Suddenly, I felt very sorry, so apologized to him hesitantly.

“Sorry, Your Majesty. You had a cramp because of me …”

“Shush! As I told you recently, don’t say anything like “I’m sorry” to me.”

“But…”

“That’s enough. My heart sinks whenever I hear you say that.”

I could not say anything further at his disapproving look. Come to think of it, he might have been sick and tired of the way I habitually said that to him. Even when I had to express thanks. I told him I was sorry.

“Okay, Your Majesty. I will never say that again. ”

When I replied with a smile, he nodded as if he was satisfied. Then he lightly clasped and unclasped his hands, and wrapped my neck with his hands.

Then he laid me down again and kissed me softly, saying, “By the way, where are you going now?”

“Well, the sun is already in the middle of the sky…”

“High sun? What are you talking about? It’s still midnight in my eyes. ”

I was speechless at his innocent playing. How come he could say it’s still midnight when it’s so bright outside the window?

But he pretended not to have noticed my puzzled look, and swept his disheveled hair. I was thrilled when his breathing touched my ears, but I took pains to push him gently and pulled the string hanging at the bedside. I really had to get up.

“I pulled the string, so please get up. In no time, the maids will come in.”

Although I tried to say more, I couldn’t because he again showered me with kisses. I gently closed my eyes when something fluffy tickled my mouth softly. I naturally stretched my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

When I let out a hot breath, stroking his soft hair with my fingers, I vaguely heard a maid saying something at the entrance of the door, “I’m sorry, Your Majesty. Let me get out of here right away!”

I came to my senses immediately. What have I been doing until now? When I hurriedly pushed him aside and turned back, I saw several maids running out of the room, blushing. Among them was Lina.

I was overwhelmed by unbearable embarrassment.

‘How can I see them face to face? What should I do? It’s all because of the emperor. I clearly told him that the maids would come in anytime, but he turned me on like this!’

I pulled off the blanket and went down the bed, pouting at him. When I was about to turn after looking at him with a sullen face, he quickly grabbed my wrist and said urgently, “Are you angry?”

“Yes.”

Although I didn’t see him face to face, I could feel he was very embarrassed by my firm reply. Although I giggled as my anger faded away at his embarrassed look, I turned my eyes away from him, pretending I was still upset with him. I was now being mischievous for fun.

“…I’m sorry. I did not intend to embarrass you. ”

“Huh! What should I do?”

“Tia.”

“Then I’ll head out first, Your Majesty.”

Speaking more firmly, I gently pulled my hand from his, controlling my unbearable smile at the moment. Although I heard him calling me urgently from behind, I headed for the dressing room, pretending not to have heard him.

It was the start of a refreshing morning.

<According to the rumors, my father, the emperor, displayed his excessive love to my mother, the empress, on the first night of their wedding. He let out the serving maid, telling her that he didn’t want to disturb the empress’s rest, and combed her hair alone.

Well, I can understand that because I see lovers doing it even these days. But what they did in the morning after their wedding day crossed the line, I think, even if I fully understand their deep affection for each other.

According to what I heard, the emperor kept apologizing all day long outside the door of her room where she was in hiding, saying she was so ashamed. And then he didn’t even get dressed up in a formal robe. In the end, this ridiculous event was wrapped up when the empress reluctantly accepted his apologies for fear he might get sick. This is really something to lament as a member of the dignified imperial family… Excerpt from Adrian’s Diary>

***

The sun of July was shining brightly. After looking out the window, which was very bright even in the early morning, I walked, taking care not to drag the hem of my skirt.

In the middle of my room was a bed with a white curtain draped over it. The crest of a roaring golden lion came into my view as I approached it. Watching the familiar crest for a moment, I carefully removed the curtain and looked inside the curtain.

His thick eyelashes were forming a shade under his dark blue hair. As if he dreamt a good dream, his face, which always looked expressionless, looked relaxed and comfortable. A smile came to my lips because I felt happy by just looking at him.

Carefully sitting on the bed, I reached out to him. Although I felt sorry to wake him up because he was fast asleep, I had no other choice but to wake him up because I heard there was an important political meeting today. It was time to wake him up, so he could attend the meeting on time.

When I was about to call him, caressing his strong arms, I suddenly recalled what he told me in passing. He kissed me softly when I strained my eyes, asking me to kiss him first just one time.

What should I do? Shall I try?

When I saw his slightly open lips, my heart beat fast. But I took pains to cautiously grab his hair together in a way that I didn’t touch him. Then I tried to put my lips to his cautiously, closing my eyes. The closer my lips got to his, the more my heart beat like crazy. When I felt his warm breathing between his slightly open lips, blood was flowing through my whole body as if it were sprinting. A little closer and I could kiss his lips, but I still felt like his lips were still far, so I bowed my back further, calming my throbbing heart.