CHAPTER 134
The night before the wedding, when the Empress was kidnapped—
"Then, we shall take our leave. Sleep well, Your Majesty."
Vera, representing the handmaidens, bowed to Arabelle.
Arabelle, already in bed after getting ready for the night, smiled and nodded.
"Tomorrow will be tiring. Have sweet dreams and rest well."
She didn’t forget to say "thank you" to her personal maids, a nightly ritual.
The handmaidens gathered in the antechamber whispered as they exchanged shifts.
"Why isn't Her Majesty spending the night with His Majesty tonight?"
"Ever since they held their private wedding, His Majesty hasn’t spent a single night without visiting Her Majesty."
Vera smiled at the young, naive handmaidens.
"Why do you think? His Majesty is being considerate of Her Majesty, knowing how exhausting tomorrow will be."
The handmaidens tilted their heads, not immediately understanding.
Dina, the senior handmaid on night duty this month, sighed in exasperation.
"His Majesty didn’t visit because if Her Majesty were too tired tonight, tomorrow would be difficult for her. Imagine if she dozed off during the wedding feast—that would be a disaster."
"And the second wedding dress she will change into shows off her neck and collarbone, so he’s being careful. If she’s too tired, she might not even be able to wear the prepared dress."
Finally understanding, the handmaidens’ cheeks turned bright red.
"Make sure to keep an eye on Her Majesty tonight. Ensure she’s comfortable and check on her frequently," Vera instructed.
"Of course, don’t worry. We’ll be waiting outside the bedroom," Dina responded confidently, gently pushing Vera’s shoulder as she meticulously checked everything on her way out.
"I’ll be over at dawn, so take care," Vera said as she and the handmaidens exited the antechamber.
"Her Majesty isn’t picky about her sleeping arrangements, but tonight, let’s make sure she’s undisturbed," Dina whispered to the two handmaidens who would be working with her.
They nodded emphatically, reassuring her.
***
Arabelle silently got out of bed.
Her small feet gently touched the plush rug as she tiptoed toward the dressing room.
She changed into comfortable riding clothes and draped a dark green velvet robe over them.
The robe reached her ankles, and she pulled the hood down low over her forehead.
Finally, she picked up her low-heeled walking shoes with both hands.
If she put them on now… there might be a noise, and she could be discovered by Dina and the other handmaidens guarding the antechamber.
Arabelle’s eyes widened in surprise at her own clever thinking.
"If His Majesty knew, he’d be proud," she thought, her nostrils flaring with determination.
Arabelle left the dressing room and walked toward the fireplace opposite the bed.
Creak.
A small sound from the floor made her stop.
Her shoulders tensed in shock.
Arabelle held her breath, listening carefully for any sounds outside the room.
When she heard no footsteps approaching, she resumed walking.
She directed her gaze to the intricately carved magnolia and grapevine patterns on the mantelpiece.
She reached up as far as she could and placed her hand on the left edge of the mantel.
Her hand rested on the beautiful magnolia flower carving, and she slowly twisted her wrist.
As the magnolia pattern formed a half-circle…
There was a faint clicking sound as a door opened behind the large tapestry hanging nearby.
Arabelle carefully lifted the edge of the tapestry, which depicted the serene shores of Lake Innis in the summer.
She cast one more glance at the door before stepping behind the tapestry without hesitation.
Click. The sound of the door closing softly echoed.
Arabelle started walking quickly down the long passageway.
Tonight was her only chance.
The opportunity to save her mother and aunt, Keisha, from the witch.
The witch wanted just a few drops of Lumen Savior’s blood.
Soft lights illuminated the corridor, keeping it from being dark.
It wasn’t unbearably cold either.
This was His Majesty’s careful consideration for Arabelle, ensuring she could move between their chambers with ease.
Before long, Arabelle stopped at a fork in the passage.
Her large, hazel eyes darted back and forth between the two paths.
The end of the right path led to the entrance of the forest, while the first door on the left path led to His Majesty’s bedchamber.
Without a second thought, Arabelle’s feet took her down the left path.
Knock, knock, knock.
Arabelle knocked on the secret door leading to the Emperor’s bedchamber.
She pressed her ear against the door and waited, but it didn’t open.
Again,
Knock, knock, knock.
She knocked a bit louder, but the door remained closed.
After a moment’s hesitation, Arabelle carefully grasped the handle. Her small hand hesitated as she turned the handle.
Click.
The sound of the door opening made her shoulders flinch for no reason.
She didn’t enter, instead speaking softly through the narrow gap in the door.
"Your Majesty, are you asleep?"
There was no answer as if the Emperor had fallen into a deep sleep.
"Your Majesty, I came to speak with you."
She raised her voice a little, but still, there was no response.
Gathering her courage, Arabelle cautiously peeked her face through the slightly open door.
"Your Majesty…? Oh!"
Arabelle gasped as the Emperor’s hands grabbed her waist and lifted her vertically.
Her wide eyes, now larger than the full moon, reflected the smiling Emperor.
Matching her gaze, the Emperor gave her a playful smile.
Arabelle’s eyes softened slightly, revealing her disappointment.
"Did you ignore me to startle me?"
"I told you there’s no need to knock, just to come in."
"But if I enter without warning, it might be inconvenient for you."
"What inconvenience? No one but you enters my bedchamber. Are you worried I might be wandering around naked? You’ve already seen me plenty of times without clothes."
The Emperor’s words made Arabelle’s cheeks blush.
Her face now resembled a ripe, sweet peach, causing the Emperor’s mouth to water.
His throat bobbed with the temptation to take a bite.
It was when the Emperor had finished his conversation with King Semper and returned to his bedchamber, ready for bed, that he heard the faint knocking on the secret door.
There was only one person in the palace who was allowed to use the secret passage.
He had shown her the passage map, emphasizing multiple times that she should enter without knocking when she came to see him.
But Arabelle always knocked and waited outside until the Emperor opened the door.
Feeling as if his wife was keeping a distance, he decided to play a childish prank this time.
But really, what did it matter?
The emperor's red eyes flickered as they filled the hazel depths of Arabelle's gaze.
What mattered most to the emperor was the fact that Arabelle had come to him in the middle of the night without warning. He had decided to sleep separately tonight, thinking of his wife, who would be exhausted from the full day of wedding festivities tomorrow.
The problem was that without Arabelle, he couldn't fall asleep. The bed felt unbearably large without her. The right shoulder, which had served as a pillow for her small head every night, felt empty. A body that didn't flinch even in the icy blizzards of the northern continent now felt cold.
For twenty-six years, he'd spent his nights alone without any issues. But now, without his wife, he couldn't sleep properly. The emperor let out a small laugh, finding the situation absurd. He had been struggling to hold back from rushing to Arabelle's chambers even now.
Arabelle, who had come to him on the night before their wedding, was so lovely it made his neck stiff with tension.
The emperor tilted his head to bring his face closer to Arabelle’s. His lips placed a series of soft kisses on her smooth cheek, savoring the taste as if he were enjoying a tender peach. His lips slowly trailed down her face. His large hand cradled the back of her head, and the emperor breathed warm air onto her lips.
A gentle warmth began to spread within Arabelle's delicate body, which had grown accustomed to his touch. The emperor, having claimed her lips, urged for more. Shyly but willingly, Arabelle’s lips parted to welcome him.
The emperor’s chamber was filled with wet breaths and the sound of passionate friction. When it became clear that Arabelle was still not used to catching her breath, the emperor reluctantly pulled away. His crimson eyes, now darker, gazed longingly at her red, swollen lips.
Watching her flushed face and the way her breath came in quick, shallow gasps, the emperor’s entire body ached with desire. Unable to quell his burning thirst, he moistened his lips with his tongue. He fought down the overwhelming urge to lay her on the bed and climb on top of her. If he continued like this, Arabelle would undoubtedly doze off during their wedding ceremony.
With great reluctance, the emperor gently set Arabelle back down on the floor, his expression filled with regret. Arabelle, trying to cool down, caught her breath and met his gaze.
“I came to speak with you about something important,” she said.
The emperor sat Arabelle in a chair and took a seat beside her, waiting for her to begin.
"I was supposed to keep this a secret with Tristini, but..."
As Arabelle mentioned the word "secret," the emperor’s eyebrow twitched for a moment. However, he quickly resumed his neutral expression and looked at her.
Arabelle's clear eyes met the emperor’s.
"You promised me before, remember? That we wouldn’t keep secrets from each other, that we would share everything..."
"Yes, I remember. We’re husband and wife, so we promised never to keep secrets from each other."
The emperor nodded exaggeratedly.
Arabelle took a deep breath as if gathering her courage.
"My aunt Kisha, who I thought was dead, is actually alive. She was kidnapped by the witch Besilkia, and to save her, they need my blood."
The emperor took Arabelle’s hands in his, listening intently to her story. When she finished, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He was infinitely grateful and filled with love for Arabelle, who had kept their promise as a couple.
Although he wanted to express his gratitude and pride with his whole being, there was something more pressing to take care of first—the rats that were scurrying around, making a racket.
As the Emperor pulled Arabelle closer into his arms, his red eyes gleamed with a chilling light.
Comments
Post a Comment