Chapter 5: Restless
2006 Words
::Ryanna's POV::
I couldn't sleep that night.
I mean, how could anyone sleep at all? I keep hearing the cries of the duties of a concubine that stung my eardrums awake. The walls were not only paper thin, but there were barely any at all at this point!
Kagura's moans and whimpers freely echoed down to my corridor. I knew that she was the closest room to me. I thought of getting up and going for a walk, but Kana does her patrol during this time of night.
I wonder if she ever felt awkward having to hear this without batting an eyelash?
But still... I curled under my sheets in embarrassment.
Emiko was just a few inches from tasting me, and to think I almost submitted to her.
Arrrgghhh!
My cheeks were awfully flushed. I never felt so small in my life. Speaking of small, she was smaller than I was! But, she had such immense strength. She straight up Judo flipped me and got me dazed. Emiko was gentle but reassuring with her touch. Her soft fingertips that trailed over my skin...
No, no no! I cannot be thinking about her!
But Kagura's moans weren't stopping! I could hear her panting, begging, and thanking in Emperor Kenji's name. I shrimped even further.
Kenji saw me naked on the first day! I didn't know it was his bath!
But man, did that bath feel so soothing?
I tried to tune out the generous volume of s****l pleasure being heard for a bit, just reminiscing about the sensation of being inside that bath.
I wonder why it's green though?
I have seen the other common baths, even the one I was assigned to. The waters were clear. They added some tropical looking flowers that floated around so-pretty on the water. Kana told me that one of them was called a plumeria, which was found on nearby tropical islands to Nihon.
It's five fragile white petals were centered with yellow and the scent was foreign. There weren't just white ones, there were also pink and purple plumerias too!
"We are just like that of these flowers," Kana told me, "Although different in color, we are still the same plumeria."
Whatever that meant.
I wanted to crush my ears with my pillows, because the sounds of them climaxing sounded near!
But, then I began to think of Dom. How he was able to make me climax on multiple occasions. Was it wrong to miss him at this very moment?
I involuntarily bit my bottom lip and trailed my fingertips along the palm of my hand. The shivers it sent With every gentle graze caused me wanting to feel more.
I closed my eyes and thought of him. His body over mine, his strong and sturdy hands gripping on my body...
Before I could dream further, I saw Emiko's face!
"Ahhh!" I yelped.
I put my hands over my mouth. Why did I do that!?
Suddenly, a knock was on my door.
"Ryanna?"
That was Emiko's voice!
I sat up in terror. I whooshed around trying to grab my clothing because I was instructed that concubines don't sleep with their underwear on.
"Are you okay?" I heard her ask. I could hear the door slipping!
"I- I am okay!" I tried to reassure her while struggling underneath the sheets.
A few seconds later, the door slid open and Emiko was smiling sweetly. I, however, was a nervous wreck. I did not just summon the devil while thinking about Dom!
"It's a lovely night isn't it?" she asked, still smiling.
"You do know that they're doing it right?" referring to Kagura and Emperor Kenji.
"Yes," she replied, "It is our sole duty as concubines."
"I don't know how you do it," I looked down at my knees.
"I can give you a lesson-"
"No!" I interrupted and then awkwardly smile, "That's not what I meant."
"Then what is it that you mean?" She asked curiously.
"I don't know if I am allowed to tell you," I shrugged.
"The first step to being a concubine is getting the emperor's permission, so you're doing well," Emiko smiled again.
That wasn't what I meant either.
Maybe I shouldn't just be blabbing about my personal stuff to her, especially her!
My heart beat was racing, I was nervous around her. Not afraid of her, but cautious.
"Concubines can't have emotional stress on our lord," she gave a suggestive smile, "If that is what you meant."
Oh crap!
Emiko continued, "I can read you like a book, you don't have to hide it."
"I- I'm not hiding anything," I lied.
"Oh please, you aren't the first person to be the third concubine," she giggled.
"What happened to the previous one?" I asked.
"She was sentenced to death," Emiko's smile faded, "That's all I know of."
I sat there in silence.
"She denied Emperor Kenji," she looked away, "She was a lot stronger than we were."
Stronger. Strong enough to say no?
"Don't get me wrong," she softly spoke, "I am happy here. But for her, she wanted adventure. Something concubines were not permitted to do."
"I might be asking to death sentence then," I looked at Emiko with a soft gaze, "I don't want to be the next person to say 'no' to him, but I have my heart set on someone else."
"What is that like?" she was now looking at the ground.
"Well..." I hesitated, I looked at her. For once, she looked as soft as her beauty.
I cleared my throat, "Well, when you are in love with someone..."
I thought I was getting somewhere with what I had started. But, I couldn't finish. I knew I loved Dom, but... what could describe love?
Emiko yawned as I followed suite involuntarily.
"Not knowing what love is," Emiko stood up, "Was the bliss of my ignorance."
I felt like the worst person in the world, and those words weren't directed at me.
Emiko turned away, "The only kind of love I know is the one Emperor Kenji has shown me, so I apologize for prying into what you defined it to be."
"s*x does not equal love," I emphasized, "Although that love seems to be harsh on Kagura," I meant half jokingly.
"Oh," She giggled a bit, "That's nothing. Kagura likes it when Kenji is gentle with her."
G-gentle?
I could hear her screaming and begging all night!
I looked at her dumbfounded and she tilted her head and smiled, "Emperor Kenji can only handle me on certain days, so Kagura has to take most of the days."
I heard a hint of evilness in that giggle as she exited.
What did she mean by that?
My imagination started answering my question for me, and I could not shake away those images throughout the night!
Emiko was gone, and I still couldn't sleep. I couldn't hear any more moaning.
Good grief!
Wait-
Did Emiko come in knowing that I couldn't sleep? Her talking to me definitely sound-proofed the walls from Kagura's pleasure sounds. Did she come in on her own accord or for mine?
Ah!!
No more questioning or asking about her. She is a concubine of Emperor Kenji. I am the fiance of the great Lord Dom. I can't get comfortable here. I need to find my way back to him. One way or another.
"The stars are used to guide me back home," I whispered to myself, remembering that night on the beach.
Dom... What should I do?
::Dom's POV::
Every second that went by was another nightmare feeling that Ryanna is in trouble. I couldn't sleep. How could I? My right hand and war chief was incredibly pissed at me. To add fuel to the fire, I had a royal knight sleeping soundly in my very own tent.
Leo. Was it?
Leo was sleeping with the occasional grunting. His body flinched, and I could at least tell that he had some trauma being a warrior for the Royal Guards.
Will I be able to utilize his knowledge and skills? Or would he betray me?
And what was that he said about Freya?
At that moment, I wanted to shake him awake until he told me everything, and then I could easily dispose of him. You know... for safety measures.
But I couldn't do that. He knew so much that I didn't, and I could tell he had another agenda for being here.
Nonetheless, we shall be prepared for it.
Whether he is trying to be an inside spy or wanting to leave the Royal Government, I know I will not taste greater blood than "I told you" so on my blade.
But I couldn't stop thinking of her. No matter how cold Tyrion's words were, the image of her smile melted those words instantly. Her eyes showed forgiveness in me that I was subliminally offering to everyone else... including Leo.
But Karma.
That was no ordinary crow or bird. That was Tyrion's best friend. They both risked their lives for my personal gain. I had to tread lightly because the last thing I needed was to lose my best friend and war chief.
I didn't know what to do. I desired to hold her in my arms, the world can end, as long as she is safe with me.
I scrunged my eyebrows. Emperor Kenji huh?
I glared at Leo who was now turned over in his sleep. This would have been an easy opportunity to just s***h him and end his life in his sleep.
But he said he knew him. He trusted that he wouldn't touch Ryanna.
Unless she gave herself to him.
What did he mean by that? Ryanna willingly giving in to him?
I scoffed in confidence.
As if she would allow him to see the light of day.
But, every second that went by I couldn't help but feel my confidence deteriorate. I don't know anything about this Kenji guy, but he has my fiance. Another reason why I wanted to end Leo's misery was also because he proposed that she become his concubine. Talk about playing someone into their own hands!
I felt a vein pop in my temple. I was just seething while watching Leo now snoring away.
I have to calm down.
I lost great men recently. I will not forgive them for killing Keneff, and Karma.
Maybe I should have Jerard lynched and then shot through the chest.
My barbaric thoughts began to rampage.
Or maybe I should make him a concubine to his enemies!
I found myself gripping hard onto Freya's coin.
"And what did he say about you?" I referred to Freya's coin, "How exactly are you going to save and bring me back my Ryanna?"
How long is this going to take? What do I need to do?
"What can I do?" I asked while I drifted off to sleep.
The next day, the sun still rose in the east. From what I was told, Ryanna was shipped towards the sunrise. Nihon was just a couple of days of voyaging. But, I knew that their guards would be on an all-time high.
"Emperor Kenji is not fond of those who take from him," Leo and I were exchanging information.
"Neither do I," I growled, talking about Ryanna.
"Kenji is known for remaining to himself, but there is a reason why not even the Vikings want to pillage Nihon," Leo smirked proudly.
"Whose side are you on?" I glared with narrowed eyes.
"Ryanna's," he answered simply.
I nodded. I liked that answer. If he was to have any reason at all to still be alive, it would be because of her.
"Kenji doesn't sound too dangerous," I flipped Freya's coin.
"Not knowing who your enemy is could be your weakest trait, Lord Dom," Leo shrugged. "Kenji is a dangerous man, he doesn't fight fair."
Leo then said with a serious tone, "And when he has something, he'll go to the ends of the earth to kill to keep it."
- Writer
