Bride of the Ruthless Emperor

Episode Six

His lips and warm tongue tasted of mint. Tingles blossomed on Leanna’s body everywhere his skin was in contact with hers. His tongue stroked hers with gentle pressure, and she moaned softly, reaching up to touch his hair, her core melting within her. Her skin was gradually becoming hotter, even the parts he wasn’t touching. It wasn’t an unbearable heat because she wanted him to touch every part of her, to spread the fire beneath his skin unto every inch of her.

It all came to abrupt stop when someone knocked at the door. The sound startled Leanna so much, she pulled away from the Emperor with a sudden urgency, embarrassed that she let herself get into that position with him in the first place.

Her legs were weak. She turned away from him so he couldn’t see her burning face, but it seemed like he didn’t care. He was striding away already. He opened the door and had a brief conversation with the person behind it before stepping out.

Once the door shut, the room plunged into silence. Leanna sat on the bed to steady herself. Tremors ran through her hands, going over her skin.

What just happened? she thought, wondering why he did what he did. It felt like her insides were burning up when they were in contact. A small part of her was sad that the sensation might be different for him. He must have kissed and been with so many different girls that kissing her didn’t feel like anything to him.

But it felt like her world had been turned upside down.

Leanna lay backward, her eyes to the heavy wooden boards of the ceiling.

She heard a knock at the door; the other one, which linked her room to Alia’s room.

“Come in,” she said, without getting up.

Alia entered and came to sit beside her. “How are you feeling, your grace?”

“Tired.” Too tired to even say more.

“Your grace must be hungry too. It was a long journey to get here. I’ve spoken to the innkeeper, requesting a meal and hot water for a bath.”

“Thank you, Alia.”

They sat in silence for some time. Alia asked if Leanna would like anything else. “Some medicine for any aches or pains, your grace?” but Leanna turned all the offers down, saying she merely needed food, a warm bath, and a change of clothes.

The food arrived first. It was a hunk of dry bread with a small cut of butter, some chicken, and a flagon of warm milk. Alia kept her company as she ate, consuming her own meal in the following quiet.

When they finished eating, Alia helped her out of her soiled clothes and scrubbed her back as she sat in the tub. Leanna couldn’t bring herself to say anything as her mind drifted back to the Emperor over and over again. She grunted, covering her face.

“Is everything all right, your grace?”

“Yes. Why?”

“You seem irritable, your grace.”

“It might be the tiredness,” Leanna said, allowing herself to smile momentarily.

She climbed out of the tub and wrapped the large towel around herself.

Later, when she lay beneath the covers, her thoughts drifted to the Emperor again. Will we have a conversation about what happened today? But she believed it was unlikely. Her fear of the Emperor had returned, her mind elevating him to his previous status.

She awoke with the dregs of a feverish dream of lust lingering in her mind. The Emperor was in it and so was Thalisa. Something else nibbled at her mind, something a strange woman had said to her in her dream, but she couldn’t recall what it was. Rather, a frightful jealousy burned in her chest as Alia aided her out of bed and her night garments, guiding her into a cold and dull dawn. If she didn’t see the Emperor last night, what was the guarantee he hadn’t spent the night with Thalisa?

Country scenes passed them by as the horses drew the carriage. They passed by small settlements and farms, open fields with several cows, sheep, and goats. Leanna and Alia had sparse conversations about home and all the people they were going to miss.

“What does your grace think the food would taste like in Thollus?”

Leanna pondered. “I think it’s similar. They have lots of frozen delicacies though. Because of the cold. They store food longer, in these larger, freezing chambers. Food from South and North Hallow, and sometimes, even from Vormont.”

“Your grace seems to know everything.” There was admiration in Alia’s brown eyes.

Leanna blushed. “Not everything.” She sighed and gazed at the world outside. “I don’t know much about men.”

“By men, do you refer to the Emperor?”

“Yes.” She had thought of him long and hard, wondering what their future held. He asked her not to be jealous, but how could she not be? It seemed that she was destined to be the one in love with him, doomed to battle for his affections with other women.

They took a break close to a stream, to water the horses and rest. The men sat around the stream talking amongst themselves, laughing, and passing food around. Gerwulf Garb, the Emperor’s right hand man, brought some food for Leanna and Alia; chicken pie and dried fruit. Leanna thanked him and they found a cozy spot among the trees to eat.

Alia dozed off when she was done with her food, but Leanna remained awake and alert, listening to the voices of the men rising and falling. She scanned the surrounding landscape, the trees and the birds flitting above, and the nearby hills. Today, the sky is clear and it’s so beautiful. She used to paint on days like this. She learned how to paint as part of her education and it gave her such joy to come outside and paint nature.

She drifted into a shallow sleep and became aware of the woman from the previous night. They both wore sleeveless white tunics, and were standing on a cold, windy cliff, a jagged valley beneath them. The woman’s face was obscured, blurry, as though tears coated Leanna’s eyes only when she looked in her direction.

“Who are you?” Leanna asked. Her voice echoed inhumanely.

“You are the only one who can help.”

“Help what?” It didn’t feel much like a dream. The cold wind bit at Leanna’s exposed arms, whipping her hair in every direction.

“The weight on your love’s back. You are the only one who can help.”

Her love? What love? “Do you mean Alaric?”

“Alaric’s time is nigh. You are the only one who can help.”

“How?”

Just then, the wind whipped around Leanna, taking her up into the sky as the faceless woman watched. “You are the only one who can help.”

Leanna jerked awake and let out a small gasp. Luckily, the noise and movement didn’t rouse the younger lady who slept with her head in Leanna’s lap. She relaxed her head against the trunk of the tree and steadied her breathing. What did any of that mean? Alaric’s time is nigh? How?

Somewhere, out of the corner of her eyes, she caught a glimpse of someone moving in the trees. No, two people. The first was taller and broad-shouldered with dark hair. And the other has a smaller build and feminine form, silvery-blond hair trailing behind.

Leanna knew who they are before they come closer: Emperor Alaric and Lady Thalisa.

Even though it hurt, Leanna forced herself to watch them approach the rest of the camp. Thalisa’s hand gripped the Emperor’s upper arm and she pressed her breasts against his arm. Even from the distance, Leanna noticed that she was flushed.

Her chest hurt, but only a little bit. She placed a hand on it to soothe herself.

Don’t be jealous, princess. Don’t be jealous, princess. It was almost like he was taunting her. But more importantly, he didn’t look ill or close to death. What did that woman mean by his time was nigh? Was there some pressing danger? And how could she, Leanna, be the only one who could help?

When the group gathered together a little while later to begin the rest of the journey, Thalisa gave Leanna a knowing look. She still stuck by the Emperor’s side as he spoke, a possessive hand resting on his shoulder. Even when Leanna looked away, she could still feel the heat of her gaze.

Leanna and Alia headed for their carriage when the Emperor’s address was over and found Thalisa there.

“It’s lovely to see your grace looking so well.”

Leanna nodded stiffly. Something rumbled in her tummy and she tried to craft a hurtful sentence in response, but couldn’t come up with anything. “Thank you.”

“Don’t worry about your husband-to-be,” she cooed, placing sly fingers against her lips. “I’m taking good care of him.”