101 Ways To Tame The Emperor

Chapter 23: Seduction 101

“WILL you really be fine waiting alone here?”

That was the second time Malik asked me that question. There seemed to be a slight problem with our destination since our carriage had to stop moving somewhere. There was a Knight who came to the General with a note. Whatever was written on that note must have been bad news considering how pissed off Malik was after reading it.

And now, he had to leave the carriage for a while to talk to some people nearby. But for some reason, he seemed to be hesitating to do that. Was it because he still wanted to go back to sleep? After we talked, I don’t know who fell asleep first. When I woke up, his arm was already on my shoulder and I was leaning on his chest while he was sleeping, too.

I was surprised to find out that I slept considering how fast my heartbeat was. Maybe I was just too sleepy. But his chest felt comfortable. I honestly could not tell what happened but it seemed like our conversation made me ease around him a little. It was like there was an invisible barrier between us that we somehow managed to break. And it had been so easy for me to call Malik by his name. Does he have magic or something? Why is it so hard to go against his wishes?

If not for the Knight who woke us up, maybe we will still be sleeping. My cheeks flushed. I wonder what the Knight was thinking about me and the General now.

“Catherine?”

I shrugged. “Just go ahead. Don’t mind me. I will be okay here. I have food.”

“Feel free to walk around the area if ever you get bored-“

“I won’t. I have food.”

“It might take about fifteen minutes or so-“

I lifted the food basket that Matilde prepared for me. “It doesn’t matter. I told you I have food.”

When he still hesitated, I opened the basket and dipped my finger on the gravy that Matilde prepared for the spicy chicken wings that I requested from her. That was how frustrated I was because of the chicken from last night. By the time the maids sent the food on my chamber, I was already asleep.

My face instantly brightened upon tasting the gravy. I found myself liking Matilde more and more because of her food. If the gravy tasted this good, the chicken would certainly be so much better.

Malik laughed. “You make me worry, you know. Aside from your mother, food seems to be your second weakness. If your fan boys would find out how easy it is to please you, they might offer you all the restaurants in the City to win your heart. If that happens, try not to be tempted, okay? His Majesty is the wealthiest man in this Empire. He could buy as many restaurants as you like. And he can have his Chefs prepare for your favorites any time you want to. You can eat anything in his Castle, too. So do not let anyone know about this weakness of yours. This has to be just between the two of us.”

“What am I to you? A five year old kid? Do you really think I can be bribed with food? Besides, what fan boys are you talking about? I don’t understand.” I said as I dipped my finger again on the gravy container.

Actually, Polo once told me the same thing, too. Whenever we had arguments, he would buy food for me as peace offering. But I only accept food from the people I trust.

“You don’t have to know about those boys. There is only one man you need to know, Catherine. And that is His Majesty. His name is the only one you should be familiar with.”

Now, Malik was suddenly lifting the Emperor after putting him down last night. Does he have a dual personality or something? Or was he always like this? He was making my head ache. Is this the real him? Could it be that he was just testing me at the dining hall? After all, his Majesty would not have trusted him if he was not worthy of it. Why didn’t I realize that sooner? I have said so many spiteful things.

But if that was the case, then does it mean that I passed the test for Malik to act like this now?

“And yes, no offense, Catherine, but you do look like you can be bribed with food. Remember the chicken from last night? You would not have talked to me if not for the food.”

Well, he had a point there. “I’ve learned my lessons after the drug incident at the tavern. I am more careful now.”

“That’s my girl.” He stared at my hand and then at my lips before swallowing. When our eyes met, hunger was now visible in his eyes. “I’m getting starving looking at you. Does the gravy taste really good?”

“Yeah. Matilde never disappoints me. But I can’t offer it to you since I’ve already dipped my finger on it. Next time, I will give you a-”

I was startled when Malik suddenly grabbed my finger and licked it. It was so… sensual that I could feel every fiber of my body responding as his soft, hot tongue continued to play with my finger. “W-what do you think you are doing?”

“Sorry. I’m too hungry now that I can’t wait for next time.” He licked all the sauce on my finger and then playfully bit it afterwards. “You are right. It’s tasty.”

I groaned. This… was the first time someone ever did this to me. I pushed him away and almost dropped the basket if only Malik was not quick enough to catch it. He put it on my side. “You just said that His Majesty should be the only man I need to be familiar with. I thought you would help me become the Empress? Then why are you doing this to me? You are such a flirt!”

He chuckled. “Believe it or not but I only flirt with you, Catherine. Women willingly come to me. I didn’t need to do anything before. This is my first time exerting an effort.”

“I don’t need you to exert an effort, you playboy!”

I was shooting death glares at him but his smile just broadened. “You are so adorable when you are blushing like this. It makes me want to hide you from everyone. You are worth the effort, Catherine. Enjoy your food. I will be back soon.” Malik put his hand on my cheek and stroke it before getting off the carriage, leaving me a blushing mess and as rattled as last night.

I jerked my head over the carriage wall when he left. This is crazy. I feel like I am sinning against the Emperor every time I’d see the General.

I would have stayed in this position for a longer time if only I did not hear a knock outside. When the door opened, I saw Matilde. She and Jeanne joined the trip but they were on the other carriage. Six of my Escorts were present, too. The other six were tasked to join the Knights’ training in the Castle. They would take turns in training every day. I plan to join them once my schedule permits me to do so.

Our envoy today was pretty huge. It consisted of two carriages and fifteen men on horses. Nine of them were the Knights who had showed tremendous achievements in the battlefield plus the General that’s why we have been catching the people’s interest ever since we left the Castle.

“My lady, the General ordered me to be with you when you eat your lunch so you would not be by yourself while he is away. Would that be okay?”

“Of course, it’s okay. But what about Jeanne?”

“The Escorts will eat with her.”

I smiled. “Then get in, Mother. Let’s share this food together.”

She beamed. “Thank you, anak.”

I think I could get used to her calling me that way with such fondness. Only my Nanny used to call me that way. I’m curious why Matilde never had a family. She could have been a terrific mother since there seemed to be so much love she could give. But I did not want to ask unless she shares it first.

“How is everything with you and the General?” She asked while peeling some apples for me.

He’s a flirt and a jerk combined, Mother. He makes me feel things I have never felt before. He makes me anxious. That’s why I find him scary. But I think what scares me more are these feelings that I could not seem to control. And all these happened in just two days. I have so many things I wished to say but those would be inappropriate. I never thought that a man’s seduction skills would scare me more than the sword and arrows of the enemies. In the battlefield, at least I have a chance of winning.

I was trained to fight. But in this battle between feelings, it was pretty hard to predict the outcome. No one had ever trained me for this. “It’s… fine, I guess.”