The Emperor's Shadow

Chapter Three

"Your Majesty! It is time to prepare for the day! Your humble servants are here for you to command! Your Majesty! It is time..."

The Head Eunuch's bellowing voice could be heard shockingly well from the Emperor's bed. It startled me awake, blinking my eyes for at least a minute before I was able to see my surroundings. The soft curtains were no match for the harsh sunlight that easily lit the entire chamber from the abundant windows lining each wall. To me, it was an unwelcome invasion of my sleep. That is until I realized what it was allowing me to see when I lifted the sheets.

For the first time, I had to crane my neck down to see the Emperor. I could only see the top of his head as he had his face buried into my stomach. His ebony hair was still in the top knot from the day before, making it impossible for me to comb my fingers through it as he would probably like. His arms were iron bars around me making sure his pillows couldn't wiggle away from him. My hands had found rest on his back at some point in the night, and his legs had tangled around mine under the sheets. In short, we were entirely wrapped around each other.

"Your Majesty!" the Eunuch's voice rang out again.

My eyes rolled. I was no stranger to waking up early. In fact, today was the latest I'd slept in years. I suppose my body became a bit too hopeful for extra sleep when in such a comfortable bed. But it was no time to dally, I was still on duty after all.

Seeing as the Eunuch's calls were seemingly helpless against the iron confines of the bed to the Emperor's ears, I supposed I should play my part as his helping hand.

"Your Majesty," I said quietly as I began to stroke his back, "Your Majesty, it is time to wake up."

He seemed to stir the smallest bit before nuzzling impossibly further into me, "Your Majesty, we must prepare for the day."

When he refused to respond once again, I decided I could try getting out of the bed to let the Eunuch in to wake the Emperor. I removed my hands from his back and reached behind me to try and release his hold on me. This effort was futile and was doomed from its conception. If I'd thought the grip he'd had on me before was tight, this one was nearly suffocating.

"Just a bit longer, Little One."

His voice held all the grit and rumble of a spring storm, tearing through my belly with vengeance. His voice on a good day could make me consider jumping off a cliff if he asked politely enough, and now I was quivering from mere six words.

"Y-Your Majesty-"

"Much like the throne, Little One, this is my bed in my palace. I will decide when we get out," he mumbled against my chest.

It was then, I believe, that the more rational part of my brain decided to wake up. Suddenly the room was stifling and under the sheets was broiling. The man against me was the sun to my ice sculpture.

Of course, we had been in somewhat intimate positions before. Indeed, the first time we properly met I was sitting on his lap while he was entirely nude and soaked from head to toe. This, however, was another matter entirely. I was in this man's bed as he was half-naked with his entire face firmly nestled in my stomach. This position was only appropriate for freshly copulated newlyweds. The Emperor had not even indulged himself in my body the night before and yet he felt entirely at ease acting like he had ravaged me for hours on end and was only now taking a rest.

How was I supposed to lie there in his embrace as if I belonged there? As if I was used to it? Though I supposed I would eventually become accustomed to the Emperor embracing me however he wished. Perhaps I would actually be safe from any truly sexual advances from the Emperor if he never felt any sexual desire. There was never any hope of my marriage anyways, not after working for the palace. Even after leaving imperial service, all servants were considered the property of the Emperor and it was treason to marry without direct permission from him. All that to say, I never thought I would be embraced at all, let alone like this.