The Emperor's Shadow

Chapter Six

A/N ~ You'd think I would remember how to spell Emperor by chapter fucking six. You'd be grossly overestimating me.

When I suggested the spa, I had taken the only viable option out of my list of known noble past times and picked one that I could see the Emperor enjoying on his day off. I thought perhaps it would help him relax and loosen the numerous muscles he kept so tense. I knew I would likely see him naked as was expected in a bathhouse, but I was quite caught off guard by the happenings of that afternoon.

"Pardon me, Your Majesty. I don't think I heard you quite right."

"You will be joining me as you are to do in every activity from now until my death," he said with all the nonchalance of someone used to being nude in front of others as we stood in the changing room with his eunuch.

I decided not to dwell on the insinuations of his previous statement, "But Your Majesty..." I looked to my soul hope, the eunuch. To my disappointment, it appeared he had adjusted to my position far quicker than I and showed no reaction or objection to the Emperor's suggestion.

"I thought you wanted to visit the palace spa? Is something wrong?" he asked.

Beneath my cool, trained composure, I was about to lose it. I knew this man's innocent face. I had seen it when he nearly choked me on an excess of rice on accident. This was not his look of niavity. He knew damn well what I meant.

"I suggested the baths for you, My Lord. I never imagined you wished me to participate."

"I see. Well, I do. Come now, you dressed me it is only right that you undo your hard work yourself."

Now he was openly grinning. The smug bastard.

And the Eunuch finally had the decency to lower his inflamed face. The only tell in my otherwise collected facade was a single-eye twitch.

"Of course, Your Majesty."

Rather than kneel this time, he merely bowed until I could reach his crown which I removed posthaste with the same caution with which I had put it on only hours ago. I placed it in the Eunuch's trustworthy care as soon as I could.

I breathed out heavily. I could do this. I glanced up at him with a disapproving frown. I'd never seen such a wide smile especially not on him.

I don't much remember removing his imperial robe, in fact, I didn't slow down to process the situation until I was undoing his undershirt. All of a sudden I was sure that I was a much brighter red than the Eunuch. I desperately wished I could engage my mind in that brainless efficiency I had mastered my entire life yet for some reason I remained acutely aware of the happenings in front of me. Coarse silk burning my fingertips as I gently grasped at the ribbon holding his undershirt together; my breathing holding itself as I pulled at it and allowed it to fall open.

I screwed my eyes shut as it began to fall open and moved my hands to his shoulders to slip it off for him. I couldn't discern if it was so warm due to the steam of the baths or the impossible heat that his skin always put off.

I handed the undershirt to the eunuch again with trembling hands before turning back to my task. Without allowing myself to consider the circumstances I thrust my hands towards the ribbon holding his final garment together.

Familiar warmth stopped me as calloused palms cradled mine.

"That's quite alright, Little Shadow. You have undone your own work, have you not?"

With my eyes still screwed shut, I managed out "Yes, Your Grace."

One gentle palm left my own to grasp my chin and tilt it up towards him, "Tsk, tsk, Little Shadow. What have I told you about looking into my eyes when I speak to you? Especially when I'm giving you a direct order."