Thief of Twilight

Part One: Chapter 27

The moon lingered in the night sky just outside of the emperor's bedroom window. The servants came with fresh sheets while he bathed Zurine. He gazed down at the woman by his side. She was sound asleep. He's thought the same thing countless times.

She's really beautiful.

He reached for her face, squishing her cheeks with his thumb and index finger.

"...She's like a dumpling..." he murmured softly. Chuckling to himself, he lowered his hand to her neck. His brows furrowed. He noticed the texture on the back of her neck was slightly rougher. The emperor leaned over her and parted her hair. At the base of her neck was a scar resembling melted skin.

Is that a burn?

He clenched his jaw before burying his face in her neck. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that wasn't a normal burn. That burn was inflicted upon her.

"Who did that to you?" raising his head, he kissed the back of her neck. It reminded him that there was still so much about her that he didn't know. Wrapping his arms around her, he held her to his chest.

I want to know more about you.

___

My eyes opened to a bright blue sky just outside the window. My head was a bit foggy but...I don't think I really did anything.

"Ugh..." a groan slipped through my lips as I sat up. Why is my body so heavy? I looked down at my arms. Everything looks normal. I pulled the sheets from over my legs before climbing out of bed. The moment I placed one foot on the floor, I collapsed.

What the hell?

My legs were covered in red marks and bite marks.

"What the hell happened?" it all started flooding back to me. "...Oh...no..." we really did all of that? "This has to be a fucking dream." shaking my head, I reached for the bed. "I'm still dreaming, right? There is no way that I had sex with Yohan." as I pulled myself onto the sheets, the door slid open.

Shit!

Is it a servant?

"Good afternoon."

I turned my head to see Yohan standing with his arms behind him.

"H-Hi..."

Yohan walked over to me and stroked my cheek. "How did you sleep?"

"...Good..." I looked away while trying to climb into bed.

"If you're tired, you should sleep more."

"No, I can't do that."

"Why not? It's not like you have anything to do."

What? "What is that supposed to mean?" I grumbled.

"Unlike me, you can spend all day in bed relaxing. I have to tend to the city as well as the country." he explained. "It is not a problem if you want to stay in bed today."

"But...I don't want to." I rubbed my head. "Wait, why did you say 'good afternoon'?"

"...Because it's noon. You've been asleep all day."

"What!" I shrieked. "You let me sleep all day!"

Yohan nodded his head.

"Wh-What if someone wanted to visit me!"

"Someone like who?"

"Seong-ja or Seong-gi!"

"They would have sent a letter. They never come to the palace unannounced. But they will be here tomorrow."