Emhyr Var Emreis x Reader

Twenty

"Now that we are in private, let's drop the formalities, shall we?", you asked and took a step back to give yourself room to breathe.

Your eyes lingered on the polished surface of the emblem ring.

It was so new that you believed to feel warmth radiating from the gold. The craftsmanship was unmatched, with curved lines and perfectly engraved letters.

No human goldsmith would have been able to create such a thing.

You knew that this one piece of jewellery came from an elven smith.

Maybe it was just an unconscious coincidence. Yet again, a man like him didn't even eat dinner without thinking it through beforehand.

To think that he actually took the time and gave a single thought about your origins and to not only the human side of your mother but also your fathers blood brought a soft smile to your face.

Of course you hid it by turning your head down to the map.

But the way his eyes lingered on your face and how he let out a breath, not heavy yet louder than he used to, gave away that he had caught a glimpse at it.

"The merchant holds a power that we cannot easily get rid of.", he continued as if nothing had happened.

"But it would be of help if there would be an incident that got him into... let's say trouble.", you hinted with a glance. "We could take him on his information. Not seriously, but as a gimmick. And once he walks into our trap we can use this knowledge against him."

"He'll be forced to talk.", Emhyr continued your thoughts. "I assume you already have your opinion about him."

"He knows something he doesn't want to share."

"You think of him as one of them?"

For a moment, you had to take a look out of the window.

Bright sunlight fell through the huge glass and crawled over the floor to paint a painting of illusions and shimmers of different colours.

A few birds passed by.

Their screams made your ears twitch.

The eyes of the emperor caught the movement. A few moments passed before he looked away again.

"How do you plan on catching him in his lies?", he finally asked.

You took a deep breath.

"It would be a risky mission.", you mumbled. "Yet someone of high name should be involved. If there's no one of his interest around he'll let the bait slide."

Agreeing, the emperor hummed.

It was known to many that the emperor didn't hand out compliments nor approval easily.

Yet he seemed to be quite generous with them in this moment.

Why was he so easy to please all of a sudden?

"I will send the general.", he said.

"A man in armour would scare everyone away. They wouldn't even dare to come out of hiding."

"Then another noble perhaps?"

"Yes, perhaps. But that someone must be valuable to you."

"And why would that be of importance?"

A soft huff escaped you.

A flinch chased through his face.

With one hand rested on the table, he leaned towards you to lock eyes in a warning manner.

"Are you mocking me right to my face?", he asked. "One order and your head is gone."

Strands of his greyish black hair fell over his shoulder and danced around his sharp features.

Your eyes followed the soft movements.

Intrigued, your fingers flinched. There was this desire crawling through your limbs to reach out and touch him.

Why did the look on his face make you feel this way?

Usually you had trouble finding something in him that was close to human. But in that moment he seemed almost likeable.

Even the beating of your heart started to tremble a little.

"I am not trying to inflict my rudeness on you.", you lowered your eyes to escape from this strange feeling that his gaze awoke in your guts. "At least not now."

The corner of his lips twitched.

Malicious tongues would have said that it was the hint of a smile he gifted you.

But you did not dare to go down that path.

"I shall belief you.", he said and walked around the desk to take place in his seat again. "For now."

In his casual manner, he leaned back and got comfortable.

The way he sat also made something inside of you stir.

You decided to ignore this feeling as well.

Maybe it was just the gesture from a moment before and the fact that he had just returned your title.

On the other hand you had many more reasons to still despise him.

There was land he had to return, properties and amounts of gold you did not dare to even dream about.

It was ridiculous to be phased like this by him.

"Very well then.", you took a deep breath to regain your composure. "Since it's out of the question that we will follow the merchants rumours, we need to put together a plan with bait as well."

"What do you propose?"

"A noble of high rank or someone close to you should go. I would offer myself since I have a point to prove."

"I won't let you go by yourself.", he said all of a sudden and in such a grim way that it made shivers crawl down your spine.

For a moment, you two stared at each other, he with disapproval while you couldn't hide the surprise.

"It would be suspicious if I was followed by a unit of soldiers.", you tried to convince him.

"You're of no use to me when dead.", he said back, almost as if he argued with a child. "You won't go."

With your lips pressed into a thin line, you had to take a moment and think.

This was a golden opportunity.

If you would return with the required scandal necessary to nail down the merchant, the emperor would be forced to return something of high value to you.

Maybe this was the only way to regain your childhood home and the land that came with it.

"If you insist.", you bowed your head. "Then I'll think of something else."