The Tale Continues (Saiunkoku Monogatari Fanfiction: Ryuuki x Shuurei lemon)

Chapter 19: A Dream Inside a Dream

Shuurei was surprised to find herself asleep in Ryuuki's bed early in the morning. One hand was wrapped around her waist and he is sleeping soundly with a smile on his face. ''Shuurei,'' he said in his sleep. He must be dreaming about her.

She would have woken him up if she is not fully clothed and if she did not recall what happened last night. She tried to lift his arms and was thankful when it was not wrapped tightly around her. She pulled a pillow and used it to replace herself as she slowly left the bed. She looked at herself in front of the mirror and quickly fixed her hair. She searched the room and removed all evidences that would reveal that she slept there that night. Then she silently left the room. She hoped that when Ryuuki wakes up, he would think that all that had happened is merely a dream. She did her best to make it look that way. He was drunk last night so she could try to use that.

It is still dark outside and the coldness made her shiver. She remembered Ryuuki's warmth and she shook her head. She quickly headed to the thick trees so no one would spot her. No one knows that she is already in Kiyou. She had arrived earlier than expected which is supposed to be five days after today. She would pretend to have arrived at the said schedule.

Meanwhile Ryuuki woke up expecting to see Shuurei beside her. He was so disappointed when what he saw in his hands was a pillow. He cannot accept that what happened last night is just dream. He smelled the covers and his own clothes and there is a faint scent of Shuurei. It made him glad that it was not just a dream. But it also made him nervous. He had to talk to Shuurei and apologize for all the things he did last night.

He fully knew that she is not his wife yet and that he was too demanding last night as effect of the wine and the aphrodisiacs added in it. He had planned to counter the aphrodisiac but when he saw Shuurei, he forgot everything else but her. He had missed her so much. He would insist now that they get married due to what happened and sincerely apologize for his insolence and the things he said last night.

When Ryuuki saw Shuuei, he instantly told him that he would visit Shuurei. He was crushed when Shuuei said that he had just come from her residence and she has not yet arrived. She will be in Kiyou after five days as had been scheduled. Ryuuki felt so down at that news. He was so sure that he caught the scent of Shuurei. During the night, he sneaked to her residence and saw for himself that she really is not there yet.

''Your Majesty,'' Ryuuki heard a voice call him. 'Wait. Just a little bit more,' he thought. 'Your Majesty,' the voice called again, louder this time. Just bit more, Ryuuki thought again but he realized a bit more what? ''Your Majesty, please wake up. Else you will be late in the court session,'' it is Shuuei. What it Shuuei doing here? 'Wait, when did I fall asleep?'

Shuuei sighed. He stared at the sleeping Ryuuki hugging a pillow. He decided to pull the pillow away. Then he shook Ryuuki's shoulder and said loudly, ''Your Majesty!''

Ryuuki tumbled out of the bed in surprise. ''What was that for?'' he yelled back at Shuuei. Then he realized he is in his room. All of that was just a dream? Ryuuki sighed. ''Strange,'' he said.

''Huh? What's strange? You'd better move now. You asked to be waked early.''

''Nothing. It's just that I dreamed inside a dream,'' Ryuuki said lost in thought. 'It must be an effect of the erotic book I read yesterday.' The day before, he found a book when he went around Kiyou in disguise to observe. He saw it on the path walk and no one was around so he thought it would be such a waste to if it would rain and the book would get destroyed. He was astounded when he started reading it in his sleeping chambers and realized it was an erotic book. He got curious though and read it all. After that he burned it so no one else would read it. He didn't like the idea of Riou accidentally finding it. The child's innocent mind may get tainted.

'Tsk,' Ryuuki said in his mind. 'It would have been good if it was true.' However, she thought back at the events in his dream he realized that some are out of sync. He would have never reminded Shuurei of Sakujun if it was really him talking. Likewise, it was odd that all that time, he knew what Shuurei was thinking of. He even knew that she planned to pretend that what happened between them was a dream. Moreover, only three years had passed since Shuurei left Kiyou.

''Your Majesty what are you spacing out for? You will be late in the court session,' Shuuei reminded.''

''Right,'' Ryuuki said and quickly prepared himself. They will discuss a lot in the session this morning. Likewise, there was another report from Shuurei that had reached his office. They will be discussing about it too. He wondered what Shuurei was up to, now. Then he sighed when he remembered that he had to choose from the portraits of women yesterday. He hoped he could find at least two or three which would qualify to enter the Inner Palace. He is tired of checking portrait after portrait and not seeing the qualities he wanted.

Next Chapter: Unexpected Reunion