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

Chapter 102: In Ryuuki's Chambers

Ryuuki smiled happily as he watched Shuurei prepare tea. It is Sunday and Shuurei has no work to do since she just came from outside Kiyou, she just investigated around in Shi Province. He also has nothing to do and so he asked Shuurei to come to the Inner Palace. He was surprised when she agreed at his selfish request and even came to his chambers early.

He wondered if Seiran is alright. He drank too much sake yesterday. 'He's probably alright. Jyuusan is with him anyway,' he thought. He saw Seiran walking with Jyuusan to his mansion yesterday. He knew Jyuusan must have slept there.

'I won't be defeated by you brother. I'll enjoy myself too. Shuurei has agreed to see me in the Inner Palace for the first time,' Ryuuki smiled.

''Hey, what are you fantasizing about? Your smile is suspicious,'' Shuurei waved a hand in front of him. She saw him smiling with a blush on his cheeks.

''I'm just happy to see you,'' Ryuuki replied as he accepted the tea that Shuurei is handing her. ''As always, your tea soothes even my soul,'' he praised and he took another sip of tea.

''Thanks. Here have some peach sweet bean buns. They're your favorite so I made some before coming here.'' Shuurei watched this child like emperor.

''Delicious. This buns warm my heart,'' Ryuuki acclaimed. ''I missed eating this. I never saw you for two months and never got have tea with you and Riou. I'm such a lousy husband.''

''I didn't say anything about accepting your proposal so I don't mind even if I don't have tea with you for a year. I only accepted mothering Riou,'' Shuurei reminded.

''You're cruel,'' Ryuuki pouted like a child and then smiled again when he recalled something. ''I really loved your kisses last Friday when I visited your house.''

Shuurei blushed. ''Shut up. You just looked like you really needed kisses so I kissed you.''

Ryuuki laughed like a child. ''I really needed it. But I'm not the only one who wanted kisses,'' he teased. ''Shuurei, tell me honestly. Do you like me know too?''

''I don't!'' Shuurei yelled at him. Her face is red. She realized his question is serious. ''Maybe. I don't know.''

''Did you think about me this past two months that we never saw each other?''

''Yes.'' She looked down.

Ryuuki smiled. ''Did you want to see me?''

''Yes.''

''Did you miss me?''

Shuurei was flustered. ''Yes.''

''Then Shuurei likes me now,'' Ryuuki concluded.

''Maybe. But it's still not like the way you want me,'' she admitted. She had come here at his request since she, herself wanted to know how she really felt for me. She had decided to stop running away from and really decide this time if she would marry this person or not.

''I'm still happy. Now that Shuurei likes me a little, my dream seems to have come closer.''

''Don't raise your hopes so much since I haven't changed my mind of not accepting your proposal,'' she chided. She did not want to give him false hopes.

''I know.'' Ryuuki replied. He is glad that Shuurei finally decided to look into her heart and classify what kind of love she does she feel for him. She had always run away from him and he always chased her. He had caught her several times but allowed her to escape. This time, he knew she cannot escape anymore. She is totally caught in his trap and he would not let her just runaway again.

''Time sure flies fast. I can't believe it's more than two years now since I returned to Kiyou,'' Shuurei sighed. She wanted to change the topic.

''Right. And in that two years we didn't even get the chance for storytelling. I want to hear from your travels. I wanted to travel around the country too but I can't since my work is here. I cannot leave the throne empty. Will Shuurei tell me about the things you have seen?''

''That will be a long story.''

''We have all day,'' Ryuuki mused and Shuurei told him about the different places in Saiunkoku that she had visited and how the people viewed the emperor. She also told him about the people's lifestyle and various practices and how she learned from them all.

Shuurei described to him the beautiful places in the country that she wished he could have seen too. Ryuuki silently noted all of it in his mind. He would visit those places too when he gets the chance.

Next Chapter: The Honey Experience