Together

Chapter 47

Lucy woke up to the color of red silk curtains hanging down from the ceiling. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around her. The curtains of the bed were down so she couldn't see beyond it very well. All she knew was that she was nowhere near the Northern Empire. She sat up and found that her cloak had been removed. Lucy was sitting on a rather grand ultra king size bed with red bedsheets and pillows lined with gold trims.

This is... she thought.

She shifted her hand and heard someone mumble something. She tensed up and saw someone behind the curtains, laying their head on the bed. Though the curtains made everything around her blurry, she could still make out the silhouette of the person. It was a petite young man. She pulled aside the curtain gently so as to not disturb him, her eyes widened in surprise as she took a good look at his face.

"Kou...ha?" she mumbled in disbelief.

As if her words were like magic, Kouha moved his eyes and blinked them. He sat up in his chair, which was seated next to the bed, and removed his face from the bed. He looked around and saw Lucy staring at him. Those mesmerizing chocolate orbs that he hadn't seen in forever. His shocked expression turned to that of ecstasy as he pounced on Lucy, throwing the curtains aside.

"Lucy-nee! You woke up!" Kouha exclaimed.

"Waah!" Lucy fell back onto the bed, Kouha lying on top of her with a blissful smile that looked almost painful.

"You finally woke up, Lucy-nee," Kouha smiled, tears beginning to form. "Do you know how much I missed you?"

Lucy stared at him in surprise. He brought his head down next to hers, the sound of his tears muffled by the bedsheets. Kouha was still on top of her, his hands next to her head, but Lucy didn't mind it. She was at a loss for words. She couldn't believe she was back in the Kou Empire, the country where she was raised in since her birth. The two continued lying in the position, each having their own turmoil, that they didn't notice footsteps nearing the entrance to the door.

"Emperor," the servants at the door bowed.

Kouen ignored them and walked in, only to be stunned at what he witnessed. His eyes were wide with shock as he just stood there in complete silence. Lucy turned her head to the side and she, too, widened her eyes. The two looked at one another in complete silence, creating an awkward and stifling atmosphere.

"Lucy-nee?" Kouha said, curious as to why she was so silent.

Kouha saw Lucy looking to the door and he, too, decided to look. His whole body became rigid stiff as he stared at his older brother who was staring back at the two of them. All of a sudden, flames erupted and Kouha immediately got off of Lucy.

"E-E-E-En-nii! This isn't what it looks like!" Kouha stammered, petrified.

"Ho? It's not what it looks like you said?" Kouen glared, the flames behind him burning even more.

"L-Lucy-nee!" Kouha hid behind Lucy.

Lucy remained undaunted as she just stared at Kouen. Catching her stare, Kouen's flames perished and Kouha breathed a sigh of relief. But, he hitched his breath as Kouen glared at him, motioning to him to get out of the room this instant. Kouha dejectedly walked out, though glad that his life was spared.

"Kouen," Lucy said.

Her voice was like music to his ears. He hadn't heard her call his name in such a long time that his tears almost started smiling. His ice-cold mask that he showed to his subordinates faded away, the warmth in his eyes returning. Though, that scowl was still there.

"Did you sleep well?" Kouen asked.

"Yes. Much thanks to you," Lucy said, eyeing the extravagant bed. "But you didn't have to go all out and prepare this for me."