Through Fire and Water

Chapter 16 - Attack

This chapter is dedicated to pUrple_Sapphire99! Happy reading! :3

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Izumi pov:

"Remind me again as to why I'm the one doing your hair...." I muttered annoyed.

"We have to be romantic once in a while, Love, even in the Inner Palace so your personal attendants don't figure out that were just acting." Ryuusei sama said with a closed eyes smile.

I twitched, even more annoyed for a moment, and tugged on a strand of his hair harsher than necessary. He sucked in a sharp breath but didn't make any other sound loud enough for our attendants to hear. But he did open his eyes to meet mine in the mirror with an expression of disapproval. I just smiled innocently, though the mischievousness and taunt was apparent in my eyes. It was there for just a moment and was replaced by awkwardness when Ryuusei sama smiled amused in return. He even reached up to caress my cheek with one hand while turning to face me making my eyes go wide and my body recoil in surprise.

"My my, have you got better at acting or is that a real blush I see on your cheeks?" He teased, his voice barely above a whisper, and it only caused the heat of my face to increase.

Instead of scoffing and denying the obvious truth in his words, I averted my eyes while smiling and covering my lower face with my kimono sleeve. The attendants seemed to think we wanted some privacy to be all lovey-dovey so they excused themselves and closed the doors behind them. When they were out of sight and, hopefully, earshot as well, I dropped my hand to my side and looked at Ryuusei sama with a glare while covering up my embarrassment as much as possible.

"You're being way too invasive lately, Ryuusei sama. I don't like how you're being so touchy and casual with me. We may have to act romantic but I think you can maintain some distance when there are onlookers." I stated sharply.

"Oh? So you do not think that it's odd for a married couple to not be close and comfortable around each other despite having an audience?" He teased and it only sparked my anger more.

"There is a limit to how much I can take, Ryuusei sama, and I will be grateful if you would understand that."

"Come now, Love. A few caresses and hugs shouldn't be too much to handle. I'm not kissing you." He said, once again reaching out to caress my cheek. He was really starting to push my buttons and, quite surprisingly, my heart as well.

Ever since Prince Taheji turned up to meet me and conveniently settled in the palace as a guest – the duration of his stay was unknown – Ryuusei sama has been invading my personal bubble way too much. He said it was to keep up the act perfectly so Prince Taheji would not have the slightest doubt or suspicion, all the more because it was obvious he would have spies to give him information on every single thing happening in the palace in almost every nook and corner of the palace. It wouldn't be surprising if he threatened some of Ryuusei sama's attendants to deflect to his side and help him by informing him of everything he wished to know. Unexpectedly, Ryuusei sama even happened to mention once that this was his way of watching over me and protecting me from potential harm.

For extra security, he's even made Haji san and Koharu as my personal guards – it's embarrassing and so infuriating that he thinks I can't take care of myself.

Another thing that has been bothering me is Haji san's attitude off late. He's been pretty invasive as well, and restless, and I finally realized that it was because he had feelings for me. I guessed that he had feelings for me for quite some time, which is also probably the reason why he kissed me on the day I started as Ryuusei sama's acting Empress, and he's slowly beginning to lose control on repressing his obvious emotions.