The Emperor's Concubine

Chapter Seventeen

A few days after the celebration, Emperor Cabel sits in his office—silently pondering as he stares at the chilly night sky through the window.

Quietly pouring a glass of red wine for the emperor, Lance begins to organize the many piles of documents.


"Lance." Emperor Cabel speaks up, without breaking his focus from the winter night scene.
"Yes, your majesty?" Lance responds, pausing as he brings his attention to the emperor.

There's a moment of silence until Emperor Cabel hesitantly speaks up again.

"What does it mean to have a friend?" The emperor awkwardly questions.
"P-Pardon me, your majesty?"
"A friend." Emperor Cabel sighs, turning his chair around.

Resting his elbow on his desk, he briefly thinks for a moment.

"Luna called Hayden a friend." The emperor reluctantly admits.
"That's wonderful, your majesty!" Lance smiles happily—his joy soon falters upon staring at the emperor's melancholy expression, "That is good, isn't it, your majesty?"
"Who knows, but her eyes lit up to show she favors Hayden... What is a friend even?" Emperor Cabel scowls, annoyed as he ruminates over the word.
"Your majesty, a friend is someone you're close to. You trust them and they trust you. You have fun together by meeting, sharing interests, or talking about anything."
"Is it not the same as our relationship?" Emperor Cabel scoffs.
"Er, no, your majesty. I serve your imperial majesty, so it isn't the same..." Lance awkwardly chuckles, trying to say the right words as to not offend Emperor Cabel.

Deep in thought, the emperor ruminates on Lance's words. Beginning to read a document, he's unable to hold his attention as the thought insistently returns to mind.
Organizing the mail, Lance quietly works until a letter catches his eye; an envelope with an orange wax flower stamp.

"Your majesty, was banishing Viscount Edward's son necessary?" Lance asks, handing Emperor Cabel the envelope from the viscount.

The emperor scoffs as he glances at the aristocrat's family insignia—taking the envelope before slicing it open a silver letter opener.

"That bastard dared to lay his hands on a guest of mine." Emperor Cabel's eyes sharply scan over the letter—soon stabbing it into a pile of documents with the blade.

Lance raises his eyebrows deviously, tilting his head as he watches the emperor's reaction.

"So, you would have banished him if he laid his hand on any other lady of the harem, correct?" Lance brazenly comments as he meets the emperor's eyes.

Emperor Cabel glares at Lance, scoffing as he turns his seat around to stare out the window.

"Can I assume that Hayden may have played a role in his punishment?" Lance questions.
"Not at all."
"Are you certain, your majesty?"
"Of course... Those were my feelings." The emperor silently admits, his eyes longingly staring at the golden palace's library.

Taken aback with the emperor's statement, Lance can only blink rapidly as he tries to process his words.

"She was supposed to be dead..." Emperor Cabel mutters, clenching his fist as he thinks for a moment, "She wasn't supposed to be in that castle."
"Lady Luna?" Lance cautiously clarifies.

Giving a subtle nod, the emperor leans back in his chair as he takes a deep breath. Staring at the ceiling for a moment, he clicks his tongue.

"She died when she turned nine..." The emperor admits, furrowing his brows.
"What do you mean?"
"Her kingdom announced her death, since then they went into mourning and closed off their kingdom to others."
"I briefly recall that..."
"How am I supposed to feel, when it was all a ruse and I saw her in a terrible state?"
"Your majesty... Are you worried about her?" Lance tilts his head, feeling sympathetic to the emperor who's plagued with thoughts.
"If I am?"
"Then, I believe it's normal... You seem to detest worrying for her."
"Because she wasn't supposed to be alive. I moved on from her death, and didn't think I'd meet her in this life again... I didn't want to believe it was her, I assumed it was some beggar those rulers found... But it seems it's truly the dead princess."
"Your majesty, even if you mourned her, it's evident that you feel some worry to her... Are you perhaps being kind because of what she could have experienced in her kingdom?"

Ruminating on Lance's words for a moment, the emperor sighs lifting his hand as he signals for Lance to leave.

"Since you have this much time to run your mouth, send the viscount thirty-thousand more gold. If he disagrees and complains, tell him he'll be punished for opposing the emperor."
"Right away, your majesty. May glory of Helios rest upon you." Lance solemnly bows, quietly taking his leave.

Sighing once more, the emperor rakes his fingers through the roots of his hair.

"How do I have the right to worry, when you're practically the same trapped little bird you were back home?" The emperor scoffs an airy laugh, conflicted by his different emotions, "Did I do it because I pity you?"

Whispering to himself, the emperor closes his eyes for a moment as he tries to sort his thoughts. Staring at the lapis necklace on his desk, he scoffs.

"Friends, huh?" He mumbles, glancing to the library in the distance, "Would you feel the same if you found out the truth?"