The Emperor's Concubine

Chapter Thirty-Eight

"Pardon me?" I stammer, confused from the emperor's words.

I set my teacup down on the table, looking back at Cabel who sits ahead of me.

"You should be trained to defend yourself." Cabel repeats, giving a kind gaze as he ignores my confusion, "The assassin's will spend time practicing with you."
"Well, that would be smart, but I have no experience with training. Wouldn't they be burdened to train someone like me?"
"No. If they were those kinds of people, I would have gotten rid of them during the test."

I can't help but hide my shock as he calmly speaks such brutal words. Thinking for a moment about the incidents that happened, I decide the emperor's right—it'd be best for me to know how to defend myself incase Micheal returns.

"Okay... Well, I'll be sure to train hard then!" I respond in a cheery manner—excited yet nervous as I think about learning self-defence.

Chuckling kindly at my emotions that seem to easily show in my expression, he leans back in his seat as he lifts his drink to his lips.

"How was seeing Hayden?" Cabel asks, taking a sip of his tea.
"It was nice. We talked for a while, but I think he's busy since it's been a while I last saw him." Taking a pause, I catch the brief change of expressions.

Cabel's brows furrow ever so slightly, his gaze breaking away from mine for a moment as he purses his lips tight—a look that seems to show he's slightly conflicted.

"A-Are you alright?" I ask, worried about the sudden sorrowful mood he's in.

Meeting my eyes again, he wears a solemn smile. The sad feeling no longer in his expression, I tilt my head—questioning if that look was in my imagination.

"Of course, continue talking." He replies with a gentle tone.

Feeling the distance he enforces, I repress the concern I have. Unable to ask more about it, I continue speaking with him as if nothing happened.


We talk for hours, until Cabel eventually goes to work at his desk, while I read a book on the sofa.
I glance up at Cabel as the sun begins setting. His complexion pale, with heavy bags under his eyes, he seems to mindlessly scan over the documents before him—evidently struggling to keep his attention.

"Cabel?" I call out.

He slowly glances up at me, his eyelids heavy as he lethargically blinks.

"Are you feeling okay?" I hesitantly ask.
"I'm a bit tired is all." Cabel rubs his forehead and sighs.
"If you'd like to rest, I can return to my room?"
"Yes... I think that might be for the best." Cabel cautiously stands, taking a deep breath.

Walking over to me, he holds out his hand. As he assists me up, I can't help but examine his pale skin and the slight sweat that grows over his brow.

Paying no mind to my watchful gaze, he begins to walk me to the door—his steps heavy as they drag, his breathing heavier, and a look of exhaustion on his face.

"Please get some rest... Would you like me to call for Lance?" I ask, worried as I turn to examine his weary face.

Forcing a gentle smile, he shakes his head. His eyes beginning to glaze over, I notice his body's swaying side to side.

"Cabel? -" I call out, cut off from abruptly having to catch him as he falls towards me.

His head rests on my shoulder as I hold onto his broad back. Trying to hold himself up from collapsing onto me, he leans his hands against the door behind me.

"C-Cabel! Are you alright?" I exclaim, my heart dropping as I notice a feverish redness grow in his cheeks—his cold-sweat more evident on his forehead and neck.
"Stay with me." His voice gently whispers.

Taken aback by his weak tone, I quickly nod as I try to adjust my hold on him—his body weight leaning against me more.


Helping Lance, we carefully lay Cabel down in his bed. His complexion becoming more pale, his face glistening with sweat as his brows are stuck in a furrow.

"I-Is he going to be okay?" I ask Lance, panicking at the sight of the emperor.
"He should be fine after some rest. Your majesty, could you sit up and have some medicine?" Lance calls out, holding out a saucer with five white pills.

Watching as Cabel lethargically sits up, he takes the pills, quickly swallowing them before collapsing back onto the bed in an exhausted manner.

"He should be fine in a bit. You may return to your room for now." Lance smiles reassuringly.
"N-No... I don't want to leave him, he asked me to stay so I want to be here for him." I meekly admit, glancing at Cabel's pained expression.
"Understood. I'll go prepare clothes for him. If you'd like, you may sit here." Lance smiles, pulling up a chair.

As Lance brings a change of clothes, I can only sit by the bed as Cabel's expression twists in pain—his jaw tightly clenched. Watching as Lance wipes the emperor's body from sweat, I hesitate for a moment before gingerly holding his hand.

Relieved as his expression soon relaxes, he begins to calmly rest.

The night passes. Lance enters the room occasionally to check Cabel's fever, but I continue sitting at his side—occasionally wiping the sweat off of his forehead.

Continuing to hold his hand, I grow tired as a yawn escapes my lips.

"My lady, please return to your room and rest." Lance worriedly says, catching a glimpse of my yawn.
"No, I'd like to stay. If you'd like to retire for the night, I can continue taking care of him. I'm more used to staying awake late than you are." I lightly chuckle, noticing the bags under Lance's eyes.

Taking a moment to think of my offer, Lance smiles and nods.

"If you insist... If he wakes up, please help him drink some water, and call me if there's a change in his health."
"I will, thank you Lance." I flash a small smile.
"Goodnight, my lady."

Lance leaves as I wave goodbye.

A concerned sigh escapes my lips as I sit back, staring at Cabel who sleeps soundly.
Carefully lifting my other hand up, I gently brush his bangs back—unable to stop and admire his features.

His long eyelashes, his bone structure, the curve of his nose, and his relaxed expression as he sleeps—causes my heart to pound.

Scoffing at myself from the intrusive thoughts, I feel my cheeks flush as memories flood my thoughts—his kind gaze, and his gentle touch whenever he would hug me or brush my hair from my face.

The beating of my heart, my flushed cheeks, and the memories I cherish of him—I sit taken aback, gasping lightly at the realization.

"Do I have feelings? -" I whisper, cutting myself off from finishing the thought.

Sitting back in the chair I can only stare at the wall, as my face heats up more from the realization consuming my thoughts—I feel somewhat relieved that Cabel isn't awake to see my flustered expression.

Suddenly, a light tapping comes from the balcony.

Looking behind me at the balcony doors, I sit confused as I question where the light sound was coming from. Gently moving away from Cabel's side, I open the door to peek outside.

"Hiya." Suddenly, Cethin flips upside down from above the balcony doors.
"Ah! -" I scream but quickly cover my mouth, looking back to see Cabel still sound asleep.

I breathe a sigh of relief, and turn back to Cethin who climbs down. Taking a step outside, I cautiously close the door behind me, leaving it open a crack incase the emperor wakes up.

"What are you doing here?" I whisper, in a confused yet scolding tone.
"Was bored, heard the emperor's dying." Cethin grins, carelessly shrugging.
"What, no! He's only tired."
"Oh that's boring then. Ugh, this palace has nothing interesting going on." He scowls with a slight pout, abruptly jumping onto the railing of the balcony.

I watch as he moves effortlessly on top of the railing, light on his feet, while I walk beside him on the balcony floor.

"There's probably not much excitement here, especially when you've lived a life of adrenaline-filled adventures—but I'm sure there's something you'll find that'll be interesting."
"Hm, maybe one." Cethin softly chuckles, spinning as he sits on the railing edge.
"What's that?"
"You." Quickly moving to bring his face close to mine, his hand gently holds the upper part of my arm, pulling me closer to him.

Taken aback as his gaze seems to look deep into my eyes, I freeze where I stand as an amused grin grows larger on his lips.

"Hm yes, very interesting." He whispers, his eyes glowing in a subtle blue shade that's illuminated by the moonlight.
"W-What is?" I hesitantly question.
"You, your life, your whole soul. You know, the whole sha-bang."
"What does that mean?" I tilt my head, confused by his strange adlibs.
"It means, Chicky, you're interesting. Most nobles would have been all, 'Kya, save me Mister Knight!' if I held a blade to their throat. It's fun scaring nobles but you—your heartbeat didn't even increase, your body didn't flinch, and you calmly stood there even though I could have killed you."
"Well, you moved too fast, and it didn't give me time to realize the situation I suppose."
"You sure? You stared directly where the others were hiding too."
"Yes, but the emperor noticed they were there as well."
"Yeah, but his powers are incredibly strong. So, how would a little noble girl, born without abilities and a silver spoon down her throat, sense them nearby?" His eyes narrow as if he's trying to read my thoughts, "It doesn't make sense. But, things that don't make sense are interesting—aren't they?"

I scoff at his comment, brushing his hand off me as I take a step back.

"I don't know where you're getting these assumptions but I can assure you, I haven't had a silver spoon in my mouth, maybe not till now." I look back at him as he grins widely.
"Doesn't matter, little noble girl." Cethin snickers, his tone seeming to playfully mock me, "I should warn you though, you keep your heart very open to being manipulated."
"What do you mean?"
"Call it a skill. I see a strange, funny looking man in your life, who doesn't seem to blend in as a guard."
"What? Hayden?" I stammer, taken aback by his sudden statement.
"Ah, so it is true. Well Chicky, he seems to be lying."
"Lying? There's nothing he would be lying about. Hayden's kind, considerate, and my friend—I know he would talk to me about anything on his mind."
"I'm not too sure about that. It seems like a rather huge lie too. It's not my place to say anything though, just trying to stir things up." Cethin stands, beginning to tiptoe on the railing again.

Walking back to the balcony doors as I follow him again, his eyes glancing over at me every now and then as I ruminate on his statement.

"You're a very dramatic person." I roll my eyes, watching him.
"I know, anyways thanks." He snickers, shrugging, "I better go before I'm found out. See you later, Chicky." Cethin jumps up to the roof, disappearing.


"Luna?" Cabel calls out.

I look through the balcony doors to see Cabel slowly sitting up as he holds his head.

"Cabel, are you alright?" I ask, rushing inside to help him up.
"I'm fine." He mutters in a groggy state.
"Here, drink some water." I worriedly speak, handing him the glass.

Drinking the water, he takes a deep breath after—his complexion seeming better but only a slight redness lingering from the fever.

"How do you feel?" I take the glass, placing it on the nightstand.
"Better. I'm sorry, you stayed here all night." He sighs with guilt, glancing at the clock.
"Please don't apologize. I stayed because I was worried."
"You... You worried about me?" Cabel asks as if taken aback by my words, yet pleased.

Raising his hand, he gently touches the ends of my hair.

"I'm sorry for worrying you." His voice deep and smooth as his eyes narrow slightly.

Lifting the strand of my hair to his lips, he gently kisses the ends of it as he locks his gaze onto mine. The sight of his expression causes my heart to pound—recalling the realization I had moments before, my face grows hot.

Unable to maintain eye contact, I look away to stare at my lap—hoping the dim room hides my flustered expression from his sight.

"I-I should return to my room." I whisper, praying he can't hear how loud my heart is beating.

Pausing for a moment, soon he pulls his hand away, gently nodding.

"I guess you should... I'll escort you there."
"That's alright... My room isn't far, so I'll be okay. You need more rest." Giving a quick excuse, hoping to hide my embarrassment I rise to my feet as I fix my skirt.
"No, it's dangerous -"
"N-No, I promise I'll be okay." I stammer, persuasively declining, "I hope you feel better in the morning... Goodnight."

Unable to look at him once as I hastily make my way to the door, I sense his eyes watching as I leave in a rush. My head spinning as I close the door behind me, I hold my hand to my chest as I realize how violently my heart's pounding from that dangerous gaze of his.