The Emperor's Concubine

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Cabel's tongue roughly intertwines with mine.
My body feeling as though it's getting warmer each second that passes, the heat that builds causing me to grip onto his shirt.

'Is this how he would hold his future wife?'
I think to myself.

I close my eyes tighter as thoughts run wild through my mind. I tighten my grip, growing overwhelmed by fear of the uncertainty.

'If I gave him my body, would he only want me?'

The instant that thought enters my mind, I push Cabel away instinctively out of fear.

He looks down at me, his eyes glowing slightly as he wipes his mouth.
"Why are you running away?"
"Cabel..." I whisper, afraid to share the truth of my discomfort.

I'm cut off as his lips meet mine again.
Panting as he roughly kisses me, I flinch as I feel his hand run up my bare thigh—my chest aching at the realization that he can't be mine even if I offered myself.

Pushing him away again, his hand suddenly releases my thigh, pinning both my hands above my head.
Taken aback as I feel his sudden tight grip on my wrists—restraining my hands against the bed, I can only stare wide-eyed at his expression.

"Do you even know what I want?" His low voice questions as it harshly tickles my ear.
A dangerous glint in his eyes—like a predator toying with his prey—his expression is evidently angry.
"To beg to me in such a way, disgusts me." His eyes gently glow a dangerous enchanting deep red.
His lips kiss my neck, his wet tongue licking the nape of my neck, tasting me.
"C-Cabel, stop!" I call out.
"To beg to me in such a way, how can I refuse? I'll ravage you until you break, since it seems that's what you wish." He growls out, his tone mocking me.

His lips begin to move down, his tongue running over my skin, from my collarbone down to my chest.
I flinch attempting to escape his grip on my hands.
"C-Cabel, I'm sorry! P-Please stop!" I shout, my eyes welling with tears.
Cabel's movements stop instantly.
Languidly moving back up to meet my gaze, he hovers himself over me as he sharply looks down to my eyes.

"To seduce me in such a way, to beg me to use you as if I'm a monster, does it please you?" He questions.
Tears roll down my cheeks as I look up at the man who hovers above me—no longer the Cabel I knew, rather the cold emperor himself.
I avert my eyes, unable to look back at him or answer him.
"If you believe I'm the kind of monster to take advantage of a lady, who shakes in her boots while trying to seduce me—you must be a bigger monster than I to think of me as such." He releases my hands, moving back.
He lifts his fingers to my eyes, gingerly wiping my tears.
"I-I'm sorry Cabel..." I whisper, holding back my sobs as I realize my foolishness.

He slides off the bed, laying his cape on me.
"To think I'm that kind of a monster in your eyes is a cruel joke." He coldly mutters, leaving the room.

I open my eyes, my eyes feeling sore from crying as I look around the bright room.
I look to see I'm sleeping in the same position, Cabel's cape still covering me.
Removing Cabel's cape, sitting up as I remember what happened the night before.
"I'm such a fool..." I sigh, my eyes tearing up.
Remembering the pained look in his eyes, I scowl at myself for hurting him.
"I'm such an idiot. I need to talk to him... I have to tell him my concerns."

I dress in a light pale pink chiffon gown with bishop sleeves. Magnolia styles my hair elegantly into a ponytail as I stare at my hands—reminded of Cabel's grip on them.

"My lady?" Magnolia calls out.
"Hm? Yes? Are you finished?" I reply.
"No, not yet... It's just that, you're making a troubled expression."
I look into the mirror. My expression twisted into a confused pained one.
"Oh... Yes, I'm fine. I have a lot on my mind is all." I smile.
"I see... You don't need to hide anything from me, my lady." Magnolia sheepishly speaks.
"Hm? What would I need to hide?"
"I know I'm much younger than you, but I understand when people experience difficulties... You don't need to smile when you feel sad, nor do you have to hide your pain, especially in front of me..."
"Thank you Maggie... I'm okay, I promise." I say, unable to truthfully reply to her.
"Yes, my lady. If you do wish to talk to someone, I'll always be here for you." Magnolia smiles brightly.
I give a small smile and nod.
"Thank you... Actually, could you do one thing while I'm gone?"
"Yes! Of course, what is it my lady?"
"Could you bring Jax some flowers? He's still unconscious and I'm worried about his state."
"Of course I can do that!"
"Oh..." I hesitate.
"Is something the matter?"
"I'm just worried is all. Should anything happen though, run and call for guards too."
"Run?"
"Yes... It should be fine, but incase he wakes up I'm not sure how he'll act... Maybe to be safe, just pass the flowers onto the guards to put in the room instead."
"It's alright, my lady. I'll bring them to him so I can check on how he's doing too."
"Okay... Thank you Maggie." I smile, worries plaguing my mind.