Page 104 of Empire's Curse

She abhorred the mere thought of it.

Her blood raged at the thought. At the images her brain formed of Muyang in bed with other women. At the future where he would have dozens of women flocking him, all of them carrying his children. And she especially hated the idea of Yanlin by his side.

Daiyu breathed out shakily, hating the fire that coursed through her veins and made her limbs tremble. Her stomach clenched together and she reminded herself of what she had promised herself—that she wouldn’t fall for Muyang. That she wouldn’t love him. For this exact reason. To protect herself from when he would take other women.

And as much as she wanted to follow that line of thinking, an uncontrollable fury and fear filled her at the thought of it.

She scanned the crowds for Muyang and breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted him, bedecked in his dark robes and gleaming gold hair crown, speaking to Atreus and General Fang. His expression was as shuttered as usual, and there was nothing about him that told her his eyes were straying to the fawningwomen that always seemed to be inching closer to him. Even without the fact that he was the emperor, he stood out among the crowd. Power and menacing magic seemed to radiate from him, and he appeared like a darkly clad general rather than the emperor.

Daiyu’s heart nearly skipped a beat. She could remember all the ways his hands had traveled over her body and how she had felt so safe and secure in his strong, lean arms. She was reminded of their passion together, of how important he made her feel. So unlike all these other people who stared at her like she didn’t belong.

Setting aside her now-empty plate on one of the side tables, Daiyu excused herself and wove through the crowds toward him. She needed to talk to him again, to feel reassurance that he was hers, and that she was his, and that all these worries buzzing around her head were just that—worries. Nothing more, nothing less.

Muyang spotted her almost immediately. His black eyes seemed to light up with something that appeared too feral, too animated, and all too much like the man she had been with last night. She could already feel a blush starting to claw up her throat as she stepped closer.

He pulled himself away from his circle and approached her just as she did him. Before she could even utter a word, he placed a hand on her hip and leaned closer, his lips brushing against the top of her ear.

“You look utterly ravishing,” he murmured, sending a ripple of electric desire through her flesh.

Daiyu cleared her throat. “And you look utterly bored.”

“Do I? It must be because you’re not by my side.”

“Funny you say that, consideringyou’rethe one who leftmyside.” She smiled up at him, the chaos in her heart seeming to calm down at his nearness. It was only when she was around him that she stopped feeling all the terrible, terrible things that came with being the first wife of the emperor. Shedidn’t have to think about the future too much when he was standing in front of her, showing her he cared for her.

Muyang grasped her hand, turned it around, and kissed the palm of it gently. The temperature dropped and she shivered at the suddenly brusque autumn air. “Forgive me for leaving you,” he said quietly, his voice carrying a tone of mischief. “Maybe I should make it up for you later tonight?”

“Perhaps.” Daiyu lifted her shoulders, aware that some of the nobles were shooting glances their way. She wondered if it was strange for them to see their usually callous and unbothered emperor kissing her hands so naturally, or showing small gestures of affection.

She certainly found it strange and would have found it stranger months ago, when all she had thought of Muyang was that of a coldhearted, horrible murderer.

“Lady Daiyu.” Atreus came to stand by Muyang and tipped his head down in her direction in the way of a polite greeting. He was clad in his usual black and red uniform, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his sword. “I hope you’re enjoying the festival.”

“More or less,” she said with a small laugh.

“More or less?” Muyang raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were enjoying yourself.”

“Well, I certainly am, but I didn’t realize how exhausting it could all be. There were just so many events we need to attend, so many feasts, so many people to greet … I suppose it’s not as easy as just enjoying ourselves, if you know what I mean?”

“Already tired of the political side of things, hm?”

“Maybe a little,” she joked. Truthfully, she didn’t like the social aspect of being Muyang’s wife, especially since she was still figuring out royal etiquette and what to say around the nobles. She hoped that with time, she’d become better at interacting with people and that one day, she might not feel like such an outcast.

“Is Vita taking a break?” Atreus asked, sending a sweeping glance at their surroundings. “I don’t see her around.”

“When Daiyu is with me, Vita doesn’t need to be here,” Muyang answered sharply as if it was obvious.

“Ah, of course, Your Majesty. I didn’t mean to insinuate—” Atreus started, straightening.

“I have enough power to protect what’s mine.”

“Certainly.”

Daiyu clasped her hands together. “I think it’s good for Vita to have a break anyway. She should be able to enjoy this festival just like everyone else.”

“We don’t usually partake in the festivities much,” Atreus said with a shrug. He stared off at the lights in the capital that looked like a cluster of burning stars. “Festivals are prefect times for insurgencies.”

Muyang placed a hand on the younger man’s shoulder. “No need to scare her. There will likely be no insurgencies tonight, Daiyu. Not while my men work.”

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