Page 45 of Empire's Curse

Daiyu lowered her chopstick and turned her attention on Bohai—truth be told, something about him was bugging her. She had definitely seen him in the palace—not the Lotus wing, she was sure—but she couldn’t pinpoint what it was about him that bothered her.

“Is he …?” She frowned. She had definitely seen him before.

“Commander Yao is halfKadian,” Yat-sen said.

She shook her head. “No, that’s not what I meant?—”

“He may be half-Kadian, but he has more loyalty than your supposedlypure-blooded Huo self,” Atreus quipped at the prince, shooting the youth another scowl. “It would be better for you not to comment on others.”

“I didn’t mean it in an offensive way?—”

“I doubt it.”

Daiyu looked between the two of them uneasily. She didn’t likeliterallybeing in between the tension, and she felt like she had no choice but to be a part of it. “That’s not really fair, Atreus,” she said carefully, picking at her own food with a frown. She was all too aware that Atreus had saved her, and she should have been more grateful, but she couldn’t sit idly while he snapped at the prince. Not when she was caught in the middle. “I don’t believe he meant it maliciously.”

“You don’t know him, Lady Daiyu.” Atreus narrowed his flinty, emerald eyes and pointed his chopstick at Yat-sen. “He’s the son of the dead Emperor Yan. We can’t trust anything that comes out of his mouth.”

“Atreus, that’s rude.” She waved the eating utensil away from her and gave him a stern scowl.

The rest of the meal went awkwardly, with neither Yat-sen nor Atreus speaking. Daiyu ate in silence, occasionally glancing between the two youths and then at the emperor, who wasn’t paying much attention to her.

It was a good thing, she told herself, even as a pang shot through her chest. She didn’t need his attention and she was planning on leaving sometime in the future anyway. She needed to discard any ties she had with him, and she definitely needed to get rid of the strange attraction that seemed to be budding between them—or more accurately,herattraction toward him.

Muyang abruptly rose from his seat, and all movement froze. Everyone’s utensils stopped midair as they watched the emperor slowly descend from the dais, his dark eyes flicking from person to person. The energy in the air seemed to ripple with ominousforce, and Daiyu lowered her chopsticks onto her plate with trembling fingers.

“Continue your meals,” he said, raising a hand as he walked through the rows of seats. Even from the distance, Daiyu could feel the magic stemming from his every step. It sent her heart racing—in anticipation of something cruel to happen—and every hair on her body rose. But Muyang didn’t begin torturing anyone or blasting his magic through the room. He only said, “I’ll be retiring for the night. Eat well.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The chorus of voices blended together and Daiyu flinched in surprise at the loudness.

And like that, he left the room. Everyone resumed their meals and Daiyu felt like the odd one out who didn’t know what to do. She stared down at her meal, her chest still tight with apprehension. What was that about? Why had she been so terrified of him? Was it magic? Or was he truly just that powerful that she feared for the worst?

“I too will be retiring for the night. It’s been a long day and a long journey,” Atreus said, placing his chopsticks neatly on the table beside his empty bowl. He gave her a small nod, ignoring Yat-sen completely, and clambered to his feet.

“Ah, good evening then,” she said.

“You should sleep too.” He eyed her swiftly before turning his attention to the open doorway. “You must be exhausted.”

“As soon as I’m done with my meal.”

“Good night then, Lady Daiyu.” He bowed and hastily left.

With Atreus gone, Yat-sen visibly relaxed, his shoulders slumping and a long sigh escaping from his lips. Daiyu watched him from the corner of her eye and plopped a sliver of beef in her mouth. The savory, tender meat nearly melted as she chewed.

“It seems we both are alike,” she said.

“Hm?” He tilted his head to the side and the bright lights flaring in the sconces throughout the room seemed to catch onto the silver hair crown he wore. “You think we’re similar?”

Daiyu nodded, stirring the remaining broccoli andmushrooms left in her bowl. “Yes. We both seem to be …”Outsiders, she wanted to say, but she didn’t want to offend him, so she instead said, “Alone here.”

Yat-sen’s eyebrows came together and he looked at the people at the table, all of whom were ignoring them both. “I suppose you’re correct, Lady Daiyu. Nobody seems to wish to speak to a cursed prince, nor to you, His Majesty’s favored. I believe they fear that talking to us will bring treason.”

“You’re not cursed?—”

“I am.” He turned to her sharply, seriousness overcoming his dark eyes. He lowered his voice. “It’s best you think so too.”

He was the son of the previous emperor, so of course he would be hated, but would admitting that he wasn’t cursed be enough for Muyang to punish her? A shiver ran down her spine as she remembered the energy that rippled from Muyang as he left the room. That hadn’t been an accident; that had been a show of power.

“Atreus isn’t the only one unkind to me,” Yat-sen continued, picking up his cup of water. His fingers tightened around the metal. “The rest of thePeccatatreat me poorly as well.”

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