Page 52 of Empire's Curse

“Handsome? Charming? Mysterious?” he offered.

“Annoying.”

He threw his head back and laughed, and it grated on her nerves that he was so carefree while she had gone through so many horrors. From the kidnapping, to traveling with bandits, to now being stuck in a military fortress with the emperor and his men. The last one wasn’tthatbad, she had to admit, but with the new information that her family’s livelihood had been burned down, she felt like she was trapped in a prison.

“Is this … really a dream?” Daiyu asked slowly, looking between him and the swinging trees. “Or is this some sort of magic?”

“Huh. You’re smarter than I gave you credit for.”

She could have sworn he was grinning behind his mask by the playful quality in his tone.

“Most people—especially those inexperienced with magic—are unable to tell if someone magically visits them in their dreams.”

She wasn’t sure if she should feel flattered or frustrated. She frowned. “Well, thanks. I guess. But when it comes to you, I know things are never simple, which is why I asked. And besides, this doesn’tfeellike a dream anymore.” She held her hand out to feel the warmth of the wind. “Like I can smell and feel things.”

“It’s all magic.” He clambered up to his feet and brushed a hand over his clothes to dispel dust that wasn’t there. When he caught her staring, he laughed again. “A habit, if you will.”

“Anyway, I’m sure you’ve come here to tell me something important then, yes?” She quirked an eyebrow and shifted on her feet. “Like how I can leave this place?”

“You still wish to leave?”

“My plans are the same,” she said stiffly. “I haven’t become enamored by the glitter and glam of the royal palace, if that’s what you’re insinuating. The only good that’s come out of this whole ordeal is nothing! I’ve been poisoned, on the brink of death, kidnapped, and tossed around like a piece in a game! And to make matters worse—” Daiyu’s throat closed up and she found it hard to speak without bursting into tears.

Feiyu’s jovial temperament sobered up and the winds grew fiercer, like a storm approaching. “What happened?”

“My family—” She choked back the tears and breathed out shakily. Blinking away the tears, she continued in an unsteady voice, “My family’s rice fields have been scorched and ruined by someone. I don’t know who, but someone is out for us. I think it’s related to me being chosen by the emperor. Someone must be jealous and wants to … I don’t know … scare me?”

Feiyu canted his head, and the gold eyes of his dragon mask seemed to glow unnaturally. “Is that so?”

“I need to find a way to help them.”

“You could marry the emperor.”

Daiyu made a choking sound, completely taken aback by his words. “What? That’s what I’m trying to avoid!”

“Well, yes, but who’s better to protect you than the emperor himself? If you marry him, your family will likely be gifted a new home, new job positions if they wish it, and prestige. You’ll be guaranteeing their future.”

“That … that’s not true.”

“Why?” He tapped his feet beside a cluster of bobbing dandelions. “Historically, all the families of the wives and concubines of the emperor were given great liberties, great treasures, and were held in high esteem. Just because Drakkon Muyang hasn’t married or chosen a concubine, doesn’t mean he wouldn’t do the same.”

“But … but he’s …”Wicked, cruel, terrible. She had so many words to describe Muyang and everything she had heard about him. His reign was soaked in blood. He was part demon, part dragon. All evil. “He wouldn’t?—”

And yet, he had apologized to her. He hadn’t forced himself upon her. He had seemed like he actuallycared.

But that was too low of a bar, she told herself. She forced herself to remember how he had humiliated her in the gardens. How he had pressed a knife to her neck. How all of her problems originated from him.

“Who’s to say more enemies won’t crop up and do worse to me and my family?” she found herself saying at last. “The more involved I remain with His Majesty, the more troubled my life will become. I want to go back to my normal life. Back when my biggest worry was about harvesting our carrots on time, or making sure our ginger plant yielded enough for the winter. Or … or, making sure I feed the chickens in the morning, or that I don’t oversleep and forget to make breakfast, or … or …” Her eyes misted over, and a heavier guilt rooted itself in her chest. If she hadn’t become entangled with the emperor, her family’s livelihood wouldn’t have gotten to this state. How worried were Mother and Father? Were they growing sick because they had lost a daughter for a few months, along with losing their rice fields? How much more worry was she goingto cause them?

“It’s something to consider,” Feiyu said softly.

She wanted to refute his statement—tell him that he was wrong for evenconsideringsuch an option—but she couldn’t. Her voice wouldn’t come out, no matter how much she wanted it to. There was a truth in what he was saying, but she didn’t want to admit it. She didn’t want to be the wife of a cold-blooded emperor, who would replace her in a few weeks once he grew bored with her. She didn’t want to live the life of one of the many wives of His Majesty, who would likely be cast away once she was older and uglier. Whose children would fight and curse and hate their half-siblings over the throne. Who would constantly be looking for the emperor’s favor.

Before her mind could become more entrenched with the horrors of becoming Muyang’s wife, Feiyu spoke, “There seems to be a commotion happening around you.”

“Huh?” She looked around herself, but the scenery was the same as it was minutes ago. That could only mean he was talking about the real world. But she was sleeping alone in Muyang’s room. “Are you talking about in the fortress?”

“Yes. I’ll try to keep my message short.” He held his hand out, where a beaded bracelet appeared from thin air. It glowed gold for a few seconds before flickering off into a light green shade. “I’ll teleport this magic item to you. This will offer you some protection. If you’re really in a bind, try pouring your energy into it and it might help you.”

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