Page 16 of Empire's Curse

Daiyu stepped into the room slowly. Everyone turned to watch her. The woman in charge had her eyes so wide open that Daiyu was afraid they would pop out of her sockets.

“Y-Your Majesty! Please forgive me, but she isn’t supposed to be here—” the woman began.

Muyang raised his hand, stopping the woman from speaking, and smiled. It sent a chill down Daiyu’s back. He didn’t look at the older woman. “Silence.”

The woman clammed up while Daiyu stopped in front ofhim. She dropped to a kneel, her hands trembling as they touched the polished floorboards.

“Greetings,” Daiyu said.Your MajestyorYour Highness, which was more appropriate? Which was proper? She couldn’t remember, so she decided on the latter. “Your High-jesty.”

Her eyes widened at the mistake.

She wanted to bang her head on the floor.

What the hell, Daiyu?

A murmur of giggles filled the room and Daiyu wanted to sink into the wood fibers. When she peeked at the emperor, his lips were twisted into a smirk. She quickly looked away.

“Raise your head.”

She obliged and peered up at him.

“Your name?” he asked. “And don’t say you don’t have one.”

She cringed. “Yin Daiyu.”

“Daiyu,” he said with a nod. “Why do you wish to be my concubine?”

She didn’t. Not at all. So the question threw her off because she hadn’t thought in a million years that anyone would ask her such a thing. Her mind came to an abrupt halt as she stared at the man. The silence stretched, and she could feel the heat clawing up her neck as everyone stared at her, waiting, watching. Probably hoping she would fail in some way.

“Because—” She needed to come up withsomething. “Because I like”—her gaze skated to the room and then back at him—“the palace.”

He blinked, opened his mouth, and closed it again.

Once more, she wanted to hit her head on the floors.

What was she even saying?

Was it her nerves that were making her blurt out unintelligent, clearly not well-thought-out answers? Or was she truly as stupid as she sounded?

She decided to just go with it. “The palace is beautiful,” she continued, her face flushing with heat. “It’s so large and, and …majestic. I’ve been lost so many times and it’sonly my first day, so that truly is a testament to how large the place is. So yes, that is my reason.”

The brown-haired man coughed, and it sounded all too much like a strangled laugh.

Muyang stared at her. “You wish to be my concubine because”—he gestured to one of the walls—“the palace islarge?”

“Yes.” She had never heard such a confident yes to such a stupid lie, but she nodded like she meant it.

It was better than telling him the truth. She could imagine that going down very well:Actually, Your Highness, I don’t want to be your concubine. In fact, I’m here tosavemy sister from you because I really, really don’t want her to be your concubine either.

She was sure if she told the truth, she’d be executed. Along with Lanfen.

The emperor covered his face with his hand and Daiyu noticed that his chest was shaking ever so slightly. Was he … laughing?

Finally, he removed his hand to reveal a large grin. A grin that looked too sinister. Uneasiness washed over her.

“You,” he said, leaning forward and bracing his elbows on his knees to better stare at her, “I want to make you my wife.”

Gasps filled the air.

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