Chapter 73 - SEVENTY THREE: The Toy In Question

"I'll be so good to you, so stay here with me."

Kel couldn't breath.

Warmth from the emperor's body seeped into her own. She could feel the thudding of his heart against her left shoulder blade, and his whisperings left a dewy residue on her earlobe. The musky scent of his skin filled her nose.

As they stood, the emperor slowly dragged her outstretched hand back toward her body. He pulled it across her stomach and held it firmly in place. Her other arm was free, but dangled uselessly by her side.

Kel winced at the throbbing from the man's sharp jawline digging into her shoulder, but still, she couldn't move.

"I won't make you love me," the emperor's voice rumbled in Kel's ear, breaking the silence between them.

"E-excuse me?" she jolted.

"You can love that man, Dashien or whatever. I don't care," the emperor went on, holding her firmly in his arms, "As long as you promise not to run away."

Huh? Why would he suddenly bring Dash up?

"I don't understand what you mean," Kel mumbled.

"Haaa," The Dragon Emperor sighed, his hot breath tickling her neck. "How can I make this any clearer? I want you."

HUH?!

Was the emperor confessing his love right now?

No, that wasn't quite right. If he wanted to express romantic feelings for Kel, he would have chosen words other than 'I want you'. On top of that, he definitely just told her it was ok to love another man. 

If he wasn't confessing love, it was more like-

'How long do you really think you can hold onto a toy that doesn't belong to you?'

Suddenly, Lila's final words came to mind.

Could the mighty Dragon Emperor be feeling insecure because he was worried about his toy getting taken away?

Wait, did that make Kel the toy in question, then?

Rolling her eyes, Kel used her elbows to forge some space between the emperor and herself. How could she have thought for a moment that the Dragon Emperor had feelings for her? He didn't even consider her as a person, apparently!

"Can you get off now?" Kel huffed, the last of her passionate daze completely shattered.

"No," the emperor replied sternly. "I want you."

Kel clenched her free hand into a fist. Did this man honestly think she was a life-sized doll?!

"I get that but can you-"

She was cut off by the emperor's tightening of his arms, closing all the space she'd just created.

Letting out a sigh of defeat, Kel relaxed into the man's embrace. The questions she needed to ask could be asked just as well in this position.

"Were you close to Lila?" Kel began quietly. "She seems to know a lot about you."

"Mmm," the emperor responded, nuzzling into Kel's neck. "She is my teacher's niece."

"Your teacher was named Itzae, right?" Kel continued, ignoring the man's misleading actions.

I'm just a toy. He's just snuggling with a toy, she chanted internally.

The emperor stiffened a little at her question, but answered softly, "That's right." 

Kel mentally prepared herself for her next question. She was curious about the whole 'doll' situation and how she fit into it, but there was something she needed to clarify first.

Was Lila's Uncle Itzae the same man as Kel's Uncle Itzae?

She pondered the best way to broach the subject. Should she ask several inconspicuous questions that could give her the clues she needed, or should she just come out with her suspicions and let the emperor settle the matter?

As she thought, she slowly became aware of the heat from the emperor's body rapidly increasing. Soon, all she could focus on was what felt like a bonfire grazing her back.

"Y-your Majesty?!" she cried as the man lurched backward.

She whirled around to face him. He was using one hand to brace himself against the back of a chair while he reached toward a nearby desk. It was the same one Kel had often seen Lila sitting at while she sorted through books and paperwork.

His entire face along with the back of his neck were bright red with tiny beads of sweat glistening around his hairline.

"Sire!" Kel yelped, moving to steady him.

The emperor was indeed very sick. She'd never seen a fever take over someone's body so quickly.

"Stay back," the emperor grumbled, fiddling with a small wooden box on top of the desk.

He pulled a shining pendant from it and let the box clatter to the floor as he clutched the gem to his chest.

"At least she left this," he breathed, his skin regaining its usual pale shade.

Kel couldn't help but grimace at the sight of the stone. She'd seen the same thing only twice before in her life and both times it had been in the hands of Soren. 

"... A moonstone?" She tensed, taking a step back.

"It's the only remedy for this sort of thing," the emperor sighed. 

He glanced sharply at Kel before clenching the pendant even closer to his body and turning slightly away.

"But not for you. Don't touch it," he commanded.

"I wasn't going to," Kel muttered.

Her only exposure to the deceitfully beautiful jewel so far was full of unpleasantness. Needless to say, allowing it to come in contact with her skin was the furthest thing from her mind.

"Good," the emperor replied, flopping into the chair he was leaning against. 

He studied the sparkling moonstone in his hands for a few moments before setting it down on the desk and reaching his arms out to Kel.

"Come."

Reluctantly inching closer, her eyes glued to the vicious stone, Kel decided to just come right out and ask about the emperor's teacher.

"So, about Itz-Gah!" She flailed as the emperor yanked her into his lap.

This man realizes I'm not actually a doll, right? she huffed, leaning as far away from him as she could without falling onto the floor.

She cleared her throat, continuing with her previous question. "As I was saying, abou-"

"I'm tired," the emperor interrupted, burying his head in her shoulder. "I'm so tired."