The Emperor's Concubine

B.2 Chapter Five

'His aura was hidden... What kind of aura would have that much intensity?'
I look back at the man, thinking to myself as a wave of anxiousness washes over me.

Cabel lowers me onto his bed, his expression darkening.
"Are you really okay?" He asks, kneeling in front of me.
"I'm fine, I told you. It was a shock but I'm fine." I smile, brushing his bangs back as I ignore my concerns.
He closes his eyes, blissfully enjoying his hair being played with.
His hands wrap around my waist as he moves closer to rest his head on my lap.
"I'm scared." He mutters.
I sit stunned as I hear those words slip from his mouth.
"What?" I whisper, shocked.
"I had no fears, not even death scared me yet now that I have you, death seems like the worst fear of mine. I don't like the thought you could be taken away from me." His gaze moves upwards as he flashes a slight grin as if mocking himself.
"Cabel... I have those fears too... But all we can do is focus on the moments we have together... So, when the time comes, we won't have any regrets." I give a reassuring smile, resting my hand on his cheek.
"I know... I know it all, but all I want is to feel you in my arms, and if you died how could I go on?"
"By remembering the times we had..." I give him a understanding smile.
His seductive eyes slightly glow as he gazes at me.
The same look I've received countless of times before, yet the same excitement filled fire lights inside of me, making it feel as if it's our first and last time.
He moves up, kissing me passionately.
His hand pulling my waist close to him as he glides to move above me.
The weight of his body on top of me as his lips lock with mine.

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Emperor Cabel sits in his office, staring at the untouched teacup in front of him.
Deep in thought he sighs, his blood red eyes vibrantly glowing as his brows furrow.

"Your highness- Your highness?"
A voice calls out, breaking his deep train of thought.
He glances up, snapping back into reality as Lance stands there with a look of concern.
"What do you want?" Emperor Cabel scoffs, raking his hand through his hair.
"Your highness... Are you angry?" Lance asks, concerned.
"What do you think? Someone sent those people to kill her."
"Captain Arron said that the assailant has woken up."
Emperor Cabel's lips form into a slight twisted grin, his eyes glistening with excitement.
"I'll have a word with him." He speaks, standing up from his chair.

Emperor Cabel stands in the dark dimmed dungeon, the only source of light coming from torches lined on the walls, with the moonlight seeping into the windows.
The assailant locked in shackles as his head hangs low.
"Wake up." The emperor's voice growls out.
The assailant flinches, slowly lifting his head.
His eyes returned to a hazelnut brown colour.
Emperor Cabel's eyes narrow as he views the man's face.
"Speak. You must know who I am." Emperor Cabel raises his brows.
"Y-Your highness..."
"Name?"
"K-Kerin, your highness..."
"Last name?"
"I-I don't have one, your highness..."
The man stays quiet, averting his eyes.
Emperor Cabel scoffs, unlocking the dungeon door.
He steps in, instantly kneeling in front of Kerin. His hand quickly gripping Kerin's throat, choking him.
"Lets cut this annoying farce. You tried killing my fiancée, who sent a rat like you? Did someone offer you money and a title? Spit it out." Emperor Cabel's voice thunders as his eyes glow vibrantly.
Kerin stares, shocked as he gasps trying to catch his breath.
Emperor Cabel's hand gripping his throat tighter.
"I-I swear, I didn't do anything!" Kerin shouts, the words squeezed out his throat.
Emperor Cabel's pupils dilate as he coldly gazes at his face.
He throws the man back, instantly standing.
"I don't want to hear a guppy like you say anything more." Emperor Cabel spits out, swiftly revealing his sword.
Kerin stares horrified as he holds his breath in fear.
"Wait, your highness!" Kerin shouts, trembling.
"I abhor being interrupted, so quickly use that tongue of yours before it's cut out."
"Your highness, I swear I don't remember anything! I was walking home from the market, and all of a sudden everything went black! I promise on my grave!"
Emperor Cabel pauses.
He watches Kerin's expression, his eyes filled with honesty.
He clicks his tongue before sheathing his sword.
"You'll be thoroughly interrogated. If you're lying, I'll hang your spine and fingers on the gate."
Emperor Cabel exits the cell.
A guard closes and locks the cell door as Emperor Cabel disappears down the dim hallways.

Luna sits with Lord Christopher, and Sir Quintan as they open boxes.
Theas sits nervous as he pours different types of coffees into mugs.
"What is this?" Lord Christopher questions.
"Well, my lord, this one is a dark roasted bean, while this one is a light roast. This one here, I purchased from a high district cafe. As you saw, I brewed and prepared all three with the same method to avoid any sabotage." Theas explains calmly, placing the mugs in front of everyone.
They pick up the black coffees, smelling the aroma.
"How would this be different from other coffees?" Lord Christopher asks.
"Please have a taste and then I shall explain." Theas smiles.
Everyone takes a sip of the dark and light roast of Theas's coffee, finishing with the cafe's coffee.
Lord Christopher raises an eyebrow as he stares at the steaming coffee.
"The colour of your light roast is far more translucent than the cafe's, yet it's flavour is more robust and easier to drink. Explain more." Lord Christopher places his cup down, picking up a pen.
"Well, coffee beans are special. Just like tea leaves, they can lose aroma if not stored properly, and will ruin the flavour. Roasting and aging is critical, which is why when I say my family pride's our job with coffee beans, that is an understatement."
"The lighter roast is easier to drink, has a sharp sourness yet the bitterness mellows it out. What type of roast is the cafe's?" Sir Quintan takes another sip of the light roast.
"The cafe uses dark roasted beans, but no one knows how to age it properly. You can roast a high quality bean, but will kill it if not aged properly before hand. It tends to taste just of bitterness which I understand is what coffee all around tastes like, but properly aged coffee will give an acidic taste to elevate the bitterness, to become more smooth rather than a sharp overbearing bitter or overbearingly sour."
"I see. Can we continue trying it with cream and sugar?" Lord Christopher asks.
"Yes, of course. Some people can't handle the bitter or acidic taste, and so cream will smoothen it and make it silkier and lighter to drink." Theos stands, pouring a bit of cream into all the mugs.
They take another sip and Sir Quintan smiles.
"I see the smoothness you mean! This does help the acidity. What about with sugar?"
"Sugar helps the bitterness, and it emphasis's the coffee's flavour profile." Theos stirs in one cube of sugar in all the mugs and sits back, "Just as there are tea drinkers who mix honey, sugar or milk, coffee is the same but with a bolder taste."
"It's delicious! The pure coffee flavour was admirable, but with cream and sugar, it makes it more appealing for those with a sweet tooth." Luna smiles, sipping the coffee again.
"Yes, it can also be served iced, just as an iced tea would be. The caffeine within coffee is more intense than caffeinated teas, but it also aids in digestion."
"I see. The cafe's coffee is bland when cream and sugar is added. For those who can't handle the rich profile coffee has alone, if they wished to add anything to help the flavour, it would ruin their experience..." Lord Christopher takes another sip of the cafe's coffee, attempting to savour the taste.
Lord Christopher sits back, staring at the light brown coffees and nods.
"I can't speak for them, but I approve your product." Lord Christopher signs a document.
"I agree as well. For those who may not like tea as much, this would appeal to them." Sir Quintan signs the document too.
"I obviously agree. We'll need to discuss ways to bring popularity to this in Cypheler first, before we move on with the final step of our plan, but this will be favoured once we spread awareness to it." Luna signs the document, handing the pen to Theos.
Theos smiles brightly and nods, wasting no time in signing.