Chương 20: TEA TIME.
In a tranquil gazebo, the young man was pouring the tea with an immense care, when a porcelain hand, as white as moonlight, touched his cheek, making him shudder and let some hot drops leave the pot.
"Shangxian," a voice came from behind him. "You're so careless. You've been burned again. Let me see."
The same porcelain hand slid from his face to his shoulder, then down the sleeve to the burned wrist. The young man, flustered, stood up and threw himself to his knees.
"Your servant is careless," he confessed. "I deserve punishment!"
"Do you really seek punishment, Shangxian?" A young girl in peach-colored robes immediately lost her temper and steeped closer. She had a look of a celestial, but with almost transparent porcelain skin unusual even among their kind, as well as not common for the daemons too. Her hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes were white, and her golden eyes matched the delicate pattern on her clothes. She lowered herself almost twice and reached the young man's face with her hand forcing his chin to rise up.She lowered herself almost twice and reached the young man's face with her hand forcing his chin to rise up.
"Raise your head and look at me," she commanded.
But the young man shook his head resealing himself from the girl's hand and stayed bowed. "I dare not, my Lady," he murmured.
"Do my eyes frighten you?" she asked. "Didn't you ask for punishment?"
The silence was his response, unsatisfactory. The young girl stood up and unleashed a gust of wind, scattering dishes and tearing curtains. Yet, her tantrum didn't affect the bowed servant, he remained unmoving.
"Enough!" A rough voice interrupted. "Who will play your heavenly songs if you burn him to ashes with your gaze?"
The girl turned toward the voice—the King approaching the gazebo.
"Ah, look who graces us!" The tone was mocking. "Is it true your demoness no longer pleases you?"
"If you want to say something mean to my face," the King retorted, "say it quickly. We have matters to discuss."
Then he entered, clearing broken dishes with his foot, and settled on a pillow. The girl joined him and with a snap of her fingers, she replaced the debris with a fresh tea set.
"You," the King addressed the still-kneeling musician, "leave. Don't be a nuisance!"
It was not clear whether the King was saving him or scolding. But before the musician could react, the girl intervened.
"No, he stays. Let him play!"
The King raised an eyebrow.
"You are not the most pleasant company, but music might lighten the mood," she conceded. "Step back ten paces and play!"
As the zither's notes filled the air, the King finally spoke. "I sent someone to the River of Oblivion," he said.
"Something's amiss, I guess. You being here confirms it, doesn't it?"
"The River is frozen," the King continued. "I didn't believe it, but another detachment confirmed it."
"Oh, what's unusual for this time of year. Isn't it normal?"
"You don't see what im trying to say, Yue Xiang?" The girl just stared at him.
"I went there myself," the King sighed. "Endless ice. No power of mine could break it. We're locked in…"
"So? What do you want from me?" The girl's frustration surfaced. "I'm not involved in this!"
The King stood up and started pacing, footsteps in sync with the music.
"Stop it!" the cry cut the air, the King froze in place, the music stopped. "Don't piss me! Sit down!" the King obediently returned to his place and waved to the musician to continue.
"What do you want, say it directly and leave... you've already been wasting my time for too long."
"How did you get into the Darkness? And how did you manage to escape it?"
*Thx for reading.
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