It had taken you several days of your recovery time to process the fact that the Emperor and the first knight were the same people. It was still a great shock, but now, you found that it explained a bounteous amount of things. Whenever the Emperor was busy, the first knight was never around. However, when the Emperor was alone presumably doing paperwork, he must have snuck out of his office as the first knight to visit you since it was always so late into the night. You had not been able to leave the Emperor's private quarters to check on Octavi, for the Emperor had grown attached to you and wanted to keep you as safe as possible - just like he promised.

"When can I visit Octavi, your majesty?" You queried the Emperor. You had been deep in thought and were receiving regular reports on Octavi's wellbeing, yet couldn't help but still feel worried for him. You would continue to stress yourself on his health until you could see him happy and well, once again.

"You can visit him when I say so. You had a near-death experience [Name]. You aren't going to recover so quickly. The royal doctor advised you to get some rest. Since you have been giving the maids such a hard time looking after you, I have to do it myself. Besides, I'm sure Octavi would want me to protect you right now while you're in such a vulnerable state." The Emperor reminded you for at least the fifth time. No matter how many times you asked him that question, his calm and collected expression never seemed to waver. It failed to annoy him in any sort of way. Instead, he just smiled ever so slightly every time you spoke.

"I admit, I perhaps shouldn't have told the maid that the ring her fiancé gave her had a false diamond upon it. But I think I would just feel more guilty not telling her the truth." You confessed, feeling moderately ashamed that you had broken the news to her in a not so delicate way. Being a tailor called for these sorts of things, you needed to know whether you were getting the material or products your providers promised you.

"You seem to be very honest. At least, you have always been honest with me." The Emperor hummed. You were currently sat upon the Emperor's bed, not daring to object to how kind he was treating you, especially after the first time he had met you. After all, Kai always said that 'first impressions are last impressions.'

"I have, actually. I'm very proud of that." You beamed with pride, crossing your arms and sticking your nose in the air while you laid against the headboard of the bed.

The moonlight gently poured into the young Emperor's bedroom as he looked at you with great intent, a grin softening his features. "What is it like in Intuuin?" He asked, tilting his head to the right as he scooted over to sit next to you on his bed, making sure to keep himself a comfortable distance away.

"This is your kingdom, and you live in it right now. What is there about Intuuin that you don't know about?" You retorted, a confused tone lacing your voice as you looked over at the man. He peered out the window, a tired sigh leaving his lips as he gently untied the wine red ribbon tying back his hair, permitting his dark locks to drip down his shoulders.

"Well, I stay in this palace most of the time. Whenever I leave, everything is still formal and serious; everything is just the same as inside. You were correct when I first met you. I can't appreciate the beauty of this empire that I rule. Everything here belongs to me, but I don't know anything at all about Intuuin. Yes, I do the paperwork, guard the hopes of my people, and do pretty much everything to keep this empire running. But I don't know what it feels like to live in Intuuin—as the average person, going about their merry working day. I feel nearly self-conscious at times. I am happy to serve the people of Intuuin and give them the best I can; still, I need to know." He took a deep breath. "[Name], what is Intuuin to you?" He said, his head now craning towards you as he rested it against the headboard, a small frown landing on his face. His blood-red eyes expressed wonder about the outside world; how it's like to step out of his shoes.

"Well, Intuuin.." You thought to yourself, tapping your chin. "Intuuin is my home. When I had nowhere else to go, Intuuin welcomed me with open arms. Intuuin gave me comfort and a family. I wake up every morning, grateful. I am willing to do anything for this empire, and I won't let anybody take this away from me. Intuuin is a beautiful place."

He smiled gently and came several inches closer to you, intrigued. "I see. Do you think the taxes are too high? Are the prices of bills or anything at all too difficult to manage? I wonder how my people are doing. When we went out to the market that one night.." He chuckled to himself and looked down at his pale, slender fingers that sat in his lap. "I was so happy to talk to my people. I was so happy to walk with them on the same ground, even if it was just once." He admitted while his fingers tenderly go onto the ivory sheets of his bed in the circular room, caressing the beautiful fabric lovingly while he thought of how much fun he had had that night in the market.

"If I may ask, your majesty, what is Intuuin to you?" You requested inquisitively. Your white nightgown matched beautifully with the bedsheets, which seemed to glow in the pale moonlight.

"Intuuin to me is you." He stated confidently before looking you straight in the eye. You jumped, surprised as he softly held your [S/C] hand, caressing it while the atmosphere now became more severe and somewhat romantic.

"I have learnt about all the flowers, bugs, shores, beaches - everything about Intuuin over my time. Despite this, I can't help but feel like I've learnt more about Intuuin in the past several months or so with you than I have in my lifetime. When we danced earlier this week to the parade music, I felt as though I was there when I closed my eyes. When you shouted at me, I felt as though I finally got to know my subjects. Everything you do seems to fill this empty part of me that I can't describe with words." He sighed, his eye contact flickering away from you now.

"Intuuin was a lonely place without you. Now I'm not sure if I want to let you go. I don't know what I'm feeling." He professed, an uncertain expression tainting his beautiful orbs before his head mildly rose from the ground, gazing towards you yet again.

"If I kissed you, would I taste all the beautiful flavours of Intuuin, little tailor?" He asked, his eyes staring into your [E/C] orbs. You could feel your heart begin to race as the smirk on his lips began to grow. It seemed as though you were talking to the first knight now. The Emperor's soft side was so comforting to you, and then the first knight side of him was all the coyer, albeit quite provocative.

"I-I don't know?" You managed to stutter out before looking away. You gulped and picked up one of the cotton pillows next to you, slamming it onto the Emperor's face without a second thought. It was too much for you to think about - his lips against yours. It made you blush. Never had you ever dreamed of sharing a first kiss with the monarch of the empire himself. Now flustered and only just realising what you had done out of instinct, the pillow hurled towards the Emperor who swiftly caught it. He gave out a hearty laugh at your unseemly behaviour, carelessly tossing the expensive pillow onto the floor.

"Will you let me steal a taste?" The Emperor questioned, his facing inching closer to yours. Flustered, you placed your hands on his exposed chest. He was wearing his black night robe, which had a deep enough exposure in the middle to reveal his well-toned body and broad shoulders, as the handsome figure advanced towards your frail body.

He flinched at your touch, a pink colour now dusting his cheeks as he stared eagerly into your eyes. "Who ever gave you the right to touch the emperor, little tailor?" He purred, leaning in towards your ear and chuckling slightly, his hands clasping over yours, keeping your soft hands close to his chest. You could feel his heartbeat racing inside his body despite the coquettish behaviour he was presenting you with.

He pulled away, giving out another hearty laugh as he sat on the edge of the bed, his back facing you. He peeked at the landscape outside of the window before it became any darker outside. He hid his face from you, not daring to show his mystified expression, wanting to treasure his calm and collected form around you.

You were too rattled to notice the Emperor's now slightly fuddled manner, your mind racing and wondering what in the world had just happened. He turned around, suddenly getting into the bed, his legs now under the blanket along with yours. "Is it all right if I sleep next to you tonight? You're the only woman who can make the Emperor himself sleep on the couch. It isn't as comfortable. I promise I won't do anything. I could never, not to you." He reassured you, already lying his head down on the pillow before you could even respond to his request. You sighed, deciding that he would take your silence as a 'yes' before proceeding to lie down beside him. You gave him a small smile, unsure what to do as he continued to examine your features.

He laughed, "Did the Sun come out, or did you just smile at me? I think you smiled at me, [Name]. It's too late in the evening for the Sun to come out.." He mumbled before delicately closing his eyes. Who would have known that the Emperor would let his guard down around you, just like that? You giggled; he almost reminded you of a tired child after spending the whole day messing around. You felt bad for doing this to him. He was very concerned about you, so you owed it to him to at least let him sleep in his bed.

Your head rested upon the soft fabric of the pillow, the outside world engulfed in more darkness with each passing minute, the moonlight urging you to sleep. Eventually, you found yourself snoozing next to the Emperor himself as if you had known him your whole life.

"That fucking failure," Eugene muttered under his breath. He sat on the curb of one of the many empty streets of Intuuin. He had just received news of the maid's death and was furious, allowing the moonlight to embrace him in comfort as he stamped his feet on the ground.

"Young master, we must come up with a different plan. The twins have failed you. I believe it is time to move onto plan B." A tall and slender figure hummed to his master. He had his white hair cut into a simple bowl cut, contrasting with his beautifully honey tanned skin. He wore an all-black yukata, and across the left side of his face was a tattoo of a black serpent. His eyes were an emotionless void of grey, and just by his looks alone, one could tell that he was truly dedicated to the black snake group.

The duo stood under the moonlight, the warm streetlights only barely illuminating the dark and isolated streets of the town. The cobblestone pathway was lined with tall houses compacted tightly together to utilise space. A small little house like that was fairly costly, especially since it was near Yunoaiu - the capital of Intuuin.

Eugene ran a hand through his black hair as he remained deep in thought, the cold breeze that passed by seeming like nothing to him despite the fact he was also wearing a black yukata - but accompanied by a golden snake across the chest and leather gloves.

"According to reports from within the palace, the Emperor hasn't left his bedroom in the past several days. He's been locked up in there like some sort of hermit. We don't know why our maid died yet but we will soon. We just don't have enough people working in the palace. That maid was the only one with a high ranking position amongst the staff. Such a fucking shame. If only those twins knew how to do things right." The slim man whispered before sitting next to Eugene on the curbside.

"We should have tried to get that tailor on our side. Now she's too close to Kirayo. There's no way she's gonna trust us." Eugene mumbled, his fingers intertwining with one another before he rested his head upon his hands.

"Father will kill me if I fail him!" He roared angrily. Nevertheless, before he could get up and make a fuss in a burning rage, the slim man swiftly gripped his arm and forced Eugene back down onto the curb.

"Young master, not here. We need to keep a low profile for now. I promise I will not fail you." He consoled his master, a sly smile on his glossy lips.

"We need to get that tailor on our side somehow, Vernon. The tailor is close to some of the highest-ranking officials in that palace. And from its halls' incessant whispers, I heard she's attracted the interest of the Emperor." Eugene plotted, lifting his head once more.

"I will go there and risk my life for you with pride, young master." Vernon pledged, causing Eugene to let out a big monstrous laugh, completely ignoring the fact they were meant to be discreet.

"You crack me up, Vernon. You can't fool anybody with a black snake tattooed across your face." Eugene howled before standing up, a refreshed and motivated look now on his face.

"I will crush the emperor and all he loves if it's the last darn thing I do." Vernon pronounced, hand now on his heart.

"Trust me; I know your loyalty to me, Vernon. Let us bring the Emperor down, block by block." Eugene announced proudly, gripping onto the wrist of his colleague and hoisting him up from the curb before they walked back to headquarters.

The Sun began to rise in Intuuin, the gorgeous warm liquid light flooding into the room of the Emperor to greet you - and him - with yet another modish day. The scenery was just the same, but it was a brand new morrow. The melody of the birds from outside motivated you to get up and signalled that it was just about time to get up.

Your eyes remained closed as you laid motionlessly on the silk bed for several more moments before shuffling around, only to find your movement restricted. Slightly alarmed by this fact, your [E/C] orbs snapped open to reveal strong arms wrapped around your body.

You looked over your shoulder to have your eyes glaze over the Emperor, still in his deep blue beauty sleep. His arms were locked around you, not allowing any escape from the warmth of his body. You nearly didn't want to leave his touch, feeling the cold air claw against your skin like a vicious predator.

"Your majesty?" You murmured to the Emperor. Your soft voice luckily woke him up, and he groggily opened his eyes.

A delightful expression barely could form on the man's face as he remained half asleep. "[Name].. good morning." He yawned, hugging you closer and forcing your body to turn towards him. Your face was now just several inches away from his bare chest.

"Let me go, your majesty. It's time to wake up." You told him, trying to pry his arms off of you.

"I'm not going to let go of you just yet, little tailor." He mumbled, hugging you tightly before shoving his face into your [H/C] locks.

"Your hair smells wonderful. You must be an angel [Name]." He whispered.

"Yeah, right. Let go now!" You exclaimed, trying to get the clingy Emperor away from you.

The light-hearted atmosphere changed as he now opened his eyes fully, staring into your [E/C] orbs, admiring how they drowned in the sunlight as he now grasped your thigh with a firm hold.

You blushed profusely, unsure how to react to such a bold move from the Emperor.

"[Name], remember who I am. I may have a soft spot for you, but don't think I'll just let you do what you want. I own everything in Intuuin. Remember that that includes you." He whispered to you those harsh words in such a sweet way before smirking charmingly.

"If you keep fussing around and squirming, I'll feel inclined to do more than just touch your thigh, little tailor." He mentioned, causing you to stop squirming in his tight hold instantly.

"Why don't we go visit Sir Kirayo later today? We can prepare him a bouquet and a basket of baked goods to wake up to. I think it's about time we venture out of my quarters a bit. The doctor said that it'd be good to let you move around for an hour to get the blood going. If you just sit around all day, it'll pool up." He said before finally letting go of your body. You felt your heart race. You felt as though your pulse was choking you as you slowly stumbled out of your side of the bed.

He silently stood up and sauntered over to his closet while untying his robe, letting it drop open. Thankfully his back was turned to you as he did this before he retreated to his dressing room.

You panted nervously, plopping onto the bed. Last night was manageable, but this morning: the Emperor was pushing his luck. You weren't sure how much more of his flirtatious antics you could take before you died of a heart attack sooner or later.

"There are some clothes prepared for you on my desk. Change into them before we go out." The Emperor called through the other side of the thick, wooden sliding door. "What if you come out before I get changed? I refuse!" You objected, crossing your arms over your chest.

"Hurry it up, or else I'll have to help you get dressed, little tailor." The Emperor warned while changing before the room returned to its old hushed state.

You rushed over to the young man's desk and slipped out of your clothes, hastily getting dressed in the ones on his office desk. He had had his maids prepare for you a white blouse with a black bow across the collar accompanied by a gorgeous pitch-black skirt with golden embroidery upon it. The dress was slightly on the shorter side, but you didn't mind since it wasn't so short to the point you would reveal anything or be uncomfortable with your movements.

Several moments later, the Emperor stepped out of his dressing room in a different version of his usual black and red outfit, except this time he was decorated with golden embroidery as well. He examined you from head to toe, before nodding approvingly at your outfit.

"I'm glad they got the measurements right. I had to make an educated guess." The Emperor said before walking over to you. To your surprise, he ripped the black ribbon from the collar of your shirt and tossed it to the floor, grabbing one of his signature red ribbons, which he usually used to tie his hair. He put it under your collar then tied it into a neat bow, a content look on his face.

"There. You should be honoured; only I'm allowed to wear red. However, this is necessary, so everybody knows not to mess with you, little tailor. You have the Emperor behind you every step of the way." He purred happily before hugging you.

Your feet lifted off of the ground as he hugged you, twirling across the room as if he were a young child with a weightless doll before setting you down by the door.

"Shall we?" He asked, reaching for the door.

"We- We shall." You responded, dizzy from the sudden twirling you had to endure. The Emperor led you out of his bedroom, down the long corridor, wherein beamed riches from all over the world. He led you throughout the palace, leaving you to follow him through all the twists and turns. Then, you both stepped into a room with massive sliding doors, despite the fact they didn't look as grand as the other doors in the palace.

The moment you stepped inside the room, a whiff of sweet air hit your nostrils, and the warm air, your skin, with considerate love. The floor was made of black marble, the walls of grey stone. The room was full of cabinets, counters, shelves, and many different spices and ingredients could be found: the same one never meeting your gaze twice in the bustling room. Steam erupted from the stoves as royal cooks were preparing breakfast for the highest-ranking officials in the palace.

The room fell into immediate silence as the Emperor entered. "Please carry on." He ordered them, urging all of the cooks and servers to return to their duties. However, this time, they were utterly silent. The only sounds that could be heard were light chopping, timers ringing, and footsteps hitting the floor as they continued to prepare breakfast. Everybody in the room was tense under the gaze of the Emperor, like a prey restricted by a boa.

"Chef Lebbing, please prepare a selection of baked goods in a basket. I will return later today in the evening to collect them." The Emperor seemingly told the head chef, judging from his tall hat and the fact he was the only one wearing a black apron while everybody else had a full-on white outfit.

"With pleasure, your majesty." Chef Lebbing responded before proceeding to dash off to prepare the basket of baked goods. The Emperor turned to you, hooking his right arm around your waist to lead you out of the kitchen with him, the beautiful scent drifting away from your senses.

"I am afraid we can't prepare a bouquet, for we are on lockdown and are thus unable to go outdoors." He broke the news to you before bending over your figure, resting his chin atop your head.

"You are to stay with me and rest in my office while I do paperwork, [Name]." He said before looking down at your leg. "It isn't easy to walk with a wound in your thigh, after all. Shall I carry you as if we are newlyweds once again?" He questioned you, sweeping your feet from the ground and carrying you bridal style down the corridor. "The doctor said one hour. I say five minutes of walking is just enough. My tailor is not to over-exhaust her injured muscles this early in the morning." He announced, completely ignoring the befuddled stares from passing staff as he walked towards his office with you huddled in his arms.

"[Name], do you need some new clothes? Your wardrobe is full of a past resident's clothes which don't fit you very well. You must need some new undergarments as well. Shall we make them red? Or what is your favourite colour?" He interrogated you about your preferred colour of undergarments so boldly in the middle of the halls, uncaring about whether or not he was exposing - embarrassing - you to the whole palace staff.

"I would enjoy some new clothes, but undergarments won't be necessary. My favourite color is [F/C]. Please avoid making all my clothes that colour, though." You said as he carried you into his office. "I-I have to go now!" You declared, a flustered look on your face. Once the Emperor sat down at his seat, you attempted to race away from your chagrin - only to have his arm hook around you and pull you into his lap.

"Wherever are you to go? I ordered you to rest, did I not? You are to stay in my sight. I will feel even more at ease with you in my lap." The Emperor whispered to you, pushing your head into the crook of his neck. His long arms worked around your frame as he began to go through all the paperwork on his desk. You were sat on his lap as if you weighed nothing at all. He began to hum as though he was indeed at peace softly. You were unsure of what to do in such a situation.

The Emperor did not know what to do with his new feelings, and due to a lack of informal communication, he had no idea where boundaries were meant to be at this point in a friendship. Honestly, he had no idea how to stay at a respectful distance and instead clung onto you desperately, like you were the only thing that gave him comfort. He cradled you in his arms as though you meant the world to him, and he was ready to sacrifice his life for you.

He continued to scribble onto the paper with neat cursive handwriting, passing over paper after article and after paper once again. You wouldn't dare object a command from the Emperor, and even though he told you to rest, your heart could not stop thumping inside your chest like a drum, your [S/C] cheeks reddening.

Several hours, at least that's what you felt like passed before he was finally finished. Usually, it would've taken him much longer. However, since the palace was on shutdown, the weight of the paperwork had decreased significantly, compared to his old routine.

He sighed and laid back in his seat, eyes facing the ceiling. You still sat frozen in his lap, not sure which direction to move toward. Were you to run away? Stay seated? It was all too much to bear. The Emperor's affection was nearly overbearing and unlike any sort of love you had received before. How did he feel about you? He seemed to act so casually romantic once he had finally left his guard down. You knew for a fact that he treated nobody else in such a way, or else he could have at least a dozen concubines by now.

He looked down at you after a few moments, a smirk on his lips. "What a good little tailor. I'm glad you know how to be obedient." He praised you before carrying you in his arms as he stood up, allowing you to sit on his warm chair. You felt snug and essential, especially since you were sitting in the grand and noble chair of the Emperor himself.

"It must be late morning by now. We have the whole day ahead of us. The baked goods for Kirayo will be ready by early evening, so we still have some time to spare. The upside to this lockdown is that you are at less of a risk, and I have less work to deal with." The Emperor chirped cheerily.

"What is your name?" You blurted out of curiosity. If both of you were going to spend time together and be great friends, you at least wanted to know the man's name.

The happy expression on his face seemed to fade away as his eyebrows knit together, and he stared at the floor. "That is asking for a lot [Name]. Not even my grandmother calls me by my name." He confessed before advancing slowly in your direction. He kneeled and grabbed hold of your hands, kissing every one of your knuckles, just like he had done as the first knight in your bedroom.

"It is an honor I will only bestow upon you, Lady Fuyomui. My label is Takahiro Nathaniel Xiang Wang, proud Emperor of Intuuin." He sighed, resting his forehead on the back of your palms to hide his expression. "I remember saying 'there is no beauty' in the world. I believe you prove me wrong with each passing moment when we are together." He muttered under his breath before his gaze met yours again. Steadily, he rose from the ground and cornered you into the chair. His hands held either side of the chair's back, and he leaned over your body, his face several inches away from yours. You panicked, wondering what in the world was he about to do. Was he going to kiss you? You couldn't help but glance at his soft pink lips as they advanced closer to yours, only for a knock on the door to interrupt his action.

"Your Majesty, it is prime assistant Eli. The room you have requested is now prepared." Eli spoke through the door, loud and clear enough for the two of you to hear. Slightly annoyed by the interruption, the Emperor drifted away from you, and you wondered what could have just happened if Eli had not interrupted.

"You will have to stay with Eli. He will take you to Kirayo later today. I have some business to attend to." The emperor explained to you before a cold, hard expression overtook his once-passionate features, a mask of responsibility and dignity hiding the soft Emperor you knew lurked beneath.

The Emperor opened the doors and, through its cracks, spoke to Eli, giving him orders on how to look after you during his absence. Then, the Emperor left the office but not before sneaking a quick last glance at the woman who had seemed to steal his heart much more quickly than anticipated.

Eli stepped into the room wearing his usual outfit, his blonde locks barely reaching his shoulders. He gave a warm, classy smile and introduced himself. "We have met before, [Name]. I am Eli, first assistant of the Emperor. Eli is my family name, and as the family serving the Wang family for generations on end, we pass our name onto each other. My first name is irrelevant. You're the common girl that the Emperor has taken an interest in, hehe. It's a pleasure to meet you one on one like this finally." He giggled playfully, his vivacious attitude contrasting with the black and grey yukata he donned.

While you both reintroduced yourselves, the Emperor had arrived at a particular cell in the dungeon that was heavily guarded by palace knights. There was a small drip echoing throughout the concrete walls, and rust had begun forming on the thick bars of metal confining none other than the maid who had regretfully nearly taken your life herself.

The maid was chained to the wall, her clothes bloody, dirty, and ripped from the torture she'd endured. "Snake, it is I. Bow your head in my presence." The Emperor reminded her. The young woman bowed her head to the Emperor, not wanting to experience any more pain in the dungeons, which drowned out her calls and screams for help. To her young master Eugene, she was sure she was long gone. They had forgotten about her already or thought she was dead. Her feelings for Eugene, however, never seemed to fade away, and she still had faith in him. As long as she could at least contribute to the black snake group, she would feel fulfilled when she left this world.

"I have already gotten all the answers I need out of you. I believe you are of no use to me at all anymore." He hummed, looking down at the repugnant woman chained up before him that was now grovelling at his feet. The maid crawled towards the Emperor, hoping that Eugene would forgive her for doing what she was about to do. The maid grabbed the soles of the Emperor's feet and rested her forehead on the tips of his shoes, cries beginning to escape her lips.

"I beg for your forgiveness, Your Majesty. Please-" Before she could plead to him any further, the Emperor proceeded to kick her in the forehead, causing her to topple backward, the back of her head hitting against the concrete walls at a phenomenal force. Blood began to drip down her forehead. She laughed maniacally, ignoring the blood that now was starting to drip onto her lips.

"Are you going to kill me? Hurry up with it, you coward! I have nothing left! My dear master, I have betrayed... I am a disgrace! Kill me now! Please do it! Do it right now!" She yelled at the Emperor before lunging towards him. The Emperor moved numerous feet back, causing her forehead to collide against the concrete wall as the chains restrained her from advancing any closer to him.

"You deserve to bleed to death, just like how you have nearly done to my little tailor." He growled, a sombre look coming about the Emperor's eyes. It was a side of the Emperor that nobody lived to tell, his eyes full with silent red rage, seemingly glowing in the dark room as he watched the bleeding woman happily before him. A soft chuckle escaped his lips at her squirms. "Farewell." He purred before exiting the rooms. "Dispose of her when she is dead. Feed her to the stray dogs on the streets if you must. I don't want to see her again." He commanded the knights who tensed up and nodded their heads in response.

It was now late into the afternoon or early evening, you could say. Eli was holding the basket of baked goods in his hands while walking alongside you to Octavi's room. You were excited to greet him after the whole dilemma and apologise for shouting at him, even though it was only for his own good. As you both approached his room, you began to ponder what it looked like. You began to pick up your pace slightly, unable to contain yourself for any longer as you both advanced toward his private quarters.

"You must be excited to meet Sir Kirayo after not being able to meet him for the past week, despite the fact he had only just returned from his trip. He was very excited to return, the first thing he wanted to do was spend the day with you, Lady Fuyomui." Eli told you, causing a grin to appear on your lips. You were glad Octavi was just as excited to meet you as you were.

"Hmm.. why do you have different titles? Like first, second, third, and so on?" You questioned, your mind wanting to be more educated on such matters since you were most likely going to live in the palace for a long time, as the royal tailor.

"Well, it does not have much to do with importance. It is just because we each have different roles. My job is to manage the Emperor's schedule and accompany him throughout the day. The second assistant takes care of the paperwork that does not need the supervision of the Emperor, which significantly decreases his workload. The third assistant takes care of matters on the objects that the Emperor uses. He inspects food, cutlery, carriages, and all of that kind of stuff ahead of schedule in order to ensure the Emperor's safety. The third assistant also takes care of personal phone calls addressed to the Emperor, which he writes down into a letter for the Emperor to look over. Fourth assistant, Sir Kirayo, has the job of taking care of military matters. He went on the trip to sort out some defiance in a certain region and did so successfully before too much damage could be done by those barbarians. That's all I will tell you for now." Eli answered, informing you about the whole structure of each of the assistants.

"How did each of you get picked?" You asked, deciding to dig in a little deeper.

"Well, the late first emperor of the Wang dynasty had some very faithful companions. When he passed away, he awarded each of his most faithful companions with a title to their family. So, each family loyally serves the new Emperor. Each new generation of our families will serve alongside the new generation of the Wang family. Habitually, the eldest is trained and chosen their whole life before called to their duty at the age of sixteen. However, any of the new kin can serve the Emperor as long as they're over sixteen years old. After all, it is a great honour." Eli explained to you, a smile gracing his face. "Any other questions?"

"Well.. do you know about..-"

"The Emperor being the first knight? Well, of course. I know everything to do with the Emperor." Eli cut you off, already knowing what you were going to say. He chortled, "You are probably confused as to how he can be in two places at once. For example, how he can be in a meeting while out as the first knight to dally about and practise. Well, one of the assistants will hide behind the screen and impersonate the Emperor. We know the Emperor better than anybody else in the empire, so we can predict what he would respond with great accuracy. It's a secret, though!" Eli told you before bringing his index finger to his lips and winking secretly at you.

"If you have any more questions that come to mind later on, please don't hesitate to ask me. I'd be glad to educate you about anything to do with the palace and the systems working within it. After all, I know everything about this place." Eli insisted before you both stopped in front of a large, white sliding door with golden birds carefully painted onto it. "We have arrived at Sir Kirayo's room. Here." He handed the basket of baked goods over to you, proceeding to open the door, not giving a chance for the guards on either side to do it for him.

When you entered, you could smell a herbaceous scent lingering in the air. The walls were plain white and the floors a gorgeous sky blue, its marble white with small silver detailing that danced in the sun that was beginning to set far away.

Before you could examine the room any further, your eyes rested upon the empty ivory bed of Octavi. There were papers scattered all over the floor in disarray and a toppled-over seat by the bed. One of the windows was wide open, and a harsh breeze spilt into the room, causing the curtains to thrash around like warning lights. It appeared that there were signs of struggle throughout the room and Octavi was nowhere to be seen. The only remaining evidence of his existence in the place being the empty spot in the bed and the steaming overthrown teacup, signalling that the abduction of the weakened fourth assistant was only recent.