The night air was cool, carrying the faint scent of cherry blossoms in full bloom. The palace hallways were quiet, save for the distant murmur of the court. Inside the emperor's private chambers, however, the only sound that filled the room was the rustling of papers and the soft scribble of your quill as you dutifully finished one report after another.

Emperor Geta stood by the door, his piercing gaze fixed on you. You had been at this for hours, and from the way your shoulders sagged and your eyes blinked tiredly, he could see the toll it was taking on you. His sharp instincts told him that you were too stubborn to admit how exhausted you truly were.

"Y/n," he finally spoke, his voice smooth but firm. "That is the fifth report you've finished in the past two hours. Don't you think it's time to rest?"

You glanced up briefly, meeting his eyes for just a moment before quickly returning to the paper in front of you. "I'm fine, Your Majesty. There's still much to do. The kingdom won't run itself."

"Y/n," he repeated, stepping closer, his tone softening with a hint of concern. "I know your dedication to your work, but there's a limit to how much one person can do in a day."

You didn't respond at first, focusing instead on your writing. The quill scratched against the parchment, but your hand was growing sluggish, your eyelids feeling heavier with each passing second. Geta's gaze softened, though his worry lingered beneath the surface.

"Would it really be so terrible to take a short break? Even a few moments of rest?"

You hesitated, clearly torn between your responsibilities and the temptation to collapse into something more comfortable. But you pushed on. "I'm fine, Your Majesty. I just need to finish this last one-then I'll sleep."

He was standing next to you now, and his presence was enough to make the room feel warmer, more intimate. He leaned down slightly, resting a hand on the back of your chair. "Y/n, you know I care about you, don't you?"

You paused, your quill halting in midair. "I know, Your Majesty. And I care about you and the kingdom just as much."

He smiled softly, the corners of his mouth tilting upward, though his eyes remained serious. "Then please, for both our sakes, let me help you take care of yourself. You've done enough for today. I will not tolerate seeing you run yourself ragged."

The sincerity in his voice made your heart flutter, but you still tried to resist. "I can't stop now... not when there's so much to be done..."

Geta sighed, and before you could protest further, he carefully slid the papers out of your hands, setting them aside with practiced ease. "Rest. That's an order," he said, his tone shifting to one of gentle but undeniable authority.

You felt a spark of rebellion, but before you could argue, Geta motioned for you to stand. Confused, you let him guide you to the soft, plush cushions by the window, where the moonlight bathed the room in a pale, tranquil glow. His movements were gentle but firm, and within moments, he had you sitting down, though you were still wide awake.

"Close your eyes," he instructed softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "You've done enough. Let me take care of you for once."

Reluctantly, you obeyed, your body too weary to fight. You let your eyes flutter shut, the tension in your body beginning to unwind.

Then, to your surprise, you felt him shift next to you, and before you could even question what he was doing, you found your head resting on his lap. You blinked up at him in confusion, but he only smiled, brushing a lock of hair from your face. His other hand rested gently on your shoulder, the weight of his touch grounding you.

"I'll be right here," he assured you quietly, his fingers lightly running through your hair in soothing strokes. "Just rest. Let go."

Despite your efforts to remain awake, the gentle rhythm of his touch, the warmth of his presence, and the tranquility of the moment slowly lulled you. Your breath deepened, your eyelids heavy as you finally surrendered to the exhaustion you had been fighting for so long.

You hadn't realized how tired you were until this very moment.

With Geta's hand continuing its rhythmic movements, the world outside faded away, leaving only the comforting sound of his voice and the warmth of his touch. Soon, the reports and the kingdom's responsibilities seemed so far away, and all that mattered in that moment was the feeling of safety and peace he provided.

And, in the silence of the night, you finally allowed yourself to fall asleep