The guards snapped to attention immediately, coming together to form a straight, horizontal line and bowing before the emperor. Xiaochuan froze, staring at the emperor. Standing at the end of the hall, was Chengyuan, he was only wearing a simple black silk robe, but his presence alone was so overwhelming that Xiaochuan had to take a deep gulp.
He looked tired, probably from the stress of the journey, but the moment he spotted Xiaochuan, that icy mask he had worn all day cracked, only for a split second though, but Xiaochuan still saw it.
"Xiaochuan,"
The call of his name from the Emperor's mouth alone did something to Xiaochuan in a way he couldn't decipher. He hadn't thought he would see his face again tonight, seeing him made him forget the hurt and anger he felt toward the Emperor, only for a while.
"Why are you not in your quarters?" Chengyuan asked.
"Because," Xiaochuan said, his voice anger and a little bit of fear, "I find it difficult to sleep on bare wood in a room that feels like the inside was arranged for a dog. If this was your protection, Your Majesty, I'd prefer the forest. Even dogs lives better than this." Water laced in his eyes at the thought of sacrificing his body to get a life, only to get here to be treated worse.
Chengyuan's eyes narrowed, his gaze shifting to the guards, who looked ready to melt into the floor. The air in the hallway suddenly grew heavy, the Emperor's pheromones flaring with a sharp, dangerous edge that made everyone's knees weak.
"Explain," Chengyuan commanded and Xiaochuan felt bad for the guards, they were shaking under the Emperor's heavy gaze.
"We d-don't know anything about this your majesty, he just got here, demanding to s-see you." The guard stuttered.
And while the guards were explaining, Chengyuan didn't even look at them, his eyes were fixed entirely on Xiaochuan, tracking the way the omega was trembling, in anger or cold, chengyuan didn't know. But what he knew was that he hated it.
"Enough," He cut off the guard and stepped forward, closer to Xiaochuan.
"Come with me. I will see everything through tomorrow morning. You are exhausted Xiaochuan, get some rest." He didn't wait for Xiaochuan to argue and turned around, walking away.
Xiaochuan opened his mouth to refuse, to give a sharp retort about how he'd rather sleep in the stables with the horses than follow a man who had treated him like a stranger all day. He wanted to scream at him, to ask why he had turned into a block of ice all of a sudden, why he got furious all of a sudden during the heat of that mountain, why he had had spent the entire day acting like Xiaochuan was invisible to him.
But as he drew breath to speak, a wave of weariness crashed over him. He was really tired.
The adrenaline that flowed through him earlier on his way here had evaporated, and now his limbs were heavy and his head was spinning.
Just when he was about to take a step and follow, chengyuan turned around and gave him an unimpressed look.
"Walk Xiaochuan, before I decide to carry you."
Xiaochuan noticed the guards eyes on them from the corner of his eyes, but he didn't care. He wanted to glare at the Emperor but he decided against it.
Instead, he raised his chin in defiance and walked past the Emperor's large frame.
"I can walk myself," He muttered under his breath.
"I'm sure you can," Chengyuan replied dryly.
He walked slowly behind the Omega, directing him through. His hand was aching him so bad to touch, but he didn't, perhaps afraid that if he did, the ice wall he'd spent all day building would shatter, but he stood close enough that he was able to get more than enough whiff of the omega's beautiful plum scent.
Little moon, you're going to be the death of me.
He thought as he led Xiaochuan away from the prying eyes of the confused guards. Chengyuan led him deeper into the South Wing, toward a heavy, gold-leafed doors that guarded his private chambers.
Xiaochuan walked in front of the emperor, his eyes burning with unshed tears of frustration. Every time he turned his head to look at Chengyuan's broad frame, he felt a fresh pang of hurt.
How can he be so close and yet feel miles away?
When they reached the Emperor's private suite, the air was immediately different, very different from what he'd been given as a room. The place was fragrant with expensive incense and radiating heat from a massive, roaring fireplace. Chengyuan entered after him and gestured toward a wide, plush bed draped in tiger furs.
"Sleep there tonight," He said roughly, all the while not looking at the omega.
"There is food on the side table. My personal attendants will bring you fresh clothes and water. No one will bother you here."
Xiaochuan stood in the middle of the room, feeling utterly out of place in his. He looked at the Emperor, who was already turning toward his massive desk, burying himself once again in scrolls as if the work could protect him from the person standing five feet away.
Seeing the way the emperor turned his back, Xiaochuan felt his resolve cracking.
"Why are you doing this?" Xiaochuan finally asked, his voice cracking.
"All day, you acted like I was invisible to you. You wouldn't even look at me, and now you're acting like I don't even exist."
Chengyuan's hand stilled over a scroll. He didn't look up, but Xiaochuan saw his knuckles turn white as he gripped the paper hard in his hands.
"You have no rights whatsoever to speak to me like that little moon," Chengyuan said, his voice dangerously low. "Eat and sleep. That is an order."
Xiaochuan wanted to throw something at him. But he was tired, and he wouldn't lie, The Emperor putting him in place was a little embarrassing.
Maybe he had acted a little too entitled? Surely, he was just an omega brought to the palace to satisfy the king's desires, but then, maybe he was getting too attached.
With a frustrated huff, he stomped over to the bed and threw himself onto the furs, turning his back to the Emperor.
He was going to stay awake. He was going to wait until Chengyuan looked at him so he could give him the most hateful glare in the history of the empire.
But within minutes, the warmth of the room and the Emperor's scent wrapped around him like a heavy blanket. Against his will, Xiaochuan's eyes drifted shut, and his last thought was a bitter promise that he wouldn't make it easy for the King in the morning.