Her heart thudded violently.
That's a trap. That's absolutely a trap.
Say yes. Say you'd stop him. Say it right now.
She opened her mouth. Nothing came out.
Her traitorous body—again—betrayed her by not moving an inch.
Silence stretched.
The emperor waited.
Patient.
Still.
Not touching her.
That somehow made her chest tighten more than if he had.
"…Aira," he said softly, "if you wish me to stop, say so."
Her fingers curled into the fabric of her sleeves.
Why can't I speak? Why does my brain feel like it's melting?!
This man is standing behind me like a final boss cutscene and I'm glitching!
"I—" she started.
Then she turned.
Big mistake.
He was closer than she expected. Close enough that she could see the faint shift in his pupils, the way his gaze dipped instinctively to her lips before snapping back to her eyes—as if catching himself.
That restraint hit her square in the chest.
Oh no.
That's hot.
WHY is that hot?!
"You're doing it again..." she blurted.
"Doing what?"
"Looking at me like that!"
"Like what?"
"Like—like you're trying not to eat me!"
He tilted his head slightly. "…Eat?"
A pause.
"…I would not eat you."
"That is NOT reassuring..I mean.. Agggh!"
She backed up a step—only to realize she was already back at her bed and hit its edge.
Of course.
Of course the universe would do this to her.
Her calves bumped the mattress.
She wobbled.
And before she could fully panic, his hand came out—not grabbing, not pulling—just steadying her elbow.
Barely touching. Bare skin to bare skin.
Electric.
Her brain screamed incoherently.
OH NO.
OH NO NO NO NO NO.
Why does his hand feel warm? Why is it firm? Why does this feel like a scene I've reread seventeen times at 2 a.m.—
She sucked in a sharp breath.
His eyes darkened immediately.
"…There," he said quietly.
Her stomach dropped.
"There what?"
"That," he repeated. "That reaction."
"W-what reaction are you talking about?!"
"You inhaled sharply. Your pulse accelerated."
"STOP LYING! I'm just afraid of what you would do, you perv!"
"Perv?" he said, lips curving just slightly. "But in this situation, I am no longer innocent—because you did not pull away this time, and your body seems to respond."
Her mouth opened.
Closed.
Damn it.
"That's not true—!"
Her protest died mid-sentence as he leaned in.
Slowly.
Giving her every chance to stop him.
She should have.
She really should have.
Instead, her brain supplied extremely unhelpful commentary.
Okay but—
Hypothetically—
If this were a novel—
This is the part where—
His lips brushed hers.
Not a kiss. Just contact.
Soft.
Testing.
Her breath caught again.
Her hands—traitorous, traitorous hands—curled into the front of his robe without conscious permission.
The emperor froze.
Completely.
His breath hitched this time.
"…Aira," he murmured, voice lower, "your hands—"
"I DIDN'T DO THAT ON PURPOSE," she whispered frantically. Gosh, my sinner hands—now I look like the pervert! Bad hands!
"But you did it."
"I DIDN'T—"
Silence.
Charged.
Dangerous.
Then—
"…May I?" he asked.
Her brain blue-screened.
May I?
WHY is he polite at the worst possible time?!
Her mouth betrayed her before her dignity could intervene.
"…Just—don't rush."
That was it.
She didn't know why she said that. What the heck was wrong with her?! Her body was completely contradicting her mind!
That was permission.
His lips pressed to hers again—this time fully.
Still gentle.
Still controlled.
Still nothing like the overwhelming force she'd complained about earlier.
And oh.
Oh no.
This is bad.
Her body responded instantly, like it had been waiting for this exact moment.
Her lips softened.
Parted slightly.
She leaned in without realizing it.
The emperor felt it. A low sound escaped his throat—half breath, half laugh.
When he pulled back just enough to look at her, there it was.
That smirk.
Small.
Triumphant.
"Oh," he murmured. "So this is what you meant."
Her eyes flew open.
Then—like a bucket of ice—reality slammed into her.
"W-WHAT—?!"
"You are responding," he continued calmly, far too calmly for a man currently kissing her. "Without instruction."
Her face ignited.
"I—no—I just—my body—!"
"As you said," he reminded gently, "sometimes the body reacts before the mind."
He leaned in again—brief, teasing, barely there.
She followed without thinking.
The second her brain caught up, she gasped and pulled back, hands flying to her mouth.
"WAIT—WAIT—WAIT—THAT WAS NOT—!"
He straightened, hands returning to his sides.
But the smirk remained.
Unrepentant.
Satisfied.
"…You kissed back," he said.
"I DID NOT!"
"You leaned in."
"That was gravity!"
"Your lips parted."
"That was reflex!"
"You sighed."
"…I did NOT sigh."
He raised an eyebrow.
She froze.
"…I maybe exhaled."
His smirk deepened.
I hate him.
I hate him so much.
Why is he hot when he's smug?!
"That," he continued, "proves my point."
"There was NO point!" she protested weakly.
"There was," he said. "You wished to stop—but did not. You wished to resist—but responded."
She spluttered.
"That doesn't mean you get to tease me about it!"
"I am not teasing," he replied solemnly.
She stared.
"…You are absolutely teasing."
"…Perhaps a little."
Her jaw dropped.
"I am learning," he said, completely serious. "You react strongly to provocation."
Her soul curled up and died.
"This lesson is OVER," she declared, shoving him toward the door.
He didn't stop her.
Instead, he said calmly—
"You kissed me back."
She spun around.
"ONCE."
"And unconsciously."
Her face went nuclear again.
"I WILL NEVER LIVE THIS DOWN."
He smiled.
Fully this time.
Warm.
Dangerous.
"Thank you, instructor," he said softly. "Your demonstration was… effective."
"I SAID THERE WAS NO DEMO!"
"And yet," he replied, eyes gleaming, "you taught me anyway."
She groaned, dragging both hands down her face.
"I am never opening my mouth again."
"I doubt that."
"…I hate you."
"No," he said gently. "You are flustered."
She paused at the door, hand on the handle.
"…Don't get any ideas," she warned.
"I already have," he replied easily.
She fled.
Heart racing.
Face burning.
Mind screaming.
I kissed an emperor.
I kissed him back.
TWICE.
I am never sleeping again.
Behind her, the emperor touched his lips thoughtfully.
And smiled.