8 Arc 1.5: Emperor's Beloved Tutor
Please wake up."
A week had passed since the incident. This week felt like it was eternity for the young crown prince. There were no tears left to cry.
All he could do was hope.
Like his beloved tutor asked of him.
The gorgeous male was sickly pale. His lips a crimson red contrasting to his face. The larger males hand squeezed the frail and weaker one. His eyes had yet to open. Only his weak breathing could be heard.
Little did he know what was going on in his tutor's mind.
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"Xiao UWU. How long should I keep this up. It's exhausting acting like a sick person."
[Host, I could provide you with the antidote at a discount!]
"No thanks. I'll keep this up for awhile longer or else it would be suspicious"
[Your so *sniff* brave host. Stay strong! (●*∩_∩*●)]
Nian gave a virtual pat to his adorable system before sighing and sinking deeper into the silk sheets.
His mind trailing to a certain memory when they were older as he stare at the set of flowers to the side of him. They were Poppies. He had seen them being brought in buy a servant when Li was on duty.
He closed his eyes. Reminiscing at the scene. A soft smile painting it's way onto his features.
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The boy lay on his stomach, watching the tiny, red flowers.
"What are they?" he'd asked his tutor at one point. He'd never seen them before, or at least never noticed. He pocked at the flower in which gently swayed within the breeze
"These are what are known as poppies."
"Why are they here?"
The child tilted his head cutely. Putting a finger to his lips contemplating.
This earned a chuckle from the tutor.
"Well obviously because they flourish in this weather."
He poked the child's head. Both of them laughing.
"I just didn't expect them to grow here. The servants would probably thought of it as a weed."
"What is going inside of that little brain of yours!?"
"Nothing. Haha!"
"Well these flowers are used for war."
"War? Are they war flowers."
He look confuzzled at this. Inspecting the flower. Before pointing at this. His eyes saying 'this harmless little thing?'
"Silly child."
Jazz held the flower in her fingertips so that it did not touch his scuffed palms. How was it that in all this chaos this delicate bloom should survive? It's stem was the hue of spring grass and it's brilliant red petals so thin that even the air, made dim by the plumes of debris and smoke, could shine through them; bestowing an unearthly glow.
The smile that had played at the corners of his lips cracked into a sad smile. This flower, while reaching for the sun was a living corpse, it was alive and dead. It was a symbolism or pleasure but was used to pray for the fallen one.
The child stared at his tutor's saddened face frowning.
"Well this small fragile flower means pleasure. But also hails the fallen ones. From at least where I am from."
"Don't you live here though."
"Why yes. But my heart is elsewhere."
'Was he going to leave.'
"Are you going to leave?"
The child had his head down. Fiddling with the hem of his robe.
"Although I can't pray I'll stay forever. But I will support you no matter what. With my utmost fidelity."
He smile gently before standing up and wiping the grass on his bottom.
"Come on let's get a move on to your lesson."
The younger male trailed behind. Giving one more glance at the flowers.
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The egg yolk sun poured through the cracks in the blind and awaited entrance into Nian's eyes. Sight still in the clutches of the dream, he hesitantly rubbed the dreams away. Thoughts of the visions in sleep come and go in waves, clinging on to the memory. He chuckled as he slowly sat up.
A low, velvety melodic voice sounded in his ears.
"Get up slowly."
His eyes met a pair of blood red one. The sickly male chuckled before coughing. The crown prince quickly leaned forward to aid the bed ridden male.
"Drink some water then take your medicine."
The male could only chuckle in response.
"You are much like a mum. I'll take my medicine so don't worry."
The taller male frowned at the response.
"Don't worry? I'm worried sick."
A gentle smile was the response of the male dressed in a thin robe.
A spoon was led to his dry mouth.
"Now take this medicine."
"I assure you your royal highness I can do it on my o-"
His eyes narrowed in fustration and sadness.
Nian could only sigh at the childness of his student.
He obediently opened his mouth and drank the liquid medicine that was bitter.
He quickly took a gulp of water to quench his thirst.
Li began spoon feeding Nian some chicken soup that should improve his vitality.
The two ate in peace.
Some of the cherry blossom petals floated into their room. They seem like a married couple in tranquility.
But it was ruined by the sound of coughing.
Li began to panick. Dropping the bowl and spoon before calling for a doctor. Urgency evident in his voice.
'Aish. I still need to stop the war. But if I miraculously heal it'll be suspcious. This is what I get for being careless. I guess I'll need to speed things up...'
He decided to talk to his sytem.
"Hey Xiao UWU. Do you have any medicine that could numb the pain in my body for at least a month or surpass the poison."
[I do host. It will cost 400 points. Would you like to purchase a 'numbing pill.']
Yes <
No
Nian pressed yes and hid the pill he received into his sleeve before popping it into his mouth.
On que, the doctor scurried in and quickly took Nian's pulse. His face paling as he shook his head in greif.
Li seemed to notice and grabbed the sleeve of the old doctor. His brows furrowed in fury and fear.
"Spit it out!"
He seethed through his teeth.
The doctor quivered in fear under the oppressive aura.
"T-The patient s-seems to only have about 2 more months left to live.."
Li dropped the male and turned his head to the pale yet gorgeous male on the bed who seemed unfazed by the news.
"Shizun I can gi-"
"It's fine. I have already had a fulfilling life. At least let me complete my duty as your tutor. Do not utter a word to anyone about this okay."
He smile gently. The awe familiar smile to the saddened prince.
"I well..okay. But I will heal you. Even if it takes my life."
"Child. I am already my happiest being with you."
"Then marry me."
Surprise filtered through Nian. He hadn't expected him to ask so quickly.
"Pardo-"
"I said marry me. At least then. I'll know you'll love me."
"You do realise your saying. What about Lina?"
(Lina was a princess whom had been courting Li since childhood. Sometimes they would play together as little kids. But they soon drifted apart although Lina became more clingy.)
"I never loved her. I don't care about that. All I want is to marry you. I've loved you for so long."
"But don't you realise I'm about to die?"
Nian's eyes watered as he smile sorrowfully. Never had someone been this expressive to him and showed him so much love. So much devotion. Not caring of the consequences. It tugged at his heart strings. It truly was a warm feeling.
"Why can't you understand I love you! Your the one who taught me love!"
Li's crimson eyes wept unspoken tears of love and anguish. It seemed like his heart was bleeding. He truly was in live with Nian. His eyes looked deeply into his beloveds.
"Why can't you understand..."
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A eager child tugged at his tutor's sleeve as he was signing some documents.
"What's love?"
The male was slightly taken a back. He place a hand on his chin.
"Well it's hard to say. Where did you even think of this anyways?"
"Books!"
"Books? Those are so very cliché but it happens. Well if I could put love into words.....The opposite of hate is love and appreciation - not tolerance or blindness. If hate is ice, then love is warmth and tolerance is a cold neutral. If you want to melt ice, be warm. If you want to combat hate then love with a passion. Instead of "blindness" show others how to see beauty in whom they fear. Show them how to make the loving bonds of true and lasting friendship.
Love is such a strange emotion. It'll make you feel pain but happiness."
"Your contradicting youself!"
The child pouted.
"You'll understand it one day."
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"I realised I love you long ago."
Li held Nian's delcate hand. Intertwining their fingers together. It seem to fit together like a missing puzzles.
Nian's eyes trailed to a pair of gorgeous ruby gems. His eyes couldn't help but soften. He spoke softly,
"Are you sure, I can be troublesome at times. Will your parents even accept us?"
"I'll make sure they accept it even if I have to-"
"You won't need to worry about it son."
The emperor walked in with his grandmother.
The emperors piercing orbs trailed to Nian who was about to get up and knowton. He signalled with his hands to stop. A smile soon appearing on his chapped lips.
"No need. I want my son to be happy. I must also repay you for saving my life. I will arrange a wedding for you. That is if you accept my son's love for you. I can tell he truly cares deeply for you. As I did for my wife."
Li looked expectantly at his tutor. The grib tightening, but not to much as to hurt him.
"Meeting you was a fate, being your friend; a choice. And falling in love, was bound to happen. You are the one who paints my world. You are the one who keeps me shielded, defends me from the brutality. You are the one I will die a thousand times for."
Nian faltered under the gaze and confession, he chuckled before before sighing helplessly.
"Alright I accept your proposal. But promise me one thing."
Li quickly nodded, exhilarated that the love of his life accepted his love.
"Promise me when I leave you'll continue on and find happiness. Create a family and protect your people. Although I can't be with you forever in this lifetime."
Nian put his palm above where Li's heart would lay.
"I will be with you here."
Li looked heart broken and nodded before engulfing the smaller male in a warm hug.
"I'll try to. Just know I love you."
"Yes I know. Ah yes I need to give you something."
Nian shuffled through the wooden draw beside him. Taking out a single golden key before he placed it into his now fiancé's hand.
"Take this. You'll know when to use it. It's the key to my heart."
Nian chuckled at the jokes before leaning forward.
Nian's lips alight on Li's cheek like a dew freckled petal caught in a breeze, so soft and with the smallest hint of coolness. A smile adorned both of their lips as they snuggled against each other.
'May our love live forever my beloved royal tutor.'
