The Dragon's Kiss

'I'll go first.'

The emperor had caught a soldier suspiciously bathing in the river in the early hours of the morning, unintentionally disturbing his own bath, and.. let that soldier go.

Did that make sense?

Could that be possible?

Was the entire thing a hallucination on Kel's part from lack of sleep?

The incident with the torch and then this, it was all sending a clear message to Kel.

That she was in danger.

"Gah!" Kel pouted, shaking her head. "Is he waiting for the right time to finish me off? Is he planning on playing mind games until I finally go crazy?"

Or..

Had he been just as surprised to see her as she had been to see him?

"Aw, cheer up, Kid," Matty soothed, gently patting Kel's shoulder. "Only one more night of morning patrol!"

As usual, the two of them were tasked with packing up the tent for the day's move.

"Just where are we heading anyway?" Kel mumbled, ripping a stake out of the ground. "Any farther west and we'll be in Mevani."

"But that's exactly where we're going?" Matty chuckled as he grabbed the stake from her and threw it into the growing pile nearby.

"T-to fight?"

Kel was taken aback. Were they really on their way to storm her home country?

"No, to make flower crowns and sing songs," Alaric snorted as he approached the two. "What else would we use an army for?"

"Making flower crowns is actually harder than it looks, though.." Matty responded thoughtfully, earning himself a sharp blow to the head from Alaric's fist.

"Anyway, Newbie," Alaric turned his icy gaze to Kel. "What did you do?"

"I.." Kel paused.

Surely, he couldn't be talking about last night. Taegus was the only one who knew. Had it been some sort of scheme after all?

"I must have eaten some bad food, Sir," Kel finally finished, dedicating herself fully to Taegus's embarrassing excuse.

"... Oh no, Kel," Alaric smacked his forehead with his palm. "You didn't puke on His Majesty, did you?"

"Eh? No, I-"

"Save it," Alaric cut Kel off. "I don't want to know the disgusting details."

Kel frowned. Somehow, she had just managed to create an even worse rumor for herself.

But, if it wasn't because of Taegus's loose tongue after all, then why was Alaric bringing up the emperor all of the sudden?

"Kel!" Severin's voice boomed as he approached the trio. "Just what did you do?"

This sounds familiar, Kel groaned.

"He barfed all over His Majesty!" Alaric immediately replied. "Can you believe it?"

"Agh, Kid.." Now it was Severin's turn to clap his forehead. "I feel sorry for you, but if it's like that then what can I even do?"

"Why do you guys keep asking what I did?" Kel questioned, having given up all hope of correcting their misunderstanding.

It was obvious she didn't do something as foul as throwing up on the Dragon Emperor, or her head wouldn't still be attached to her neck.

"Haaa," Severin let out a slow sigh. "You've been reassigned, Kid. Effective immediately."

"Reassigned?" Kel gulped. "Where?"

"The emperor's personal attendant," Alaric finished. "Probably gonna make you clean his clothes a hundred times over for the ones you soiled."

The emperor's personal attendant?

Kel knew her vain wish of the emperor letting their unexpected late-night rendezvous slide couldn't be true.

He's finally playing his cards, she thought to herself, so this is how I'll go down.

"It's been a good run, Newbie," Matty spoke up. "I hope we meet again in the next life."

"You idiot!" Alaric growled, serving the curly head another firm knock. "He's only going to wish he was dead!"

"Either way," Severin interrupted. "It's time to go, Kel."

The walk across camp to the emperor's section felt more like a march to the execution block. News of the unfortunate newbie chosen as a personal attendant for the brutal Dragon Emperor had spread faster than any fire Kel could make, and it seemed they all shared Matty's sentiment.

As she stepped solemnly behind Severin, Kel did her best to avoid the pitiful gazes stinging her. Some soldiers even offered glum farewells.

It was as if the entirety of the camp was convinced that the poor newbie was going to die.

Kel, however, didn't feel quite so gloomy as everyone else. Her stomach tingled and her heart was pounding, but it wasn't a bad feeling.

Excitement?

Anticipation?

What is wrong with me? she winced, willing her mouth to stop trying to smile.

Above all, though, she couldn't help but wonder if Calix was feeling the same way she was. They would be facing each other properly for the first time since that night she ran away.

Was he excited?

Kel's tiny hopes shattered instantly when she came face to face with the emperor.

If he was trying to hide a smile--to conceal his anticipation--then he had gone overboard. Black clouds were practically oozing out of his terrifying, devilish expression.

"G-good luck, Kid," Severin stammered softly as he saluted and began backing away.

Soon, the pitiful little archer was left alone in front of the furious-looking emperor.

"Your Majesty," Kel swallowed, bowing deeply.

"You're slow," Calix responded with a huff.

Kel glanced around. The tents and supplies in this corner of camp were still in the process of being packed away.

"Uh.. I apologize.." Kel replied, still baffled as to why he had criticized her. "Shall I start pa-"

"You know.." the emperor trailed off, stepping closer to Kel's bowed figure.

Fighting the urge to turn and run, Kel managed to remain still as he approached.

"I don't allow women in my army." The emperor's breath was warm against her ear. "I kill them immediately if I find them. No exceptions."

Kel inhaled sharply.

'T-then does that mean-"

"Are you saying that you're actually a woman?" The same breathy whisper cut her off.

"... No, Sir," Kel squirmed under the man's frightening aura.

Without another word, the emperor strode past her with a small wave for her to follow.

Kel stood frozen for a moment, trying to steady her breathing. Her heart that had been pounding out of excitement minutes ago was now thudding with fear.

"That was.. definitely a warning."