'Why would you want to kiss me?' I gaped at 1 with a stupefied expression, and whatever semblance of a romantic spell there was instantly broke at that moment. Out of all the questions I had been asked in Luxentfort, that ranked as the least likely I expected to get – and from the emperor, no less.
"You seriously don't know the answer to that?" Alessandro laughed, not bothering to hide his amusement. "Why do you think a man would want to kiss a woman?"
'That doesn't seem to apply to you,' I countered. 'In your case it's more like you want to kiss just about any woman that strikes your fancy.' I clicked my tongue and wagged my index finger at him. 'Or do I need to remind you that you already have 10 official bed partners?'
"I thought you wouldn't take my past relations with other women against me," Alessandro sniffed, sounding wounded. That was the keyword for him: past. Any relationship he had with other women unofficially ended the night of the ball, when he had seen 20 for the first time. Since then he had hardly talked with his higher ranked concubines outside of the group dinners organized once a week, let alone invited any of them to his private quarters.
'I don't,' I confirmed. 'But I refuse to be one of them.'
"I don't have the slightest interest in any woman except you." There, he finally said it. Alessandro didn't know how else he could make his point clearer than that.
'Then prove it,' I challenged. Somewhere at the back of my mind I could hear sirens going off at my audacity to speak so bluntly to the emperor. But that was the thing, since I had recently – very recently – reconciled with 1's identity, I began to treat him like I always did. So in a roundabout way I was simply talking to a guy I had known for months, someone who just expressed his interest in me, not the emperor of Luxentfort.
"How?" Alessandro asked softly, his eyes glinting at the assertive tone in 20's voice. He had never backed out of a dare before, and he wasn't about to start now.
I took a deep breath and plunged ahead. It was a sink or swim situation, and I couldn't take back what I had already said, so I might as well proceed. 'Lose all the other women,' I replied. I inwardly hyperventilated as soon as I said the words. I couldn't believe I had just made that demand.
I didn't even have enough guts to ask Bong-su to make our relationship public. In the three years we were together, I barely met any of his friends, and he didn't take me with him on any social gatherings. It was usually just the two of us, either in his apartment or out in a restaurant.
"If I do," Alessandro grinned, "will you say yes to my first question?" He had always treated 20 as his equal, regardless of the difference in their ranks. It pleased him to no end to see this confident side of her. She could definitely make demands of him. He, in turn, had no doubt that he could rise to her challenge – whatever it was.
I had to give 1 credit – he certainly didn't sound hesitant. 'If you do,' I said, returning his smile. 'I'll think about it.' I walked back to the coffee table and drank the rest of my tea. It was almost time for dinner, and I was sure that 19 would be looking for me soon. 'Thanks for the tea,' I added before seeing myself out.
*****
"What do you mean, Your Majesty?" a minister gasped. They were in a general assembly, attended by all the head ministers of the empire, and the emperor had just made an appalling announcement. He just wanted to make sure he heard it right.
"Exactly what I said," Alessandro replied. "Luxentfort will maintain its political connections to the kingdoms and territories under it just like before. But from now on, I expect the 10 highest ranked concubines to carry out their fair share of responsibilities in helping to run the empire."
The room erupted in noisy protest. "But Your Majesty," another minister spoke up. "Do you mean they'll no longer be your bed partners?"
"Yes," Alessandro confirmed, trying to hold on to his patience. He had been going around in circles for the past half an hour or so, repeatedly explaining the same things to these simpletons. Yes – Luxentfort will retain its political ties. And no – no concubine will be his bed partner moving forward. 'Unless,' he thought with a wicked grin, 'I can somehow convince 20 to do more than sleep in my bed.' He sighed. It wasn't as if it was going to happen anytime in the near future, so he might as well stop tormenting himself about the notion.
"What about the issue of Luxentfort's empress, Your Majesty?" a third minister called his attention. "Your highest ranked concubines are all valid candidates to be your wife."
"I will choose my own empress when the time comes," Alessandro declared. "But let me make myself very clear right now – it won't be any of the highest ranked concubines." He didn't see any pressing need to get married soon. When he did decide on that, however, he was sure he would ask for the hand of only one woman. No one else but her would do.
Caio observed all the commotion going on in the room, all the while calmly sipping his tea. It seemed like Alessandro took his warning seriously, and he was quite impressed at the measure he was willing to take as the emperor to officially clear his roster of women. But it wasn't enough.
The mastermind behind 20's assault hadn't been identified, even after her two assailants were executed. Caio remained on high alert for any signs that might indicate possible harm to her. As far as he was concerned, he was – and had always been – 20's protector. And he would never relinquish that role. Not to Alessandro, not to anyone else.