Book 19: Chapter 49
The youngster walked to the window by the balcony and stood there. Liu Yue was leaning on the railing and in a daze.
“Struggling to sleep, Your Highness?”
Liu Yue was admiring the flower garden below and humming a tune from her homeland. She supported her head in her hand. Her body exuded the scent and moisture from just having come of the bath. She turned her head around when she heard the youngster’s voice. She twirled her tail then smiled bashfully: “I came out for some fresh air. I just finished having a bath. I, therefore, felt too hot to sleep.”
“You should be careful. The coronation ceremony is tomorrow. It is dangerous for you to be by the window. Plus, you could catch a cold.”
The youngster removed his cloak. Liu Yue didn’t refuse his polite and kind gesture, so she draped his cloak on. The youngster’s smell was so faint that she virtually couldn’t smell it. Instead, she smelt the fumes in the imperial palace. She intuitively tugged on the cloak. The youngster inquired, “You plan to stand here for a while, correct?”
“What made you think I won’t head straight back in?”
“Because you will not be able to sleep before events, isn’t that right?”
The youngster smiled noticed that some time ago. He just didn’t explicate it. Liu Yue’s face went a little red. Softly, she said, “Busybody,” before turning back to look at the flower garden.
“Is it all right for you to be standing next to me? You don’t stand next to others you guard. I know that I’m a pretty and nice girl, but I already have somebody I like, so you can quit while you’re ahead.”