I let out a startled yelp as his fingers hooked the underside of my collar once more. As I waited, breathless, he unpinned the other earring before removing one of his own. With practiced ease, he put the other half of my pair onto his right ear. He brushed his hair back with his fingers and showed it to me.
“See?” He smiled. “We match now.”
“Y-Yes…”
His skin was pale like the moonlight and his silky hair the elegant hue of ivory. The white plaited cord hanging from his earlobe seemed flimsy and out of place on a masterpiece like him.
I chewed on my lip. “I am sorry that it was already used.”
“Why apologize? I’m happy about it.” The corners of his eyes softened. He let go of his hair, hiding his ear. “I want it to be my little secret, so I won’t wear it that often. In exchange, I’ll give you this one.” Almost whimsically, he placed the earring he had taken off onto my palm.
I panicked. “Huh?!” It was embedded with amber and, although surprisingly light, literally worth its weight in gold or perhaps more. It was a precious gift and from the emperor himself. “Th-This must be a treasure though!” I protested.
He chuckled. “My father actually gave that to me when I became emperor. It’s a private article that isn’t listed in the national inventory, so don’t worry.”
“St-Still!” My fingers were trembling under the metaphorical heft of the item on my palm. “A-Are you sure you want to give it to me…?”
“Yeah. If you ask Yukinari, I’m sure he’ll help you get it adapted into a collar pin at a respectable store.”
“I can modify it?!”
“Do it. And wear it, please.”
“But…”
The emperor didn’t offer another word. Instead, he gave me a big smile, his hand covering mine and the earring on it. He wasn’t going to take no for an answer, and so I could only acquiesce.
I swallowed. “Yes, I will…”
He was indirectly telling me to show his present to Lord Yukinari. My head and heart were a mess; I had no idea what was going on. Why in the world did he give this to me? To someone unworthy like me…?
The emperor hummed to himself. “It’s going to get dark soon. Let’s head back.” He stretched before standing up from the bed.
I tried to get up with him, but my knees were weak, and I fell back, deflating like a pancake.
He blinked. “Sai?”
“I am afraid I…cannot muster any energy in my limbs…”
His eyes widened, then he chuckled again. “You’re kidding me, right?”
“No, I really cannot…” For some reason, my legs were paralyzed. I tried to stagger to my feet.
There was a hint of exasperation on his face as he laughed. “Ha ha. You’re acting as if I did something to you.”
“My apologies…”
“Well, I guess I did.” His smile broadened as he offered a hand to me. “Here, I’ll help you up.”
I grasped his hand. Touching it, strangely, felt natural, right. I squeezed and leaned some of my weight onto him. The emperor squeezed back—firm, but also tender.