Watching From The Sideline

"Lights out!"

The command echoed throughout the palace as it was followed by a resounding trumpet.

The moon was overhead, shinning so brightly illuminating the dark roofs of the visible red-brick palaces of Wu Kingdom. No soul was supposed to be seen wandering aimlessly on the sacred premises, except the soldiers standing on guard and servants waiting in front of the two specific closed thick doors.

The sprawling, extravagant imperial palace was at the centre surrounded by many other small palaces that had yet to extinguish the lamps and candles as per the usual curfew.

The emperor's sleeping quarters was the only exception and it was lit with fragrant candles to aid during the passionate night.

One could see intimate movements depicted from within the room, through the vevelt curtains which covered the screens. A pair of silhouettes tumbled and spun around as if they were dancing to some exciting rhythmic tune. Some time in between the guards standing outside could here some muffled groans and screams. However, the ones inside could hear everything more distinctly and watch everything very clearly.

Lui Xian, a man in his early thirties, was one such a man who was witnessing the unspeakable.

He has very long black hair that reached his back but he usually ties it in a neat ponytail. And he makes sure it doesn't get messy. Whenever he wanders around and does his work, he always looks after his appearance, especially when he is in the palace.

This spirited gentleman has been paying attention to everything with his dim brown eyes that had started to accumulate some moisture after staring at the scene occurring in front of him unblinkingly. His tanned skin had also become very red hot maybe from the erotic interactions below or probably from a too familiar feeling within his heart.

He stood upright with his six feet tall body almost touching the roof. He wore dull black clothes and a golden embroidered mask covering half of his face from just below his eyes. He had a sword at his waist that he kept clutching when it got too intense between the couple on the bed.

"....Ah...." A warm erotic scream filled the whole room before it was muffled in a kiss. Pale arms wound around the thick muscular back, holding tightly for support. The nails dug deep as if they were thirsting for blood.

"My Liege...please....some more.." A faminine voice managed to say when the woman was released from the ferocious kiss. She was struggling to breath, her pants, arousing the man more.

The unfortunate good looking man found himself staring attentively at the familiar scene through the slightly covered red curtains hanging at the sides of the bed. Apart from hearing everything he could also see the two stark naked bodies entangled together so that no space was left in-between.

Their union twisted and pricked his heart to a greater degree. At first when he was only seeing them mess around, his heart felt like it was suffocating and sinking after constantly hearing several moans. Then when he watched more, he clutched his chest wanting to lessen the pain.

The two lovers below continued groaning, purring whilst rolling between the sheets not even carrying for anyone.

It wasn't the first time he has witnessed all of this happening. Each day when he is on duty he dreads this time when he is watching something he longs for very much go away from his reach.

He had admired the elegant son of heaven for quite some years now. It is safe to say he had entered the palace for his sake. Going through the difficult training from being a mere commoner to being the secret royal guard who was always by his side. But it hurt so much to see the man he yearns for indulge with hundreds women each and every shift he is on. Sometimes he wonders why he had fallen in love with this man of all the people.

It was more than ten years back in the city when he was drinking with his friends at an Inn called Hulin.

"Xian I have heard you earned lots of pieces from that previous trade."

"Buy us some wine."

Lui Xian didn't even get a chance to refuse. At the time when he was ordering at the counter, a glimpse of shimmering light passed by.

He ran after it and caught up to a man probably in his late teens, walk at a distance with three skilled men behind him strolling leisurely without any worry in the world. He had a smile on as he walked as if he was hopping like a little rabbit, his ink-black hair falling as if following behind his every step.

What mostly caught Lui Xian's heart was the way the other moved from one station of food tents to the other, tasting delicacies so excitedly. And also the way his sharp azure eyes kept shifting from one place to the other. At that time he had an urge to stand up and carry the other person to his home.

He was shocked and disappointed when he discovered that the man was the crown Prince of Wu kingdom.

Lui Xian felt very dispirited knowing that he had no chance. It was the first time to feel attracted to the other with that kind of feeling. He spent many days at his manor, his mind filled with that one beautiful sight.

It was like that for half a month before he heard good news from his friends telling him that the palace was in the process of recruiting people to aid in the army. He had happily signed up and was very eager to meet his fancy. He spent years training so that he could be beside him forever. When the other took the throne he was by his side in every step of the way.

At a time like this, he wonders almost every night, "When am I going to get my happy ending?"