XI: A deal in the dark.

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As soon as the door closed behind them, the emperor changed his face, the prince was already expecting the argument that they would have, so he tried to get as far away as he could before it started, before he got violent.

"This is starting to make me sick, you know well the repercussions that being seen secretly hugging someone would have brought."

The poison was pouring out of his words, he was angry and from the prince's perspective, it also sounded like an excuse to mistreat him. The dim light in the room gave a strange atmosphere, the tension seemed to increase thanks to the movement of the fire in the candles, the emperor's shadow darkening the path in his path almost made the youngest tremble as he watched him approach.

"I'm conscious, but it didn't happen, you can't punish me for something that didn't happen."

He tried to reason with him, he knew it wouldn't be easy and that maybe he wouldn't even listen to him but at least he wanted to try not to reach something physical, because, obviously, he would be the most affected.

"I CAN." -His tone of voice was deeper, colder, and much more perverse when affirming that, he sought to offend and his hostile look implied that there was no place for talk, he was already determined to end with violence, to find that way to exercise it.— "Because I already warned you about your behavior, and even with all those important people gathered you didn't think to be more careful."

Yes, that was true, he let himself be carried away by emotion and forgot where he was, with whom and in what situation, the joy of meeting his sister, whom he thought he would never see again, made him reckless and even so he did not regret it what he did because he knows that Lumine wouldn't get tired until she could see him, she would try again, she is that kind of person.

"Really, this can't go on like this..." -The prince murmured, he was fed up, fed up with being seen from above as if he were no less than a pleb, and that every attitude of him caused this, but above all, it hurt his pride every time that he couldn't defend himself.- "You can't keep treating me like a possession, you look for any reason to attack me."

The prince crossed his arms and looked him firmly in the eyes, he tried not to hesitate when the older one quickly approached and hit the wall next to him, squeezing him with his body, there was no contact as he was looking to intimidate with his larger body.

"I don't treat you 'as if you were', you are, you know you're nothing more than an object."

He said condescendingly as he touched his chin and forced him to look up, which he had become addicted to doing, the emperor could actually barely suppress the urge to roughly squeeze that pretty face in front of him.

"I'm not-"

"They traded you for a treaty," -He interrupted.— "For the stability of your nation, to give a better life to your people... You know that since we got married you have been completely mine and you cannot say that you have not accepted this agreement."

The prince swallowed heavily, he could not respond to those words because it was completely true and that hurt almost as much as the abuse of the older. Aside from his initial plan to try to fall in love, he knew well that it could happen, that his submission would be required, but he also had the hope that he could reason with such an important man and be able to live apart without the need for all of this.

"And you still refuse to behave as I demand?" -He continued, taking advantage of the fact that the prince was quiet.- "Is it that hard for you? Do you plan to continue avoiding your responsibilities as a concubine?"

The prince was offended, which was evident from the expression on his face.

"I don't... You don't need me, you already have someone, isn't that enough?"

The emperor slid his hand down the cheek of the youngest, caressing him while a sinister smile appeared on his face, he was not surprised that he knew about his lover since he himself told him that the prince saw them, his hand slipped delicately until it reached his neck and that's when he grabbed his hair tightly.

"Are you questioning me? Do you tell the most powerful being in all of Teyvat to 'conform'?"

The man raised his voice as he lowered his head to find his forehead with that of the prince who, despite everything, remained faithful, trying not to be intimidated and hoping to appease the older man so as not to end up with blows, although at that point it seems impossible.

"Conform? I thought you loved each other, why not-"

"I didn't talk about him, he is perfect." -He said in an almost delirious tone, he considered it audacious that he continued talking about his lover.— "We're talking about you, I can have you as well as anyone I want and it'll be fine, do you know why?" -The prince frowned with annoyance upon hearing his delusions of grandeur, it was evident that he believed everything those sycophants told him.— "Because I deserve it, because with my sweat and blood I managed to build everything you see, and because I am the emperor, if I want something I have it."

"You talk about responsibility and you behave like a spoiled child."

He said with obvious annoyance as he looked into his eyes, the next thing he felt was a stinging pain on his cheek and a ringing in his ear, he had slapped him too hard.

"I like you, you are stubborn, even after all this time you dare to disrespect me to my face." -He laughed at the prince's confused expression and the way he was holding his sore and red cheek.- "It's more fun this way."

"It's not funny."

He responded seriously pushing the older man's chest although that did nothing to push him away, the sick look on the man's made him want to run and hide in the bathroom.

"For me it is."

He said at the same time that he pulled the prince's hair and threw him to the floor, Aether was still surprised by the strength that the man had when all he has seen him do is take walks and sit down. The prince felt his face get wet, his nose hurt like hell and it became difficult for him to breathe, he did not hesitate to start moving and try to remove the older man's hand that kept holding him pressed to the floor, he had also pressed his knee against his back.

"You're- Let me go, there's no need to do this."

The prince was very aware of the differences between their strengths, trying to free himself always ended in a useless effort that only served to tire him more, and even so, he couldn't help but try to free himself by doing what he could, scratching and hitting the hand that held him by the even when that hand came down to grab his neck he kept trying, Aether knew a little about self-defense but realized he couldn't do anything against the techniques the man used to subdue him. The emperor was entranced by the sight, the blood was forming a bigger and bigger puddle on the floor and staining the pale skin of the blond who was beginning to tremble, he did not hesitate to start undressing his lower part with his free hand just to torment him more.

"Stay still and be a good boy."

That made him shudder, he hates being called that way, the older man always calls him "good boy" when he's finished abusing him, so those words began to relive that trauma. As soon as the prince's intimate area was exposed, the older man used his free hand to cup the boy's tender and round buttock, making him react worse, turning around desperately and uncoordinated, but unable to get away enough to have the chance to escape his iron grip.

" N-no… No, no…"

The emperor spat on him, the sticky saliva slowly sliding down the boy's skin, being guided by his fingers until it reached his entrance, he didn't even wait for it to be properly moistened when he inserted his fingers.

"Where did that reckless attitude go?"

The emperor whispered to him when he saw him squirm, when he took his fingers out he readjusted his clothes to be able to release his erection, he didn't know at what moment he started to get hard but at that point, it didn't matter, he only cared about unloading, getting more of his twisted and addictive pleasure.

"Wait! Please wait, it hasn't- I don't want to, please, please-"

He began to beg as soon as he felt the older man's erection on his lower back, his breathing began to become difficult, to accelerate, the prince felt his limbs weaker despite how tense he was, if he was nervous before now he was more, soon his mind worked against him when he thought that he couldn't against the man who was holding him, that he couldn't do anything again.

"Tell me, would you like to make a deal?" - He whispered as he moved his hips slowly, the prince murmured to let go, ignoring the question.— "I can treat you well, if you sleep in the bed again and there are no more unforeseen events, I could be as kind as you want, or rather, I could prepare you properly."

The prince didn't say anything, he couldn't, the fear of suffering that kind of pain made him consider the older man's words, he didn't even realize when he started crying because he found himself in a 'dead end'.

"Think about it, it's not a bad deal, I would even say that you earn more."

Then he walked away, walked quietly through the room and closed the bathroom door, keeping the key, the exit was open but the emperor was very sure that the boy would not come out, it was not convenient for him to make more scandals and escaping would only aggravate the situation. The man searched through one of the drawers until he took out a beautiful vial with a pale golden liquid, he took a look at the prince who was still trembling but had managed to get up and stay on his knees, the blood-stained part of his face and neck and he had already stopped to leave, the eldest thought it was a pity.

He hit the mattress a couple of times as he sat down on the bed, prompting him to go to him, the boy didn't move, scared as he was, he even considered that if he tried to leave he would be caught before then.

"What? If you don't come then I'll come to you, assuming you've refused my deal."

The prince swallowed heavily, he wanted to call Alatus to take him away and hug him, but he wasn't even outside, that day it was Ganyu's turn to guard and Shenhe was the one who managed the patrol around, he would only make a fool of himself when he left and it would ruin the good image of both of them, of their peaceful treaty, if any of the important guests saw it. Still with tears in his eyes and feeling weak and totally defeated, he got up and walked slowly to get closer, his gaze lowered as he sat between the man's legs, feeling that he undressed him and whispered in his ear, he stopped thinking, he went limp while his mind, to evade reality, wandered into the beautiful memories of his previous life and his fanciful dreams of romance.

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The prince was beating the wooden dummy in the training area with intense fury, the guards passing by couldn't help but stop their pace as soon as they realized that the fierce grunts of effort belonged to the very famous empress, neither could they avoid being entranced by seeing him since it was definitely a sight worth witnessing, not only because of the young man's beauty but because his movements were not bad, in fact, to they surprise, he was quite good at what he did.

The emperor recognized the sound while taking a walk through the pavilions and corridors of his palace, redirected his walk, turned into the corridor and approached the railing to see the pavilion on the lower floor and who was waiting, the sight pleasantly surprised him. In a way, since the prince was noticeably angry, seeing him vent with such intensity satisfied his ego since someone so calm and cheerful was like this because of him. Alatus, who was behind his superior, also came closer to watch although he was more surprised as he easily noticed how the prince's anger was affecting the precision of his attacks, attacks that he knows to be coordinated. and precise.

Suddenly someone decided to break into what seemed to be the "private" training of the prince, a tall red-haired man who approached taking slow and calm steps, with a mischievous smile on his face he began to clap his hands slowly to get their attention.

"I see you like to mess with the weak."

The prince turned around, and raised an eyebrow when he heard the man's attempt to joke, it didn't give him good vibes but he decided to wait and see what he suddenly wanted.

"I mean, if you want to vent it should be with someone who can fight back against you."

The prince snorted, he wondered if he should act like he didn't know the man even seeing the confidence with which he spoke to him, he was tense, he wasn't going to let his guard down with someone who is so close to the emperor, he could only imagine someone so twisted like him being his lover.

"Are you offering me a duel?"

Asked the prince with his sword strongly drawn but pointing to the ground, imitating a relaxed pose despite the fact that his eyes were fixed on the figure of the redhead, alert in case he tried anything despite having seen how Shenhe approached with his spear to come between the two. The redhead let out a short and loud laugh until he ran out of air, the guard frowned at that strange reaction and interposed his spear between him and the strange man.

"Calm down beauty." -He said directly to Shenhe but he didn't hold his gaze on her for too long.- "What do you say? You dare?"

The prince rolled his eyes but then raised his hand to make him understand that everything was fine.

"Tch... You are daring, but I accept, I don't see why not"

He was still annoyed and the redhead's interruption took him out of his thoughts but it didn't take away that bad energy contained, he thought that maybe if he took it out on him he would feel better so he accepted.

"Perfect! Give me a moment, I'll go get a weapon."

He said without waiting for an answer, when Shenhe turned around he approached the prince to ask if he was really okay with the situation, that he shouldn't put himself at risk like that, she didn't have a good impression of the man either and after he spoke with Alatus about what he saw her perception of him worsened. The prince smiled at her tenderly, reassuring her that it was not a problem for him and that he was interested in fighting someone anyway since Alatus was not with him.

The man returned with short swords in each hand, their design somewhat outlandish for a weapon used by guards that Aether quickly realized was his own weapon.

"Sorry, I didn't introduce myself sooner."

"It is not necessary, Ajax, I think that we are both already quite aware of the other."

He interrupted him while they both got into position, the prince was the first to attack since he saw that the older one did not move from the spot, although it was a calm attempt at a blow, the redhead countered with intensity, returning the attack with surprising speed, to the point he could hardly defend himself, fortunately, he began to understand his movements so as not to let himself be overwhelmed.

"I see you won't even give me a chance to like you."

The sound of metal crashing against metal was satisfying to him, Ajax partly wanted to meet his lover's concubine by his own means and also to make sure that the jealousy he had been feeling lately was unjustified, that Rex Lapis was watching them from above only encouraged him to show off more.

"As if that were possible."

The prince refuted as he tried to gain an advantage in combat by pressing the man until he weakened, he began to feel more irritated due to the permanent smile of the redhead that did not coincide at all with his dead and dangerous eyes.

"You're funny, I see why he " likes " you."

He said with a sour tone, his attacks became faster forcing the prince back little by little while avoiding being cut by the swords that moved in perfect synchrony and burning passion.

"He doesn't like me, in fact, you should do something to keep him only to yourself."

He spat with annoyance, he was so fed up with the emperor that he couldn't measure his words when saying that, perhaps, if he was calm, he would have chosen less derogatory words. The way the malicious smile on the redhead's face widened must have been enough warning for what was coming, he lashed out at him, attacking with his swords separately to look for the slightest slip and take advantage of it, which was sensible considering that he couldn't properly block his blows from coming from both flanks resulting in the perfect opportunity to damage him, faster than Aether could foresee he felt a gash extending down one of his sides, as a final touch the older man kicked his heel to make him lose control balance causing him to fall to the ground as clumsily as his state of shock allowed him.

"Haven't you learned anything? Don't tell others what to do."

The man devoured cynicism while he shook his weapon to get rid of the fresh blood that stained it, the prince heard him but the words were not processed by his mind due to the pain and the feeling of vertigo at seeing how the blood stained his clothes and little by little traced a path to the ground. Shenhe ran towards them and did not hesitate to press his spear against the neck of the redhead who simply dropped his weapons by raising his hands, his mischievous smile returned to his face as if he was trying to look innocent despite his actions.

" Damn trash, how dare you?"

"Leave it Shenhe, the man has only made a miscalculation." -Intervened the emperor as he approached at a slow pace, he couldn't see it but Shenhe and Ajax could, Alatus was anxious, worried, and eager to run towards the prince.- "It could happen."

Shenhe nodded and moved his weapon away but she didn't move from the redhead's side, she kept her icy gaze fixed on him. The emperor approached the boy on the ground who was pressing his wound to avoid losing more blood, his face was pale and his gaze was fixed on the ground even when he heard them approaching him.

"Poor thing, do you want me to take you to the infirmary?" -Fake kindness painted his tone, Rex Lapis crouched down to look at the boy who quickly denied and even tried to back down so as not to be touched, he couldn't get very far.- "Don't be shy."

He said laughing while ignoring the prince's intentions, he picked up the boy in his arms before starting to walk in the direction of the nearby infirmary, the emperor ignored the looks around him as his gaze was fixed on the bright red that stained his husband's hands feeling a strange excitement that tempted him to bother the boy. The prince bit his lip feeling pain simply from moving, he had to swallow his retorts and let himself be charged despite not wanting his help, he ignored the guards knowing that Alatus and Shenhe would be worried about him, Alatus would probably be more noticeable in the face.

Upon entering the place, the guards stayed outside guarding the door and were stunned to see how a man with glasses and green hair came out and stood next to them.

"... Sr. Baizhu?"

Alatus asked seeing him, anxiety grew inside him and it was only two seconds since he looked away from the man to the door, wondering if he should enter, the prince's sudden gasp made him move immediately but the doctor stopped him.

"You shouldn't interfere."

The man said, he was not scolding him or worried, he looked more surprised than anything else, the man was aware of the cruelties that the emperor had done for the history written in textbooks but he did not expect to find it face-to-face in times of peace, much less when it was addressed to his empress. The three remained silent while they listened to a series of groans coming from the prince, whatever they did not indicate anything good, luckily for all of them this did not last too long since the emperor called the doctor from inside to come in.

It was a few long minutes for the guards who were impatient to know what had happened inside, Alatus, for his part, felt chained by something invisible, his duty, he had to remain stoic at the door doing his job but his heart ached for not being able to enter to help his beloved sun. When the emperor came out, he was still carrying the body of his husband, blood stained his expensive clothes, the hands of both, and the corner of the emperor's lips, seeing the prince trembling and hiding his face in the chest of the older made Alatus feel totally sick but, no matter how he felt, he followed the man from behind with Shenhe as his duty dictated.

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