Chapter 180: Vampire / 4.7 : Pressure system
Yawen got out of his car and walked up the stairs. His eyes flashed in ambition as he looked at the beautiful palace. Soon this place will be his home. He was upset about Yuning not defending him but yesterday they spoke.
He and Yuning were getting closer but they didn’t go further than kissing. He let him know that the only way he would go further in their relationship is if the tradition of the offering was abolished and he did.
Yesterday he told him that he would have a banquet a week after the last offering to announce their relationship and he was over the moon. He was worried he had lost his hold on Yuning because of Atlas but he was wrong.
He abolished the tradition for him so, of course, he loves him. Even if this whole thing started because he wants to become a vampire and rule with him he does have feelings for him.
The more time he spent with him the more Yuning would open up and he couldn’t help but fall for him. Even if he doesn’t care much for Tan he finds it sweet how much he cares for him.
Yawen followed the butler to the imperial office. He knocked and entered when he was let in. He smiled at Yuning and he smiled back.
"Have a seat."
Yawen took a seat. He asked
"How are you?"
Yuning leaned back on his chair.
"I’m okay what about you did you manage to calm down your people?"
Yawen said:
"Barely they all want Atlas to be replaced as the offering. They don’t believe he deserves that honor."
"What do you think?"
Yawen said:
"I think that they’re right. Everyone watches the offering the entire month and we can’t have him saying those kinds of incendiary things live on television. Kids are watching too."
Yuning nodded and asked:
"What do you propose?"
"I think that we should find a new volunteer."
Yuning thought and said:
"Search for a volunteer but in the meantime don’t make any announcement."
Yawen nodded but inside he felt happier than he ever had.
He already has a list so he’ll pretend to look for someone and make sure they announce the new offering the night of the ball. Yuning asked:
"What’s your family’s relationship with Atlas?"
Yawen sid:
"My family sponsored an orphanage and my parents took in Atlas. He worked in the castle and begged me to be the offering. I was reluctant seeing that we all thought of him as family but he was determined so I agreed. If I knew he would behave this way I would have never given him that honor."
When Yuning simply nodded Yawen relaxed. He knew he could fix it easily. Thinking about what he talked about with Xinzhi he said:
"I was wondering if XInzhi could speak to Atlas after dinner. He was hurt after what happened last time. He and Atlas have always been close and he doesn’t want to end their friendship like that."
Yuning said:
"Sure."
Yawen smiled.
Now that Yuning has agreed they can kill Atlas with total impunity. But for that Xinzhi has to be alone with Atlas. Yawen stood up and sat on Yuning’s lap. Since he’s been so sweet and helpful he deserves a treat.
Yuning wrapped a hand around his waist.
"Thank you, your majesty."
Yuning leaned in and kissed him. After a few seconds of kissing him, he frowned and deepened the kiss but he still felt the same.
Before when he would kiss Yawen he would feel something but he doesn’t anymore. Even if he decided to focus on Yawen everything about him belongs to Atlas.
He broke the kiss when someone walked in.
"Brother Atlas and I..."
Tan stopped when he realized that he had interrupted his brother and Yawen. He said:
"I’m sorry brother I should’ve knocked."
Atlas who was holding his hand looked at him with a smile and said:
"I told you should’ve knocked."
Tan smiled at him and then put berries on Yuning’s desk.
"Atlas and I got you berries I just wanted to drop them off before I get ready for dinner."
Yuning smiled at him and said:
"Thank you."
Tan smiled back.
Yuning looked at Atlas and saw that he was looking at Tan. He had a smile on his face. Atlas pulled Tan’s hand and they turned around. He stopped when Yawen called:
"Atlas."
Atlas turned around and looked at him. He laid on Yuning’s chest and said:
"I hope you are doing better since the banquet."
Atlas’ eyes darkened. Yawen’s hand was traveling freely on Yuning’s chest like he was his. Atlas looked at Yuning and then at Yawen with a smile.
"I’ve always been well I only said the truth that night."
Before he could say more Atlas left with Tan. After accompanying Tan to his room he went to his suite and closed the door. He looked in the distance in anger, he felt his hands trembling.
Atlas felt a sharp pain in his chest and fell to his knees. His breathing hitched and he closed his eyes waiting for the pain to pass. When he heard the door opening he kept focusing on his breathing.
Yuning looked at Atlas wide-eyed and carried him to the bedroom. After laying him down he saw him contorting in a fetal position in pain. He flew out of the room and came back after calling the imperial physician.
He touched his forehead and saw that he was warm. He frowned and asked:
"Where does it hurt?"
Atlas didn’t answer and kept his eyes closed.
He knew this would be painful but he doesn’t understand why he feels so sick. His fever started this morning. If he knew how painful it would be to take your feelings away he would’ve never done it.
This all thing was a mistake. His entire body aches. When he felt Yuning caress his back he relaxed slightly. The physician came in and after checking Atlas he said:
"He has a fever."
Yuning asked:
"Can I just give him my blood to heal him?"
The physician shook his head.
"Even if the symptom mirror a fever I feel like there’s more to it. All I can do right now is give him something to relieve the pain until I do a blood analysis."
Atlas’s body and face were drenched in sweat and his mind started to blur until he lost consciousness.
