Sisi"s Dream
With her eyes on me, Queen Sisi nervously clasped her hands: "Umm… Did you not sleep well last night?"
"No… I had a bad dream."
Queen Sisi was evidently relieved after hearing my response.
"You did not do anything to me last night while I was sleeping, did you? Your Majesty, explain…"
"No! Of course not! How could I do that sort of shameless stuff?! Absolutely no!"
Queen Sisi immediately shook her head and loudly denied it as if I insulted her. I meticulously observed her. She forced herself to look me straight in the face in an attempt to hide her guilt in the most obvious manner. However, her face quickly turned red. Most importantly, she averted her gaze… I couldn"t really say anything. What happened already happened. Admit it or not, nothing would change.
Queen Sisi hugged me from behind and whispered next to my ear, "Oh, right, Little Doggy, you have never seen my name, have you?"
The question sent me straight down memory lane to last night. I wasn"t one who normally remembered his dreams, but Queen Sisi"s back hug sent a shiver up my spine…
"Everything has a price tag. Little Doggy, you"re aware that you have to corresponding price for everything that you gain. This is the price. You will never be able to escape us. There"s no way you can. Stop dreaming of a fairy tale story with her? We"ll always be by your side unless you accept this reality or watch her die…"
Queen Sisi"s words from last night and her touch were still vivid to me. Every part of the dream except for Queen Sisi seemed real.
"Could… Queen Sisi"s part last night wasn"t a dream but reality, then?" I pondered. I couldn"t tell if it was a dream or not. I questioned, "Why the sudden question?"
"Because you called that woman"s name last night in such a blissful voice. You even wore such an innocent smile when you called out to her. I was hugging you from behind, yet you called her name. I was right within your grasp. I gave you a back hug, yet you were thinking of her?!
"You were in my embrace, yet you thought about that woman. As if thinking about her during the day wasn"t enough. Why do I not even have a spot in your dreams at night? A day is a long time; why can"t I have a few minutes? All I ask is that you hold me for a few minutes, and tell me you love me.
"Why? Why is that mindless woman able to have such a precious treasure? Why is that woman wasting her G.o.d-sent treasure, yet still can"t waste all of his patience and love? Why exactly? Does his heart not break? How can I persuade him to give up?
"I want him to have his eyes on me. Despite the current predicament, despite me having done so much for him by his side, he won"t spare me as much as a glance. His eyes are always filled with sorrow because of that woman"s departure. Everything he does is for her, that woman who"s no different to a dimwit! What must be done for him to give up?" Queen Sisi was busting to blurt.
"Call me by my name. Come on. I"m no longer a Queen. You keep calling me Your Majesty this, Your Majesty that. It doesn"t sit right, does it? Moreover, wouldn"t I be exposed if you called me so when we"re out? Hence why, from now on, you must begin to practice addressing me by my name. Do you need me to teach you? Sisi. Sisi."
"I do not think that is appropriate, is it…? Not even Veirya addresses you by your name in spite of how close you two are."
Queen Sisi pouted. She then tugged my arm and started acting borderline flirtatious. She badgered, "Come on; call me by my name. Veirya can"t call me by my name. Additionally, I don"t allow anyone to address me by my name in the imperial palace, so I only get to hear my name here. I really like to hear my name. Little Doggy, address me by my name from now."
"Umm… Sisi?"
It was as easy as could be for me to address Queen Sisi by her name. I wasn"t the sort of person to be bashful when I had to call someone by their name as commonly seen in Manhua and Manga. I got over that age long ago. Queen Sisi, however, was different. Or rather, I thought she was. The moment I articulated her name, she shook as if she was electrocuted. I could feel her hands around my arm quavering.
"One… one more time… one more time… Can you continue calling me that from now? Just call me that anytime and anywhere. Just call me by my name. It sounds… very… very nice. Wouldn"t you agree? My name is nice, isn"t it…? I… really… really like you calling me by my name…"
Me in my head: "I"m innocent! I didn"t do anything! What are you trying to pull with that lovesick girl look?! Don"t! Stay back! Should I have not agreed to it from the beginning?"
"Everything has a price tag. Little Doggy, you"re aware that you have to pay corresponding price for everything that you gain. This is the price. You will never be able to escape us. There"s no way you can. Stop dreaming of a fairy tale story with her? We"ll always be by your side unless you accept this reality or watch her die…"
What Queen Sisi said in my dream was correct… Nothing is ever free. Satisfying Queen Sisi, motivated her to take a yard. In the future, she"d turn into another Lucia. As an elf, Lucia couldn"t influence me when I was in humanity"s lands. As for Queen Sisi, she"d become another Lucia once she reclaimed her throne. Veirya would end up dead without question, then. But then… I wondered if I should buy a new ring. A ring worth ten thousand gold coins should be so beautiful it"d charm her instantly.
"Okay now, Sisi, I need to get going."
I pressed a hand on Sisi"s hand. She indicated she understood and immediately pulled her hand back. She was as obedient as a newlywed wife. She was so gentle that n.o.body could imagine she poured a basin of hot water on the succubus. With a smile, she said, "Then, I shall wait for you to come back here. Come back early."
"Uhm."
"Wait… why did I just go along with it and call her Sisi?" I wondered.