Chapter 1 - [ A Snowy Morning ]

The blistering cold bit at his fingertips as he staggered through the thick heaps of snow. Looking over his shoulder, their cowering figure appeared in his eyes. Looking down at the connected hands, he smiled as much as he could with his frozen cheeks. The grip of his hand clamped tighter onto the hand to show his support.

In response, their numb fingers curled around his own. Understanding immediately, he picked up the pace and started walking as fast as he could through these harrowing winds. His red eyes glowed like pale flames, in contrast their icy blue blended into the frosty atmosphere. His red cheeks illuminated as the wintry winds were starting again, this time with more ferocity.

It had felt like centuries had passed, yet he continued to trudge through the piles of snow without respite. A soft glow of light entered his field of vision. His eyes couldn't help but widen with excitement. Twisting his head around to look over his shoulder, the lack of the warming presence finally registered in his mind.

Behind him was nothing.

In his eyes was something.

In has hand was an eye, not just any eye.

It was his beloved's.

The rest of it was... gone. His beloved was gone.

The screams that wanted to come out were clogged. Fresh tears painted his eyes, collapsing to the ground, silent wails clawed out of his throat. His grip on the arm tightened so much so that it crumbled into thin dust. Realising his actions, he helplessly tried to collect the remains of the beloved, but alas, it was an impossible feat. Realising how the only thing keeping him alive was nothing but dust now broke his fractured heart.

Reaching aimlessly into his pocket, the sharp edge pierced his finger, but he paid no heed to it. Pulling it out, he centered it over his heart, looking at the sharp glint under his breath as he whispered something.

A goodbye.

A soft escaped his cracked lips. "I will reunite with you, my beloved..."

Finally, the knife plunged into his heart, the red of his pupils filled his eyes with only crimson. Collapsing to ground, small chuckles escaped from his lips as the thick snow piled onto his corpse. 

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Flinging his body from his previous position, the cold sweat that trickled down his back caused his the loose silk clothing to cling tightly to him. Looking around warily, he glanced towards his palm. In it was nothing.

No eye this time.

Sighing loudly, he lazily climbed off his bed. The stench of last night's activities still lingered in the air. Stifling a yawn, he stretched slightly, causing the loose clothing to fall from his shoulders. Looking at the scattered purple marks on his skin, he couldn't help but heave a heavy sigh.

The noise of scurrying feet entered the room. In front of him an old couple bowed deeply to him, not a single word escaped from their lips but not like they could even talk with their tongues and teeth removed, his father had said it was a practice to keep servants from speaking ill rumors of their masters.

The duo skillfully removed the silk from his skin and placed a thin robe over him and led him to the outdoor bath. In it, petals floated around aimlessly as the steam rose above it. An icy stream of water consumed him. He shivered slightly before his servants adjusted the temperature accordingly it to fit his needs, almost causing him to slip into relaxation, but his eyes snapped open when he remembered why he was rushing. His lips quirked up into a small smirk as this snowy morning was the beginning of his new challenge. He briskly got out of the bath. The servants, clearly surprised, quickly ran to grab towels to pat him down, but his sharp glare at them halted them.

"Dress me." His smooth, melodic voice came out. He waited impatiently as they scurried like rats again. A small chuckle couldn't help but escape his lips as he looked at their miserable figures.

The duo intricately layered the hanfu on his soft skin, making sure not to leave a single bruise on him. Seeing their slow movement, his mood dampened, causing his face to become sour. In response, they quickened their movement, making sure their master was the most presentable.

On him a crimson red hanfu wrapped around him, embroidered on it were wisps of light pink flowers. Swaying his hands playfully around, he couldn't help but giggle. In comparison, the couple were silent, but their eyes were clearly conveying how disturbed they were about their master's actions.

Looking into the mirror on his vanity, he didn't even bother to face them. "Don't you think this'll make me the main attraction?" In reply, there was only silence. He could only sigh unhappily at the silent treatment. "I really wish father didn't remove your tongues and teeth. Maybe you would've talked more, but seeing how old you two are, they would've already rotted off by now." Pulling his drawers open, a thin, crimson veil emerged from it.

"Don't you think this makes me quite mysterious?" But once again, not a single reply. Clearly getting irritated by the treatment, he threw a burnt-out candle wick at the head of the old man. The man faltered before reacting absentmindedly as blood pooled from his forehead. "I don't remember taking your ability to respond. Just do something so I know you aren't just two walking corpses!" Scoffing at them, he sauntered out of the room without waiting for his servants.

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His feet gracefully glided over the layers of ice, which highlighted his flame coloured clothing that did not fit the grim atmosphere. Many glances and sneers flew his way, whispers were flung across the enormous palace, but he did not pay heed to any of it and continued to walk forward.

Sauntering up the stairs, he bowed deeply to the one above him.

The Emperor.

The Emperor's icy glare chilled him to bone, sending shivers of pleasure to him. "You, insolent fool! How dare you waltz into this venerable one's palace on such an auspicious occasion!" He only cared to listen to how he had referred to him once again. If he weren't already on his knees, he would've fallen again.

"My honourable one, I only dare to come because you beseeched me to come here after our nightly activities." A flurry of loud whispers erupted from the crowd, but he was practically basking in it with pleasure. However, the Emperor was red with fury.

"You dare, a mere servant, believe that this venerable one would lie with someone of your inferior status." Standing from the imperial dragon throne, the fury burning in his eyes was clear to all onlookers. "And to think this venerable one would see someone believe themselves to have the importance of wearing red and even flowers to mourn the loss of your Empress!"

A cheeky smile quirked up on his face as he stared directly into the eyes of the cold Emperor, yet only in his eyes were infatuation and affection he held towards the Emperor. "But my beloved, we shared such an intimate night together, how could you forget it so quickly!" Another flurry of shouts erupted even louder than the last.

"Soldiers! Take this lunatic away, find out his purpose for defaming this venerable one." A swift verdict came from his lips, leaving the crowd in silence before muffled whispers sprouted again like weeds. Clearly irritated, the onlookers decided it was in their best interests to not act like that lunatic and humbly mourn the late Empress.

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He was thrown harshly into the cell of the prison. Still sitting there dazedly, he couldn't but silently weep at the fact his beloved no longer remember him and their blissful nights. But something that was confusing him is how his beloved was now an emperor and no longer a peasant boy from the sticks.

The blissful memories of him and his beloved popped up in his mind. He pulled at his hanfu and started to frantically look around. A sudden pang of pain came from his head before it escalated into something bigger. It had felt like something was drilling into his cranium without anesthesia. Wait, what was anesthesia?

Clutching at his skull, he howled in agony as it finally registered that everything here was foreign yet familiar to himself, no, to them? The more he lingered on the subject, the more his head would throb, so leaving those thoughts was the most optimal option as of currently. Unfamiliar memories glided through his minds as his location revealed properly to himself.

A soldier waltzed in, their expression was unclear to himself as it was hidden by a metal helmet. "Courtesan Dai Wen, you are hereby sentenced to execution for the disrespect of the late Empress and the crime of defaming the Emperor of immoral deeds." Dai Wen only stared at the soldier blankly.

Absentmindedly, he asked, "How long has it been since the Empress' burial?" 

Behind that soldier, a seemingly inexperienced guard stood twitching as they tried to look away from the alluring figure of Dai Wen. Obviously noticing the staring, he smiled sweetly in response. But before he could continue with his interactions, the words of the more experienced guard barked up. "50th day of mourning." They said in a matter of a fact tone.

Dai Wen sat there shell-shocked from the revelation that he had indeed slept for 50 days straight. No wonder why he felt so rested yet so sore. Before he could ponder why he had slept for such a long period of time, he was whisked away from the palace guards.

Outside, the snow had slightly melted but there still layers of ice forming. An idea floated to his head. If I am not given my beloved when I am living, can I not do it whilst I am dead?

Looking at the muscular figures of the soldiers, ideas formulated in his head. Looking over a small lake with ice frosted over it, an idea bubbled from the surface. Leaning in towards the inexperienced soldier, he tried to seem as charming as possible.

The sudden invasion of privacy caused the soldier to falter, allowing Dai Wen a small gateway of freedom. Quickly, he evaded the grasps of the soldiers and began running. His red painted feet pattered across white snow.

The small lake was practically beneath his toes. He couldn't help but take some deep breaths in before hopping onto the ice. Minor fractures appeared on its surface, the two soldiers escorting him hesitated on whether they should follow the lunatic. But before they could even decide on it, larger cracks formed. Eventually, it collapsed in on itself.

Consuming Dai Wen.

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