"All of you, enter your names in the treasury register and collect your two silver coin allowance of the month."

The gasps are clearly audible.

"You can give us the answer at the end of two months. After that if you choose to stay in the sex-working profession, you may. Otherwise the palace will handle your expenses for a month and find ways to get you another profession. You may all go back to your place after the lunch. Thank you ladies, gents, for attending this session. I will go through your grievances by the end of the month and measures will be taken."

Mew accepts their bows and the sex workers leaves.

"There will be outcries." Ja whispers.

"Tell me one time there was not." Mew waits until the last person leaves before rushing off the stadium. "At least they showed up."

And the reason for this change is nowhere to be seen.

Not in the bedroom... bathroom...

"Thorn, you cannot bite mama... No... no... sweetheart, close your mouth. You are not biting me. Thorn!"

There!

In the garden.

Sigh!

His wifey is so damn beautiful.

Gulf is sitting on the hammock with his left big toe gently swaying the swing and his son is pouting and whimpering at his mae on Gulf's lap.

"You have teeth, yes I know." Gulf pecks his son's mouth in mock anger. "But... that does not mean you have to bite everything on the way, son."

"Hey... Beauty." Mew leans down and kisses Gulf's cheek.

Thorn squeaks and latches his mouth on his dad's hand right away.

'Feel? Is my tooth. See?' Thorn shows the single thing up from his lower gum and gives Mew another bite. 'A gift for you!'

"Thorn?! What did I just tell you? It is your fault, P'Mew stop letting him bite you."

Who hears?!

Gulf sighs and let Mew lie on his lap with Thorn on his chest.

"I talked to them." Mew gives Thorn his little finger to chew. "Nice sharp tooth, young one." Mew smiles when Thorn sucks his finger.

"What do they say?"

Mew sighs. "Scared. So nothing really. They know I used to hate them. I told them I am not very... fond of their way of living. They warmed up after my confession. None has come forward stating they want to leave the sex working profession though. I have given them sometime. I think they will accept the opportunity. At least some of them. What do you think, Gulfie?"

"You are wise, P'Mew. Some people do love their job and I think you can do something to safeguard their rights to live. "

"I do not get it." Mew frowns. Why sex with multiple people a good thing? That too for money?

"Neither do I, My Emperor." Gulf admits. He loved... loves only one person ever that way. So, what does he know? He looks down at the Emperor who is lying on his lap. "Does not mean I have to harass them, does it?"

"No but... I am afraid I am enabling them and I do not want that. I find it wrong. Now I feel I am promoting such a deed."

"I do not think it is wrong but I do not want it for myself. Yet, we can both agree that they deserve to live and be happy too. They are adults and they do not destroy anybody. The good people search them out to have such moments."

"Yeah..." Mew agrees and kisses his son's cheek. "You better keep your sword in your pants and away from them, Thorn." He gently pinches his son's nose.

'Huh?' Thorn frowns at his dad. 'What sword?'

"Stop the nonsense, P'Mew. Teaching my baby unwanted stuff." Gulf grumbles and wiggles until the Emperor moves away from his lap with a groan.

Mama picks up his son and cleans his chin of the drool.

"Gulfie..." Mew calls.

"Hm?"

"The Kayal feast is tomorrow evening." Mew gulps. "Will you join me for the dinner? We will be back by midnight, Love."

Gulf stands up, rocking his son and does not meet Mew's eyes.

"Everyone knows you are my faen. If you want, you can wear the Royal Concubine Robe but will you?"

"People wants to see you, My King. Not me. I think it will be better if Your Highness attend the ceremony without me. The ceremony will be for the elites, My Emperor. My presence will be frowned upon and bring dullness to a Lighted Ceremony."

Gulf bows.

"You are an elite too, Gulf." Mew has still not gotten used to rejections from his wife.

How he wishes he could turn back the crystals of time!

His wife will not ever go with him anywhere.

He cannot believe it is the same Gulf who used to follow him around and send request via maids to accompany him to places and do rituals.

Now, Gulf does not want to.

'Gulf used to love you, you idiot Emperor.' Mew chastises himself. 'Now in that place it is just gratefulness for saving his son and a promise that keeps him in this palace.'

Mew brushes the back of his forefinger on Gulf's cheek. "You are the son of a Governor, Gulfie. I know you keep it a secret but... you are an elite. I know it, you know it. Why don't you come?"

Gulf ducks his face with a sad smile. "Dearest Emperor, it is not what we know of ourselves that make us fit in; either in life or a ceremony. It is what the people around, think of us. For them you are the Elite Supreme and I am just a beggar who caught your fancy for some time. Some even say I bewitched you."

Gulf stops and Mew vividly remembers he accusing Gulf of the same.

How emasculating!

He used to blame the beauty for his lack of virtue.

How pathetic!

"If I am the son of my Governor, then by laws, I can't be with you without a marriage and we are not married. If I am your faen, then I am not valued in the ceremony."

Gulf's eyes are glowing.

Mew has nothing to say.

The time Mew had given Gulf to regret falling in love with this sad excuse of a man has trained Gulf to know what to say to stay away from him.

Good.

Mew does not deserve Gulf and he should be grateful that he is at least receiving some attention from the pretty fawn.

"My Emperor." Gulf bows once again and leaves with their son like a rain cloud that is not willing to shower on a parched desert of Mew's heart.

Mew can only keep on staring with desire and pain.

"That is my wife." Mew tells no one and two taps of a metal staff agrees with him before Ja follows his Empress back to the King's Bedroom.

Mew is not blind to the palace people not really fond of Gulf's arrival. Gulf is not gullible like he used to be. He does not let anyone in and does not entertain mindless compliments.

Mew knows that is causing palace maids wary of Gulf. They survive by pleasing the Royals and now there is a person who they cannot impress.

That is causing restlessness and weak people deal such uncertainties with jealousy and backstabbing.

Mew is happy that his family is on the other side of the palace and is self-sufficient.

Yet, people who look for trouble will create trouble.

Mew is called from his military room by his Royal Valet and sees Gulf being scolded by a harridan.

His Gulfie!

Who the fuck this bitch think she is!

Mew rushes to the scene and he notices the Maid-In-Charge with her ugly red stained lips. "You will pay for this! You harlot! Do you know the cost of this antique?! It is the Emperor's great uncle's wife's cousin's gift for the Coming of Age ceremony. You destroyed it! The Emperor will kill you, Ugly Harlot!"

"WHAT IS GOING ON?!" Mew shouts and Gulf tries to disappear into the wall. Mew controls his voice. "Five moments!"

Before he cuts the head of this harpy.

"Our Emperor..." The woman and her lackeys fall to their knees. "This... oh, how will we talk to you, Mighty King..."

"With your tongue, I assume." Mew snarls. "Make it quick." ... you will not have it for long if do not; Mew thinks.

"This encroacher broke Your Majesties antique urn... the gift from your great uncle's..."

"I KNOW THE GIFTS I HAVE RECEIVED MORE THAN YOU!!!" Mew tries to talk with lesser volume when he sees Gulf shake.

Encroacher?!

His Gulf?

The beauty is his fereking wife and they call him encroacher?

Mage hums in Mew's ears and spells glow on his wrist but the Emperor knows his wife is not used to his destructive wrath.

Mew remembers his word of honour that he will only use spells to protect his family and in war.

Well, he can maybe stretch it a bit because he can claim he is protecting his Gulfie.

Shame! Going back on honour?! No.

Mew takes a huge breath.

"Gulf, baby, my love, what are you doing here?" Mew gently pulls on Gulf's ears to get his attention.

"I... I..."

"It is okay, Sweetheart. I am only asking. Do you want to go to our bedroom to talk?" Mew hugs Gulf and his faen shakes his head. "Tell me, then. You do not come out of the Rose Wing at all. Why are you here, today?"

Mew rubs the pretty fawn's back as he sees Gulf's lower lip wobbling. "Said... the Emperor asked for an audience."

"WE DID NOT!" Feran and Loret, the kitchen busboys scream and Mew now knows who did.

Idiots!

"Where is Ja, your friend?" Mew pecks Gulf's head.

"Went with Mild and kids to the sweetshop with Phi."

"Ah... I forgot. You have told me this morning. So, want to tell me what happened?"

"King..."

"Our Emperor..."

"Mighty..."

"QUIET! I was asking my faen." But Gulf has hidden behind a pillar and Mew sighs when he refuses to come out.

"I am sorry, P'Mew. I promise I did not break it but I promise I will pay for it how much it may cost... I uh... ha... have... money."

"Gulfie, come here." Guilt eats Mew alive. A memory is too fresh in his mind. He knows why Gulf is scared but what can he do except treat the old wounds with potions of love and pray they heal.

Mew wipes Gulf's tears and ignores the pain hurting his heart.

"You have nothing to worry. This is my home, Gulf and my home is your home. So, if you say, you did not break it, I believe you."

"But we saw it! Saw it with our own eyes! He broke it." The Maid-In-Charge points her forefinger at Gulf and Mew thinks the woman can live without it.

Mew slashes the finger and the woman luckily pulls away just in time before she loses her finger but the wound is deep and blood profusely falls to the floor.

"Oh you saw it? Then see this." Mew kisses Gulf right on his plump lips and drags him to the next urn. Mew takes Gulf's hand, places it on the urn and gives it a hard push.

The beautiful artefact falls to the rock floor and breaks into two pieces.

"Saw?" Mew raises his eyebrow as the servants gasp in union. "Want to see again?" Mew does the same to another and when Gulf squirms in his arms begging him to stop. Mew just walks around alone destroying everything his eyes points to.

"P'Mew... please." Gulf finally hugs the Emperor to make him stop. "I do not have that much money to pay for all these! If you break one more, I will make you work in my kitchen."

Mew breaks another just to spite his wife but ends up laughing when Gulf pouts at him adorably.

The servants squirm when they notice where Mew's heart lies.

This is not how it is supposed to go.

The Emperor is only tolerating the harlot because of the baby. Mew is supposed to punish Gulf badly.

"The Compassionate of All..." They bow in fear. "We thought... tho..."

"That I hate my faen and you hoped to exploit his vulnerability. You wished to see him cry and bleed. I hope you now know how it feels." Mew asks the woman whose gown is drenched in blood.

They do not answer and Mew breaks one more piece accepting the chastising pat from his wife with a smile.

"Dear Gulfie..." Mew cherishes the adorable blush. "You can break anything in your home. I have nothing in this house that is more valuable than you and our family."

"Still not right, P'Mew." Gulf stops the hand that is reaching to break another one. "I do not want to break anything."

"You break my heart every day and do I make a fuss? Go ahead and break something."

Gulf groans and drops his head on his husband's shoulder.

"Clean the fereking mess up!" Mew orders and picks up his wife, cradles him to the chest and leaves to their bedroom.

That night when Mew pouts and reminds Gulf that he breaks Mew's heart every day by not going with him anywhere... well the pretty fawn falls into the trap of the hunter.

Mew receives an 'yes' from Gulf to the Kayal ceremony... and maybe... just maybe... not only that.

The ampule is glaring at the nightstand but the two lovers are so lost in passion.

"Are you scared of me, faen?" Mew kisses Gulf's navel.

"Not you... but when you become angry..."

Mew drops kisses on the way to Gulf's chest, nipples, neck, chin, lips, nose and then forehead.

"When I become angry... tell me."

Gulf kisses Mew's eyelids. "You tend to be blind in rage and you won't listen. That makes me scared."

Mew sighs and keeps his eyes closed.

"Today, you cut a finger, ordered to whip them... was that truly necessary?"

"Yes." Mew opens his eyes and Gulf knows the Emperor means it. "I am not angry now and I will do it again."

"You are blind in rage."

"No, I am blind in love." Mew kisses Gulf and the poor faen forgets to kiss back. "I take that back." Mew rubs their noses together. "I should have waited... maybe on the Black Sky?" Mew nibbles on Gulf's red ears.

"P..." Gulf fake punches his shoulders.

Black Sky is the day when the Sun God refuse to come out of the bed; or so the legends say. The night before the God and Goddess enjoy their intimacy a little too much and stays in bed in tiredness.

People of his planet are weird.

Gulf blushes again.

"So, in one Sun Cycle I will tell my faen... you, Gulf Kanawut Traipipattanapong, my biggest secret ever, alright? Pretend you do not know this till then."

"P!!!"

"What? Did you hear something?"

Gulf's giggles are like rain on a flowing water and Mew is a desert.

The Emperor sighs and takes the ampule from the nightstand. "I do not know why we have this."

Still, the man warms the cold mini-canyon in his hand.

"You know why." Gulf wonders. Of course, P'Mew knows.

"Well, I know what it is used for but do we need it, wife? I am here, you know. To give you everything you ache for." Mew wants to chuckle like he hoped he would but his voice is raspy and breathless. "I ache for it too..."

Gulf stares at the ampule but Mew notices the unusual silence.

He kisses Gulf's shoulder. "Who am I to you, Gulfie?"

Gulf pushes Mew away and turns to the other side but Mew is used to his wife's shy behaviours. Mew's hand trails along the soft skin and pulls him back to the chest.

"Emperor should know by now." Gulf mumbles; eyes wet and cheeks blushing.

"Are you scared?"

Gulf shakes his head. He knows P'Mew will not hurt him that way... not anymore at least.

"Then why can't I?" Mew slowly removes the hands that is clutching him tight. "Relax baby... I will stop when you say so."

Gulf does not say stop and when Mew bites his neck, he whimpers a soft 'yes' too.

The night so beautiful shies away from Gulf's glowing cheeks.

The ampule falls to the floor and melts while Mew gives Gulf everything that it could never provide.

Love.

Lust.

Passion.

And of course the Mighty Emperor's essence of bond.

"My beautiful wife." As expected his Gulfie pours warm tears to his chest. "You are indeed so beautiful, Gulfie and I cannot tell you by words how much your mere existence makes my day brighter. Rest I will tell you on Black Sky... after all you are so keen on our traditions."

Gulf pinches Mew's lips together so the naughty lover will stop talking.

When the morning comes Mew is fretting all over Gulf that the shy faen hides from the demanding lover.

How many times will he have to tell Mew that he is not bleeding that much? Yes the residues of pink droplets are because Gulf, despite being a mother, is practically a virgin.

His body is not used to a male's hurting love language but this time his mind is prepared. So, Gulf is not at all afraid of what happened last night and Mew has showered him with touches, kisses and warm bath.

"Gulfie... you should not walk around that much... your hol.... mpphhppp." Gulf quickly covers Mew's mouth.

"Please stop talking. I beg you P'Mew. I am fine! See."

"But, last time you were worried. There was blood that time too and you were scared. Babe, just listen to me. You sit down. I will get hot water."

"How do you know?" Gulf frowns and Mew stops his rambling.

"Huh? Oh that..." Mew scratches his head but Gulf is not stupid. He is not mad; curious how the Emperor knows about a lot of his intimate secrets.

It is feels wonderful; Gulf admits. Even in his dreams P'Mew is never this doting and caring. There is not a moment when they are together when the Emperor does not touch him. And if Gulf permits, it will be kisses.

Gulf sits on the bed when Mew finally admits that he has gotten a piece of Gulf's letter to the State Councilman's first wife. She has already stopped being a mother to Gulf a very long time ago.

Mew puts another bangle to Gulf's hand and Gulf giggles. "P'Mew... I can't even see my hand anymore."

Mew smiles but puts another ruby ring on Gulf's forefinger that already has two rings adorned with precious gems.

Then the Emperor takes the Deolerat silk shirt and covers Gulf's shoulders. "P'Mew how many clothes I have to wear at a time. This is the third one."

"Well, another one will keep you warm really well."

Gulf laughs to his hands. "What is going on, My Emperor?"

Mew does not answer and places a long necklace with Topaz and Bunyx stones on Gulf's neck.

"P'Mew. We are going to sleep and you are trying to make me look like a bride."

Mew's heart skips. "You deserve much more and I... you have given me what my heart was aching for and I am... only taking a fool's way to show my affection to you and hoping this will be enough. No, it will never be enough."

Mew takes another bracelet and fixes it around Gulf's hand. When the Emperor kiss the back of his palm Gulf melts.

"May be another crown?" Mew frowns.

Gulf laughs. "I am sure a crown on my head is illegal and not necessary at all. Let us go sleep." Gulf stands up and shakes away the clothes before taking off the ornaments.

"But... I am not done yet! Wifey!"

"Now, you are. We have a ceremony to attend, remember? Let us get some rest."

So, it is not that amusing that the Emperor scared off the valets and gets Gulf ready for the Kayal Feast by himself.

Gulf is worried and playing with his finger when the Emperor kisses his head.

"We will be back before midnight, right, P'Mew?"

"Relax, baby. You are with me. No danger shall fall on you."

"I am not worried about that." Gulf pouts, offended.

"Then what are you worried about?"

Rich and greedy people; like his mae.

"N... nothing."

The journey is not unpleasant but Gulf starts noticing the loudness and crudeness of once a beautiful city.

Gulf is not the Empress and no one recognises him. He is left ignored everyone except the Emperor and that is not left unnoticed.

The White Witch has indeed put the Emperor under a spell. Why else, the Emperor is staring at Gulf all the way up from the podium?

Gulf is busy with looking around and wondering how many plants would have been harvested to decorate the whole room.

No, Yellow Cruzhayles though... poor babies; Gulf pouts.

A hand sneaks around his waist and Gulf looks up to see the Emperor standing way too close to be appropriate.

"What made my tua-eng pout?" Mew pinches those adorable lips and Gulf pouts again.

"Just so many flowers and no..." Gulf ducks with a shy blush.

"Well, we have a lot in our home." Mew kisses Gulf's cheek and ignores the surprised gasps around them. "The dinner will be served in a few. Shall we?"

Gulf nods and accepts the Emperor's hand.

'Well, that is not just a spell; definitely something is going on' people has to admit and some even wonder if that is a good news.

Emperors in love has brought destruction in the land before and someone as ferocious as Mew, when fallen in love, may uproot all their comfort foundations for sake of his lover.

The murmurs of disapproval rise among the elites and bureaucrats but the Mighty Lion is as oblivious as ever.

Gulf is not.

He gently pushes away from Mew's hug when they stop to have idle chit-chat with some beautiful women.

Gulf is mindful to keep a distance throughout the welcoming ceremony and people put effort to make Gulf stay with hired escorts.

The polite man accepts the verdict and finds a seat far away from the Emperor. His appetite that left him has not returned yet and Gulf simply pokes on his too little portion of food.

Gulf averts his eyes when beautiful men and women buzzes around Mew for his attention and an invite to sit next to him throughout the dinner.

Gulf does not know why his eyes water.

His eyes were searching for Mew's real faen all this time and when he gets remotely happy that the person is not present... Gulf peeks one more and gulps when a woman leans down and brushes her beautiful fingers through Mew's hair.

"You do not visit me anymore, Lover of Hearts."

Gulf take small bite of some leaf on his plate and hopes people will think the food is spicy enough to make his eyes red.

"GULFIE!" Mew shouts and the spoon drops from the beautiful fawn's hands in surprise. "Come here."

Now Gulf wishes he could disappear with mage.

"Ummm..." Gulf squirms but the Emperor is patiently waiting for him to arrive and Gulf is pressured to leave his uncomfortable seat.

"Beautiful, meet people..." Mew addresses and Gulf stands awkwardly near the Emperor. "This is Gulf Kanawut..."

Gulf politely bows to everyone and he accepts the unwelcoming ambience around him with grace.

"Faen, these are very important people of our country." Mew introduces everyone but Gulf cannot remember even one single person. "Sit, sit."

Mew pulls Gulf down and seats him next to him on the left.

Nobody gasps louder than Gulf, not believing what has just happened.

The position left to the Emperor is reserved for the Prima Plimora, literally meaning, the first one who matters.

An Emperor can have as many wives, concubines, lovers, flings... any kind of relationships. But the left position cannot be given to anyone but the First Wife - first solely meaning the position in heart, not chronological.

The children born from the First Wife will be the legal heir of the Emperor's heritage and whatever comes in between.

"Everyone my faen is quite shy; he is not rude at all. Give him some time to adjust. Gulf, I ordered these for you. Open your mouth, aah... No calcium-creatures I promise."

Gulf accepts the food and the Emperor keeps on feeding him more and more.

"P'Mew... you are not having anything." Gulf pulls on the man's sleeve.

When the Emperor only opens his own mouth, Gulf has no option but to feed him by spoon.

"Mmm... your cooking is better."

"P'Mew please..." Gulf apologetically smiles to the woman who seemed to be the Chief Chef.

It does not take a lot of time to both the lovers to lose the time and people around them as they find comfort and love in each other's presence.

The crowd around them seemed to a haze to either of them and the warmth of Emperor's hand around his waist is enough for Gulf.

He prays whatever the force that is holding them together will keep them as such till they leave the mortal realm. Unknowingly this foolish boy fell in love with an Emperor and no matter the pain it brought, Gulf could not stop his heart sing for Mew.

And the same heart breaks when Gulf sees the person from afar.

He is here.

Gulf barely has the time to blink the fear off his eyes when Mew drags him to the person with quick strides.

"P'Mew..."

"Baby, come with me. I want to meet him."

Gulf's legs unwillingly follow his love.

"Aan! You made it. I thought you would not make it."

"When have I ever skipped your requests, Mew?"

A heavy and uncomfortable silence fills the air but Gulf is oblivious with the pain in his heart. He takes his hand off Mew's hold.

Maybe he will give the faens some time to catch up or hold each other or kiss each other or even...

Gulf bites his lower lip hard... even...

Mew is an Emperor and there is nothing wrong with sharing body pleasures. He will... he will... just...

"This my Gulf!" Mew excitedly announces. The pride in his voice is unconcealed and the hand Gulf had just dropped smothers him to the Emperor's chest. "You were right, Aan. As always. If only I could open my eyes a bit earlier."

A kiss falls on Gulf's eyelids, firm and claiming.

Gulf practically nestles back to the warmth and Mew holds him tighter.

"Sweetheart, Gulfie... this is my childhood friend and well... do not be mad at me, okay?" Mew winces and Gulf could not stop from coughing out a chuckle. "My first crush."

Gulf nods. He knows the person and he also knows how deeper the love flows.

"... when you said what we felt for each other was not 'love' but 'brotherhood', I honestly wanted to murder you." Mew laughs not noticing Aan's silence but staring at Gulf's smile. "Now, I know what true love feels like."

Gulf squirms and Mew playfully backtracks his words. "Aw! I am not supposed to say that now. Sorry, Gulfie. Black Sky, huh?"

Mew pinches Gulf's ears and the shy faen swats the hand away.

"You really love him." Aan adds with a thick voice and Mew smiles.

"How did you figure out?"

"Well, he still has his hand that swats yours away. Didn't know you could stand disrespect. I thought I was special because I could get away with calling you 'Mew'. What a fool I am!"

Gulf thinks if he is the only one who notices the change of tone in the person's voice.

Mew laughs and Gulf forgets everything.

"My Gulf can get away with killing me."

"P'MEW!" Gulf scowls and Mew squeezes his angry faen's tummy hard before settling to rub them.

"Well, where is your husband? I had asked you to bring your family. Where is she?"

Gulf fixes Mew's collar but the question showers rain on his tummy.

The person has a husband?

Does that mean Mew is truly his?!

"I brought my parents. Didn't think you will be happy to see my faen... the way your Mighty Self begged me to stay..." Aan's eyes flick to Gulf but the boy is rubbing his filthy fingers on Mew's neck.

A harlot!

To replace him!

"You know me. I would not lie for such pathetic excuses. Why would I pretend to be happy to see your husband when I am not? I meant it when I said I wanted to meet her." Aan feels the jab. "My wife can be quite jealous and pouty when it comes to others showing me romantic interest. Quite ironic, seeing how he gathers attention just being in a room. Well, as my duty as his chosen one, I thought meeting your faen will ease my wifey's stupid thoughts."

"P'MEW!!!"

This man embarrasses Gulf everywhere!

Gulf gently punches Mew's chest but the Emperor swoops down like a hunting Eagle and captures those pink lips in a deep kiss.

"I... well... I am not..." Gulf sputters to Mew's lips, trying to save his face. "P'Mew is just... mmhhh"

"I am right; that is what I am." Mew mockingly scold Gulf for his antics and then shakes Aan's hand. "I hope we will get to meet your husband the next time, right, Gulfie."

"Yes, very much. You were once my... Emperor's happiness and hope. I know if not for you, he would have lost his emotions that make him so precious." Gulf bows to Aan. "For everything that you were to him, I am deeply grateful. As my... my..."

"Faen." Mew gladly adds and Gulf huffs.

"...king has said, we would love to meet your husband. I welcome you and your faen to our home in my King's stead."

"You fereking love me though you will not open your big mouth and tell me!" Mew scowls and takes Gulf's head in his large hands and steals a very deep, passionate kiss.

Gulf is close behind, letting Mew bite and suck on his tongue... then his bottom lip.

A loud clearing of throat pushes the faens away from more inappropriate gestures on a ceremony.

The Lord of Cyas, Aan's father is standing next to him along with his wife in tow.

"So, it is true. The horoscope did not lie after all. How does it feel when you are wrong to say our traditions do not ring truth?"

"Por!" Mew hugs the man tightly. "Feels good to be wrong, Lord. Gulf is everything that was promised and more."

Gulf squirms when Aan's mae keep on unnervingly stare at him.

"Beautiful." The man finally utters. "Mew has the history of receiving the best of all worlds."

Gulf thinks that is not a compliment but the man is valuable to P'Mew. So, he receives the remark politely.

"What world would that be?" Mew's voice is hard and he rubs the edges of his mage ring.

"The world that we live in, Emperor." Lady and Lord Cyas bow; afraid to step on angry Lion's foot.

More like heart; by the looks of it.

Gulf smiles. "It is ironic, isn't it? At the end of the day we all finally understand the world is same and we are sharing it along with all the people we thought unworthy. Then what is 'worth' except for a figment of imagination? I am as worthless as the worm on a carcass but I am as worthy as the King on shiny throne- the same world."

Gulf rubs Mew's hand and the Emperor calms down enough to see the people in front of him are his loved ones.

"Eg Qip's quoting." Aan's mae frowns. "Quite a taste of books you have."

The boy in front of him is no whore.

Eg Qip was the Prince of Polter until he chose the world of 'Searching' and disappeared under Furet Sea.

A street harlot is forbidden from even touching a Royal Verse much less by heart it and recite it, so powerfully.

"Beautiful reciting, my heart." Mew pecks Gulf's lips. "My wife looks quite tired and our son is waiting. We must retire at once." Mew is not happy with the way the Cyas family treated his wife.

Yet, he has to remember these people filled in the position of his parents once.

He wishes to scream who Gulf really is.

"Then we shall pave the path for the Emperor and his New Interest of Time to leave the ceremony." Aan's mae is not ashamed of his choice of words as he bows with his outstretched hands.

"He is my faen!" Mew shouts.

"We have to address the positions as such, Mighty Emperor. In a world without Eg Qip, a worm and a King are not equally worthy."

Gulf kisses Mew's palm and the bright red glow on his fingertips reduces to blue. "Thorn will yank out Papa Siwat's hair, P'Mew. Let us leave at once."

Gulf smiles at the family in front of him. "Prayers for your family. Let your wishes be granted by Sun God."

Curious way of parting.

Who is this boy who snatched the luck of his son?

"My son always had the habit of collecting wrappers and throwing away chocolates. Then what is the point of my wishing?"

The matron of Cyas Family leaves and the rest follows in silence.

It takes one nightmare, an untimely visit to the Sun Temple and then letters of grievances from all aristocrats to show how powerful the Mae of Cyas Family truly is.

If he wants his son to be the Empress, then he will be.

He did not raise his son to be married off to a vulture. He has to be Mew's wife and he does not care who Gulf is.

The people says he is a harlot, that is enough.

Nobody will ever respect a harlot and he knows how to use that in Aan's advantage.

The fool fell in love with a woman. Aan's mae cringes. A daughter of a cobbler.

Aan threw away Mew's love, passion and lust to bed with a bag of boobs. Then what happens? She got herself married to a Goldsmith and his son had to come back as a failure.

He knew the woman would fall for riches and it happened exactly like that.

Now, he has to find one way to get Mew's interest on his son back and it will start with throwing that scum away to where it belongs.

"Did your husband write you a love letter?" Mae spits and Aan shamefully lowers his head with a shake.

"Did you see how Mew handles that boy? If he could literally keep that boy in his palm, he would have!"

Nod.

"It could have been you!!! YOU!!!"

Aan knows. If only someone loves him the way Mew loves Gulf. If only he could change back time and choose Mew.

"I was a fool, mae."

"THAT YOU ARE!!! LEAVE FROM MY SIGHT! If you want, you can go back to your 'husband'. Nobody is stopping you now! Even in a feast, genra insect will feast on bird poop! That is what you deserve!"

Aan choke back his tears and runs to his room.

His mae is right.

He had everything. A lover like Mew is a dream come true but he took it for granted.

Her empty words, lustful touches had swayed his mind.

He took Mew's affection over him as a weakness. He chose that vile woman's anger filled abuse and lusty gropes over Mew's passion.

Mew never got angry at him and he thought Mew was too weak for him.

Mew was just in love with him and now he knows what he is missing. Aan barely existed in front of Mew now. The invite was to appease Gulf; not to see Aan anymore.

Mew will not beg for his attention anymore and Aan wonders if anyone ever will. There used to be a time when Mew revolved around Aan.

He whimpers to the pillow.

He wants that attention, that craving, that love again. The way the whole gathered people were jealous of Gulf... it should have been Aan.

"Mae..." He wipes his tears, runs to his mae and falls to his knees. "I will not make the same mistake ever again, mae. I want the Emperor, please. I promise. I promise everything. I..."

"LEAVE!!!"

"Mae, I swear, if Mew is obsessed with me the way he used to, I promise I will make you proud."

Aan ignores the pain of slap on his face and walks away smiling when his mae takes a scroll and feather.

Aan deserves that kind of love Gulf is getting now.

Gulf on the other hand is only praying to help his husband to sleep better at night. The palace people are constricting that Emperor and the only time he sleeps well is when they have sex.

Gulf pouts thinking that sex does not happen that frequently now. How else can he help his husband?

'If you tell everyone that he is the True Empress and also the Son of Galos Governor'; his mind whispers

Gulf shakes his head; any help other than that.

He has forgiven his faen about their past but that does not mean he has forgotten. He will not go through the same pain once more.

He is now in the position to leave anytime he wants with his son in tow. Gulf brushes his son's head with his hand.

That freedom; Gulf is not willing to lose.

Mew is and will be his only faen and the man is his son's dad.

The Emperor will lose nothing if Gulf does not admit his stature. Gulf is not willing to submit his rights as a person ever again.

He and his son will live as free people; not as slaves tied to their hierarchy.

The rumour reaches Gulf's ears also.

The person is willing to marry Mew and people are now aware of the love Mew once had for Aan.

Gulf wipes his tears with a smile. Mew deserves all the love in the world, along with Gulf's.

Nobody wants a harlot in the palace. It is time Gulf leaves; the aristocrats have decided.

Mew cannot prove otherwise and Gulf will not open his mouth.

His mother has signed the petition to throw Gulf away and he does not expect anything less.

Mew is bombarded with Court Violations; including planting Yellow Cruzhayles and taking money out of treasury to help harlots.

Of course, people do not want a harlot's son as an heir of throne; only in lesser demeaning words.

There are people willing to bear Mew's essence and it is the Emperor's duty to provide them a worthy heir.

When the man summons him to the court, Gulf admits his 'mistakes' even when the King gives him a hundred thousand opportunities to state his true self.

Gulf is stubborn and for once Mew does not find it adorable.

"How many clients have you had?!" Mew practically shouts the question to his wife.

'Come on Guppy... please. I cannot live without you.' Gulf turns blind to the silent begging of Mew's eyes.

"One..." Gulf will not lie about that. One in his heart had found his way to his body too. "Your Highness, paid me ten gold coins for our night together."

Mew grinds his teeth.

"You slept with me because..."

'Say you love me and you married me lawfully, Gulfie... please.'

"I find happiness."

FEREK!!!

Mew knows the unsaid words. 'I find happiness why the man l love, make passionate love to me' but now is not the time to swallow words.

Mew asks for a private audience and the courtiers state laws that it cannot be allowed. Yet, Gulf, the love of his life knows what Mew wants to say, no, beg.

'Please do not go away.'

Mew has to sign the scroll and his hand shakes.

"Gulf... You may leave the palace before tomorrow noon along with our son." Mew walks to the man he loves and kisses those plump lips.

Gulf, unlike last time, smiles at the Emperor. He nods at all the court people and smiling palace residents with self-respect etched on that pretty face.

He is the Empress and people cannot deny it.

The power, the pride and the straight posture screams Gulf is no ordinary man. Mew can only watch in wonder and knows none of his power or position will ever impress his wifey.

Gulf is bows for his Emperor and the Empress of Galoddhikeera is asked to leave the palace once again.