Thread: Kaminoyama {Zella and Alan23}

Taking tea with the empress was always difficult, even for those trained to it. There were so many rules and protocols. One should not, for instance, take a sip of tea, no matter how thirsty one was, until the empress had taken at least one sip. One must not speak without being spoken to, nor introduce a new subject. One must not help oneself to delicacies without being offered, make jokes or fail to laugh at any the empress might make or criticise the realm in any way, no matter how discreetly or subtly. All these things were obvious, of course, even to one as lowly a soldier as Zumozo. yet, for him, there was a whole set of further rules that he had to be careful to bear in mind. To make no reference to her also his father, for example. To not reference the beauty of her surroundings, less it might be taken at a later date, in retrospect, for envy, or a suggestion that he too was entitled to them. And, even more, the very things he was having to fight not to do now. For example, the neckline of the empress' kimono had shifted slightly, not enough that even the most observant of court flunkeys might have noticed, and in fact almost invisibly to anyone sitting opposite her - yet, from his seated position alongside, since he was so much taller, enabling him an uninterrupted view of the fine silk under-kimono, a garment that should never be revealed by any aristocrat, and certainly not the empress. Even, he could not help noticing, the swell of her milky-white breasts. It was against all good manners for him to have such an intimite view of another woman of rank, never mind the supreme ruler. And the fact that she was, he was forced to remind himself, his sister, did not as it might have done, he felt, if he were a more decent person disgust or embarrass him so much as excite him. Excite him to a degree, indeed, that he felt and could even see a massive erection forming under the black uniform dress pants. Just what could he do, that would not only contradict protocol but also incur a charge of severe lese-majeste? One could hardly blurt out Excuse me, Your Imperial Highness, but you seem to be inadvertently flashing your breasts. Good grief, he'd be strung up. And yet, he could hardly look away, for that would mean facing away from her, which would be regarded as an insult indeed. Nor could he shift his gaze to her neck an even more erotic zone than the breasts in this society nor her eyes a definite breach of manners when dealing with one's empress nor even her lower body, for the tight kimono was outlining her form in a way that failed to hide her shape and beauty. How long have I served? he repeated, glad to have something sensible to say. Six years, Your Imperial Highness. And I consider every day of it an honour indeed. The situation seemed to call for more, and as he had on the previous occasion he found himself speaking without really making plans as to what he was going to say. To serve the supreme ruler of our empire is enough in itself. But that our empress is so beautiful doubles the honour and the joy. The plucked brows of empress' handmaiden, Ling-We, shifted slightly upwards at this breach of protocol. It did, however, bring he rout of her fixed gaze, and, more or less by default, back to the body of the empress, where she noted her mistress' dishabille. She hastily covered her shock and, feeling slightly embarrassed on the empress' behalf, hastily and discreetly moved across the floor and corrected the fold of the kimono, tucking the troublesome undergarment downwards to prevent it showing, then indulged in some needless fussing with her mistress' hair combs, to pretend that this had been her main activity and thus sparing everyone embarrassment. I do not need any further thanks, Zumozo continued. Simply to serve my empress is a far greater boon than I would ever have sought. He hoped this did not sound ungrateful. Not that... I do not appreciate such an honour as being invited into your presence, a day I shall remember for the rest of my life.