I'm the Empress! So I'm Going to Make Myself a Harem

The opera sounded so short when it was summarized by Lyov and Phoenix...

It was not so short.

She'd thought that the reason Pauli sang so early before the opera was because he'd come back and sing again afterward and they'd wanted people to stay through the opera to hear him sing again.

The real answer was that the opera was 6 hours long.

There was food and snacks, so it was very convenient in terms of location to do so - but a whole six hours...!!

The ending was met with a roar of approval from the audience and she sat there in something of a daze.

At some point Phoenix had fallen asleep on her lap, exactly like a reclining cat. Because he was too asleep to notice, she allowed herself to pet his hair while he slept.

When the music played and the crowd roared, Phoenix murred and stretched, lifting his head.

"Ah~ is it over?" He mumbled.

"Ahhh. Yep. Very exciting."

Alex had snoozed too, sitting up and yawning widely.

Lyov had remained wide awake the entire time, sitting on his knees on his seat and staring at the opera as it played, transfixed.

Phoenix's golden eyes flickered in her direction, sleepy.

"Pardon me, your majesty, for being unable to attend to your needs during this play. I couldn't possibly miss it, though. It was...delightful." He added the last part almost as an afterthought, a wry smile spreading across his face.

"Now that you're done, shall we adjourn somewhere more private~?"

She squinted at him. "You just slept."

"Aha~ my darling, sleep is not on my mind."

"Oh, you want a massage then, Phoenix?"

He paused, golden eyes gleaming in a way that made her uneasy. "Why, I 'd love one."

She stared down at him.

Could he not tell she was trying to be purposefully obtuse?

Perhaps the problem is he can...

He hummed and nuzzled her cheek with his.

He smelled lovely.

She huffed and nudged him away from her. Rather, she would have pushed him, but even at the slightest gesture he immediately moved away from her, letting her reclaim her personal space. "I am tired, though..."

She sighed as she stood. 

Every face in the courtyard turned to her.

She swallowed, and kept her spine straight.

The performance was over. She was tired, the hour was late. These people surely also wanted to sleep.

Her clothes rustled like leaves as she moved, and the crowd moved like a wave, each person around her kneeling as she walked, only to straighten up again once she and the three men following her passed by.

She couldn't help breathing a slight sigh of relief once the palace doors shut behind her.

She...really wasn't good with crowds at all.

But if I have to be on display this often...I suppose I'm going to have to learn...

Phoenix patted her back lightly.

"We'll practice your handling of the people." He reassured, smiling that grin again.

Isabelle really could not grasp how this man could read her so well.

Alex was the first to peel away, bowing respectfully and begging his leave, as he woke long before the sun to tend the gardens and the sun had already gone to sleep for a few hours now.

Lyov, however, trotted along with her and Phoenix all the way to her room.

The entire time he'd had a peaceful smile on his face, humming under his breath.

Phoenix halted the man outside her door with a firm grip on his shoulder. "Hahh...it's very late, Lyov, you must be exhausted...but it occurs to me Her Majesty has yet to have dinner...do you think we should-"

"Ah, you're right!" Lyov brightened, looking between Phoenix and Isabelle briefly. He bowed with a flourish. "I shall go and ensure dinner is prepared. I will return when it is ready, Your majesty."

She waved. "It's fine, you can simply tell them to make me a sandwich or something and-"

"Nonsense!" Lyov stated with great conviction. "Her majesty is Empress, and she will have the finest cuisine!"

And then he trotted off.

She eyed Phoenix.

He smiled. "You won't be rid of me until I get Her Majesty's sweet massage."

He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

"Maybe I've changed my mind. Now I don't want to do it at all." She countered, squinting at him.

Phoenix heaved a great sigh and turned to slouch away with his head down and shoulders hunched.

It looked like some sort of cartoon of depression, or maybe a scolded dog.

Tch. This man really is good at manipulation...I don't like it...

She sighed herself, then waved her hand.

"Alright, alright. Stop pretending to be abused. I'll give you your massage."

"You're a wondrous treasure, my love." Phoenix winked at her, and ushered her in to her chambers with him.

Immediately he began to strip his clothes.

"Oi, I don't remember you saying anything about that! I don't know what kind of massages you've gotten before but-"

Phoenix tugged his shirt over his head and then shucked his pants.

Isabelle covered her eyes, feeling her cheeks warm.

"Put your clothes back on, Phoenix!"

His laughter was rich and velvety.

When she peeked through her fingers, he lounged in a silk robe.

Smirking at her.

"My clothes are on, My Empress~" He crooned, sinking down into the pillow he'd pilfered from one of her seats. "Come~."

She huffed. "Who ever spoiled you?"

He propped his cheek on his hand and smiled back at her. "You."

Past....Past Isabelle was no help to me at all!!

She huffed and stormed over to him. 

As she attempted to clamber onto the bed to give him the least relaxing massage ever, however, she encountered a new problem: her fancy skirts were so stiff and voluminous she simply couldn't.

Or rather, when she attempted to, she tripped over them and immediately fell into the bed with a helpless, pathetic yelp.

Phoenix blinked innocently down at her.

"Ah~ are you falling for me, Your Majesty~?"

She reached up, grabbed the closest pillow, and thwacked him with it.