"Lucky you," Jale told Teal the next evening. "The Blue Garden is my favorite. It's beautiful. Empress Crael designed it." Jale stepped forward and helped Teal to adjust his clothes despite the efforts of Teal's eunuch.

"It sounds amazing," Teal said.

"Yes, it is." Jale stepped back to admire Teal's appearance. "And you look amazing. Silver suits you."

Teal looked down at his clothes, a shimmering silver and blue tight-fitted vest that matched his hair and eyes perfectly. In fact, they caught the color in his eyes, making them appear even more vibrant. His skin, tanned from his training sessions, gave his face a healthy glow.

Teal glided his hands down his front and nervously looked back up to Jale.

"Relax Teal, you'll be fine."

>>

The Blue Garden was empty when he arrived. Teal was thankful, for it gave him a chance to take in the scenery.

Jale had not lied. The garden was breathtaking.

The Empress had envisioned a sanctuary lagoon and had made it a paradise. There was a rock formation with a cascading waterfall towards the back and in the middle of the lake, a small island with a pergoda could be accessed by a bridge. From where he was standing, Teal could see that it had tables, cushions and a sleeping area.

"You're here," the Emperor suddenly spoke from behind him.

Teal jumped. He had been so lost in the view, he had not heard the Emperor approach. With his heart still pounding, he quickly transitioned into a kowtowed. When he rose to his feet, the Emperor's hand came down onto Teal's shoulder. "It really captures the imagination, doesn’t it?"

"It's beautiful! I did not visit this garden when I went exploring that other night," Teal said, tense under the Emperor's touch. He looked back to the lagoon and island. "How long did it take to make?"

"One year. Empress Crael is very talented," he said, admiration and love thick in his voice. "She even helped with the building herself, with her own hands."

The Emperor moved his hand to take Teal's, holding it out and away from Teal's body. His eyes roamed up and down Teal's body. The open analysis only made Teal even more edgy. "Who picked your outfit for this evening?"

"Jale," Teal managed.

The Emperor smiled. "Who would have thought that a soldier I've seen fight up to his neck in blood, would have such a wonderful ability to know how to suit my taste." The Emperor let go of Teal's hand.

"Jale is devoted to you," Teal said as they started to walk down the path. "I've only been here for a couple of weeks, but even I can see that he would do anything for you."

"Hmm," the Emperor agreed. "And I for him." They were silent for a few moments before the Emperor spoke again. "The Empress has told me that you are becoming an adept student at Mocho. I would like to see how you play against me."

Teal followed after the Emperor, winding around the path that led to the island, his eyes wandering over everything he passed. "I think the Empress is being very generous," he said, trying to fill the silence. "I still haven't won a game."

He also couldn't help but stop to look at the flowers and plants along the way, all different shades of blue. There were even blue butterflies fluttering around the different gardens, and Teal noticed a small blue bird sitting in the branches of a tree that was flowering blue.

"This is incredible," Teal announced when they had walked over the bridge and were standing on the island. It was even larger than it had appeared from the entrance. In fact, it could hold around fifty people if it wanted to, quite comfortably.

"It truly is very special," the Emperor began. "But this isn't the best part."

Teal looked at him questioningly. "What do you mean?"

"The best part is what's down below."

“Below?” Teal asked.

"Come with me," he said, and he headed towards the back of the pergoda where Teal now saw a set of stairs leading down into the ground.

"What I'm about to show you," the Emperor stated, "is a very well-kept secret in the palace. Underneath the core buildings, there are a system of pathways that link the palace together. It was built not only for defense purposes but also for when the summer becomes unbearably hot. When Empress Crael designed the garden, she connected it with them."

As Teal began to descend, the temperature did indeed go down. The walls were cool stone and the light dim. When he reached the bottom of the spiral stairs, Teal sucked in his breath.

A long wide hallway with a tall arched ceiling continued in front of him for as far as he could see. On the right, different passage ways came off of the main hallway leading away into darkness, giving the impression of a hidden underground labyrinth. But it was what was on his left that had captivated him so. Tall arches divided the wall space, and inside each archway barricaded by only glass, dark water from the lagoon created a cool calming glow of blueish light.

"How is this possible?" Teal asked edging closer to the glass under the watchful eye of the Emperor. He staggered back in surprise as a large fish swam past.

"The water is all seawater from an underwater river that connects to the ocean. It is lovely to swim in. Maybe I can tempt you to join me."

Teal tried to keep his breathing steady. The Emperor took a step towards him, and Teal saw the look in his eyes shift.

"One of my favorite places to kiss someone is along this hallway," the Emperor said, his voice suddenly soft. "In the dark calm blue of night, in the privacy and quiet it possesses."

Teal swallowed. The Emperor took another step, and Teal backed up against one of the arch walls. He was unable to step back any further. Their bodies brushed gently against each other, and the Emperor gazed down at him.

Teal's chest rose harder and faster and for some reason, the image of all the noble men and women kowtowing in the Emperor’s presence in the courtyard, flashed before his eyes. He couldn't stop himself from blurting, "I really did forget the Belmar root was also for a man's libido. I wasn't trying to imply anything."

The Emperor stopped short and simply stared until he placed a finger under Teal's chin and nudged his head up. Heart pounding, Teal slowly lifted his eyes and met the Emperor's.

"Well, at least we're making some progress," the Emperor said with amusement. He placed his hand onto Teal's shoulder, gave it a squeeze and took a step back.

Teal realized what he had done. "It's okay! You can kiss me. I want you to," he said quickly.

The Emperor shook his head.

"Really, you can," Teal continued, knowing he now sounded like he was begging.

"You're nearly there but not quite yet. Do not worry," Emperor Rathner stated turning back towards the stairs. "I made Lana wait three months before she lay with me and even then, all she did was touch me, but," he turned and looked over his shoulder, "I don't plan to wait that long for you."

Teal nodded understanding the difference between his first time with the Emperor and Lana's.

"Come back upstairs with me for a while and we'll play a game of Mocho," the Emperor said moving towards the stairs.

"I'm sorry," Teal called after him.

"There's nothing to be sorry about," the Emperor answered.

Disappointed and angry with himself, Teal followed otherwise he would be left alone in the underground hallway. He sat beside the Emperor when they reached the pergoda, perched eagerly to see to the Emperor's every need.

"I've ruined the evening," he said softly.

"No, you haven't," the Emperor said. "I wouldn't have wanted more than a kiss. You still have your last health check tomorrow. Nala is not available at the moment so Lolena will conduct it for you."

Teal relaxed as he remembered that fact. He quietly set up the game, and they proceeded to play, Teal eagerly wanting to impress the Emperor with the tactics he had learnt.

The Emperor chuckled after some time. "You are certainly getting a grasp of the basics," he said, and Teal felt a sense of pride in his chest. "But," the Emperor stated, "you have forgotten about over here."

The Emperor pointed to a territory not adequately covered and with one roll of his rocks, the Emperor moved half of his army, positioning it to attack Teal's open territory. Teal groaned and lowered his head.

"Don't worry," the Emperor told him kindly. "It can take years before a person can progress to an intermediate level of this game."

"Well, I will keep trying. One day I will win a game." Teal began to pack the game away and shyly glanced at the Emperor. "I – I wanted to ask whether I could still keep going with my training once I have finished my punishment.”

"It has already been decided," the Emperor told him, lifting his arm and placing it behind Teal on the back of the cushions." Galton and Satner are pleased with the skills you already possess and would like to see you learn more."

Teal's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Galton's not too worried about me now?"

The Emperor chuckled. "Let's just say he is getting used to the idea of you. But Galton still wishes to keep the guards with you for some time."

Teal nodded, a line of guards both the Emperor's and the Purple Jade Palace's, only a short distance away.

"I think we can draw the evening to a close," the Emperor stated, his thoughts seeming to drift elsewhere. "Thank you for the lovely evening. Return to the Purple Jade Palace immediately and tell Ralen to join me."

Teal nodded, embarrassed at not being able to satisfy the Emperor in the way he needed. He went to kowtow, but before he could lower his head to the ground, the Emperor's hand suddenly appeared in front of his face, waiting for his lips to graze their surface.

Surprised, Teal forced himself to meet the Emperor's gaze for guidance and to be doubly sure, only to find his features were kind and soft. He took the Emperor's hand how he had seen the other consorts do, and gingerly lowered his mouth. The smell of the flower-scented water the Emperor had used to wash his hands flooded Teal's nostrils, a hand that was both masculine and used to battle-training, but elegant and cared for with the luxury that only an Emperor could experience.

The Emperor released his hand as Teal moved his head back, the simple act of kissing the Emperor making him giddy with euphoria. He clambered to his feet and headed towards the bridge that would lead him out of the garden.

From all accounts, Teal wasn't supposed to kiss the Emperor's hand until he had sworn his loyalty and the fact that the Emperor had allowed him, eased his fears from what had occurred in the underground hallway.