Three Kings and a Princess
Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part III
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries #TearmoonEmpire
#wss366 #Lap
[Continued from “Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part II”]
The world settled, and the madam’s face was as it should be, wrinkled and sardonic.
“A trick of light,” Mao thought. “And there are no crickets, only the dress crinkling.”
“He brought you this,” the madam said, tossing an elaborate Frankish crown of silver and rubies into Mao’s #lap.
Then she disappeared into the fog, replaced by Pairin.
Pairin smiled uneasily. “Come on, you can’t look bad in front of your guest. Drink this.”
Mao was grateful for the ginger tea, but the sense of déjà vu returned. Hadn’t she already done this?
“Feel better?” Pairin took the cup from her and then smoothed her hair, a half-mocking smile on her face. “Then let’s get ready; we must look to your autumn. The jasmine flower loses its fragrance in summer.”
“Who would sniff wormwood and expect jasmine?” Mao’s voice was sharp.
“The night-blooming jasmine longs to entwine you. He arrived with his entourage. He’s livid about your last caller.”
“Jinshi, the Moon Prince,” the name instantly sprang to Mao’s mind. “And he should be livid!”
"I wish he’d warned me so I could have prepared. Doesn't he understand how lotuses bloom?"
“Wait!” A thought occurred to her. “What is he doing out of bed?” Just yesterday, he was recovering from a near brush with death. There was no way he should be up and around—let alone feeling amorous.
"I don't know, but we’d better hurry." Pairin shrugged and stepped back to assess the situation. The sight was less than pleasing, and she grimaced.
[Continued Thursday in “Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part IV”]
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMFic #ApothecaryDiaries