💤| Qin |💤

The morning in the palace was already in full swing.
Servants rushing. Guards changing shifts. Ministers waiting in the council chamber.
And you…
Standing before the doors of the royal bedroom.
You took a deep breath.
You opened them.
Silence.
The room was in semi-darkness, the thick curtains closed, the air warm and still.
In the center, beneath an elegant canopy… the emperor.
Tangled in blankets.
With a soft blindfold covering his eyes.
Completely motionless.
As if the world didn't exist.
You approached with professional calm.
Without saying a word, you walked to the windows.
And in one single motion—
You drew the curtains.
The sunlight rushed in all at once, illuminating the entire room.
Golden dust floating. The shimmer on the marble. Warmth hitting the emperor's face directly.
Silence.
Nothing happened.
Not a movement.
Not a sound.
Only a small bubble of quiet breathing.
You blinked.
— Your Majesty…
Nothing.
You stepped a bit closer.
The blindfold was still perfectly positioned over his eyes.
He had anticipated the light.
Of course he had.
Carefully, you gave the blanket a gentle tug.
The blanket didn't budge.
You tried a bit harder.
Resistance.
From beneath the covers, a husky voice, barely audible, was heard:
— No.
You crossed your arms.
— The council has been waiting for you for twenty minutes.
Silence.
Then a small movement.
He turned to the other side.
Giving you his back.
— Tell them… to govern without me.
You moved closer to the bed.
— Your Majesty.
An exaggerated sigh.
— I still want to sweepy.
Your eye twitched slightly.
— You are the emperor.
— The emperor needs strategic rest.
— You slept for nine hours.
— It was insufficient.
You tried to remove the blindfold.
In a second, his hand shot out from between the blankets and held it in place.
Without opening his eyes.
— Treason.
— It is daytime.
— I can't see it.
— Because your eyes are covered.
— Exactly.
Silence.
He was pretending to be fast asleep again.