Eirian isn't sure forcing Chenzhou to eat is going to help, but she has a hard time thinking it's going to hurt. The body needs fuel to fight off infections, that's why it's so important to eat when you're sick. Why Eirian takes her own need to eat so seriously. She was embarrassed out it when she was younger, and it first became obvious that she needed to eat far more than everyone else.
She'd gone a day and a half without eating once and woken up looking like a bag of bones in a skin bag and resulting panic had seen the King himself show up to her rooms. It had taken a day and a whole lot of food before she'd managed to regain the weight, and she'd never missed a meal since.
Even when her lovely stepmother complained about the amount the household spent on food. Yet another reason Eirian refused to share a table with her.
Chenzhou didn't eat all meals with her though, so she had to rely on Marian and Yuze's assurances that he was eating as ordered.
Which was why she was tracking Yuze down late that evening, Chenzhou having taken dinner in his rooms with Anna. Marian had mentioned Yuze had dropped by with an intelligence update so instead of interrupting Chenzhou's rest Eirian figured she'd interrupt Yuze's work.
See, she could be nice.
It had nothing to do with the fact that she had no interest in seeing Anna.
Yuze was bent over his desk and despite his perfect posture and seat, Eirian couldn't help but feel sympathy for his spine.
He didn't look up as she entered, skilled enough to identify her by her footsteps and the swish of the guard's robes as they bowed.
That he didn't stand and bow himself Eirian took as a sign of their growing friendship. And she did like him. Overly serious, far too busy, far too responsible Yuze who still refused to talk about his ex-husband that Eirian had seen in the hallways twice more since that hilarious attempt at an ambush by Chenzhou's council.
Honestly, up until that resolution, Eirian had considered Yuze a possibility for a future partner. She certainly thought he was attractive enough, even in muted candlelight. He carried exhaustion better than Chenzhou at least. Granted he wasn't infected with the miasma.
….
Why wasn't he infected with the miasma?
Yuze looked up, startled when Eirian wandered over and cast a critical eye over every inch of him.
"Can I help you?" He asked when she lifted his arm to get a better look at his chest.
"You don't feel sick at all, right?" There was no sign of the miasma pouring out of him the way it does with Chenzhou. It doesn't even cling to him the way it does to the walls of the castle.
Yuze looked curious as he shook his head. "No? I rarely get sick."
Qiang Ye rested against the desk beside him. Ardain on her hip was humming softly, calling out to Qiang Ye, trying to start a fight.
Yuze's sword wasn't responding.
Which was strange, since part of the reason they were called Blooding Blades was the insatiable blood lust that ended up birthing their magic.
The blade was free of the miasma too, just like its master.
"How long had you had that blade?"
"I inherited from my master when I was fifteen." Yuze answered, giving the sword a fond look.
"Was it a Blooding Blade when you received it?"
Yuze shifted, uncomfortable. "No."
"No need to be embarrassed," Eirian purred, amused. "A Blooding Blade is an achievement, not something to be ashamed of."
Yuze clearly didn't agree, but he didn't say anything. Eirian's opinion aside, Blooding Blades weren't in style at the moment, since the rock had been at peace so long.
"How long has Chenzhou had his?" She asked.
"About as long. His developed first. He was on the battlefield far more often than I was."
"And he has no magic?" Yuze shook head again, abandoning the work Eirian kept interrupting. "And you don't either?"
"Eirian, regardless of whether or not either of us had told you, I feel as though you would know if we did by now."
"Hmmm. Probably." She agreed, turned her eyes to the papers spread across his desk. "What's this?"
"Reports from the border. The tribes are getting restless."
Snake found them like that. Yuze seated at his desk; Eirian perched on the edge leaning over him. Innocent or not, the spy couldn't completely hide her reaction to finding them together in Yuze's office.
Or her displeasure at it.
Yuze had spoken of Snake once or twice. Called her one of his best spies. One of his most trustworthy people.
Eirian glanced at the clock on the corner of Yuze's desk. A few minutes shy of midnight and Yuze's best, most beautiful spy was in his office in a soft robe and clutching a try of tea.
And she was stunning. Enough so that Eirian felt a flare of jealousy. She had lush dark hair falling almost to her waist and bid almond shaped eyes that looked liquid in the candlelight. Her skin was flawless, her figure curved in a way Eirian envied, and the robe draped over it like so many paintings Eirian had seen in the brothels.
Yuze seemed confused at her appearance and swept several papers into a drawer. "Snake? Is something wrong?"
So much for being most trusted, Eirian thought as she watched the other woman approach.
Snake had caught herself in seconds when she walked in and when she approached the desk, her face was warm, almost welcoming. "I knew you were working late. I brought tea."
Yuze relaxed and waved her further forward to set the tea on the desk. "You didn't need to but thank you."
Snake beamed at his words, ignoring Eirian. "You work to hard, my lord. And I wanted to see if you had any questions about my latest report." Her eyes flicked to Eirian finally. "But I can come back."
"No need. I won't be able to get to it tomorrow." He smiled softly as she poured the tea.
Snake took her time pouring and Eirian waited for Yuze to introduce her but when the silence continued, realized he'd forgotten and nudged him with her knee and gave him a significant look
"Ah, of course. Snake, this is her grace, Princess Eirian Soliel. Lord Ye's wife."
~ tbc