Chapter 3
"Meet me in exactly five minutes. 34th floor". She read the projection from her retina.
"I am sorry, I have to go-it's urgent," Cinder stopped the android taking the measurements around her waist for yet another ball for a political officer whose name she had already forgotten. "The measurements must-"
"-must be completed before 16:00 today to be made on time- yeah, yeah I know" Cinder completed the android's sentence while rushing to get the excess fabric off her body. Cinder wore a blue and purple long-sleeved kimono top with bell-shaped sleeves. Silver dragons embroidered along the purple. She matched it with black pants and polished black flats. Sure, it was comfortable (I mean, it had to be- everything was tailored to her exact measurements), but it was not at all her style. She only dressed the part while she stayed in the palace.
Cinder struggle to put on her last flat shoe while rushing out the door, "I'll be right back! I promise!"
Everyday, excluding the rare days she had the pleasure of waking up next to Kai, she woke up with a cup of warm water with a slice lemon provided by a palace android whose first words every morning, without fail were:
"Princess Selene- are you ready for a reading of today's schedule?"
Regardless of her responses: "Please don't call me that," "No, I am not ready," "Please leave alone," "If you don't stop talking, I will reprogram you," & "Where in stars' name your snooze button?!" the android always came up with with a grand, elaborate schedule for her. Breakfast with this officer, meeting regarding standing Lunar alliance, updates regarding reconstruction of Lunar society, dress fitting there, blah blah blah. Cinder was already exhausted before getting out of bed. Of course, all appointments (no matter how seemingly insignificant) had a good cause, but selfishly she felt the happiest in the all too short free hours she spend with Kai.
His busy schedule matched that of Cinder's, if not- more. Although his advisors were never too far behind, his attendance was needed for everything. After all, he is the current standing emperor and the Commonwealth who barely dodged a world war and who now has to deal with the recovery of his people.
Cinder rushed up the stairs one floor above hers. Briskly walking past attendees and visitors who all stood in their place to bow to her or wave when she passed by,
"Hi. Hello. Good afternoon. Carry on," She responded, stiff and awkward wishing she could run. She'd been here for weeks, but still didn't feel completely 'settled in'. She still felt like a overstayed guest, rather than anyone truly significant.
00:00:05 remaining on her timer. She turned a sharp right, seeing a group of reporters with hovering cameras- she covered her face with a palm and barely jumped into the closing elevator. Hiding her face, she anxiously pushed the button for the 34th floor over and over again. If she applied any more pressure, the button might've fallen off.
The door closed and she leaned against the wall, facing the entrance, breathing heavily.
00:00:00 left. The doors in front of her opened and there stood Kai- bright eyed, handsome, composed. He quickly stepped into the elevator.
As soon as the elevator doors closed, he took both hands to her face and kissed her long and hard. As he withdrew, she held her hand against the elevator buttons, stopping the interface momentarily so all elevators would come to a halt.
Anyone waiting for the elevator to get to their next appointment will just have to settle being late or take the stairs.
She threw her arms over his neck and kissed him as long and hard as he initially. He reciprocated.
"Can we just stay here the rest of the day?" He stopped to take gaze longingly into her eyes. He brushed some of her hair away from her face, his knuckles feeling her soft, blushing cheeks.
She smiled a little, shooting him a flirty look that instantly made him melt. "They'd put the whole palace into lockdown".
"Antidote reproduction and distribution: good. Records of immunity: in high levels. Financial crises becoming less of a crisis everyday. Republic of Lunar: progressing. Emperor Kai, mood: happy, boyfriend Kai is dying to spend more than 5 minutes with you."
They had practiced updating each other in short sentences. In the elevator they'd share important political news worth mentioning so outside the elevator when they had the time to be together, they could talk about things outside of work, politics, the economy, etc.
"Interview with Commonwealth entertainment for breakfast: waste of my time. Meeting with The Organization for Cyborg Children: definitely not a waste of time. Updates on chip bio-electricity block manufacturing for launch and mass distribution: great. Girlfriend Linh Cinder is wondering when she'll get her next break".
Both looked deep into each other's eyes and smiled. All news was good and had been consistently positive recently. Both smiled and kissed each other again.
00:00:00 another timer went off and the elevators were moving again.
"Join me for dinner tonight?" Kai still had her hand in his, leaving the elevator.
"Just the two of us?" She took her hand back to allow the doors to close.
"With Ministry of Finance," He added, doors completely closing.
She leaned against the wall again, "thought so," she exhaled.
She smiled; she could still smell his scent on her. The door opened revealing a group of impatient men and women. She wondered if any of them caught the dreamy look on her face.
"I'd fix that, but uh-I have an urgent meeting to attend to," she stepped right in the middle of the group, making her way back to the fitting.