After Izaya went away Zhi Rui went to the teahouse. To her surprise, Prince Julius wasn't waiting for her like usual.
After ten minutes of wait, Julius appeared with a big warm smile on his face. "Why did you left without saying anything?."
Zhi Rui looked at his eyes, there was something different, she turned to his knight and saw her uncomfortable expression.
Zhi Rui smiled. "I was tired, and wanted to go home."
"We were very worried after we examined you I took an ethereal lily from my personal treasury and fed it to you, you must've been cold ."
"I'm sorry prince I'll make up for it."
Julius waved his hands "don't think much of it, I'm just glad I could help."
Julius changed the subject. and like usual he acted innocent, to attract her, and she pretended to fell for it like usual. they took a walk around, then went each their own way, Julius did not ask anything about her incident.
Zhi Rui though it's weird, but not a priority. After all, she is dying, and people knowing she has cracked core, is not much to worry about.
she only needed to keep on approaching him to give another look at the skin parchment.
-----------------------
Reaching home Zhi Rui is faced with a military carriage with at least three hundred men surrounding it, ready to take off.
She watched it go away then went inside her home Zhin Zhin came with obvious relief.
"Why are you glowing like this Zhin Zhin, did you find a husband?"
"OH my young lady!, I wish it was the case. it's just the general went back for the front lines." Zhin Zhin replied cheerfully.
Zhih Rui stood still, confused.
Zhin Zhin didn't notice, she continued
"A pity though he actually lifted the order on the brothel before setting off."
Zhi Rui now could understand nothing. "Did the emperor ordered him or something?"
Zhin Zhin shook her head " Not the I know of."
"Did he leave any message or order for me?"
Zhin Zhin slowly shook her head. She thought it Zhi Rui was asking out of sadness because of the lack of farewells, but she remembered what the other maids said about Zhi Rui being disciplined by her father and how she went bloody to her own room.
Zhi Rui stood in the middle of the saloon in a daze. then she looked at Zhin zhin. "Heed this: It's fine for people to think or know that you don't like your boss but you absolutely cannot show it. As the one leading the servants and maids you're in a position above them and under your boss. it only does bad for you, for the person you serve and for the people under you if you demonstrate too much of yourself."
Zhi Rui saw Zhin Zhin still confused and firmly said
"Believe and think whatever, but behave and act like others."
Zhin Zhin did not get the crux, but she understands that Zhi Rui is worried about her and is advising her about her new status.
"Thank you Young lady."
Zhi Rui sighed and went to her own room, her mind going back to the issues her own issues
'General went out of the way of his own free will.
Prince Julius and his knight's are acting the same even though he just gave me an expansive treasure'
'Demon Hu only talked that much in the morning but shut up for the rest of the day.
She felt her waist vibrating.
she threw the hope rock on the ground and Hilda appeared.
Zhi Rui greeted with a nod.
Hilda looked as always "Three of yesterday's clients actively sought our services today, and three more showed will to use our services.
Zhi Rui stood serious, "it's all fine, there nothing to worry about?" Zhi Rui asked
Hilda tilted her head. "We can only worry about how the new slaves will fare."
Zhi Rui stared at Hilda's golden feline eyes. "Do you have something to tell me, Hilda?"
Hilda's eyes went round "I'm already at the limit of my physical and energy capacity, I just need a core to breakthrough"
Zhi Rui coughed awkwardly, "I'm sorry if I looked like I was avoiding it, but the crystals are coming wait until next month then I'll give you everything you need."
Zhi Rui then went take the rock off the ground.
Hilda chuckled at Zhi Rui, after the image went away she turned to the man in the corner of the room. "enough?" she asked.
Prince Robert's steward Gray nodded "For now at least."
Hilda turned he rhead forward and sighed "It's better if we killed her."
Gray scoffed "That's the mentality of the abused you she planted fear in you. Then you put her on a pedestal thinking she can beat everyone, and that you shouldn't even try to rebel. But the truth is
While she's clever, it's not enough to threaten the crown prince.
And, a piece of advice, if you want to actually join the prince rather than do a one time deal, you'll need to think more before speaking.
"Why would I want to serve anyone?" Hilda sneered.
the steward looked at her eyes. "We both know that when dealing with tyrants, there's no such thing as just one time. Either you're dead or you're serving them. It's clear you cannot run anymore, so you better choose right now."
Gray turned his back walking to the door and spoke.
"And choose right. The crown prince of an empire or a spoiled clever little spiteful lady."
Hilda stood still.
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'Everything is going too well. Zhi Rui couldn't take that phrase off her head. she started thinking about the events of the days before to try and find an answer or any issue she might be missing.
Suddenly pain bloomed from her chest spreading slowly through her veins until the tip of her skull. it was for a second but Zhi Rui was breathing heavily.
'the intervals between the waves of pain is shortening.' She knows it's Demon Hu who's restless trying to push her to do the damn spell.
a gleam passed in her emerald eyes and she composed her breathing . 'Let's see who got more nerve you pathetic thing'
---------
'I just gave this girl a death sentence with only a way out. And she's worried about trivial issues.' with a small impulse, he spread the crack on the core.
'that'll keep her focused' he cackled.
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Inside Prince Robert's luxurious room, Hilda and his steward gray stood side by side in front of the couch where Robert was lazily sipping his wine from a golden cup.
Steward gray reported every minute detail of Hilda and ZHi Rui's talk.
Robert sipped his wine "What do you think about her gray?"
Gray stepped forward "A pretty clever lady, with no qualms about violence. but she's not enough to be a threat."
Robert nodded "And you Hilda, what do you think?"
Hilda stepped forward and spoke looking at gray.
"I think you should kill her and end this."
Prince Robert laughed. "Why kill a seed, Hilda? well, I understand you've come to fear her.
But she does not have a stand in this country, if I want to kill her I can do it anytime, her father won't mind if I gave him a decent reward in exchange. So why not simply wait to see what she can bloom into.
if it's good then we'll take from her, and if it's nothing then, well she'd just be a nuisance that's better off killed."
"but-"
"Enough!" Robert cut Hilda "You're both free to go." he continued.
As gray closed the door behind them
Robert sat alone pondering.
'If That thing inside her takes control as it said it would, then I might just gain a treasure chest to be explored. it doesn't matter if it's good or bad, a thing like that depending on my protection will undoubtedly bear me great fruits.'