"Have you summoned this servant, Your Highness?"
Ruo Xie's respectfully asked King Lin in a low voice. It had been hours since he was standing in front of the imperial study's doorway and asking for His Highness's permission to enter the room, but King Lin never responded to him.
Ruo Xie was worriedly looking at His Highness who seemed been possessed by a ghost. Otherwise, how could He concentratedly be reading some war and strategy books after losing his daughter!
Wasn't His Highness always been a possessive father who loved his daughter more than himself?
How come he remained calm!
Where were his devotions went now!
Ruo Xie had been serving Princess Liena for almost eight years so, after learning she was no more, he became deeply remorseful. He couldn't swallow his foods and had been shedding tears in corners without others noticing. He even visited temples to Buddha for Princess's soul.
The same also goes to that beggar girl Nuwa, who didn't shed a single drop of tear after finding out that Princess died. To Ruo Xie, Nuwa was a traitor who wanted to happily enjoy her master's glory and fortunes. He wondered in disgust, how could Nuwa be so cruel to the princess, who provided everything and treated better than any blood relatives. Even he didn't receive such tremendous treatments from her highness!
As a result, from the moment he first saw Nuwa, Ruo Xie hated her. Though he was sure that he never bored many hated feelings to Nuwa, rather, he was uncomfortable and upset whenever she was close. Nuwa was always so mature, collected and acted as a noble lady in front of people as if she was born into royalty. Ruo Xie just could not believe his eyes. How could someone change so drastically, after coming from the street!
'So fake! Harrumph... I'll never recognize her.'
It was normal for Ruo Xie to think this way since he wasn't present at the moment Liena died at the medical pavilion. As a result, he never got the chance to catch a glimpse of His Highness's most vulnerable state or Nuwa's hysterical figure.
"Your Highness did you summon~"
Ruo Xie's voice was cut off on the midway when King Lin finally responded to him without looking.
"You may enter."
"Reporting to Your Majesty. This servant just received some information about the traitors. According to the head of palace guards, two guards have been suddenly disappeared from the day of Princess's assassination. Now, none of their respective family members know about their whereabouts. Their actions look suspicious. So this servant asks for Your Majesty's permission about a search warrant. Moreover..."
Ruo Xie started to report after entering the study. However, before he could even finish the details, King Lin interrupted him.
"It's useless. They are probably dead by now. Hmm... keep continuing."
King Lin's sudden comment made Ruo Xie rethink. Why these possibilities never came to his mind like His Majesty? King Lin was his idol so whenever he got the chance, Ruo Xie'd observe Him. Ruo Xie sighed for self-disappointment and continued,
"...There are also some royals whose actions are very suspicious. We have learned from the Eagle Guard's source that some people already have started to conspire against the imperial family..."
"As expected, those wolves have always been looking for a chance to rebel and obviously, Princess's death is the highest time for their plans to success. Heh! About plotting behind, it's also nothing new. They killed the prince, so now it was easy to uproot the last candidate without using much strength. Looks like we have to uproot these snakes. Hmm..."
Ruo Xie shockingly observed King Lin.
'How- just how come His Highness say such dreadful things without batting his eyes!'
King Lin might be emotionally lacked but Ruo Xie wasn't. To stop His disrespectful words about Princess's death, Ruo Xie was about to emotionally suggest.
"Y-Your Highness..."
However.
*chuckle*
"This is our difference... You make choices by following your heart's desires when We have to think rationally. Which made Us ruler when you are a bodyguard."
King Lin finally glanced at Ruo Xie with a solemn face through his eyes were slightly red and swollen. Ruo Xie felt the heartache of being judgmental. Who the hell was he to judge a father's feelings! His Highness was surely mourning over His daughter's death yet never showed his weak sides and keep working hard.
There was a huge storm going on inside the heart of King Lin. Since he was a King, he was very good at hiding his emotions. After calming down his feelings, he said,
"The reason why this king summoned you is something else. This King wants you to become lady Mei's bodyguard."
Did Ruo Xie hear wrong??
"Nooo--- Your Highness, this servant can't." Ruo Xie instantly shouted in anguish after confirming his doubt.
"Let this King finish. It's not only this King but also the Emperor's ORDER. From now on, you have to protect her life. You have to swear that you'll accept her as your ONLY TRUE master and abide her by all means. Even if the world goes against her you have to be her side."
"Even if one day, this king goes against her..." King Lin inaudibly murmured the last sentence to himself.
King Lin's sudden declaration made Ruo Xie shuddered uncontrollably. Nope, not that girl! Wasn't His Highness aware of Ruo Xie's dissatisfaction and dislikes to her? It was clear-cut, right!
"Please, Your Majesty, reconsider your decisions. This guard only swore to protect Princess Liena."
"Ohh! This King has forgotten to mention that from now on, she is PRINCESS LIENA." King Lin scoffed while scrutinizing Ruo Xie's face.
"You don't have to be jealous."
King Lin softly spoke to this sturdy man and lightly patted his shoulder to cheer up, when Ruo Xie was sobbing like a lost puppy. This stupid guard was faithful to the core for his master but stubborn to the bones when it was Nuwa. It was not easy to tame him. King Lin became anxious for Nuwa's upcoming battle and challenges with this guy. She might have to go through a great length of sufferings.
'Sigh! I am selfishly putting her in firepits.' King Lin thought when helplessly nodding his head.
[Note: Unedited chapter.]