In a garden, two people are sitting across each other with a round table between them. The little girl is sitting stiffly as she gazed at the delicious delicacies on the table while clearly feeling uncomfortable as the other party openly looked at her.
Vernon's right elbow is on the table, his right cheek resting on his knuckles, while his left hand held the tea cup. When all of a sudden he spoke slowly in a low voice….
"Viviana…"
Ling Mei felt like cold water has been splashed on her.
"…that's you name, right? Do you know its meaning?"
Ling Mei remained quiet. Well, she doesn't really know.
Vernon shifted his eyes away from Ling Mei. "It means life." This time the voice sounded different like it was mocking someone.
Ling Mei lifted her eyes only to see Vernon's side profile, the corner of his mouth slightly lifted, and his eyes colder than ever with gloominess. When his eyes looked over her side, she immediately casted her eyes down.
Silence continued after that, until Vernon broke it.
"Why aren't you eating? Is the food not to your liking?"
'Why are you so chatty? Don't you hate me?'
"You don't talk and you don't eat. Is there something wrong with you head?"
'uhhh. Let's ignore him. Ignore.'
"I ordered the kitchen to cook food for children. But it doesn't seem like you like it…." Vernon faced her with a smile that makes a person's blood cold. ".. tell me, should I punish them?"
Ling Mei flinched at that. She shakily picked up a fork and scooped the cake in front of her into her mouth.
After swallowing the cake she forcefully smiled at him and with a small voice…this took a lot of effort. "V-vivi..likes it. Thank you very much."
"Ahh… so you know how to speak, why did you not do so earlier?"
She paled. 'How do you expect me to answer that? A normal kid would have cried already upon meeting you! I'm already doing a good job trying to stay calm in your presence!'
Theo, who was forgotten again along with his twin brother Leo spoke, "Your Majesty, the Princess is still a kid and this is how they act towards an elder." Especially if it's someone like your majesty. He wanted to add that but didn't dare. 'Your Majesty, please spare the princess!'
Ling Mei mentally gave Theo a thumb up for saving her and earning her favour.
"Really?" Suspicion evident on his voice.
There was still silence again. Even Leo and Theo started feeling uncomfortable.
"You two… leave us."
The twins left the garden as Ling Mei watched their backs going farther away with grievance.
'NOoo! Older brothers! Don't leave me with this demon!' Theo seemed to sense her grievance and gave her a sorry look.
After that, Ling Mei completely focused her attention to eating the cake which should have tasted sweet and delicious but now it tasted bland. She couldn't even enjoy it.
"Do you like the cake?"
"Y-yes. It's yummy~"
"Hmmmm…."
Again, silence. 'Let's continue like this, okay? Let time pass and don't talk to me!'
Vernon observed Ling Mei's eating habits, from how she would eat the fruit toppings first before slowly eating the cake. How she wouldn't eat the whole cake because of its sweetness and drink after that to wash away it away. If she doesn't like it, her nose would slightly crunch. But if she likes it, her eyes would open wide unconsciously.
He watched her with interest clearly knowing that the little girl was trying to ignore his presence and faking her calmness.
Out of a sudden… "Do you know who I am?"
Ling Mei's movements stopped, she almost dropped the fork she's holding, and stiffly looked at him.
She faked a smile and tilted her head to the side as if to show a confused look. "Vivi's Papa?"
She gasped in her mind while admonishing herself. 'Papa? Papa?!!! Why did I just call him that?'
If she could she would have slapped her own mouth for letting it out, something the original owner of the body wanted to call Vernon. Papa not Father Emperor.
Actually, the original Viviana did call Vernon 'Papa' but only once, because it wasn't very welcomed by the one called. The real Viviana earned a murderous look from Vernon after that.
She sneaked a glance to confirm if she had stepped on a landmine.
Meanwhile, Vernon looked at her with one eyebrow raised which wasn't what she had anticipated.
'this is… different. He doesn't seem bothered.'
"Papa?" Vernon asked, as if to confirm.
'ahh.. whatever.' Ling Mei sported a sweet smile and nodded. 'hahaha, I must be going crazy.'
Vernon leaned back on the chair while still looking at Ling Mei with unfathomable eyes. "hmmmm.."
Ling Mei who was subjected to his look without any murderous intention felt slightly relieved.
The rest of the time, they stayed quiet but sometimes Vernon would speak which only makes Ling Mei nervous.
When Vernon ended their 'bonding time', Ling Mei felt like she have received an amnesty and weakly went back to her palace with a maid leading her way, courtesy of Vernon saying she might get lost again.
Upon returning to her palace, her maids have worried looks as they question where she had been.
Ling Mei didn't answer, continued walking to her room, and lay on her bed.
'Guys please, leave me alone. I'm so tired.'
That night, Ling Mei had a nightmare. In the dream, she was squeezed between two layers of cake, and a giant Vernon was aiming his fork at her while laughing devilishly.
She woke up in the middle of the night. 'Oh gosh I don't want to see him again.'
She doesn't know that it was jinxed and the future have different thoughts from her.