After that unfortunate encounter with Vernon, the knight, Thalmeleo Ravien or Leo came to Viviana's palace with a statement. "His majesty says if the princess wants her book back, she could retrieve it in his palace by going herself."
Ling Mei paled. To be honest, she doesn't care if the book doesn't return but…that book was something Tiffany bought for her, she had to get it back. She hasn't even finished reading it yet.
So she followed Leo to the Emperors palace looking like her life has been sucked out of her.
In the same garden as before, Vernon sat there gracefully. He lifted his eyes to Ling Mei's direction. "You're slow."
Ling Mei could only force a smile and had a hard time sitting on her chair. Vernon who noticed her struggle… "Leo, help her get on the chair."
Ling Mei felt she like lost face when Leo lifted and placed her on the chair.
She sat up straight, faced the devil, and smiled oh so sweet. 'I see no devil, only my father. We are close. Act cute.' She chanted in her mind repeatedly.
"Good morning p-pa…pa." Aye. How much she found it hard to say.
Vernon just stared at her while Ling Mei maintained her smile. 'I hope my smile doesn't look weird.'
The rest of their breakfast was quiet to which Ling Mei felt relieved. But it is still nerve wracking as before.
Ling Mei was nibbling a slice of apple after she finished her slice of bread with strawberry jam when Vernon asked… "You know how to read?" while flipping the pages.
'Since when did he fetch the book?'
She nodded, thinking that it's normal as she's five already.
With this, the knight looked shock while Vernon casually shut the book and eyed her. "Hmmm… I thought you were just playing with this."
'Playing? I might as well just pick a story or coloring book not a History book if I'll just play with it!'
"Since when?"
Cocking her head to the side….'When?' Ling Mei felt conflicted…ever since she woke up in this world she already knew how to read words.
"Vivi learned 1 year...ago p-papa." Ling Mei can't tell that she can read at the age of one. If she did, Vernon would probably doubt her.
"That's amazing Princess!" Leo exclaimed. "Children normally learn how to read at age 7! To be able to read at 4… wow!" Leo was feeling enthusiastic, feeling proud for their princess.
Ling Mei blushed. Feeling embarrassed to get a sincere compliment from none other than the Emperor's confidant.
"Who taught you?"
She froze at that question. 'How is she going to answer this?' Her mind drifted away until a blur image of someone came, a paper on the wall as that person slowly pronounces the words on the paper.
She frowned when she felt her head ache.
Ling Mei found that Vernon was still looking at her, waiting for her answer. "V-vivi's maids taught me."
Her answer is the right choice. It is not unfounded as her personal maids came from noble families.
Vernon set down the book. "You learned to read early but… you lack proper etiquette and manners."
'huh?'
"Starting next week you're going to learn those. I can't let you embarrass me."
Ling Mei felt baffled. 'Learn what again?'
Vernon left the garden and instructed a maid to send Ling Mei back to her palace after she finished eating.
When Ling Mei went back to her palace, she again felt exhausted and confused. 'I wonder if I'm going to have a nightmare tonight.'
--
4 months have passed, since then a messenger would come to Viviana's Tacita palace to ask her presence in the emperor's palace. This baffled her maids. 'Since when did their princess earn such favour from the emperor?' but feel overjoyed. 'Finally!'
Thrice a week, Ling Mei would go to Vernon's palace, either to eat breakfast, lunch, afternoon break or dinner, whenever he has free time. And every time she goes there, she looked like a soldier ready to go to war only to return as the losing party.
Also, because of this, her taste buds improved. Eating and enjoying the most delicious delicacies in the whole Kingdom when she's in Vernon's Palace.
And true to his words, Vernon got her the best teacher for etiquette and manners. She had been learning since then.
Today too, she was asked to meet Vernon and to wear pants. 'This is the first time I'm wearing pants.'
Unlike from before, they weren't led to the garden but somewhere else, only to be told they are going horse riding.
'is the palace really that huge?'
Ling Mei, the messenger, and her maids, Jessa and Tiffany, finally arrived to a vast field of grass. 'I didn't know there was such a place here.'
She saw Vernon wearing a tight suit hugging his body. This is the first time she saw Vernon wearing decent clothing. He always wears a robe when he's with her so this Vernon looks refreshing for her.
"Greetings papa." As she curtsied in front of him.
"Greetings Sir Thalmeleo and Sir Almitheo." She nodded towards Leo and Theo who was beside Vernon.
Vernon gave her a side glance then continued talking to a man who she has never seen before.
Ling Mei brazenly examined Vernon's handsome face, his cold temperament that wouldn't let anyone come near him. A very dangerous man at that. 'So why is he doing this to her?'
"What is it? You kept looking at me." She snapped back. 'what? You do this all the time!'
"uhhh… Vivi's papa is so charming!hehe" 'smile cutely like it's sincere!'
Vernon ignored her as he felt she was acting foolish.
Soon, two horses were led to them. One looked like a stallion while the other is small, a mane.
"Get ready."
She followed behind Vernon towards the stallion. "What are you doing here?"
Confused, Ling Mei asked. "Eh? Isn't Vivi riding together with Papa?"
Vernon got on the horse and looked down at her, Ling Mei had to tilt her head upward. "You ride that one." And pointed to the other horse.
Ling Mei received a shock. "P-papa… Vivi doesn't know how to ride a horsie."
Vernon continued staring at her, it's going to make a hole on her body. "Leo, help her get on the horse."
"Yes!" Leo walked to Ling Mei, lifted her up, and place on top of the horse. "Princess, relax or you'll startle your horse."
'How can you casually say that! I'm terrified, okay?!' She gulped hard being placed on the horse as she tightly grab the reigns. At first, she hugged the horse once Leo released her body, but Leo corrected her.
Vernon majestically ride his horse while her on the other hand stayed still, looking oh so gloomy. 'How does she make the horse move?'
Her question was answered when the man who was talking to Vernon earlier also grabbed her reigns and slowly led the mane to walk.
"Why do you have to be so afraid when I'm here with you?"
'It's because you're with me that my lifespan have been depleting!' but she just nod and smiled at Vernon, as if to say I trust you papa.
Vernon and Ling Mei ride their horses side by side. It was peaceful and no problem actually occurred, they are just strolling around the area enjoying the beautiful surroundings.
Suddenly, the dengel appeared which slightly startled her.
They just floated beside her like how a guardian should be.
'Say… do you think Vernon is the lost soul?'
"I don't think so."- Ferr
'But he's acting….weird.'
"Don't worry my dear. He's normal." –Lucy
'Normal? Hahaha. I can't see that.'
All is doing well, until her horse reacted and suddenly became hysterical.
"Kyaaah!!" She yelled. 'What's it's problem?!'
The man tried to calm it down but the horse protested, the reign got loose from his hold and the horse started running as if it's lost its mind.
Ling Mei got shocked then terrified for her life. She hugged the horse neck, holding it with all her strength for her dear life.
She looked around for help and spotted Vernon not far from her and shouted. "Papa! Help---" She didn't finish what she's going to say when she saw how he was looking at her. Indifferent, like he doesn't care whatever happens to her.
She wanted to laugh at herself. 'Maybe this was organized. Maybe he wanted me to die here.'
Tears fell from her eyes that have no life in it, she had lost all hope. She closed her eyes as the horse run faster than before, the wind became harsher on her skin.
Her strength was slowly leaving her body until her hold onto the horse got untangled. Her heart beating so hard as she was thrown off the horse. 'Maybe this is the end.'
But Ling Mei doesn't feel the hard ground nor she felt pain coursing through her body, she only felt something soft and warm holding her in place. She doesn't dare open her eyes, she's scared, and continued crying with grieve.
Vernon held Ling Mei's shaking body. People from the far side were running in panic towards them as they saw what has happened.
"Your majesty/princess are you alright?" they asked.
He looked at Ling Mei and tries to hand her over to Leo, but Ling Mei grabbed and continued crying on his clothes.
When Ling Mei calmed down and fell asleep, Tiffany held her in her arms.
Vernon took a glance at his daughters dishevelled appearance and spoke to Leo. "Find someone who could teach her how to ride."
"Your Majesty, I don't think this is a good idea. Princess Viviana might get a trauma from today's incident."
"Do as I say." Vernon glared at him. "How can the heir to the throne be like this?" he said as he walked away.
The others went paralyzed. 'Heir? Throne?' their eyes went wide to the realization that the emperor has recognized Princess Viviana as his next in line!
Theo who remained calm "What are you all surprised for? Isn't this given?" Leo, Tiffany and Jessa looked at him, and he frowned at them for being clueless. "From when Princess Viviana has been born, she's been recognized. Why do you think she has 'de feur' in her name?"
'de feur' only those from the Royal blood who would become the ruler of the Kingdom can have it on their name. Vernon himself, added it on her name when she was born and after that left her in Tacita Palace.
They looked at each other with shock… 'the emperor…' and became happy for Viviana.
Ling Mei who was asleep, didn't know about this but her guardian does.