Shen's P.O.V
"I see this as a weird gathering."
I turn around and saw Lady Chen. Her hair swaying with the wind. beautiful features now in full view as the wind touches her cheeks.
"Sister knows not everything. I'll get going and leave you two be."
"Eh?"
Lady Chen's sister winks at me before skipping to the manor. What was that all about? Lady Chen walks closer to where I was. When she was already beside me, she closes her eyes and feels the wind more. Ah, someone this beautiful should be kept under wraps.
"I am not going to ask what you two had discussed,"
"Uh,"
Her scent scattered. It invaded my nostrils. It was a heavenly scent. She smells nice and not too strong. I wanted to hug her and bury my face on her neck but we were not in the Island of Grounds. Someone might come and worst case scenario would be if it's General Chen witnessing something like that.
"Are you not hungry?"
"Yes, I am, but, uhm, I just didn't want to anger General Chen further."
"I apologize for my father's behavior."
"N-no! It's fine. That seems actually nice. He is only worried that you might end up miserable."
Lady Chen faces me suddenly, with a look that I don't understand. It was as if she was troubled.
"Do you assume that I will end up miserable if I am to marry you?"
"What?"
That completely caught me off guard.
"No, it's nothing."
She turns around and starts to walk away. Somehow, her back facing me made me feel hurt. As if she was going away and never coming back.
I grab her hand.
"Your father doesn't know me, that's why he thought you'd be miserable. If I thought that you were going to be miserable, then I would have spared you the trouble, Lady Chen."
I pull her and let her back hit my body. I snake my arms around her waist, burying my head in her neck, quickly inhaling her scent.
"I will try my hardest to provide you with a life that you will be proud of."
I kiss her neck gently, letting her know that I am sincere.
"Mhm,"
My eyes instantly went wide. And I froze. Did she just moaned? My insides tingled as the thought of her moaning. Woah. Was she anticipating a moment such as this? Was she waiting for me?
"Are you alright, Lady Chen?" I managed to say despite my voice being shaky and my breathing ragged.
"Yes,"
"EHEM."
Crap.
"My daughter. With a lowly woman. DID THE HEAVENS CURSED ME?"
General Chen comes into view with fire in his eyes. Lady Chen looks at General Chen and snuggled closer to me. IS SHE TEASING ME OR WHAT? Lady Chen turns around, hugging me back. Now, I was the only one facing her father. I gulped. She would have helped if she didn't hug me.
"Eh?"
This is my death and I shall ascend to heaven.
"G-General Chen."
He grits his teeth. I shall ascend to heaven earlier than you both, mothers.
"Tomorrow. You are to attend the royal banquet with my daughter." he exhales slowly and stands up straight, establishing the obvious height difference.
"Don't. Be. Late."
He walks away, stomping his feet like a little kid. A sigh of relief was necessary. I sighed when General Chen was out of sight.
"Lady Chen, that was not fair."
"I wanted to see how you would handle my father without my help."
"Geez, thanks, Lady Chen."
Lady Chen smiles at me and grabs my hand.
"Come, we are to sleep early if we don't want to anger my father."
"I-in the same room?"
"Did we not sleep in the same room back at Island of Grounds?"
I couldn't hide my embarrassment. My face was heating up. I was anticipating and I know what it was. This was the effect of General Chen's words and that moan earlier.
"We... did."
That gave her the power to pull me fully. I clung onto her hand, hoping that I won't have a reason to let it go. I want to stay with her, until my life decides to give up on me. But somehow, something keeps telling me that we will never grow old together.
She opens the door lets me inside. When I came her a while ago, the sun was arise but now that the moon has taken the place of the sun, the well-lit room looked different. It was calming. The moon's light had made its way to Lady Chen's room. Her huge window lets the moon devour the darkness and casted her guidance. Lady Chen's room looked magical, like I was in heaven myself. The serenade of the wind made me defenseless. I want to stay still and just sleep.
"Enchanting, isn't it?"
"Yes, magically possible."
"Shen,"
"Hmm?"
"The banquet."
"What about it?"
When she didn't reply, I turned around and saw that she was half-sitting and half-laying in bed. She was looking at the moon as its rays reflected upon her porcelain-like pale skin. It was as if she was outshining the moon.
"Let's sleep early."
"Oh, okay."
I scoot next to her and smiled. This is bliss. I wonder if this was what that old hag felt when she met mother. This feeling is nice. I could sleep forever.
"Goodnight, Shen."
"Goodnight, Lady Chen."
She positions herself beside me and lets my head rest on her breasts. Her breasts were softer than pillow. The sleepiness finally came over me as my eyelids felt heavy.
I woke up to find Lady Chen still laying in bed, asleep. It's rare for her to oversleep. She must be tired from all that travel yesterday. I slowly remove her hand on my neck as she had me locked. When I got out of her grip, I stretched. Lady Chen sure is strong even while sleeping.
I quietly walk towards the exit of the room. As I walk around, again, I remembered the night image of Lady Chen's room. Now that I think about it, we didn't change our clothes and went straight to sleep.
Suddenly, I felt a feign presence. Purely from instinct, I scurried my way to that dangerous presence. I turn left and right, trying to find that presence. But it was already gone. I must've look like an idiot, looking for something that I do not know. I returned to the manor and was greeted by Lady Chen's sister.
"G-good morning,"
"Oh, good morning, Sister." she yawns and continued walking, still in her night gown.
She seems tired. I followed her to where she was going and surprisingly, she went directly to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water. She downed it all in one go and walked back with her eyes still closed. Wow. She walks while sleeping.
I also grabbed a glass of water before going to the pond again. I look at the cloudy sky and the accumulated snow on everyone's roof.
"Hey, scum."
Shivers went down my spine upon realizing that it was General Chen's voice. I stand up and bowed down.
"G-good morning, General Chen."
"I don't know what my sweet daughter found in you but I can at least say that you're not weak."
General Chen doesn't seem to force his beliefs on Lady Chen. He doesn't also seem to care if people knew that his daughter was in love with a woman. General Chen doesn't think that this is a taboo. At least that is a good sign.
"General Chen seems like a great guy to me."
"Watch what you're saying, kid."
"You don't care if people say something about a taboo love like this."
"That would be too petty of me."
"I see."
"Anyway, don't be late. The banquet starts a little earlier than planned."
With that, he left. I can finally breath! I inhaled sharply but instantly winced in pain. Crap. It's too cold and my nose got hurt. That was the first time that me and General Chen had a decent conversation without him trying to rip my throat.
I walk back to Lady Chen's room and sighed. That went well than expected. I opened the door and saw Lady Chen being groomed. She was already in a dress and her hair was currently being worked on. She was being groomed by two maidservant.
I kept staring. And staring. And staring. She was so fucking beautiful. They had braided Lady Chen's hair and did some other things. I don't know much but I definitely know that she's a real beauty. When they were done grooming her, they told me that they were going to groom me too but I politely declined. I told them that I'll be okay on my own.
I did my thing and managed to transform myself into someone that would not bring shame to Lady Chen. I don't know who are going to the banquet but I am hella sure that it will be a lot of high ranking daughters and wives and power hungry driven men. Such audiences need to check themselves or they will surely taste my wrath.
I had not spoken to Lady Chen even if we were on the same ride. We were quiet and she didn't say anything too so I guess we're even. But gosh, this woman is stunning. When we arrived, all eyes drifted to her, eyeing her as if she was a delicacy.
I felt proud. This was my woman and they didn't know that. They will drool for all I care. We make our way to greet the empress and even still then, eyes were visibly on Lady Chen. She carried herself well though. She wasn't embarrassed and she was stoic, like before she met me.
The servants knocked on the huge door with gold handles. We heard, 'come in', before the door opened. As soon as we were face to face with the empress, we immediately bowed. She was indeed old.
"I hear that this is your lover?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"I heard from your father that she is quite feisty and a fighter."
Lady Chen smiles a little but hides it almost instantly. I caught that.
"Yes, she is, Your Highness." Lady Chen bows again.
"My, my. Young lady,"
"Y-yes, Y-Your Highness?"
"Do you mind sparing us time? We have a lot of things to catch up to."
Empress and Lady Chen? Are they perhaps of the same blood?
"Yes, of course. Then, I shall wait for Lady Chen outside. I will be downing food as I wait."
The empress laughed at my real intention of coming here.
"Goodness. Such a charming young lad."
"Then I shall excuse myself, Your Highness," I bow to the empress and kissed Lady Chen's hand and went outside.
From all the empress' that I have met, she is by far the most friendly one. She doesn't even care if I am woman! And she seemed delighted! Nice! That's one point fo-
"Hey, charming,"
"Hello, handsome,"
"Do you want to eat?"
"With us?"
Four ladies came to my side instantly when I successfully reached the table full of food. Me? Charming? They must be blind.
"Sorry, but I have a date with the table."
"Awe, such a meanie."
"We won't disturb your food."
"Or do you perhaps want to eat us?"
"W-what?"
"You are such a hottie."
"We don't mind going down for you."
"All four of us."
"And you get to enjoy us all."
Are these girls crazy?
"I'm sorry. I'm with Lady Chen."
"But she is engaged."
"With the prince."
"They are bound to marry."
"You are to break up with her anyway."
The prince? A powerful opponent? Is he worthy of being my opponent?
"Is the lover of the first daughter of Chen Family here?"
We heard shouting. Judging from the voice, it would be a man.
"That's the prince." the girl with brown hair pointed to the opened door. There stood a handsome man, looking like a crazy person as he searches for me.
He looked aloof but he may be powerful. I was aloof too and a pervert at that but am this powerful. Maybe we share the same burden of not so serious going.
"WHERE IS SHE? THAT FAGGOT."
Okay, so he is not aloof.
"She's here!" one of the girls shouted. She waves her hand.
"What? What are you doing?"
"To get the Prince's attention." they all say as they frantically wave their frail hands so that the prince notices.
I grab a handful of food before running as fast as I can. I just want to eat in peace. Lady Chen might have a hard time searching for me but I can't eat peacefully if I am there.
"GOODNESS. Are they trying to kill me or what?"