Loan's lips quivered. Her spine froze. She saw the Devil in the Lady's eyes. Her body was frozen to the spot; she felt as if she was soaked in ice water. The cold seeped into her bones; the chill in the Lady's eyes…
"Loan is clear, my Lady." She rasped out.
"Very well! Right then, go back to your room and get some rest, Loan. We have a lot coming up tomorrow." Ling Yue dismissed her, satisfied.
"Goodnight, my Lady." Loan said as she turned and ran for her life. She dared not twist her head and look at the Lady. She's had enough of Lady Ling Yue for one day. Her fragile little soul could only bare so much fright….! (╥﹏╥)
But Loan didn't head straight back to her room. Her silhouette turned into a faint shadow as she stopped outside the Yue Clan Master's window.
"Clan Master." Loan quietly said.
"Loan." A smooth voice replied – deep, authoritative. Candle light etched his silhouette on the window, flickering. It was past midnight, and the Clan Master was still awake.
"How is she?"
"The Lady was… quite injured, Master." Loan shivered as she remembered the Lady's wounds.
Hong Yue frowned as worry flashed through his eyes. "Did she take the tablet?"
"She did, Master." Loan quietly responded.
He sighed and exited his chambers.
Hong Yue was a man in his late thirties - still very young to be the Clan Master, especially of such an influential clan, yet here he was. The people who had ever doubted his capabilities either went to Hell or became his followers. Needless to say, the Yue Clan Master reached such a high level of martial arts that not many dared go against him.
He was once a prominent figure of the Lunar Empire, when he was still a young and carefree man. Then ten years ago, something happened. Something. Few know of these events, but the previously flamboyant lord suddenly quieted down, stopped showing up to banquets and duels, and disappeared completely.
And then he came back to the Yue Clan with an infant – Ling Yue.
At the time the Yue Clan was having internal wars – the elder sons were fighting amongst themselves for the Clan Master title. Hong Yue came back and did a clean sweep. He exiled his brothers and forbid them from ever coming back to the Lunar Empire's capital.
Such actions would be considered cruel and ruthless in other people's eyes, but Loan knew it was necessary.
Hong Yue's brothers were merciless and cunning. If they had been spared, they would return for the Master's neck. A mountain could not have two tigers; the same went with the Yue Clan. Peace could not be achieved inside this household with the Clan Master's brothers nearby.
Hong Yue had ignored other clan members' disapproval and gave Ling Yue the title of the clan's only Lady, claiming her as his only daughter. Her mother was a mystery to everyone in the capital; the sudden appearance of Hong Yue's daughter shattered many noble ladies' hearts. Many clans had planned to marry their daughters to him to form an alliance. This attracted hatred and jealousy towards Ling Yue ever since she was young.
Growing up without a mother made her timid, thus she resulted to eating to relieve her stress.
No matter how badly Hong Yue wanted to protect his daughter, he had too many things on his hands. Their relationship suffered greatly, and the previous Ling Yue blamed him for everything she had to go through.
They rarely ever met, even as they lived in the same estate. Hong Yue still secretly watched over Ling Yue, it was just that she has never noticed. She thought of her father as ignorant and heartless, valuing his power over his own blood.
Loan sighed inwardly. The problems of the Master and the Lady are theirs to solve. A servant like her could do nothing but observe and hope for the best, but inside, she felt sorry for them.
"You seem as though you have something to say." Hong Yue smiled as he signaled for Loan to follow.
"Come, drink with me." He said as he led her to the gazebo. The gazebo was built in the middle of a pond, named "Pond of a Thousand Lotuses." Indeed, thousands of lotus buds rose through the clear waters, their scent softly lingering in the night sky.
"Master- I…" Loan hesitated, yet warmth filled her heart.
"Hush, child. I watched you grow up. You are nothing less than a second daughter to me. Don't fuss over those small details." He took out a jar full of rare wine. The scent spread, strong and fruity. "Ahh, the old man's wine is indeed the best, what fragrance…" Hong Yue poured himself a cup.
Loan seated herself across from him, unbuckling her sword and making herself comfortable. They used to do this, whenever she was scared or overwhelmed when she was little. Drink under the moonlight, talk through the night.
"Sometimes I feel that we are closer than Ling and I…" Hong Yue muttered, his face reddening as the strong wine soaked in.
Sorrow laced his words.
"…" Loan's heart ached for the man, he was like a father to her.