"Your Highness… What just happened? I thought you hated that man." Dao Ye asks, bewildered by the act Yi Hua kept up back there, Yi Hua clears her throat and chuckles awkwardly.
"You see, I need to keep a close eye on him myself." Yi Hua answers, "That guy is not what he seems to be and those two back there seems to be having something going on." Yi Hua says, raising a brow up and looking to the side.
Instead of turning back fully she looks at Dao Ye and smirks, Dao Ye looks astounded and surprised, impressed with Yi Hua he follows her, "Don't worry, Your Highness. I will have someone to keep an eye on them." Dao Ye adds.
Yi Hua nods her head, "It's good to hear that." Yi Hua says, satisfied.
"But can you not tell us what happened with you?" Dao Ye asks, hoping for a response with something he would love to hear, "There is nothing to say, Dao Ye. I don't remember much of it but I walked back here from demon's land."
Yi Hua says, shivering at the memory of those beasts hovering above her, "What?! Your Highness-"
"Shush! You are not to speak this loud." Yi Hua whisper-shouts, cupping his mouth shut, Dao Ye screams startled, "What are-mph- Your- mphh!" Dao Ye struggles against her.
Yi Hus pulls her hands back, "I dare you to let this out!" Yi Hua says through her gritted teeths and glaring eyes, Doa Ye cups his mouth and gulps eyeing her, "Your Highness, but this is not supposed to be hidden. What if it was a demon who kidnapped you?" Dao Ye asks, concerned and puzzled as to why she wanted to keep this hidden.
"I can assure you no demon is involved in taking me away. There was this huge lion that protected me and sent me back to human land." Yi Hua says, assuring the flustered and terrified guy before her.
Dao Ye gasps out loud, "Did you say a lion?"
Yi Hua frowns, tilting her head she nods, "Yeah, why?" She questions the growing curiosity of his weirded out expression and gaze.
"There are no normal creatures then how is a lion there? Unless it's a demon who transformed!" Dao Ye says, squinting his eyes, "And never in my life have I heard a demon trying to save a human that is in their land."
Yi Hua blinks her eyes, "Oh whatever! Don't say that. I am back, you see. And I didn't see any human figure around to witness anyone transforming. Anyway, I am back and never gonna witness the demons so who cares."
Yi Hua rants, Dap Ye gulps, "Your Highness…" Dao Ye calls out, Yi Hua annoyed looks at him with her narrowed eyes, Dao Ye hesitates and shakes his head no.
"You better keep that to yourself. There must be something fishy in why they were together, I gotta figure it out." Yi Hua says to herself, loud enough for Dao Ye to listen, Dao Ye nods his head as he then silently follows Yi Hua behind.
—----
"Yi Zhen… Your Majesty is really marrying Yi Hua off to that demon. What should I do?" Hu Ying says, with her gloomy face and sad voice, Yi Zhen walks to his mother and sits down before her.
"Is this why you summoned me again? Mom, we can do nothing. He never listens, you know that." Yi Zhen says, heaving out a sigh and disappointing Hu Ying with his words, he takes a seat down before his mother.
"A demon? How can he do that to his own daughter?" Hu Ying says, tearing up and sniffing, Yi Zhen looks away and plays with his finger, "Can you see a demon taking your sister away? Ruining her life?" Hu Ying adds, looking at Yi Zhen as he remains silent.
"Mom, the demon king denied Your Majesty's proposal of marrying Yi Hua but it's Your Majesty who wants Yi Hua to get married." Yi Zhen says, looking at his mom, "What?" Hu Ying asks, startled.
"Yes, Ma. The demon king wants to find a bride for himself.. I got news from the throne hall, Your Majesty accepted his offer but emphasized on him marrying sister to avoid shame on us royals." Yi Zhen says, extending his hands and grabbing his mother's arms as Hu Ying just gasps, staring at her son with shock.
"He did what? How could he?" Hu Ying sobs, closing her eyes shut as tears gushes out of her eyes, "Ma, we can just pray that the demon lord doesn't want Hua." Yi Zhen says, Hu Ying looks up at him.
A sudden crazy thought crosses her mind, gasping as she looks at Yi Zhen and smiles, "I have a plan… we will make sure that demon wouldn't be tempted by our daughter." Hu Ying says, wiping her tears.
"Go and release Lin Yi as soon as you can." Hu Ying says, squeezing Yi Zhen's hand as Yi Zhen remains baffled, "Ma, what are you planning on doing?" Yi Zhen asks, puzzled.
"Just do what I say… who cares about the fame over Hua, he always is such a heartless man!" Hu Ying grits her teeth, angered by the king's decision to sell their daughter to a stranger demon.
"Mom, in a way, he is responsible for the country. If he doesn't do this sacrifice then either way we all will end up there." Yi Zhen says, caressing his mother's palm.
"Then do you think selling off Hua for us is nice? Is it worth it?!" Hu Ying snaps, Yi Zhen shakes his head no, "Mom, just how many childrens and women are here in our world like our sister. Demons are vicious Ma. They will abuse our girls and enslave the men."
Hu Ying looks away, "We need to protect them, our future. We can't create a world of demons and enslaved or extinct humans, right?" Yi Zhen adds, Hu Ying's lips tremble as she steals a glance from Yi Zhen.
"I can not try to have the demon king like someone over my daughter, can I?" Hu Ying mutters, "Ma, don't tell me you are going to use that poor girl." Yi Zhen says, gawking at his mother in shock.
"I will. If needed, I will bring more girls for him to choose over." Hu Ying says, determined.
"For now make sure that maid is out and with Yi Hua. Have her status hidden and grounded inside her room." Hu Ying orders, Yi Zhen shakes his head, "Ma! This is not right. She wouldn't like it."
Yi Zhen warns, "I don't care! I just want to protect her, do what I say." Hu Ying says, Yi Zhen gulps and looks away, "I will leave then, Ma. I hope you change your mind." Yi Zhen says, standing up he walks away.
"I will protect my daughter. If he wants to sacrifice her for the nation then I can also sacrifice any other girl for her!" Hu Ying says to herself, ignoring the guilty feeling budding up in her heart, replacing it with the concern for her daughter.
But what everyone didn't know was the man was seeking for Hua, himself.
How can Hu Ying hide Yi Hua from the demon?