Unknown to Athena, someone had been following her, hot on her tail ever since she met Wu Zicheng. The person tailing her watched her carefully from the shadows of a nearby tree.
His expression was unchanging as he kept a close eye on her. Each time she laughed or spoke excitedly to Zicheng, the man took notice. Perhaps you might say, a certain amount of jealousy was brewing within him.
As much as he wanted to get closer, he chose not to. It was clear to him that the princess was enjoying herself. How could he have the heart to rain on her parade?
Athena enjoyed her conversation with Zicheng. She felt so comfortable with him that she spoke freely without restraint. It wasn't until she noticed that the tearoom was no longer as lively as before that she realized how late it was getting.
"I've enjoyed our conversation, Zicheng. However, I think it's time for me to take my leave. If my family found out I was missing…" she bit her lip.
She didn't want their conversation to end. But what choice did she have?
"Perhaps we can meet here again? Tomorrow night?"
She slipped out of the castle once, the second time would be even easier!
Zicheng looked ecstatic at the prospect. However, the smile quickly faded from his face.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to, princess. I'm leaving tomorrow," he said.
"Oh," it was disappointing, but not an outcome she did not predict.
"Well, if we're fated to meet again, till then," she said with a smile.
"Till then," he reciprocated.
This time, Zicheng wasn't shy about anything. He planted a gentle kiss on the back of her hand, causing Athena to blush.
"I hope it's not out of line, I was told it's customary here," he said with a slight chuckle and a wink.
Deep down in her heart, perhaps she was the one craving for something more. Zicheng insisted on paying for the tea. Athena begged to differ. Eventually, they compromised to share the bill.
As they both walked out of the tearoom, Athena knew this was where they had to part ways.
Her mind was filled with a million different thoughts, to the point it was making her head hurt. She wanted to give him something. Something he could remember her by. Surprisingly, he was on the same page too.
He beat her to it!
"I have something for you," he said as he fiddled with something around his neck.
Athena had not seen it before, as it was hidden under the layers of his clothes. Zicheng revealed a jade pendant carved into the shape of an ancient water dragon. It was a light green jade in varying shades of white and green. A matching deep green braid held the jade pendant.
Athena had little knowledge about precious gems and stones. The one he held out in his hands was very valuable! It had to be of great importance to Zicheng. Why was he offering it to someone he'd just met?
"I… I can't accept this. It's too valuable," she said in a fluster.
"You can and you must," he insisted with a smile that melted her heart, "May I?"
Athena pursed her lips. She nodded as she combed her hair to one side, exposing her neck. Zicheng carefully helped her put on the pendant.
"It looks great on you," he complimented.
"Praising your own gift?" she mused with a chuckle.
Zicheng chuckled along too.
"I must say, you're very different from the other young women I've met so far," he commented casually.
"Oh? Different in a good way I hope."
She sure was different! Athena doubted there were many princesses in disguise around for him to bump into. A small part of her wondered how would he see her when he found out who she truly was.
"Different in a good way," he replied confidently.
An idea crossed Athena's mind. She didn't have much with her, so she felt a little embarrassed giving it to him after he had given such a precious gift to her. Still, it was all she had.
"I don't have much on me at the moment, but here. When we meet again, I'll give you something better," she said as she handed him an embroidered handkerchief.
Though her embroidery skills were not perfect, she was still taught by some of the best seamstresses in the entire Serpentine Kingdom. Her father had always praised her when she was little.
All of Athena's handkerchiefs were embroidered with the pattern of two snakes intertwined with each other. One white, one black.
"It's more than a fair trade in my eyes," he replied as he accepted her handkerchief.
"I guess this is where we part ways," he continued.
There was a tinge of reluctance in his voice, but Athena did not notice it.
"It is. Until we meet again, Zicheng."
"Goodbye, Athena. Goodnight," he said sweetly.
Athena turned and went on her way. She wasn't even sure if she was walking in the right direction. She was so tempted to turn around to take one last look at him.
She knew she shouldn't get attached to a foreign man she had just met. The chances of them meeting ever again were close to none. Finally, when she was just about to turn a corner, she couldn't resist the urge any longer.
She stole a glance, only to see his back just as he disappeared into the crowd.
Athena smiled.
That one last look was worth it.
Unknown to her, Zicheng watched longingly as she walked away. A small part of him hoped they would meet again too. But he too knew that the chances were close to impossible.
He made sure she was well on her way before returning to the inn he was staying for the night. He was never going to forget her face. Her laugh. Her smile.
"Till we meet again, princess," he muttered to himself as he went on his way.