Lin Yinfei stepped into the palace, her presence immediately commanding attention. Alita rushed forward, embracing her cousin tightly. Lin Yinfei was the epitome of elegance; her hair was braided into beautiful coils adorned with sparkling stones. Her big black eyes, oval-shaped face, and porcelain skin made her an undeniable beauty.
Bowen, standing behind Alita, bowed with a slight nod. "Princess Lin Yinfei, welcome to Perest Kingdom, I hope you have a wonderful stay with us," he said, his tone bored, as if he wished to be anywhere but here.
Alita glared at him, and he responded with a mischievous smile. She shook her head in mild exasperation.
Lin Yinfei's smile widened as she regarded Bowen. She had always imagined fairies to be short with egos much larger than their entire weight. Yet, this one was tall, much taller than herself and undeniably easy on the eyes. His red eyes gave him a dangerous aura that piqued her interest.
"I thought the butler of the palace was supposed to tell me that, not an ordinary palace guard," Lin Yinfei remarked, a hint of challenge in her voice.
Bowen smirked, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. 'A typical spoiled princess,' he thought.
"I am the princess's personal guard, which makes me far from ordinary. And I wouldn't have bothered with the ridiculous greeting if not for Princess Alita insisting that I should be on my best behavior."
Alita shot him another glare. Bowen winked at her, and Alita shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Lin Yinfei observed the exchange with keen interest. 'Interesting, a fairy that has deep respect for Alita,' she thought.
Alita stepped in quickly, sensing the rising tension. "Pardon my guard. Bowen has an affinity for speaking his mind regardless of one's status or position."
Lin Yinfei raised an eyebrow, looking Bowen up and down. "Is that so?"
Alita nodded, trying to defuse the situation. "How are Uncle and Aunt? You stopped sending letters and left me hanging."
Lin Yinfei's expression softened as she looked at her cousin. "I'm sorry, cousin Ali. Brother Lin Dongfei was getting married, and with the kingdom's affairs and my practice, I barely had time for myself. Speaking of marriage, I heard of your engagement with a fairy named Philippe. How was it?"
Bowen's eyes widened in shock. 'Engaged to Philippe? When was that? Why did no one tell me?' A surge of anger and sadness washed over him. He stared at Alita, struggling to process the news.
Alita couldn't meet his eyes, her hesitation speaking volumes. She knew what Bowen was thinking, and her reluctance to look at him only confirmed it.
Lin Yinfei noticed Bowen's discomfort. "You look unwell. Did something happen?"
Bowen shook his head, finding it hard to breathe. "I need to take some blo... I mean, I need to take some water. I will leave you cousins to catch up." He turned and swiftly left the room.
Lin Yinfei watched him retreat, her curiosity piqued. "Interesting. There's more to this fairy than meets the eye."
Alita sighed, feeling a mixture of guilt and sadness. "He's complicated. Let's not talk about it now."
"That is not what I am talking about, He didn't seek your permission," Lin Yinfei said, a note of irritation in her voice. She had observed Bowen's unceremonious departure with a bit of disapproval.
Alita shrugged nonchalantly. "Bowen is like that, and I like him for it. He's one of the few who doesn't fake his emotions around me."
Lin Yinfei frowned. "He is impulsive. That can be dangerous."
Alita's expression softened as she recalled recent events. "He saved my life."
Lin Yinfei's eyes widened slightly. "He's obliged to save your life. It's his duty."
Alita shook her head, a hint of frustration in her tone. "Don't say that. Bowen's actions go beyond duty. He genuinely cares about me."
Lin Yinfei's gaze was unwavering. "Duty and personal feelings are often intertwined in situations like these. But it doesn't mean he cares about you."
Alita took a deep breath, trying to shift the focus of the conversation. "You just arrived, Lin Yinfei. You need to settle in and get accustomed to the palace. Let's not dwell on this right now."
Lin Yinfei narrowed her eyes at Alita, a playful smirk forming on her lips. "Don't think you're escaping that easily. When I see you again, you're going to tell me everything that happened between you two."
Alita's face flushed slightly.
Bowen stepped outside the palace, the cool evening air doing little to calm his racing heart. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, but his mind was a whirlwind of emotions. Jealousy, sadness, hurt – they all swirled within him, each fighting to take over.
He had thought he and Princess Alita were making progress. They had shared countless moments together, moments that had felt intimate, special. He had believed they were growing closer, that there was something unspoken yet undeniable between them. How could she be engaged to Philippe and not tell him? Was everything a joke to her?
The thought gnawed at him, a bitter taste lingering in his mouth. Philippe had always been a rival in Bowen's eyes but he had never imagined that Philippe would become an even more effing obstacle.
Bowen's hands clenched into fists as he walked, his footsteps echoing on the stone pathway. Maids and guards were roaming around but he felt alone like he was the only one in the place, he had fallen for her and now, it felt as if his heart was being torn apart.
"Bowen!" a voice shouted from behind, snapping him out of his thoughts. "You effing bastard!"
Bowen turned sharply, his body tensing. A figure emerged from the shadows, walking towards him with purposeful anger. It was...