บท 21: Chapter 18

Yu Yingyi walked out of the bakery and into the streets where 2 carriages roamed the area and several guards were walking beside it.

Once Yu Yingyi was fully out of the bakery, the guards immediately recognized her and one of them ran out to her.

"Prince Yingyi! Where were you? Our princess is very worried!" said the guard.

"Haha...I decided to go out since it was getting boring staying inside all day." Yu Yingyi replied.

"That won't do, please get in the carriage, the princess is waiting for you to get in, she says she wants to talk with you."

Right as Yu Yingyi was about to reply, a familiar voice came from the other direction.

"There's no need for that, I'll talk to her right here in person," said Song Liya.

Her appearance was entrancing, everyone's eyes were on her as she made her way towards Yu Yingyi. Everyone was seeing a beautiful wife approaching her husband but what Yu Yingyi saw was different, a ferocious beast was coming her way and there was nothing she could do to escape.

"So, Yingyi, what were you thinking leaving me alone without a word?" asked Song Liya.

Words were stuck in Yu Yingyi's throat, Song Liya's presence was that alarming to her.

"I..uh...I didn't want to wake you up so I left you alone," said Yu Yingyi, somehow, she felt like her words only made it worse.

"Hmpf, lies, you just wanted to stay away from me right?" asked Song Liya.

She wasn't wrong but there was no way Yu Yingyi could say that.

"Of course not! How could I leave my wife alone?!" Yu Yingyi exclaimed.

"It doesn't seem like it, but tell me, what were you doing in the city...by yourself?" asked Song Liya.

Yu Yingyi immediately replied.

"I was wandering the different parts of the city trying to find you a gift, unexpectedly, I ended up making a gift for you," answered Yu Yingyi.

It wasn't the whole truth, but it wasn't a lie either.

"How do I know if that was the whole truth?" asked Song Liya.

Crap, she figured it out, however...

"It's true! We were there! She was making something called choke a lot? I'm not sure, but she was definitely making the gift for you." said the girl.

'I still haven't gotten her name, but, choke a lot?... I forgot chocolate hasn't existed until now...'

"Choke a lot?" Song Liya questioned as she turned over to Yu Yingyi. "Would you mind explaining to me what's that? Cause it sounds a bit...sexual."

'Is that what's wrong!?' Yu Yingyi screamed in her mind.

"It's called chocolate, it's something new that I made. I'll show you when we get in the carriage, let's go now."

"Wait! Before we go, do you mind explaining who these two girls are?"

'2 girls?'

Yu Yingyi was confused until she glanced behind her. There were indeed 2 girls, one of them was behind the other one so Yu Yingyi couldn't see her.

"Hmm? What's wrong? They're just little kids, there's no way you could be thinking that there's something between me and them right?"

"Are you sure about that?"

'Don't tell me...'

"I'm 21 years old and this girl right here is 18 years old." said the girl in the front.

'They're adults in 13-year-old bodies?!'

"I'm sure you've figured it out by now, how can I be completely convinced nothing is going on between you and them?" asked Song Liya.

"Ha!? Do you think I'm into little girls?! asked Yu Yingyi.

"HEY!"

"No offense, but Song Liya, you say you're in love with me so how do you not know my tastes and my preferences? There's no way I could be in love with them!"

"You're...you're not wrong." Song Liya muttered, she made a thinking face as if she was trying to decipher something.

In the end, this was what she said.

"We'll talk more when we're back in the carriage, let's leave for now," said Song Liya.

It seems Yu Yingyi was able to escape this situation, but somehow, the thought of entering the carriage sent shivers down her spine.

Song Liya turned around to enter the carriage, Yu Yingyi was about to follow her but felt something tug at her sleeve.

"My name is Hu An and this is Hui An, you better not forget us and our promise, Prince Yingyi."

'It seems they're related to each other.'

"Haha, don't worry, I won't. But I have to go now before my wife gets even madder."

"Hm? But she didn't seem mad earlier."

"You just don't know her, until we meet again, keep a station waiting for me when I come back."

"Don't worry, it'll always be ready for you."

With that, Yu Yingyi turned around and started heading towards the carriage.

But one thought was in the back of her mind.

How did they even manage the bakery?

***

When Yu Yingyi entered the carriage, there was a cold chill in the air, she knew something was about to go DOWN.

"Yu-Ying-Yi." Song Liya said her name in separate parts.

"Y-yes?" Yingyi replied.

"Don't leave without letting me know ever again." Song Liya in a stern voice. it sounded more like a threat than a sentence.

"Okay."

Yu Yingyi knew that if she went out again without letting her know, the world was going to end.

Suddenly, the chill in the air disappeared and there was a bright and warm atmosphere in the air now.

"So! What type of gift did you give me?" asked Song Liya in an excited tone.

"Here you go..." muttered Yingyi as she handed the bag with chocolate.

After what just happened, Yu Yingyi's energy was drained, there was no way she could keep up with Song Liya.

Song Liya started unwrapping the paper, there was something hard inside. That made Song Liya confused, the girl did say that she made something for her which she guessed was food, so why was it hard?

Normally food would have a soft sensation when pressed upon.

When Song Liya opened it, she was even more confused, bewildered at most.

Inside was a brown rectangular thing with no scent at all, it was just a brown, hard, and rectangular thing that was wrapped in paper.

"Uh..what is this?" asked Song Liya.

"It's called chocolate."

"No, I mean...what is this?"

"Just rip a piece off and eat it, you'll find out sooner or later."

Song Liya did what what Yu Yingyi told. When the thing called "chocolate" entered her mouth, there was the taste of sweetness along with a tint of bitterness.

It was addicting even though this was her first time trying it out.

"So? How is it?" Yu Yingyi asked.

"It's delicious!" Song Liya exclaimed.

Yu Yingyi chuckled at the sight, Song Liya looked like a little kid at the moment, it was sort of...cute.

Song Liya kept taking pieces off and stuffed them in her mouth until it was all gone, there weren't even any crumbs either.

"Is there any more?" asked Song Liya.

"Unfortunately, I couldn't make a lot since there weren't that many ingredients I could buy." Yu Yingyi replied.

"Tell me what are the ingredients you need, I'll get them for you," said Song Liya.

Because of the immediate reply, Yu Yingyi was surprised, did she enjoy the chocolate that much?

"The ingredients are cocoa beans and sugar, preferably sugar cubes. The utensils I'll need are already in the kitchen so there's no need to buy anything else." Yu Yingyi replied.

"So cocoa beans and sugar cubes? I think we already have that in our palace. If we do, can you make it when we get back?" asked Song Liya.

Yu Yingyi leaned back a bit, it sounded like Song Liya was pleading which made her seem terribly cute.

Her heart raced for a moment.

"Well, if we have time, I can probably make some, but right now, I'm feeling a bit tired. It's been a long day," said Yu Yingyi.

"Oh...you're tired...do you want to sleep on my lap?" asked Song Liya.

'Huh? She was asking me?'

What has gotten into Song Liya today? Usually, she would never ask for her consent and did anything she wanted, so what was different about today?

But since she was asking her politely, there was no way she could refuse.

"I would like that, thank you."

With that, the afternoon ended with Yu Yingyi using Song Liya's lap as a pillow.