Chương 21: How She Ended Up Here

"Hello, I need to have some words with you. Can you please?"

Zibao gestured to the stunned ministers to leave.

"My younger brother did something to trouble you again?" He chuckled.

"It's more than troubling. He has been interfering with my marriage and even faked a royal decree." Riwansa plopped over the seat.

"LET ME INNN. How can you disrespect a prince, don't you want your job anymore?"

A round of frantic yelling made, both give each other a knowing look.

"Take him to the practice dungeon. Don't let him come out for the day." Zibao addressed the trusted attendant standing near the entrance.

"YOU ARE MY BIOLOGICAL BROTHER, YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME." The voice slowly disappeared.

"I apologise on behalf of Steven, I understand it's not been quite easy for you."

"You don't have to. Really….I just want to get over the past and live a better life. It's exhausting.. Can you probably arrange for me to be appointed as the captain of the south-east portal?"

"It's a path of no return. Rarely people are able to come back from that place. I think you should think it over."

"I know what I am doing." Riwansa said softly, looking at Zibao with certainty.

"You are not. Have you ever even thought of your family? Your dreams? All gone to drain just to avoid a person?"

"I am grateful to you and the second prince for your help all these years. I will contribute the artifact as a part of the treasury. You don't have to worry about me. I am sure that this is my final decision."

"Fine, since this is what you want. Steven-

"He must stay oblivious to the arrangement for at least a month. You can consider this my first and last request."

Riwansa bowed politely before leaving with a heavy heart.

'Was I wrong to interfere between you two at that time? But even if I didn't still your relationship couldn't face the storm probably.

I might have to carry the burden of guilt for a lifetime,tsk.'

Zibao thought to himself, his elegance similar to that of his immediate younger brother, the second prince.

"So, what's your decision?"

"I am choosing to stay neutral. I won't stop you from whatever you are going to do with her but I would also not help you with anything."

"That's more than enough."

The voice call ended immediately.

Yongzheng smiled satisfactorily. As long as the eldest prince doesn't interrupt it won't be much of a big deal when someone not from this kingdom disappears in thin air. And about that guy- well he can easily handle him. Most likely he would stay oblivious to his own feelings for a long time, and when he will find out it will be too late.

He trusted Aldric. It's the best for both of them if he isn't conspiring behind his back, or else his hands would be dirtied once again.

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Xixi poked at Reliott's nose for the fifth time to which the creature roared groggily, clearly not happy to be disturbed from its peaceful sleep.

"Sleep, sleep, sleep, you only know how to sleep and act cute. Which dragon is like that, huh? Even I don't get to sleep as much as you do, lucky prick."

"Rawr, rawr, qi, qi" Reliott let out a few rounds of protest defending herself in vain.

"Ok, ok, you don't have to spit fire and create a mess again. You can sleep. Where is Riwansa anyways, only she can handle you properly. I haven't seen her since this morning."

Without paying attention to the last portion of Xixi's ramble, Reliott dozed off on the soft comfortable bed.

Xixi disbelievingly looked at her. Sigh, it seems it was not that good of a decision to stay alone in her room after the second prince left.

She plopped on the cushion by the bed hugging a pillow. Every scenario since the very moment she arrived here star̥ted playing inside her mind.

'Lying on the bed with various cords attached she could slowly feel her consciousness sinking away. After an unknown amount of time she was wide awake with a momentary sparkle startling her. To her amazement she found herself surrounded by a forest. The cold weather made her shiver and she tried to find a shelter nearby.

It started raining heavily within a few minutes. Her limbs felt tired and despite trying very hard to hold on she fell unconscious on the ground.

Regaining her sense she opened her eyes only to face a majestic lady standing by her bed staring at her with cautiousness mixed with care.

That was how she came across Riwansa.'

"I have never seen you appear in this kingdom, but you don't have any weapons with you either. What's your identity?"

That was what she asked her handing Xixi a bowl of nourishing soup.

Xixi thought of something mysterious to answer so that it would be impossible to fact check.

"I only remember lying on my bed. After that I found myself in the forest and was walking to find a shelter. Unfortunately it was too cold so...."

She wasn't really lying.

She indeed didn't know what exactly happened after that despite the fact she was the one who set up the entire thing.

"Why are you so weak? It's not even snowing." That was all Riwansa said after listening to her entire explanation.

She helped her recuperate in exchange for Xixi helping her out with designing maps and graphing coordinates to implement spying systems.

Although the mechanisms were quite advanced to the ones she was used to working with, it didn't take her long to adjust with the new ones and upgrade them a little.

"Not too bad."

"Tsk! so stingy even while complimenting."

The air of light awkwardness melted away and they became closer after Riwansa's assignment was completed.

Riwansa offered to bring her here in the palace and since she also didn't have any particular destination in mind she was more than happy to agree.