I have something to tell you.

The king and queen had returned to their chambers while Chen and Lily started to walk to theirs. They would occasionally greet a few servants and soldiers that made their rounds at night.

The sight of both of them together made many of them question their relationship. It had yet to spread to the others, but Chen expected it would be soon based on their expressions.

Powerful people can do background checks which is used as a bargaining chip in a bigger scale. Though they don't voice it out loud, there were people who want to take him down, dead.

He was well aware that he had at least some value and position that people wanted. So Chen liked to keep his life private and minimal so it wouldn't hinder the king.

For the servants; however, the lack of information only made them even more interested in him as a person.

Chen did not mind. He wanted the world to know she belonged to him. It would make sure those old geezers in nobility know what is good for them and stay away.

"They are quite different from their public self huh." Lily snapped him out of his thoughts.

Chen nodded in agreement. "This is why I'm having a tough time every day. Trying to help them keep their image as a ruler."

Lily held his hand and smiled at him. "You have me now! Nothing to worry about."

He chuckled and said to her, "You mean another person to manage?"

"You mean another lovely person!" Lily gave him a sour look. She was about to loosen her grip to let go in retaliation, but Chen quickly grabbed her hand.

Lily retorted with a hmph and pouted.

"Sorry, sorry." Chen laughed, "You are a special person I plan to spend my life with, not an 'anybody else'."

"You know you're good with your words right?" She leaned on his shoulder and looked down towards the ground. "It's too early for it, you know."

"So?" Chen told her softly. "People are arranged to marry left and right. If I found the right person for me, shouldn't I marry her right away?"

Arranged marriages were an obvious answer to survive. People married for power and to only increase it. Very rarely do they end up well. Many of the higher-ups had countless lovers aside from their spouse.

Chen disliked this. Lily did also, but there was no choice, they had to play the game if they lived in that society.

The king and queen was a special case.

For their situation, Chen was blessed with power and that brought him a rank. Lily was the queen's friend and was lucky enough to catch his eyes. It was as simple as that.

They were fortunate.

Chen leaned his head on hers and said, "If I let such a good person be taken by someone else. Aren't I a fool in life?"

"It's okay if you are a fool, You are my fool anyway."

"...And you said I'm good with words?" He raised one of his brows.

Lily giggled sweetly in response. Her laugh made him laughed in response.

Their chattering sounded the hallways which seemed like it had lighted the dark, creepy hallways with a warm atmosphere as they walked.

When they reached their room, they washed up and laid in bed.

After failing to sleep, Lily turned over to her side, "Some times, I feel like I've known you since the beginning, Chen."

"Is that so? Maybe we have, maybe we haven't." A trace of a smile appeared on his eyes. "Before I came to this country, I mean."

"I consider that we are since we are this close." Lily giggled.

Chen pulled her into his embrace. "Then what about this close?"

Lily naturally curled into his chest to hide her face. Chen has been behaving differently than before they confessed. Her heart was not keeping up again.

"Why are you so docile now?" Chen finally laughed and wrapped his arms around her. "Where is your shameless side?"

In the next second, he was slightly stunned.

Lily lifted her head and pecked his lips. "Is this shameless enoug—nnn."

He had pressed her under him and returned her kiss with a deeper one, only sucking her lips, nothing more.

He let go after a short minute.

Lily slightly panted with lips red and puffing. Through the darkness of the night, he could see her faint blushing.

It was dangerous. This mood, this person, just everything.

"I'll stop here before we are in deep trouble," Chen said tightly hugging her. "And don't move for a while."

Lily didn't get what he said. She thought for a while after before realizing what he had meant and smiled mischievously.

"You have quite a lot of self-control!" She boldly kissed the side of his neck to tease him.

"Be good and sleep." Chen held back and lifted the blanket up to her chin.

"Chen?" she called his name, sweetly.

Her honeydew, clear voice eased his ears from all other sounds. He hopes to hear her voice next to him every night.

"Mhmm?"

"What should we do tomorrow? I don't know what to do?"

"Anything with you is fine." Chen murmured, eyes closed.

"We need to get our stuff at your house too." She started to plan.

He didn't say anything, but his brows were scrunched.

Not hearing a reply, she looked at him. "Chen?"

"Lily" He opened his eyes and patted her head before saying. "My house is yours. It's our house, our home. Where else would you stay?"

'your house' sounded awkward in his ears. They had been living together for quite a while whether he liked it or not.

Now that they are official, it did not sound right.

"..."

Her heart skipped a beat. Her eyes had begun to swell up. It was the first time someone said that to her.

'Our home.'

It sounded nice.

"Un...." Lily's eyes watered. "Our home."

Time was moving too fast. The time she had to leave is approaching faster than light. She didn't want to go. It was getting harder every day.

Lily shifted her head onto his chest. She could hear his heartbeat moving at a constant pace.

"Let's have a lot of fun this week." Lily voiced soothingly as she tightly hugged him.

He responded with an "Mm." And was slowly drifting to sleep again. Just having her by his side brought him such peace and happiness. Chen didn't know that liking someone would be like this.

The warmth spread from the depths of his heart to his whole body.

"Do you like me?" Lily asked.

"Mm."

"I like you a lot." She looked at him.

He kissed her forehead and replied. "En."

"Chen?"

"...Mhmm?"

"I have something to tell you."

Hearing her serious tone, he opened his eyes to looked at her; all the drowsiness was gone. The moonlight was bright, and his appearance reflected from her eyes.

"Yes?" He muttered gently, tightening his arms around her. Something didn't feel right.

Lily's eyes looked hurt and a little red. Chen's heart felt heavy.

"What's wrong?" He stroked her hair gently waiting for her to speak.

"I--" She hesitated.