Unspoken Words.

In the carriage, Yifei ended up taking a nap. It's a relief for Chen as it shows that she's still recovering her strength.

When they arrived home, Chen carried her to their room and went into his study to work.

Yifei slept all through the next day.

____________________

When she woke up in the morning, she realizes she was at home. There was no one next to her. After a while, it felt weird sleeping alone and she got anxious.

"Chen?" Yifei sat up.

There was no movement within her surroundings.

"Chen?" Yifei dazedly voiced again as she stepped out of bed.

Nothing happened again. It was oddly quiet. Not even the sounds of the maid busying below are heard.

Yifei quickly ran out of the room and rushed downstairs.

"Chen!!!" Yifei panicked.

Is this all a Dream? Please don't tell me it's a dream!

Just a few steps before reaching the floor, Yifei tripped due to her unstable leg.

An arm suddenly caught her by the tummy from behind and carried her up.

"What's wrong?" Chen asked. "Didn't I tell you to be careful? Your leg's still recovering."

Yifei's mind was still dazed so she just closed her eyes and hugged him tight instead.

"I thought you left me behind. I thought I was dreaming again." I thought I was back there.

Seeing the woman in his arm so out of it, Chen slowly carried her, sat her down on the chair. He then bent down and met her eyes.

"How could I leave you?" Chen stroked her cheek. "Sorry, I was talking to your doctor before he left on a trip. You've been sleeping so long, I was worried."

"Then am I okay?" Lily looked at Chen anxiously.

"En." He held her hand. "Let's eat. I know you missed dinner yesterday."

A few hours later, a letter was sent to Chen.

'Come to work. I am dying.' It stated.

Chen gave a long sigh. I knew it was too good to be true.

Yifei was taking a nap again. Her body was still trying to catch up. Even if her wounds had closed, they were grave injuries, thus, body trauma takes longer to recover.

Chen strictly left her in the servants' care and made a quick trip to the palace.

When he got into the king's office. He wasn't even fazed by the number of papers on the ground, stuck on the walls, and piles on the desk.

"I wasn't even gone for that long and you've made this place a dump," Chen shook his head.

The King peaked out from behind and waved to him.

"Oh! Chen, you're here!" He gave Chen an eye smile. "I believe we've switched our assigned duties! You've done my work and now I'm stuck with yours!"

"I thought you said you could handle it? So I gave you something harder to do." Chen shrugged.

"You—I—can so do it!"

"Good. I'll organize this mess then."

What? Why does it feel like I've lost? The the king raise his one eyebrow.

Oddly he didn't get the satisfaction he expected. Something doesn't feel right

Have I been tricked? The king thought.

——————

Later in the afternoon.

A knock sounded the busy room.

"Come in" the king voiced.

"Dear?" Anne peeked through the crack of the door and scanned the room.

"Chen! You're here too?" Her face brightens as she opened the door wider.

"Your highness." Chen bowed and went back to work.

"It's time to eat! It's way past lunchtime!" Anne exclaimed.

She came in and took the papers away from Chen.

His face scrunches up before widening his eyes. Passed Lunch? That long? Has she eaten yet?

He thought of Yifei, but there's no way to contact her conveniently. He wants to go home.

Lost in thought, Chen finally decided to get a magic crystal. He didn't want to before since it gives an easier way for the king to annoy him, but for his wife's safety, it's best to get one.

"Chen?" Anne waved her hands in front of him.

"No, I'm good. I'm planning to quickly organize these papers and write instructions down for his majesty before leaving." Chen glanced at the king.

"What?" The king stared at him exasperatedly. "All of this today?"

"Yes. Is there a problem?" Chen said slowly as he glared at him.

"No...of course not. Hahahahah. I am this nation's ruler. I can handle it." The king shrugged his shoulders nervously.

"Very well. As his majesty said. I will continue work. He can take a lunch break."

Anne looked displeased. She swiped the paper off of Chen's hands again.

Chen shifted his eyes up to where she was standing.

It was starting to get difficult to contain his annoyance.

"We are having lunch," Anne ordered. "as the queen's orders."

Five long seconds past in silence. The king felt awkward between the two. A fight might just happen.

"Come on now dear. If he wants to work, let him be. You know how stubborn Chen is." He came in between the two.

"I'm sorry your majesty. I am also a busy person. Please have mercy on me and let me finish my job." Chen bowed.

"No." Anne's face scrunched up even further.

"Are you preventing me from doing my duties as the servant of this kingdom? You're highness?" Chen lifted one brow.

"C-come on guys." The king intercepted. "It's just lunch. How about we deliver some snacks to Chen?"

Anne gave her husband an angry look. "Is it because of Lily?"

"What makes you say that?"

"I saw you guys the other day."

"Lily? Isn't that good for you Chen!" The king smiled.

"Then you should also know, we're planning to get married, So I don't have time."

Both Anne and the king widen their eyes in shock. "What?"

After a minute or so, the king spoke up first.

"Congratulations!" the king turned to Anne. "Right dear? We were so worried if it would never happen."

"Isn't it a bit too early?" Anne questioned unhappily.

"I've let her wait long enough. I already proposed." Chen started to shift through the papers again while writing.

"That fast?" The king laughed. "'the' Chen actually proposed? you wasted no time!"

"I still think it's too early. You guys don't know each other that well." Anne dismissed it

"We've discussed our matters between us, it's been a long, long time. We are also marrying later than others our age already, are we not? I don't want people to label her as having problems resulting to be some leftover woman." Chen looked up at Anne again with deeper meaning. "And besides, I was inspired by you guys. It took you not that long either. Right? Your highness."

"I--I-I" Anne gripped her hand.

"You are making me blush." The king tried to change the topic. This isn't good, this tension in the air. "Hahahaha...Anne told me she had a crush on me for the longest time. I believe we married after a few months or so."

Chen stood up. "I need to get a lot done before preparing for it. It's an event of a lifetime. I don't want to disappoint 'my wife' if the wedding is not to her expectations."

Every word from Chen's mouth seemed to prick Anne. There was something. It felt highly unpleasant to the ears. And inside.

Chen set the papers down and walked towards the door. "We finished most of it anyway. I'll do the rest tomorrow. Now if you would excuse me."

Chen gripped his palm and faced his back towards them, hiding his displeased expression.

"I'm going home for lunch instead. Someone is waiting for me."

"You-" Anne spoke up.

"You don't know anything about her." Anne looked into Chen's eyes.

"It's private matters between me and my wife-to-be. I know her well enough. If it's something that she dislikes, I will not force her to tell me." Chen bowed again to them. "Have a wonderful day your majesties. May the light guide you."

Chen closed the door lightly. After staring at it for a while, he made his way down the hall. His footsteps can be heard slowly treading on the other side until it fully disappeared.