Get Out!

"Are you sure it's okay for me to be here?" Yifei opened the quilt and got in bed. "I'm not intruding? it involves your work after all."

"You worry for nothing." Chen patted the empty space next to him as he laid down.

Yifei moved closer into his embrace.

"Having you here makes me want to finish it faster. Isn't it better that you're here?"

Yifei giggled and give him a side-eye. "I can't always be with you in the palace and you can't always abuse your powers like this without his majesty here, you hear?"

"The crystal is going to be delivered soon. At that time you must call be every day when I'm away, okay?" Chen voiced with a hint of laughter his words.

"En." Yifei slowly closed her eyes and quickly went to bed.

Chen got into the habit of kissing her forehead before they sleep. He quickly followed after hearing her rhythmic breathing.

The long walks with Yifei every day for the past few days made sleeping much easier and comfortable.

—————

BAM

The door was slapped open early dawn.

"Chen! We're back!"

Chen quickly opened his eyes and shield Yifei in his arms, covering her ears with both hands. He looked down and saw that Yifei's eyebrows scrunched. She slowly squirmed to shift position, but thankfully relaxed again in her sleep.

After relaxing his pounding heart, Chen looked at the door, his eyes were ready to kill and his aura was menacing.

Recognizing the person in front of the door, His face quickly turned to surprise. "Your highness? What are you doing here?"

"Chen..." Anne dazedly called out to him.

When she came back from her trip, She was excited to go greet Chen.

Anne didn't expect that when she opened the door, she saw a couple embracing each other lovingly as they slept.

While Anne was in her shocked state, Chen carefully maneuvered out of bed and pulled the covers all the way up to Yifei's neck.

After kissing her forehead, he turned to Anne.

"Let's talk outside." He ushered her out.

Hearing his commanding voice, she couldn't help but dumbfoundedly follow him out.

——-

"What is it?" Chen asked as he closed the door behind him. "I remembered you guys wouldn't be back until the day after tomorrow."

Snapping back after hearing his aloof tone, she made a pitiful expression. "We fought again."

Her eyes slowly became watery, reflexively moving towards Chen.

Chen grabbed Anne's shoulders firm, preventing her from getting any closer.

'I knew it.'

"I think it's time you guys talk it out after calming down." Chen sighed. "Doesn't he always come and fetch you to apologize? Do the same and I'm sure it will be resolved."

This wasn't what Anne had expected. Chen always comforted her when she was sad. Instead, he's pushing her away.

"But, can't you help me? Stay with me for a while until he comes?!"

Chen's turned sour, but immediately composed himself before telling her, "I'm sorry, this is between you guys, I have no say and I have a fiancé that I'm supposed to stay beside."

Thinking of what she saw earlier she protested, "But isn't this a workplace, not a place to fool around?" She felt unfair. Everything was not going anywhere happy, from the trip to now.

Hearing her underline meaning, Chen frowned again. "I was sure I've discussed my conditions with his majesty."

"I—"

It pricked her heart. 'I work for his majesty, not you. Any problems, you discuss it with him.' was what he had meant.

"Chen?" Yifei's voice inside the room soothed the stressful atmosphere. "Chen, where did you go?"

Both of them turned to look at the door from the outside.

"It's my cue, I'm sure you'll work it out. My job does not involve personal issues. Now if you would excuse me, your highness." Chen bowed and entered the room before closing it again.

"I'm here."

"Are you getting ready for work?" Yifei rubbed her eyes.

"No, just the bathroom, let's go back to sleep. It's still early,"

Remnants of his coaxing voice can be heard from the outside.

"En," Yifei muttered in a docile voice

Anne stood outside, dumbfounded.

You were always there for me. You told me you liked me.

She solemnly thought.

————-

In the late morning, when Chen entered the study room, the atmosphere was dark.

"S-sir Chen." the servant let out a sigh of relief seeing him enter.

After a brief scan at the King's face, he quickly got the grasp of the situation.

"You worked hard, I'll handle it." Chen patted the servant's shoulder.

Since that was his cue, the servant bolted out and thank the gods Chen had arrived in time before the King was about to explode from his mistake.

Seeing Chen tidying the papers on the table, the king looked up.

"Have you been in a lovers quarrel?" He said tirelessly.

"Many." Chen chuckles, thinking back at the box of cakes and flowers.

"How did you solve them."

"To each their own. I try to apologize first, but sometimes that backfires. How can we know what a woman thinks?" Chen shakes his head, " I can only pacify her."

"So you're in the same boat huh." The king closed his eyes as he sat on his chair.

"My fiancée is a special woman. We talk things out, unlike some people."

The king raised his brows curiously, "Who are those 'some people'"

"..." you? You idiot.

"Just....some people." Chen coughed. "So what's the problem now?"

"So you knew? She always goes to you huh."

"Yes, disturbing mine and my woman's sleep."

Your woman?

"Lily's here?" The king said in delight.

"Yes, is that a problem?"

"No! Perfect! We can go ask her to talk to Anne!"

The king shouted happily. It was as if his dark circles never existed. He immediately stood up from his chair and held Chen's hands. "Her mood is always so strange these days. If we can't understand, only a woman would understand another woman."

"...I will talk to her about your demise." Chen shook his head. "Now let's get things done since you've arrived home early."

The king clicked his tongue. "Can't I just have the extra two days relaxing at home?"

"No, I have a wedding to plan. Let's finish this by midnight. Don't worry I'll send the servants in to deliver your meals."

"You are the devil." The King glared at him.

"Sure, devil or a god, I made you a great king no?" Chen was not buying it. "Stop your chattering and let's get busy, I promise you, as a gift, you won't have tons of work for the following weeks."

'You lie about that all the time, it's not going to work on me anymore." The king tapped his fingers on the table.

_________

Yifei went to go visit Anne in the afternoon when Chen told her the situation.

It took a long time before relieving a reply from the maids.

Once she got to the door, she heard a loud sound and rushed to open it.

"What happen?!"

Gazing on the floor, countless shards of glass and porcelain laid on the floor. The flowers scattered, while dirt tinted the cream tiles.

As the wind blew through the curtains, specs of dust started to pick up through the air.

When Yifei looked up, she saw Anne's hands were filled with scratches and some blood oozing.

Looking at Anne's face in shock.

Anne was scowling.

"Get out."