It’s none of your business.

"Get Out!!!!" Anne screamed hysterically as she rushed towards the shelves near the windows and wiped all the decorations onto the floor.

Yifei froze in the middle of the room, not knowing how to comprehend the situation.

The maid was kneeling on the floor, shaking and begging for forgiveness with streams of tears flowing down her face.

In a split second, Yifei kneeled beside her and smiled gently. "You've worked hard; I'll take care of this. Come see me after."

After the maid thanked her, she quickly left while Yifei stood there, letting Anne cool down.

"Are you done?" Yifei asked calmly.

"What are you doing here." Anne coldly replied.

She was not in the mood for talks.

"I heard you were not well these days, and so I came to check up on you."

"It's none of your business."

"It's not, but as a person, I feel I must voice out concern for someone who's about to kill herself one day." Yifei moved to the empty chairs and sat down. "Do you want to tell me? Or do you want me to get it out from you personally."

Her eyes started to emit a light hue of blue.

Anne knew it was no use to hide it from her, so she sat across from Yifei.

"Then, you can examine yourself." Anne looked at Yifei straight in the eyes.

"Don't blame me for intruding."

In a split second, Yifei's eyes returned to normal.

Sometimes Anne felt the world was indeed unfair for someone to hold such powers.

"Is it about that conversation we had after the festival?" Yifei looked at her with sorrowful eyes.

Anne averted hers. "Those old fools are pushing him to fill up the harem,"

She tried to hold in her tears. "I'm aging, they said. There are still no results even though we've been married for so long."

It's not like there was a medicine for it. Yifei also gets the feeling there's something else she's hiding; however, prying further would only make things worse.

"Things that are supposed to happen will happen; the only thing we can do is try. Forcing things will only hurt you. I'm not well-versed in the medical field, but I can examine you and see what we need to do."

Yifei gave her a heartfelt yet painful smile. "He loves you, right?"

"I-I don't know if I can keep going on like this." Anne covered her face.

"...Is that why you went to look for Chen?"

"..." Anne did not say anything.

Yifei felt a little funny yet uncomfortable, but there was a reason why she visited today.

"You know, there are people who support you. You shouldn't look for him all the time; he also has a lot of things to deal with lately."

"But you can?" Anne sneered. "he's been distancing himself from me for so long now."

"Is this why you're against our marriage? It's not because we don't know each other enough, right?"

"I said it's none of your business, right?"

Looking at Anne carefully, Yifei closed her eyes and sighed in her heart.

"It seems like we can't have a normal conversation today." Yifei stood up. "I'll send another maid to clean this up for you, and I'll come back another day to see how you're doing."

Before leaving, Yifei turned around one last time and said solemnly, "I thought you were different."

Anne frowned and opened her mouth, but no words were left.

Yifei turned around and walked out without looking back.

After closing the door, she could hear Anne's wailing and the sound of her kneeling onto the ground.

Passing another long sigh, she strolled down the hallway, looking at the scenery outside.

People change and sometimes it isn't always for the better.

————

Passed midnight, Chen came into the dim-lit bedroom at the palace. When he came out of the bath, it was suddenly bright, and Yifei was sitting there with a book.

Strands of hair dropped in front of her face as her face frowned. Chen reached out to put them behind her ear.

"It's so late; You weren't asleep?" He gently said as he sat next to her.

"I wanted to wait for you!" Yifei put her book down and hugged him.

Chen returned it and kissed her neck. "So, what did you do today?"

"Hmmm, I toured the garden, talked to the servants, and got lessons from the head chef!"

Chen chuckled and said lovingly, "It seems you were too busy even to visit me."

"There should be days where you should be on your own!" She laughed. "Or you'll wear off my face."

Chen turned the lighting off and pulled her down onto the bed. "Okay, okay, let's sleep. I'll be finished with work tomorrow, and we can return home. We have a lot to do."

"En." Yifei leaned her head onto his chest and snuggled closer. "But why don't you live in the palace? Your work requires you here."

Chen started to pat her arm, rhythmically. "If I stayed here, You and I won't be able to breathe, it's uncomfortable."

Yifei gave him a small chuckle, understanding what he meant and reported, "I also checked up on Anne as you asked."

"mhm. You've done well."

"You're not curious?" Yifei raised her head. "I thought you wanted to know."

"His majesty wants to find out the root of the problems," Chen replied with his eyes closed. "It's been going on for a while and he ordered me to find out."

Honestly, he's been sensing that they are not what they used to be, but his majesty's personal affairs should be resolved on his own. Building a strong mentality is important.

Yifei instantly frowned. "Your job must also involve his personal affairs? This topic is very private!"

Chen patted her head as she cutely ranted. "It can't be helped. I'll ask him for a raise."

"I'll write it in a letter and have you send it, don't look inside either," Yifei concluded. "To be honest, her condition is not well."

"Mhm. But you don't have to worry too much. We shouldn't meddle too much."

"En."

When Yifei was asleep, Chen was still wide awake.

There's this nagging feeling in his heart.

These days, things are starting to unravel in an unpleasant way. People around wants something they don't have.

The day after tomorrow, he would have to sit down with Yifei and start wedding planning. Chen also plans to take a long break after and spend lots of time with her away from these problems.

Glancing down at his chest, Yifei was sleeping comfortably, voided from his stressful thoughts.

He continued his tempo-like patting to ensure her, his presence and relaxation.

Her lean body that felt like it would be blown away by the wind. Chen turned his side towards her and hugged her tight.

They will soon be husband and wife, his only family in this world, and someone who would be by his side for eternity.

Thinking about it made his heart filled with warmth deep down into his bones.

'I don't have the power to save everything else, but I will protect you with all I have.'

Kissing Yifei's forehead, Chen rubbed her ruby-colored mark gently.

"Sweet dreams my queen."