Chapter 23

Oh, por favor.

"Then please do enjoy the feast as this King will explain this to his betroth."

Wow. This guy....is spontaneous. Betroth? A thousand claps for you.

"Go on."

Dude-father you're really selling off you're daughter to someone prestigious aren't you shaming yourself?

I swallowed those words trying hard not to ball my eyes out and followed the King of Yi to the exit. Glass-like brown eyes stared back at me indifferently. Seeing the Overlord is near the door I want to ask for help but then I looked down. Why did I have a thought to forcibly cling to him? If that happens won't rescuing her mother be direr? As if, and it's not like he'll help me. We didn't have an agreement on such deals. It's no use.

I gritted my teeth.

Just what on earth is this Male Lead is thinking? I tried as hard as I could squeezing every fluid of my brain to reminisce the novel doing everything at this moment burning the life out of my memory till I felt a headache. Sadly, there was no incident in which the Male Lead used Li Jia Ying before both of the main characters met as they were destined to be.

Could it be because I'm an anomaly? Screw that butterfly effect.

"It seems you do think a lot."

"..."

He guided me to the garden with a lawn on the eastern side without any person present. Private talk with me huh? This reminds me of the Overlord.

"Don't..."

"Hmm?"

Come on. You can do it, Jun Xue!

"Don't want to, me."

I pointed at myself, "You," to him. "Marry." I clasped both hands in front of him.

"Oh, why so princess?"

Hey, why are you're eyes staring at me with amusement? It twinkled the same as the stars above.

"Because... You are too handsome."

It's deceiving.

He laughed loudly and boy, that was a belly full of laughter.

"That means we are matched. You're too beautiful."

And you are heavenly matched with the Female Lead.

I gazed at him with displeasure.

"Boring to play."

"You find this King, plain?"

Tsk seems I got no choice but to leave this place before the engagement celebratory is set. You are forcing me to act when I don't want to act! Do you know it makes a lazy person like me furious! Not like you can hear the inner thoughts of an introvert. Well, I can snatch up some golden accessories from the maid's quarter when they are asleep...

This guy can babble about it all he wants for all I care.

"Oh yes, here." He took something out on his sleeve. "This King was holding unto it and waited for this day to give it to you."

Hm?

The male protagonist opened his exquisite handkerchief revealing something that I've thought was lost along the way.

My necklace.

Just...

"This King saw it dropped on the ground when you were escaping with the other slaves that day."

Wait a minute.

"Telling this King that he is too handsome is just a farce. Why can't you even recognize me, your benefactor?"

Benefactor...

"Bene..."

Now, I remembered! He was that guy who split that maurader's body in half! But how would I know? I didn't see his face. He wore a protective gear that doesn't reveal his countenance. His voice? I'm a forgetful person and thinking about him at that time was out of the question even if he was my benefactor.

How come he easily identified that it was me?! Was my face too clean when we met? Or he can memorize someone's voice even if they met once and spoke curtly? It looks like another buff for being a Male Lead, he is just like the Overlord or I'm just too easy to be recognized?!

"You're eyes were too hard to forget, Princess."

Eww, so cheesy. Yuck.

This man, no wonder he returned me to this empire. All along, he got a plan. This schemer...

"This King is saddened you forgot about me."

Well, I'm so stressed that you remembered me.

I smiled knowing my foolish self has been known and bowed, "This Princess apologized for not realizing Mt. Tai. Do forgive me for being bold King of Yi, is this how this Princess must repay her debt? "

"Can you believe if this King is enamored the first time he saw you?"

I twitched my lips. The first time I came here I know I looked shabby as a beggar roaming the streets for three decades.

"And this princess believes you're looking in the wrong direction."

"Haha!"

Two can play the game, bish. But I sighed. "What does his Highness want?"

King of Yi shrugged smiling leisurely. "It is but the truth."

"..."

Be more convincing, sir.

"Won't you ask me more?"

I just smiled. If I do, would you let me go? He looked serious beneath his smiles and he did ask the Emperor for his blessing. No, even in ancient times there is still separation. I've read too many history books, political marriages, novels, and manga to know the truth. I'm such a crappy actor. Two discovered my identity and they are both big shots. Who else?

I suddenly felt him tug my hand.

"..."

"You won't ask?"

"No, this princess understands."

"What do you understand?"

That it's just a fluke to entertain you.

I was just full of smiles. "Your Highness, you're enamored with my face right?"

"You."

Such an ambiguous word.

"Then what's there that this princess should not understand?"

"..."

I put my left hand on top of his hand as he still holds my other hand and tapped it gently, better not to provoke this schemer too much. "Li Jia Ying will follow your play like a fool she currently is."

Then, I showed him the necklace he gave me and bowed lowly. "This is a thanks to my benefactor for saving my life and giving me what I've lost."

All the time he was smiling at me while I am saying this. The truth is, I'm rather annoyed with the way he looks at me. This cunning male lead. I don't trust you at all. He must be scheming again.

"This princess will retire first."

"Wife."

What?

"You're too guarded."

I smiled back at him, the two of us smiling at each other. Ahhh! This is making me frustrated. Two smiling dogs. I must go back as soon as possible to plan my escape. I'm now more convinced to escape. More so, it's better lest I'll be hit by thunder because of showing signs of destroying the protagonist's ship! This is a slow death route with the highest death flag. Not an instant death.

"Why are you rushing to leave? You won't return to that wretched place."

Don't tell me I'll move in with you?

As if the King of Yi read my mind, he grinned. "From now on you'll be living with me and we will leave the Fu Empire."

"You must be jesting, benefactor. We are not married yet. It's proper decorum to be separated from each other."

"Why are you thinking we will be staying in one room? If it's what my betroth wants this King is happy to oblige to your request."

"When?"

I changed the topic.

"Seven days from now."

"..."

This is wrong. The King of Yi stayed longer for the female lead, no, he stayed permanently in this Empire for her. Helping her with her schemes until he conquered this Empire together with Song Jing Hua then he made her, his only wife. The Beloved Empress of the Fu Empire. The only woman!

If he leaves this Empire he might never come back. Well, there is a possibility that he'll come back and marry her... But what's the use of being Li Jia Ying's betrothed? It wasn't written in the story and even if the story has been altered because I came I'm not a perfect chess piece for power. But if he doesn't care about power specifically picking me is still not a good choice. To get someone's attention? But who?

"This...why so sudden? Li Jia Ying is unworthy. There are more capable women like my sister Gu Mei Xiang and Bai Ying Yue and so much more. Their beauty can be comparable to mine or even beyond especially their unparalleled skills."

I tried to explain. But was it just me or did I see his lips twitch when I mentioned Bai Ying Yue? I must have mistaken it.

I heard him exhale and inhaled deeply.

"This King doesn't need them. My whole being can only be for the princess who is deemed to be foolish but heavenly defying."

"..."

Wow. I'll never tell him again of Li Jia Ying's beauty, it made me extremely ashamed. That just backfired on me alright.

"Why, is being the King of Yi's husband unfavorable?"

Certainly.

"It's undeserving for this Princess."

He was silent for a moment before chuckling.

"You lower yourself too much. Who wouldn't want a woman like you?"

In a genuine way, everybody. Except, the Overlord. He doesn't seem to dislike me nor does he like me. I'm just probably like any another person he passed by on the road, but it's better than being looked down on and being taken advantage of by people.

I made sure my smile doesn't crack so easily just like how a sales lady smiles at her customer.

"Then do tell me the way where Your Highness stays? After all, there are still people who want to meet you." And examine how your brain turned into a paste. If someone can save you, I'll be eternally grateful. I'll visit whoever tombs had done such honorary deeds every month, no, every six months.

King of Yi shook his head mildly saying, "It's fine. For my wife to care so much about me the third time we met is nothing compared to attending these banquets."

Wow, what an actor. Your speech is so sweet I need to distance myself from you or I'll be having diabetes.

"Thanking the King of Yi for his benevolence."

"Ah, wife don't be formal with me. Jin Hai, remember my name."

"..."

That's for the Female Lead. No way. I'm simp for villains, calling your name personally would just irk my hate for MLs.

Smile Jun Xue smile, "As my King wishes."