※ Chapter 29 ※

Meihua's POV »☆●

"He's right, sweetheart," Lady Hera says after I finish raving about everything that happened yesterday that left me overwhelmed.

I couldn't sleep a blink last night and this restlessness isn't getting any better. Everyone woke up early for the Grand Hunt today and the whole morning I saw people preparing but I couldn't focus on anything. So I came to the only place in this estate where I can find peace.

The lakeshore.

I look ahead, staring at the trees that sway gently on the breeze, my feet feeling the coolness of the water, Lady Hera next to me. It surprises me how in the frenzy hive of hustle and bustle where everyone's working hectically like enchanting shoals of fish, this woman managed to discover my absence and approach me.

"Right about what? That I should hide all my life in fear of being captured like a criminal?" I scowl, seething.

"He cares about you," she softly whispers.

I sigh, "l care about him too. But he can't make decisions for me. I don't like that."

"Confront him, tell him how you feel. Sehun's a very sweet guy. I'm sure he'd understand," Lady Hera suggests.

I glance at her, smiling weakly and nodding. She's right. He's not tryna control me. He's just tryna protect me and I shouldn't be mad at someone for caring about me.

Lady Hera pulls me close, wrapping one arm around me and stroking my hair, "Don't think so much, dear."

I glance up from her shoulder, "Can you take me somewhere with you, far from these people?"

She pulls back and looks into my eyes with a frown, "Are they not treating you well? Did Mark say something?"

Seeing her expression, I immediately shake my head, "It's not like that. They treat me well, really well, but.." I trail off, looking away.

"But?" she cups my face, bringing it face to face, "Say?"

I swallow, chewing on my bottom lip. I don't know if I should tell her, or how should I tell her. But I can't decide what to do on my own.

After a lot of cogitation, I decide to give her a quick rundown over what transpired between me and Se, his confession and everything, "He's probably in love with me, for real, I don't know what to do."

"Do you love him?" her sudden questions catches me off-guard.

"Yes, I mean no, probably, it's just that.." I shake my head, frustrated by the lack of words, "l don't know how to explain!"

"Relax! Alright, take a deep breath and then tell me what you feel," she pats on my back to comfort me.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath and slowly open my eyes before I finally speak again, "l wanna be honest, I somehow don't know the answer to that question. If I say yes, I feel like I'm doing something wrong or manipulating by lying. But if I say no, it doesn't feel quite true either. I think I'm not prepared to decide that yet. And I've a feeling that he confessed without thinking too, he's probably drawn by infatuation and he'll change his mind once he really puts his mind to it."

She nods, "You find it too early, I understand."

"l have a theory on why he might feel this way that I can't tell you. But if my theory's correct, I should stay away from him before things get too complicated," I say. There's no doubt we have some sort of connection. But soulmate?

"Put that thought aside, let your emotions occur to you naturally," she smiles, looking up and down my clothes, "Now, you have a hunt to attend and you're still wearing that. Go, get dressed!"

I nod, leaning closer to her for a quick hug before heading back inside.

I go straight to the bathhouse and quickly climb inside the wooden tub of warm water that I asked to prepare. After shower, I step out and grab the towel that was kept for me and wrap myself around it as I make my way to the closet.

After tightening my corset, I browse through the gowns, wondering if it's gonna be bothersome to wear long skirt to a hunt, when suddenly the door to my room bursts open as Amy walks in, followed by another girl from pack, Shuhua.

"Hey you, we must talk at once!" Amy snarls as soon as she enters. Instinctively, I pull the top sheet off my bed and wrap it around myself.

"Gongzhu, pardon our interruption. We had no idea! Amy, we should come back later," Shuhua says.

"Now's fine," Amy glares at me, "I'm sure our Luna doesn't mind."

I take the time to put on my dress to formulate my response.

After dressing up quickly, I turn to her, "I'm not your Luna, let's get that clear first, in case that's what itches you. I'm your Alpha's friend and I assumed the role to help him go through the social seasons because it's my field of expertise. That's the entire reason I accompany him. When he finds his mate, I'll back off. I know my place."

"Oh, do you now?" she scoffs, mocking sarcastically, "You're tryna brainwash him to become Luna and now you dive into pack crisis with the faintest knowledge about supernatural creatures and their powers. What do you think of yourself, huh?"

I cross my arms, smiling, "Sweetie, I think of myself exactly what I should but it's not my responsibility to prove that to you, though I don't understand why Se's mate would be of any concern to a girl who's mated."

She groans in disgust, "We aren't like you that romance is all that we'll seek. Luna's a very important position and it's not meant for weaklings like you," she glares at me, "Tread carefully. You're no werewolf."

I arch an eyebrow, "l may not be werewolf but I'm worth your respect all the same."

"My respect won't protect the pack. Actions will," she groans when a knock on the door grabs our attention.

"Come in," I say and Luhan enters the room, glancing between me and Amy.

"Gongzhu, pardon the intrusion. Rosy's looking for you," he says before giving a long glare at Amy.

"That I am," Rosy enters the room, bowing, "But if your sister and her friend here is keeping Gongzhu busy.."

"What! We'd never keep Alpha Sister waiting!" Shuhua grabs the corner of Amy's hanfu, prompting her to leave. Amy looks from Rosy to me in disapproval, before finally leaving with Shuhua. Luhan exits too.

I turn to Rosy, "Is it a coincidence or you just happen to be my guardian angel every time?"

"Oh no, you found out my secret! I'm indeed an angel, don't tell anyone," she giggles. Suddenly, a gong sounds from downstairs, making Rosy jump in flurry, "That's the breakfast gong. Now move your arse, we don't have all day! We're going to the hunt after breakfast, at once."

"Oh right," I quickly brush my hair and prep up, "Lead the way."

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We head downstairs to find Uncle sitting down at the private dine, Aunt is running back and forth, serving the breakfast. Rosy follows to the kitchen to help her.

I bob a quick curtsy to Uncle. He nods, acknowledging my presence and motions to a seat close to the head of the table. As we get comfortably seated, Rosy arrives with a tray of tea cups and serves tea to Uncle and me. She does this every morning and it keeps me going through the day. This girl made me a huge tea-addict, I feel as if I can't go a single day without her amazing tea.

As I take the cup from her hands, I look outside through the window. It's abuzz with guards and servants alike as seemingly endless line of vehicles and people block the view for me to see anything else. I look up at Rosy, "Do you guys always travel with a small village?"

She chuckles as she sits down next to me after giving tea to Uncle, "An unexpected side-effect of brother becoming King-regent."

"Let's talk about that title, shall we?" Uncle takes a sip of his tea, "Specifically, how to remove the regent from it."

"And stop Dylan," I groan in disgust, thinking about him. It's not only because I want Se to win, even without it, I wouldn't want someone like Dylan to rule anywhere. I even find Gabrielle more fitting.

Rosy giggles, "By the way you say his name, I can tell that we share a common goal."

"Meihua," Uncle puts his cup down on the table, fixating his eyes on me looking serious, "We require your support, earnestly."

I frown, "Why yes, off course you have my support. You all, especially Se, have been my greatest support on my cause. Helping back is the least I could do to repay you. Besides, he's the best Mingluan can ever have."

He shakes his head, "That's not what I meant. I wanna formally ask you to ally with us. I know the Wuluan status is instable right now but you're the only remaining bloodline, at least that's known. People here now know who you are. An official foreign alliance with royalty will strengthen Se's bid to the throne of Mingluan."

I shrug, "That doesn't sound insurmountable. I accept."

"Wonderful!" his eyes brighten up as he glances at Rosy, "Tell Luhan to make the preparations. We'll announce the engagement in the end of today's hunt."

Huh?

Did I hear that right?

Rosy nods, "But you didn't talk to gege yet."

Uncle puts the empty tea cup aside, taking his plate of meal that Aunt served, "l will, after breakfast."

"Wait," I interrupt their conversation, thoroughly confused by their exchange of words. I look between them, "Engagement? As in, marriage? Who's getting married?"

"You, silly!" Rosy squeals, "l can't wait to call you sister-in-law!"

"Why'd you call me that?" I bite out, "I'm not marrying your brother!"

Uncle pauses eating, surprised by my outburst as if I'm not supposed to react like that, "But you said you accept."

"l said I accept alliance, not marriage!" I scowl.

"That's the requirement of alliance, to find a suitor in behalf of both families and tie knots between them," Rosy says softly, "As there's no other suitor that you can offer, so you're supposed to marry him."

"l see," I lean my back on the chair, sighing deeply as my shoulders slump, "So that's why you need me."

"Believe me when I say it's not only that. I wouldn't force my son into marriage for politic benefits. I know he'd genuinely be happy with you. I'm a werewolf myself. I know how we act when we find our mate," Uncle leans down close to me to whisper, "My dear, his reaction to you is exactly how it was for me when I first met Zanilia. There must be some mix-up or something preventing you to confirm it for sure, but I'm most certain that you're his mate. Sooner or later, you'll discover it."

My eyes widen as all the colors drop from my face in panic, but I quickly gain composure and look at him with a poker face, "Until that discovery happens, I advise you to not be too sure."

"Noted," he smiles, "But even without that, I find you to be the perfect match for him. After your impressive performance yesterday, I believe you're capable of anything. I admire you, like I admired your father."

I nod, "Thank you. And while this is a bit unexpected, I'll do it. I wanna support your family, it's what my father would want."

He smiles, opening his mouth to say something but I cut him off because I'm not finished, "But you've to keep your words. You wouldn't force Se into anything. This is an alliance contract and it'll stay that until we find his mate. If it's not me, we'll break the marriage."

Uncle pauses slightly, taken aback my condition before he finally nods, "Deal. Now.." he wipes his mouth, finishing his food, preparing to stand up, "I'll go talk to him."

I nod, bowing my head in respect as he walks away. I turn to Rosy, "Well, we have a hunt to win. Let's get to action!" I rise from my chair, heading for the main gate but Rosy stops me, pointing at my dress, "Oh no! Our first action is that!"

I look down at my dress, confused, "Is this not suitable for hunt?"

She shakes her head, "Suitable for participation. But if you wanna win, you need something more mobile. Come, I've something in my mind."

She grabs my hand, drags me to our room in a rush. As we head inside, giggling and talking, we find Se standing inside, glancing confusedly as we step in the room.

"Gege, where are your manners? You know better than bursting into women's bedroom!" Rosy crosses her arms.

"l came to ask if she's ready," Se glances at me.

"Almost," Rosy walks into a compartment of her closet, pulling out a riding dress, turning to me, "With these, you won't have to trade appearance for agility," she gives a side gaze to Se, "Gege, give us some space, unless you wanna watch."

His eyes widen as he takes a step back, raising his arms in surrender, "I'll..wait outside."

"While you're at it, make sure to meet dad. He's looking for you," Rosy says. Se nods, rushing out of the room as he closes the door behind him. Rosy hands me the dress to try it on. I turn to the other direction and quickly put it on. I look at Rosy with questioning eyes.

"Now I like our chances of winning the hunt!" Rosy folds away my previous dress, glancing at me one last time with appraising eyes. She reaches out to straighten a fold in my skirt, patting it into place, "There, you look perfect now. Your fiancé will acknowledge yet!"

Ah, yes. Fiancé. How strange that sounds. I hardly expected to be wed, let alone to Se. My eyes narrow as I wonder where fate takes you. It hasn't even been a year that I argued with that wench over the probabilities of my marriage, now I'm in another realm, agreeing to get married on my own.

Noticing my change of mood, Rosy leans close to me with concerned eyes, "Are you distressed about your engagement prospects? I know most people expect to marry for love or happiness."

"Or both," the words escape my mouth before I can think.

Her mouth falls open not before it turns into a teasing smirk, "Oh, is there someone special? Wu Meihua, you minx!"

"There's just the idea of someone," I sigh, exhaling deeply as my eyes shut close, flashing that image again. How do I tell her about those grey eyes always in my mind?

"Spoilsport," she chuckles, "Well, whether it's really the idea of a person or an actual person, I hope it'll bring comfort to know that gege would never allow you to be unhappy. He won't say or do anything to you that you don't want."

I nod, I know he won't. He's a gentleman and everything someone could ask for. The issue isn't with him. In fact, I wanna fall in love with him. I wanna return his feelings but for some reason, I just can't, and I can't figure out why I can't? He's precious, I wanna give him the world but I can't even love him back.

To Be Continued »☆●