CHAPTER 11

"I'm not pregnant!" Clea exclaimed after Yen told her the rumor that had been spread. He couldn't bring up the painting; he didn't want to talk about it.

"What happened between you and Lee?" He asked patting her head and placing his other hand on her waist. She was surprised by his sudden interest and scared that he would find out.

"I should return to her highness My Lord-" She said to change the topic. She paused when she realized she didn't call his name, she clenched her fists and shut her eyes tightly unsure of what to expect. He just found her cute.

"My Lady, why don't you just marry me?" Yen replied making her open her eyes in surprise. Clea was shocked she was called "Lady", it was the first time in her life but she was more surprised by his request.

"Don't joke around Lord Yen, I'm her highness's royal maid .I'm unworthy of the title you call me." She replied in a low tone, she was sad about her status.

"Who calls you unworthy? I'll kill a thousand men if they stand between us and now, you are my Len." He professed placing her palms on his face, he was madly in love.

 -At the guesthouse

"Lord Gu must've grown fond of her, his mother was from the western side and she had relatives at the border." Lei concluded after hearing Clea's information from Han. She visited her solely for that purpose; she was not so fond of Han.

"It's my fault, I'm so stupid. If only I didn't get carried away by his tenderness." Han lamented tearfully looking down, recalling the past.

"That's one thing I can agree with you on. I heard you have something going on with Yi, you might end up seducing everyone in the family at this rate." Lei mocked as she got up to leave. It was like her presence brought a storm.

Han was embarrassed, no one understood how she felt. Everyone was mean.

"Fancy running into you, sister." Yi greeted Lei on her way out of the guesthouse. She was angry to see him as she couldn't understand why he liked Han.

"Save your breath." She responded, walking away majestically.

"Ignore whatever she said, she's the ice queen." Yi said to Han in an attempt to make her laugh. She smiled faintly, masking her sadness but feeling relieved.

 -At Lord Gu's chamber

She was shocked he called her that; it meant a lot where she came from like the name Yen. She figured out why his name sounded familiar.

"Yen and Len from a thousand words of love poem." Clea said realizing where it was from, a poem from a famous western writer. Yen and Len were names given to the earth and the moon in the poem; they were the two eternal lovers.

He pulled her in, not wanting to let go as he gently stoked her hand. She was captivated by his gentle gesture.

"Will you be my bride Lady Clea?" He asked staring deeply at her eyes. He was not prepared to propose but seeing Lee's painting he wanted her as soon as he could. Clea averted his gaze not sure of what to say or where it was going.

He drew out a silver necklace with diamond pendant from his inner pocket, it belonged to his mother. It looked so pretty and she couldn't resist it. He called her Lady and treated her like a noble, what more could she want? But she held back in fear.

"It's impossible Lord Yen." A voice said from behind, it was Han. She hated Clea for everything she had been through, annoyed by the fact that a Lord and a Young master liked her at the same time.

"How dare you interrupt my quiet time?" Yen asked coldly, irritated by her presence. He didn't want any distraction when he was with her.

"I apologize Lord Yen, I came to fetch my maid who has been sold off." Han replied apologetically, ignoring how Clea would feel.

"I'll pay you double and give you a dress store if you cancel the agreement." Yen said calmly; ready to give her whatever she asked for in return for Clea's ownership.

Han was infuriated by the offer while Clea stood shocked, what was wrong with him? How far was he willing to go for her?

"Will you give up your title then?' Han asked angrily, curious to see his reaction.

"That's absurd!" Clea responded unconsciously. Yen was happy that she cared about him.

"It can't be undone anyway, you must be at the courtesan house tonight!" Han fired at Clea who stood behind Yen in fear.

"You sold her to the courtesan house? How shameless of you! You don't even care for her life which she swore to you." Yen defended angry at her methods.

"What's going on?" Lei asked rushing in with Yi and Zhan who heard their argument on their way to see Lord Gu.

"She has been sold off and she needs to be there soon. If not, you will both face the law." Han said to Yen and Clea as she walked out ignoring Lei and Zhan while Yi followed her. She had left him in a hurry at the guest house after she remembered that Ian sold Clea a few days back. She wasn't really pleased but Ian thought it was the best thing to do.

"What's gotten into her?" Lei asked, wondering where her confidence came from.

"She sold Clea." Yen said calmly, he knew what he was going to do but she still had to go there for the sake of law.

 -At the courtesan house

"Serve tea tonight. I don't want any complaint whatsoever." A middle aged woman ordered Clea after she had dressed up in a fancy provocative silk outfit. She was uncomfortable in the revealing dress she wore but she held on hoping Yen would come get her like he promised.

"I have a meeting with an important guest in my office, serve him tea." She added as another lady led Clea to the office.

#Can my life get any worse?# She thought with her tear filled eyes, she was holding back her tears from falling so that her masters' guest wouldn't see.

"I'm here to serve tea." She greeted with her head bowed. Lee was stunned to see her in that outfit but she kept her head down probably because she didn't find it stunning. He wondered how Yen felt while kissing her, he wanted to kiss her.

"As my wife or a worker?" He asked calmly, walking towards her. She recognized his voice and as she looked up to see him, he kissed her forcefully. She was very surprised, causing the tea tray to fall and spilling the tea everywhere.

Dazed by this scene, Yen could only watch to not raise anyone's doubt. A servant had to work for three months before they could be resold or pay for their freedom and since buying the courtesan house was impossible, they had to use the marriage law to rescue her. Only Lee had a marriage portrait with her which was needed to prove their marriage.