Chapter 3, A FEAST WITH A MONSTER

"Ow!" Another hit of the bamboo whip strikes my claves.

"I'm sorry, sister," Brother says. "Father instructed me specifically. If you sneak out again, I have to punish you."

"Ow!" Another one. "I'm sorry. Can we please stop?"

Tears stream down my face. They are unstoppable.

Brother watches from the side while our butler is doing the job. I know he doesn't like this either, but in our house, family rules matter more than feeling. "We are not just animals," Father would say. A lady must not leave the house unaccompanied—especially at night. We're not poor people. We should act differently.

Father has followed the rules since he was a child, so should we.

"Ow!" This one stings the worst.

"That's it, m'lady."

I collapse onto the floor, crying. The butler leaves with the whip.

Brother lifts me up gently and carries me to the bed. He sits beside me and starts putting a cooling cream on my swollen calves.

"Hsss—"

"Don't move. This will help the bruises heal."

"So unfair," I mutter. "Why do you men get to have all the fun?"

He sighs. "Look at your dress. What have you done to it? If you wanted to go to the night market, you could've told me. How did you ruin your dress in the market? Did someone hurt you?"

Oh, can you please stop interrogating me?

I'm such a pathetic Shin user. I bet all those ancient heroes must be laughing at me now—crying for being whipped by a regular butler. No one in the family knows I'm a Shin learner. I might be even better than Brother in this skill.

"Speaking of fun," Brother says, "you're invited to the feast tomorrow. The traders will be there. We'll need to get you a new dress."

I flip up upright like a fish. "Really?!"

New dress.

"Don't move. I'm not finished with the gel," he says, pressing my legs back down

I flop back onto the bed with a sigh.

"Also, the prince will be there, so behave yourself."

"What?"

This is suddenly the worst thing ever—meeting Bhi Yha Queh.

I'd better look awful tomorrow. I don't want to be the next victim.

"Done," he says. "Now, go to bed."

He walks to the doorway.

"We'll talk about the details tomorrow."

............

"Wake up, you sleepy bug."

It's Master.

"Let me sleep. I already had enough last night..."

"I just came to tell you that I found a trader willing to help."

"Who?"

"Ping Min."

"Really? That weird man?"

"He knows pirates who can smuggle the girls to Uxiospea. I might have to follow them on the ship later, so the dagger training will have to wait until I come back."

I sigh. "You lied. Again."

"My little sweet apprentice. I promise you. As soon as I come back."

I nod in silence.

Then—

She hops out the window.

I fall back asleep.

............

"Lhiu Rhi! It's already past noon. We need to go get you a dress."

"Can I not go?"

"I thought you wanted to attend a feast?"

Before I knew how horrifying the prince is.

"I don't feel well."

"That won't work. The prince required us to bring our family."

How naive are you? I thought you heard the rumors. I guess you're the kind who turns a blind eye.

He taps my shoulder.

"I'll buy you four sets if you want."

Stop bribing me...argh...

"Fine. Let's go. Six sets."

I'll use makeup to make myself look horrible.

At least let me enjoy the shopping part.

...

We go in a carriage. I put on a silk face mask. In Lhen Jhing, no one should see my face, except for last night.

We arrive at a tailor's shop.

"The whole store for you to choose," Brother says.

Look at those dresses. Lhen Jhing's design is so much more gorgeous than the one in Khun Dhe.

I turn to Brother with pleading eyes.

"Eight sets?"

"No more bargains."

"Pleeeeease."

He sighs. "Fine."

"Love you, Brother."

I rush in and start choosing.

Ooh, I like this one. The texture feels so smooth.

A new pink set. Soft and cool. Mine

The blue one's gorgeous, but way too attention-seeking for tonight. Still—who says I have to wear it tonight?

Let's pick the dullest one for tonight. Ah, dark green. It's so dark, he might think I'm a widow. Wait, doesn't that mean I'm available? Would he even care? He would probably kill my husband if he wanted me.

"Really? This one?" Brother asks.

"Looks cool, right?"

He gives me a look. "I don't understand you sometimes."

He starts browsing as well.

In the end, I pick a beige set. It looks boring, but exactly what I need.

We head home, and I started dressing up.

I put on very dull makeup. I want to look lifeless.

Beige dress set. Plain hair, old motherly accessories.

I'm ready.

My feast battle armor.

"Are you sure you want to go like this?"

"This is totally in trend. Trust me."

He sighs, and we move out.

............

The feast. In a brothel? Apparently, Prince Bhi booked the place—something about the best view of the city. Or he just wanted women, and his people are sycophants. Maybe that will help me.

We're seated across from a group of Lhen Jhing students and scholars. They must be the ones preparing for the eastern expedition.

I heard they are heading toward the Temple of Five Elements. It is famous for its library collections. And its master will assign who can study in the Sehn Taih Academy.

The traders, Ah-Lan and Ping Min, are here too.

They brought guests. Ah-Lan sits beside a young woman with some traditional tribal dress. I wonder where she is from.

Ping Min... brought a young, poorly dressed boy. He is already feasting.

Bold.

I scan the students. A few are handsome. I like the brunette.

No sign of Prince Bhi yet.

Some of the students have begun drinking.

But one of them—hasn't. He's reading. Even with all the noise and all these attractions—women—he stays focused.

Thinking. Writing notes. Not a story book.

"Shin Song, stop studying," one of his friends says.

Not a local name.

"I'll stop as soon as His Highness arrives. It's ill manners to indulge yourself before the host does."

"Crown Prince Bhi and Princess Bhi have arrived!" A eunuch announces.

She's here, too. I feel so relieved, but... can I?

The whole room rises and bows.

A gust of dark blue wind sweeps into the room—all power and ignorance. Prince Bhi walks straight to his seat without so much glance at anyone.

We are still bowing, but he doesn't say a thing. Isn't this the part he tells us to sit?

Princess Bhi sighs. "Be yourself and be seated."

We finally sit down.

The prince grins mischievously. "Enjoy the feast."

Then the feast begins...