Making their way towards the palace, Anne was skipping along the side of the road while Li and Chen followed after her. Noticing her blank expression, Chen decided to speak up. "Is there something bothering you?"

Li stopped amidst her steps, looked straight into Chen's eyes, and said, "please do excuse my rudeness, but...I'm curious about something."

"Yes?" He replied with a very gentle expression, patiently waiting for her to speak.

"Are you the one she's-."

"OH! Guys! I forgot about something!" Anne abruptly shouted at the two, who were a few hundred feet behind her. Both of them jerked at the sudden sound and looked towards Anne, who was now dashing towards them.

"What?" He said indifferently. 'Can't she read the atmosphere?'

"I forgot to introduce you two," Anne replied as she scratched the back of her head.

"We already got that covered at this point." Chen sighed and shook his head. "But I guess I'll formally introduce myself, my name is Chen, it's a pleasure to meet you, my lady," He bowed at Li, took her hand and kissed her fingertips.

Embarrassed by the formality, she hurriedly bowed back. "Oh, dear! M-my name is Lily, but you can call me Li. And the same to you!"

"Well, I guess it's all settled then heh heh." Anne continued her merry way down the road.

Chen turned around to face Lily again. "Now then, I'll apologize on behalf of her behavior. What were you about to say earlier?"

'An aloof and cold exterior, yet this man is quite considerate.' She thought.

"It's nothing...Let's hurry before she leaves us behind!" she said, awkwardly at him.

Before he could say anything, she ran after Anne, and as she passed him, her hair flowed along with the wind slightly brushing his cheek. His throat tightens and looked towards her direction.

'This woman is..she's... It's the perfect honey trap for men.'

Just within that moment as he was about to walk, he briefly saw what that looked like cuffs glowed on both of her wrists and legs. He quickly closed his eyes and opened them again. They weren't there anymore.

'Has he lost his mind being in the sun too much? Anne needs to repay him for all the trouble he's gone through.' Though he tried to brush off the topic, he became more observant of Lily to see if it would be there again or if he'd really lost his mind.

————————

Arriving at the palace, a man with a long braid trailing behind him ran fiercely towards the three with a frown on his face. Dressed in an elegant, dark silk robe enthralled by many gold bangles and jewelry of different colors from head to toe, he pulled Anne into his embrace.

"Anne! Where did you go again? I was so worried!" He asked her with a concerned look.

"I'm sorry as the day is approaching. I thought I should enjoy all the limited freedom I have left." Anne helplessly laughed.

The man replied as he gazed at her softly, "Honey, even in the future I can still let you roam freely as you please, it not like you are tied down here as long as it's not too far."

"Yeah but it's going to be accompanied by countless soldiers is it not?" Anne dimly smiled. "I also have responsibilities as the future mother of this country."

At a loss for words, the man looked down at his feet, showing a painful smile. There is really nothing he can do about that.

"Well enough of that, let me introduce you to someone super special!" Anne tried to change the subject, "This is Lily! The friend I've been telling you about!"

The man slowly lifted his head and looked behind her to see a tall, well-proportioned woman beside Chen. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lily, I am the ruler of this kingdom. Thank you for always taking care of this handful and traveling all this way for our engagement."

"Oh no, the pleasure is mine, your majesty." She gracefully bowed and then glanced at Chen. He was looking at the couple with a happy smile or what other people may perceive as a happy smile, but Lily knew it wasn't that. What she saw was a truly painfully sad one. She knew because she has the gift to see and feel the emotions others go through. He sincerely wishes the couple happiness, but this poor man is going through other feelings as well. A helpless image is painted all over him.

"Now now we haven't got the time! Let us get you ready, Li!!" Anne excitedly hugged Lily's arm, breaking her entranced state.

Lily helplessly looked down at the girl and smiled. "Goodness, this is your engagement not mine now you should hurry along and get ready! I'll be fine on my own."

"Tch, I wanted to dress you up!" Anne demanded.

"Leave it to the professionals, you are going to make your beloved sad, now off you go," she said in a firm voice. A handful of maids scurried onto the scene and rushed both Anne and Lily away instead, leaving the two men behind.

"Thank you, Chen, for finding her. Who knows, she might've gotten back just before the party begins." The king thanked him from the bottom of his heart.

Chen bent down on one knee and deeply bowed towards him. "It's my honor to help you, your highness."

"Stand up. You don't have to be so formal when there's just us two. We're friends after all."

"My duty as your advisor comes first before our friendship," Chen said, firmly blocking all forms of leniency.

"Firm as always, how are you going to find a suitable woman at this rate." The king shook his head.

Chen felt perplexed. What he didn't know was that this brief chatting had pulled at Chen's heartstrings.

"I'm busy as your advisor and 'at this rate' your future wife's babysitter." He replied stiffly.

"..." The man is perfect in every way except in the romance department. Does he plan to stay single for the rest of this life? The king couldn't help but worry for his friend's life.

"I can't say anything to you now can I," he sighed.

Chen smiled back and ended the conversation.