Chapter 8 Whos who?
An entourage of guards and servants rush in to check on me. I'm surprised by their ability to remain formal after all the chaos. It doesn't surprise me that their faces all seem to be pale. Ying rushes in, visibly upset.
"I'm unharmed," I assure her. To my surprise, she immediately fixes my veil and the hairpins in my hair. She gives me a look that informs me she's also okay. When a guard steps forward holding an ornate scroll, she steps behind me and lowers her head.
"These are the orders of the Emperor," he informs us. "Given tonight's events, it is unsafe for the Prince to remain here. He will take refuge in a secret location where he will undergo his other ceremonies. To ensure her safety, Lady Sora is advised to spend the night here."
I resist the urge to complain and dip into an elegant bow to receive the decree of the Emperor. What a coward. Surely the Prince isn't worthy of the Dragon Throne if he feels away at such a brazen attack. Now should be the time for him to show his courage. Instead, he runs away.
"I accept the Emperor's decree." The words escape my mouth.
The guard nods and bows in response. Unable to stop myself I ask, "Does this mean another wedding is to be held again?
The rules state we are not truly married until.
.." I trail off, unwilling to use the word "consummated" in front of so many people. He gives me an apologetic look.
"It is unfortunate, but true," he confirms. "Arrangements will be made when the time is right."
With that, he exits the bedroom. Guards and servants trail behind him leaving Ying and I behind. She's silent as she helps me prepare for the night. Neither of us speak until she's ready to be dismissed for the night.
"I am glad you are safe," I murmur as she finishes brushing my air. "Thank you and goodnight."
She bows politely before disappearing into one of the other rooms. I make my way back to the marital bed and lay there alone. Resisting the urge to cry, I try to think of something else. The silhouette of the Legendary General comes to mind.
Just as I'm about to drift to sleep, I notice the same flash of white make its way into the bedroom. It appears Bao Bao is back. Without hesitating, he leaps into bed and snuggles close to me.
"Thank you for protecting me today, Bao Bao," I whisper as I pet him. "But won't someone miss you if you stay here tonight?"
Bao Bao ignores my nudge and snuggles even closer. I lay on my back and gaze at the painted ceiling above me.
After the past three days of waking in this world, I've given up on checking to see if I've woken up in my bed. Bao Bao is nowhere to be seen. He must have disappeared in the night, returning back to wherever the Legendary General is.
Ying opens the windows to allow fresh air into the room. The chill of the winter sweeps through the room. It's cold enough to force her to close the windows.
"I have received instructions that you are to return to home for the time being," she informs me. "It is too dangerous for you to remain here."
She sits me in front of a vanity and begins to comb my hair. Silence stretches on between us. I can tell by the way she's acting that she's afraid of the way I'm going to react.
"Let us prepare," I tell her as Bao Bao casually walks back in and leaps into my lap. She raises an eyebrow as she finishes putting a hairpin into my hair. Turning me towards her, she begins to work on my makeup. I decide to play dumb.
"Do you know anything about this little one?" I ask her. "He seems to have found his way in here."
She glances at Bao Bao and wrinkles her nose.
"I heard he belongs to the Legendary General," she reveals. "There are rumors he never takes to anyone. It's surprising he's in here."
"Legendary General?" I say as dramatically as I can. "He's real? I thought those were just stories."
A snort escapes her as she paints my lips a natural mauve. She gives me an incredulous look and shakes her head. I realize this is the second time I've seen her truly laugh. Is it a coincidence that both times she's laughed at my expense?
"Of course he's real," she scoffs. "Even the Prince envies the Legendary General. If he hadn't happened to be passing by, I don't know if we'd all still be alive."
She motions for me to wait and disappears into one of the other rooms. When she's gone, Bao bao gives me a reassuring look. I rub his belly as we wait for her to reappear.
"Let's get you dressed," she says. The robes she's holding are a color that I'm not used to wearing. For the past three days I'd consistently worn soft pastels. Now though, the robes she's holding are a shade pink that resembles pepto bismo.
"Is that my only option?" I ask her. "I don't want to stand out too much. Is there something a bit more muted I could wear."
She raises an eyebrow in response before disappearing. This time she returns with robes the same color as the winter sky. I gently lift Bao bao off my lap and lay a blanket over him. He's snoring, completely at rest.
"Thank you," I say as she helps me into them. The last thing I want to do is attract attention by wearing such an obnoxious ensemble after such an attack. It's basic PR!
After I tie my perfume sachet around my waist I review my reflection in the mirror and rearrange a couple of hairpins in my hair until I'm satisfied.
A servant rushes in, bowing deeply. In his hands is a scroll. It's not as grand as the Emperor's decree, but it holds the same importance.
"Lady Sora," he says. "A letter from Prince Jin."
I receive the letter with both hands and bow as he disappears out of the room. Rushing over to my desk, I unravel it to read what it says. The handwriting is neat with strokes that suggest a personality of control and precision.
"Lady Sora," it begins. "I regret the events surrounding our ceremony. It is a failure of my household's defenses, and I apologize for any harm or fear caused to you on my account."
From the corner of my eyes, I notice Ying observing me. The urge to roll my eyes becomes stronger when I read the rest of the letter.
"I will call for you when the situation allows.
Until then, I trust you will honor the sanctity of our engagement.
For these reasons, I have arranged for your return to your estate.
There, you will be protected from any nefarious plots.
Know that the empire recognizes your worth and your sacrifice. "
The letter ends abruptly with no signature, only the bold seal stamped at the bottom. I stare at the letter, irritated he hasn't even bothered to sign. But push the frustration down, knowing better than to let it show. The Prince must have eyes watching me wherever I go.
"It simply says what you just told me," I tell Ying. "I am ready to go when you are."
"I will notify the guards," she says.
I watch her disappear from the room. When I'm sure she's gone, I sit next to Bao Bao and pretend to scream. Gripping one of the pillows, I imagine myself running around the room ripping the Prince's ridiculous letter. Bao Bao gives me an amused look as he watches me punch one of the pillows.
"This is ridiculous," I mutter. I slam the pillow on the ground and kick it across the room.
My shoe flies across the room with the pillow.
A laugh escapes me as I kick the other shoe across the room.
Just because I can, I fling the pillow to the other side of the room.
Bao bao chases after the pillow and places it in front of me.
I pick it back up and turn around to punch it again when I hear someone clear their throat.
My face burns while I pretend to fluff the pillow. The last thing I need is for rumors about me being a mad woman spreading through the Imperial Palace and beyond. I smooth my robes and turn around.
Bao Bao has transformed back into his beastly state. Beside him stands the Legendary General from the night before. Now that it isn't dark and that I'm not in the middle of a panic attack, I can see him clearly. My heart pounds in my chest as I take in his features.
His long, jet-black hair is tied neatly in a topknot.
High cheekbones, a straight nose, and a sharp jawline lend him an air of authority.
But it's his eyes that capture me completely.
Intense and piercing, he makes his toward me.
It's only then that I realize he's holding the shoe I just kicked across the room.
As he steps closer, I notice how his armor seems to be a part of him.
The polished silvery metal catches the light that makes him appear luminous.
Or maybe that's his aura that shimmers around him.
Still, there's a strength about him that's palpable and yet I can tell there's a quiet restraint in the way he carries himself as if he's always in control.
His dark brown eyes glimmer with amusement as he glances at the other shoe laying next to me. He places the shoe in front of me and I take a step back, nearly tripping over a chair. My face burns in embarrassment.
"Um." I think about what to say but nothing comes to mind. "Thank you?"
I quickly step into my shoes when I hear footsteps approach from outside.
Luckily, Ying doesn't seem to notice the awkward atmosphere in the room.
I notice she's wearing the garish pink robes I'd rejected earlier.
If I didn't know any better, I would have mistaken her for a noble lady.
She bows to the Legendary General before turning to me.
In her hands, she holds two sheer white veils.
"To be safe, I will leave from the front entrance," she informs me. "You will leave with the Legendary General and Bao bao through the side."
My face pales. Is it really that dangerous out there? I tie one of my pale pink jade pendants to her waist and place a few of my hairpins in her hair. The small smirk that appears on her face doesn't escape me. An uneasy feeling rises in my chest.
What if she pretends to be Lady Sora? I try to push her even more by removing a couple of bracelets from my wrist onto hers. The smirk doesn't go away. When I turn around I notice a mirror behind me. Had she enjoyed watching me serve her?
"May you be protected by forces seen and unseen," I wish her well as servants rush toward her. A lady-in-waiting who bears an uncanny resemblance to her takes her hand and helps her over the threshold. I watch as she disappears from view.
Why does it feel like everyone knows something except for me?