"RI YI, WAKE UP! WAKE UP!"

The first thing Lory saw when she opened her eyes was Zhao Li Xin's uptight expression. He clenched her shoulder while she was a little confused as to why he looked worried. Lory was still dazed when Zhao Li Xin pulled her in his embrace.

​​

"What happened? I heard someone scream…who was it?" Her voice was a little hoarse.

Zhao Li Xin let out a long sigh and released her after he was sure she was fine. He poured some water in the cup for her and said, "Drink first."

Lory drunk the water without question. The freshwater cleared her throat and made her feel better. He took the cup and placed it back on the table once she was done.

"Who's screaming? Was it Ming Yue Yin? Is she alright?" Lory rubbed her forehead as she tried to get out of bed but Zhao Li Xin stopped her.

"No, it's not her…" He said calmly. Lory relaxed at his words but shot him a questioning look. Zhao Li Xin pushed her hair behind her ear and said softly, "It's you…"

Lory looked confused. Zhao Li Xin was smiling but there's a hint of sadness in his eyes that he tried to hide from her.

"You had a bad dream," He wiped the tear stains off her cheeks. Lory kept looking at him with a puzzled look. She didn't even realize she had cried. "I'll ask someone to prepare your bath."

"Thank you," Lory smiled at him like she usually did but Zhao Li Xin responded with a bitter smile before he left.

Lory thought there's something wrong with Zhao Li Xin and wondered if he was in a bad mood. Her train of thought was disrupted when Girsha barged into the room and hit her head with his wings.

[Stupid GIRL!!]

[Aow!!] Lory covered her head.

[What are you doing? Why has your mana decreased to almost nothing] Girsha berated. He repeatedly hit her head with anger. He had panicked when he saw her in such a condition. It was dangerous for mana to decrease as one could easily lose their life. Such an outcome was the same as that of a person who died because of running too much. [Do you want to die?!]

There was no potion that could restore decreasing mana in this world. If it was to happen now, Lory would need to hibernate to restore her mana before she reached empty. The period of sleep would depend on her and the environment around her.

[Okay, okay, I'm sorry! Stop hitting me, birdie!!] She had just woken to face such brutality. How mean…

[You were this close…this close…] Girsha hadn't vented out all his anger.

[I saw a blood rune, okay!] Lory defended herself as she massaged her neck. [A blood rune is protecting the ancestor crystal]

[Blood rune? Here?] Girsha gasped.

[ I know right… and it's all in Ethion language] Lory raised her eyebrows. The Ethion language was the language of the gods. No one except a Lucient descendant could understand the language. It was verbally taught to them and no one was allowed to take notes or talk about it with outsiders, this included the Archknights. This was very secretive and only her Father, Lucas, and Lory knew it.

[You traced the source, didn't you? Who was it?] Girsha perched on the table and asked. He now looked deathly serious as he now understood why Lory lost so much mana. Her action would have meant nothing to her in a normal situation but doing that now almost killed her as she only had ten percent of her original power.

[Arthea…] Lory exhaled loudly.

[Her again?] Girsha was dumbfounded [What is she doing bringing magic to this world? The tree might have had a connection to you but why would she help this Ming ancestor so much?]

Lory leaned on the table and crossed her arms [She is a seeress… Maybe it had something to do with the prophecy?]

Girsha grumbled [I don't like where this is going...]

[Me neither…] Lory could not agree more.

[By the way, what were you dreaming about? You scared the sh*t out of everyone!]

[Huh?] Lory held her cheek with her right hand as her expression turned gloomy. [I don't remember much…but there's a man talking about something… I don't remember what he said but he looked sad and then I saw darkness…]

Lory tried to contemplate more as she took a deep breath [I don't remember anything else after that…]

Girsha didn't say anything as he glided a grape toward him with his beak.

"Come in," Lory said as someone knocked on the door.

Ming Yue Yin peeked from behind the door as Lory could only see her head and fingers clenching the door. Her eyes were red and moist like she's been crying. Lory eyebrows furrowed as she wondered what happened to her.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Lory tilted her head with confusion.

"You scared me, aunty. I thought you were going to die," Ming Yue Yin pounced on Lory and held her tightly. Her sobs got louder while her cheeks were damp with tears. Lory was perplexed as she stroke her back to comfort her.

"I'm fine! Nothing is going to happen to me, silly…" Lory comforted her.

Ming Yue Yin released her from her hug and wiped the tears on her cheeks but they didn't seem to stop falling. "But you slept for three days and then…then you screamed. I thought someone wanted to kill you. I saw uncle embracing you to calm you yet you kept screaming. I thought…I thought…"

Lory was startled. She was unaware of what happened after she lost consciousness. Was this the reason Zhao Li Xin looked weird. She felt guilty of scaring him. The girl in front of her also didn't look better. She looked like a child who was bullied in the playground. Lory patted her head softly.

"There, there…do not cry. What if you're subordinates see you like this? Shouldn't you be a cool leader?"

"I'm cool." Ming Yue Yin snorted as she wiped her cheeks. There was no sign of a dignified leader at all.

"Not now," Lory teased her.

"I am!!" Ming Yue Yin stomped her feet with exasperation.

"Okay, I want to take a bath. You go play outside," Lory giggled before she shooed her away. Ming Yue Yin who was supposed to be angry for being treated like a two-year-old didn't have an ounce of anger since the words came from Lory. She instead left the room with a big smile plastered on her face.

Lory sighed when Ming Yue Yin left. She really felt like she had gained a naughty niece. She helplessly shook her head and went to the bathroom to take a long nice bath. The maid smiled at her when she entered the bathroom and left before Lory took off her robes. Her bathing habit was rarely seen in an influential family household but the maids inside the manor were already used to her.

Lory changed into a deep purple hanfu with a small white bluebell flower embroidery on it. It seemed like Zhao Li Xin ordered custom made dresses for her. Lory's mouth curved. She was touched by how much he pampered her. Zhao Li Xin had even surpassed her father's level for spoiling her.

Zhao Li Xin lay on the couch in the pavilion garden with a wine cup in his hand. His beautiful face was looking down and his expression was somber but it did not hinder his charm. His hand slowly twisted the wine cup as he was lost in deep thought. Lory's earth-shattering screaming still shook him. He didn't know how to help her and he could only hold her until she calmed down. He felt so helpless.

A faint scent suddenly tickled Zhao Li Xin's nose. He smiled faintly and looked up. A beautiful woman with a purple hanfu and a shawl made of fur leaned on the pavilion pole and smiled back at him. "I thought you were asleep?"

"I'm not... Come," He put his wine cup on the small table near him and raised his hand towards her. Lory accepted his hand without hesitation. He pulled her to lay down with him and wrapped his wrist around her waist as her back nested on his chest. Holding her the way he did now was the only thing that could calm him.

"Did I scare you?" She stroked Zhao Li Xin's hand on her waist.

"A little bit…" He answered after a while. His chin was resting on the top of her head where he could easily smell her sweet scent.

"There is nothing to be sorry about… You had a nightmare…I couldn't help you."

"But you are…" Lory intertwined their fingers. "You've been helping me so much."

"I wish I could do more," He kissed her head gently.

Lory turned to face him. She caressed his strong jawline and said, "You've done more than you have thought. "I'm glad I met you, Zhao Li Xin."

"I'm glad I met you too…whoever your real name is," Zhao Li Xin stroked her hair with a gentle smile on his face.

Her face felt hot as their faces were only an inch apart. She slightly raised her head and kissed him. Zhao Li Xin shut down when he felt her soft lips touch his but everything become automatic from thereon. He pulled her head closer to his as the small kisses became long and deep. He didn't know how to do it before but he was now following his instincts.

Zhao Li Xin changed his position and he lay on top of her, their chests pressed together with Lory's hands wrapped around his neck. She didn't know where she learned it from but she slipped her tongue into his mouth and he somehow responded to her like a pro. Lory didn't know how professionals kissed each other but she knew he was doing well judging by her malfunctioned brain and how much she enjoyed it.

She pushed him slightly because of the lack of air and he reluctantly let her go. They were both panting as they looked at each other with a dazed look. Lory's face was as red as a ripe tomato, her eyes were hazy, and her heartbeat was moving too fast that she thought it would leap out of her chest. Zhao Li Xin stared at her with fiery eyes as his breathing became heavy. He still wanted more.

"It's still daylight…" Lory was still panting when she said it.

"It is…" He agreed shortly. His desire had yet to subside.

"Someone might see us," Lory's brain had started to function again for her to remember they were outside.

"No, they won't," Zhao Li Xin refuted. No one would dare disturb him in such a situation. He was also right as the shadow guards were long gone the moment they saw their Lord kissing his woman.

"Oh…" She was relieved. She glanced at Zhao Li Xin who was still on top of her without showing any sign of wanting to move off. "Uhm…and.. uhm…you can call me Lory if you want…"

"Hm?"