Tea Invitation

Standing by the window in my drawing room, I observe Valendor as he tends to the plants in the garden below. His movements are fluid and precise, a testament to his skill in manipulating nature's forces. With a flick of his hand, he breathes life into some plants while others wither under his touch.

A voice interrupts my reverie, pulling me from my observations. I turn to find Kai lounging on the sofa, casually munching on some pieces of mixed fruits in a bowl.

"No one is going to steal your little elf," he remarks, his tone light and teasing.

I join him on the sofa, pondering his words. "They just might. Have you seen him, Kai?" I reply, my thoughts drifting to Valendor's otherworldly looks.

Kai chuckles softly, amusement dancing in his eyes. "You know what, you're right. Someone might try to kidnap the blonde little beauty," he quips with a playful smile.

Despite his jest, a flicker of concern passes through me. "I don't know who would have such a death wish, though. I'm sure a certain princess would hunt them down," Kai adds, his gaze meeting mine with a hint of amusement.

I roll my eyes and sink deeper into the plush cushions of the seat, feeling the comfort envelop me.

"How do you have time to come play? What about the Elysium of petals?" I inquire, reaching for the plate piled high with fruits that Kai holds out to me.

Kai waves off my question with a dismissive gesture. "People are not dumb enough to cause problems," he replies nonchalantly.

I raise an eyebrow at his response, intrigued by his casual confidence.

"Besides, now that my beloved is the royal princess, I find myself welcomed into the palace more often. Can you believe it? It's something I wouldn't even dream of before I met you," he adds with a hint of sincerity in his voice.

"Really? I thought you're here to look for customers," I joke, playfully teasing him as I take a bite of fruit.

Kai chuckles, shaking his head in amusement. "It was one time!" he protests, attempting to defend himself against my playful accusation.

I arch a skeptical eyebrow at his response, recalling the incident when I caught him cozying up to the captain of the royal guard. "Right," I say skeptically, unconvinced by his denial.

Kai sighs, conceding defeat with a sheepish grin. "Fine, once or twice," he admits, his tone laced with amusement.

"Don't blame me, have you seen the bodies on them? You wouldn't understand the worries of us mere mortals," Kai says begrudgingly, his tone laced with envy. "Lady 'I have THREE handsome men' waiting on me foot and nail."

I chuckle at his comment, finding amusement in his envy. "You could do the same," I suggest, teasing him with a playful grin.

Kai shakes his head adamantly, dismissing the idea with a wave of his hand.

"Nahhh…" he trails off, his expression conveying a mix of reluctance and amusement. "I wouldn't handle them all," he adds with a laugh.

As Kai suddenly sits up, his gaze darting around the room to confirm our privacy, he inches closer to me.

"What I'm really here for is the juicy details," he murmurs in a hushed tone.

I recognize the familiarity of his actions, reminiscent of my Kai from my previous life on Earth.

Despite knowing his intentions, I feign ignorance, maintaining an air of innocence.

I play coy, pretending not to understand his insinuation. "I don't know what you're talking about," I reply innocently, avoiding his gaze.

"Don't play with me," he insists, his frustration evident in his tone. "I know you know exactly what I mean."

Suppressing a smirk, I tease him further. "I don't know why you're so interested; you literally run a brothel, Kai."

"It's different. That's business," he retorts, his irritation mixing with amusement.

Enjoying his reaction, I draw out the moment a little longer before finally relenting with a laugh. "Fine, fine," I concede. "Contrary to your expectations, nothing has happened," I assure him.

"What?!" he exclaims, his surprise evident as he processes my revelation.

"That's unfortunate. I have some drugs that help with 'bedroom performance'. Very effective," Kai says, his tone tinged with suspicion.

Reacting instinctively, I pinch his arm lightly.

"Ow!"

"They don't need it," I defend the honor of my boys.

"Rigghhtt..." Kai replies skeptically.

"I know for a fact Valendor is healthy, and so is Haroun. I'm sure Nikolai is fine too," I assure him.

Kai's eyes light up with interest. "How do you know that? Since apparently nothing has happened," he probes further.

As I'm about to engage in conversation with Kai, a soft knock interrupts us. The door opens to reveal Stacy, her presence immediately drawing my attention.

"I apologize for the interruption, your highness," she begins with a respectful bow.

I nod, silently urging her to continue.

"The third Prince invites you for tea, in an hour," she informs me.

With a sigh, I acknowledge the request. "Okay, Stacy," I reply, knowing I must begin preparations.

Turning to Kai, I smile wryly. "Looks like you get to play dress-up doll," I jest, before leading the way out of the drawing room, with Kai following closely behind.

*

An hour later, I find myself in the midst of a serene garden, facing a man whose features are similar to my own—silver-white hair cascading elegantly and gray eyes shimmering with familiarity. He sits opposite me at the ornate table, the air heavy with unspoken tension.

As a servant pours tea into delicate porcelain cups, the silence hangs between us like a palpable entity. Once the pouring is done and the servant retreats, we both lift our cups to our lips, each sip accentuating the awkwardness that permeates the atmosphere.

Feeling the weight of the uncomfortable silence, I finally break it, setting my tea cup down with a delicate clink.

"What is it?" My voice cuts through the tension.