21 Learning How to Dress

Letters had been drafted and sent. Those who were to take charge in the absence of the Gate Guardian had been set. Arrays had been placed to ward away intruders from every nook and cranny that could possibly be found to crawl through. Hui Se Ying had already seen to his duties and the sprites had finished the things that had been requested of them.

Evening was closely approaching; the time set for departure. Yet, Li Yu Rong was hesitating outside Asya's chambers trying hard not to squash the package in his hands in a fit of nerves. It was all fine and dandy a moment ago until he mentioned his intent to inform Asya of their leaving to Hui Se Ying.

"Ah, master, since you ate that girl's tofu only this morning she might be a little skittish around you. So, be careful in how you approach her."

Soon after saying so, Hui Se Ying vanished to take charge of the carriage and to be sure the needed things were properly placed. Li Yu Rong wanted to call him back to expand on that comment but bit back the words.

At first, he did not give them much of his worry, but as his feet carried him closer and closer trepidation began to set into his bones. This was his first time dealing with a someone of the opposite gender for longer than a glance. It was his first time being drenched in these deep, yet nameless emotions.

He had already realized that his actions at that time might not have been well received and had been prepared to accept her anger. Just as he always did when he chose to steal into her bed. He never felt hesitant or insecure as he did after hearing Hui Se Ying's warning. He couldn't understand it as nothing had changed between then and now.

As nothing has changed, Li Yu Rong took that and turned it into courage. So, with a deep breath, he walked into Asya's room as though his fretting earlier had never been.

As he walked in, the first thing he noticed was Paoxiao learning against the wall beside the door. His eyes were closed, but his tensed body gave away that he wasn't fully resting. Remembering that, in the days he had been dealing with his investigations and the research compound, Paoxiao had been caring for and watching Asya left Li Yu Rong with mixed feelings.

Nevertheless, he muttered. "There's been a summons to the imperial palace. You're coming along, so make whatever preparations you need before evening sets in."

Opening his mouth Paoxiao started to say something but swallowed the words. Instead, he nodded his head and left the room.

Once he was sure that the demon was gone, Li Yu Rong walked passed the dividing screen toward the bed. The corner of his lip lifted as he smiled gently. Though she appeared to be deep in slumber, he could tell that she was faking it.

His fingers reached out and lightly played with her hair.

'Ah,' he thought ruefully, 'she's quite bothered by it.'

Although Asya had surprised him by speaking in broken sentences this morning, he wasn't quite sure the words she knew and the ones that were unknown. Even so, he leaned over to murmur. "Sorry."

Hearing the apology, though she tried to remain unaffected, her body twitched. Nastasia turned, foregoing pretenses of sleep, and slanted him a searching look. After a moment, she nodded to accept and sat up in her bed as if she had not been pretending earlier.

She had already decided not to dwell on it and to act as if it had never happened, thus she turned upon him a smile, her eyes inquiring if he had a reason for seeing her.

Seeing that look, and comprehending it, he handed over the package in his hand. "For you." Li Yu Rong spoke the words slowly, carefully pronouncing each word that she might be able to grasp what is being said and understand it.

Taking the offered package, Nastasia felt around it, and after figuring out how to open the well-sealed item she saw what was inside.

Nastasia brought a hand over the material that was cool and soft to the touch yet shimmered beautifully when the light touched it just right. She couldn't begin to name the material it was made from. There were short pieces with long sleeves, long skirts, and sashes all in varying colors of blue and pink. The style of dress was new to her as within this place she had only ever been given simple robes that split from her hips down and trousers. Everything was always colored a deep dark to medium blue.

Underneath the clothing were different types of accessories, some of which she could not guess what to do with. Some were made from silver and jade, some were jade alone, while some were silver inlaid with colored crystals.

Setting everything down she turned grateful eyes upon Li Yu Rong, saying with deep sincerity, "thank you." It was one of the few words she had known before coming to this place. She had learned it when young from a show that was like Dora the Explorer, but with a cute little Chinese girl. The name of the children's show escaped her mind at the moment, so she set it aside.

Picking up an outfit, Li Yu Rong handed it to her, saying, "wear it," before turning to walk out behind the screen.

Not knowing the word he carefully pronounced to her, but with the clothes he handed over and the fact that he left, she took it as he meant for her to try it on. 'Well,' she thought as she looked at the things in her hands, 'how to go about doing this?'

After a moment, Nastasia felt that she figured out how to wear it as after a bit of examining, it didn't look too difficult. Pulling the skirt on to her waist she wore the long-sleeved short cropped top and tied it in place with the sash. Although she didn't like that her stomach was showing, and that her chest was a bit bared, if this was the style here and also a gift, what complaints could she raise?

Walking out while trying to be careful not to trip over the incredibly long skirt she spread her arms out with a "tada!" expression to show off the outfit. Only to scrunch her brows in confusion over his deeply amused face. Though he tried to hide it, she could tell that he was holding back laughter.

Crossing the room in a few steps, Li Yu Rong swallowed his amusement and pulled the sash from her, hooking it over his arm. Although his eyes trailed over the strange material on her chest he had seen earlier, he kept his focus. Pulling the skirt up higher and over her chest, he put the sash in place over the cropped robe and skirt, securing it in place.

After straightening everything out, Li Yu Rong looked at his handy work with a satisfied smile. His smile became all the more pronounced as he took note of her red dusted cheeks and ears.

Going toward the bed he picked up a jade accessory and a silver pin with blue dangling crystals. Placing the jade to dangle from her sash, he pulled half her hair up into a simple knot held in place with the silver pin. Moving back a step to look at her, he couldn't help drawing his fingers down her cheek as his chest filled with emotion.

"Beautiful." He whispered.

Swallowing hard, Nastasia looked away, not knowing how to respond to this.

They stood silent a good long moment before Li Yu Rong cleared his throat and started to say, "we'll be leaving for the capital-" but stopped himself. Instead, he placed all the items on the bed back into the package and re-wrapped it. He looked around and, having found the flute she loved to play, handed it over to her before taking her free hand.

Nastasia was confused as he led her away from her room toward the front of the estate. However, after seeing the horse-drawn carriage and Paoxiao waiting impatiently, she understood that they were going somewhere.

Where were they going and why were they going there? This question, Nastasia really wished she had the vocabulary to ask it and then to understand the answer. Being that she didn't, she could only allow herself to be led toward the carriage and hope that it wasn't anything bad.

'Ah, but,' she realized as she was brought forward and had her things handed over to Paoxiao, 'I trust him, so I guess it will be okay for now.'