2 1 Yellow Tulip: One-sided Love

Making their way towards the palace, Anne was skipping along the side of the road while Li and Chen followed after her.

Noticing Li's hesitant expression for a while now, Chen decided to speak up. "Is there something bothering you?"

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

"Yes?".

"Are you the one she's-."

"OH! I forgot about something!" Anne abruptly shouted. The two of them were lagging behind, so she decided to run towards them.

They both jerked at the sudden sound and looked at her.

"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.

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

Embarrassed by the formality, Li hurriedly bowed back, her hand still in his. "M-my name is Lily, but you can call me Li, the same to you."

Anne smiles brightly. "Well, I guess it's all settled then heh heh."

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

'An aloof exterior yet is quite considerate.' She thought. She was a little intimidated by his appearance at first; however, after talking, she could tell, he wasn't how he looked. Lily decided it wouldn't make a difference whether she asked the question or not.

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

Before he could say anything, Lily ran after Anne. 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.'

Lily had left him quite speechless. She was one in few that weren't scared of him in the first meeting. She had struck conversations with basically a stranger and dared to look at him in the eye.

People usually cowered their heads when they spoke to Chen. If it wasn't that, it was the eyes of people wanting something from him. Even Anne was afraid of him the first time they met.

A poker face and a cold, frost numbing aura was his natural state. Eventually, He was used to the treatment and just became what everyone expected to make life easier.

After clearing his head, Chen was about to walk towards the girls but noticed something glowing on Lily. They looked like cuffs that glowed on both of her wrists and legs.

He quickly closed his eyes and then opened them again.

They weren't there anymore.

What was that? Has he lost his mind being in the sun too much?

Chen unconsciously became more observant of Lily to see if it would be there again or if he'd really lost his mind.

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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.

A different appearance from many women here. She carried a gentle aura like flowers floating gracefully on the surface of water.

He was shocked of her appearance, but quickly composed to greeted her professionally. "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." Lily gracefully bowed and then glanced at Chen.

She finally connected the dots.

Chen was looking at the couple with a serene face, but Lily knew it wasn't that. She had the gift to see and feel the emotions others go through.

A helpless image was 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 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. "This is a once in a lifetime event after all!" Everyone should be dressed lavishly!

"Leave it to the professionals, you are going to make your beloved sad" Lily said in a playful, serious voice, "now off you go,"

A handful of maids scurried onto the scene and rushed both Anne and Lily away to their rooms, leaving the two men behind.

"Thank you, Chen, for finding her." The king thanked Chen from the bottom of his heart.

"Who knows when she might've gotten back before the party begins."

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 was a slab of steel, firmly blocking all forms of leniency.

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

He had unknowingly pulled at Chen's heartstrings. It was an extremely unpleasant feeling.

"I'm busy as your advisor and 'at this rate' your future wife's babysitter." He replied stiffly. "It is already satisfying for me to help manage an entire country."

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

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

"Come. Let's get dressed as well." Chen slightly curved his lips and ended the conversation.