15 Danger Lurking in the Day.

From breakfast to the whole way towards town, only silence can be heard. Despite the awkward tension, they were still quite comfortable with each other.

Chen would occasionally ask if she was okay and helped her up and down the carriage when they traveled.

They stayed at multiple inns since they will be touring a lot of places. He made sure that the servants delivered enough supplies for them, of many sorts, for her needs specifically.

Since this festival was a huge deal, it's within a span of one week, taking place in both countries as well as their borders. Chen's task was to confirm everything prior was in the right order not to disgrace their kingdom and as the king's hands and feet.

It took them quite a decent amount of time to monitor in absolute secrecy so that no one would feel pressured. Luckily, it was quite an easy task given that the people only knew of Chen's name, not his appearance.

It was very tedious and tiring work, but Lily did not mind it. In fact, she was quite excited about discovering new parts of the kingdom, tasting the food, and talking to the locals. The event was coming fast, and so she was already in a festive mood. People already had begun celebrating, opening their stalls to the locals earlier than expected.

Chen couldn't help but kept a keen eye on Lily. When he took his eyes away for one second, she would disappear elsewhere, and he would have to drag her back.

"I thought you wouldn't hinder my work?" Chen said indifferently.

Lily put both of her hands on her hips and replied. "Of course I'm not, I'm helping you can't you see? Testing things out if its fun for others and food poisoning!"

"Yeah yeah, but don't stray too far away from me." He patted her head, brushing off her comment aside. "I'll be worried."

She looked down at her feet and slowly turned red. She consistently had to keep monitoring her heart, spending too much time with him these past days.

I mustn't get too ahead of myself. He's just really good at being a gentleman. She tried to convince herself. He had someone he liked.

Oblivious to her thoughts, Chen held her shoulders and ushered her to the carriage. "Let's go, Lily. I think we're done here; You'll wander away again." He shook his head, "Truly like Anne."

"I'm not Anne!" Lily retorted in disbelief. "I can handle myself." She noticed his demeanor felt very similar and uncomfortable.

Chen froze and drooped his eyes, "No. No, you are not." He realized what he had said and felt bad that she thought that way.

Maybe taking care of Anne for too long, he got used to it. He didn't know how else to treat women.

Hmph! Lily turned her head away, not knowing why she felt so irritated. They both walked with a long distance from each other. Aside from their footsteps and the sounds of the shops busying itself, the silence between them was horrid.

As they approached the carriage, Chen noticed something. "Wait for me, don't go anywhere else okay?!" he shouted as he jogged to the corner and disappeared.

Lily reached her hand out to him and stood there.

"Hey, w-wait!" Is he mad that I gave him attitude? Is that why he's leaving me alone? Maybe, I should apologize.' Anxiety slowly crept up to her.

Maybe I got too comfortable because he's Anne's friend.

When Chen returned, he had his hands behind his back.

"Y-you done with what you were doing?" Lily said nervously.

One hand lifted from behind his back and directly up to her face.

Lily was shocked at the sudden movement and stared blankly at him before she slowly drifted her gaze away from his face.

In his hand was a sunflower.

"I'm sorry," Chen softly apologized as he shifted his eyes sideways. "I didn't mean it like that, I worry about you."

Lily started to get a little teary. She felt sorry she doubted him. She knew he was a good person, but she felt a little annoyed and became shameful that it was over something so trivial.

Chen saw her expression had turned south and hurriedly lifted his other hand out to put a box in her hands.

It was a box of full small delicate cakes that Lily wasn't able to try earlier.

"Don't cry." He said in a hurried yet gentle tone. "I don't know what to do when it comes to things like this." He felt a little helpless.

Lily shook her head in reply. "Just stay the way you are," She took the sunflower with the box of cakes. "You don't have to apologize; I'm sorry for getting mad at you for no reason."

Looking down at the things he got for her, Lily was in deep thought.

He patted her head. His heart constricted seeing her not looking so cheerful.

No reason? There could only be one reason. "Is it that time of the month?" Chen said in a severe tone. "Has mother nature called for you?"

"Chen!" Lily shouted at him in an embarrassed tone, blushing madly.

"What? Tell me if you're tired or if it hurts anywhere!" He said sincerely before letting out a light chuckle. "This is a very normal and serious matter. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Are you that shy?" Lips curved slightly up, there was laughter in his eyes.

"But still! It's a very private matter!" She looked up at him, pouting. "To me, at least!."

He finally let out a small laugh.

"You still remembered?" Lily suddenly said.

"Mmhm?"

"The sunflowers."

"...Yes. Didn't you say it fits you and me?" He teased her.

"For its radiance. It's radiance." She quickly retorted.

"Yes." He smiled dotingly at her. "For its radiance."

"I also said to stop smiling, you fool!"

"But I can't help it; You're so cute."

Looking quite pleased with her teased reaction, Chen was caught up in the mood and answered honestly.

"..."

Lily dashed to the carriage that was a few hundred feet away, leaving him standing there to ponder for himself.

Noticing what he had just slipped out of his mouth, he finally opened his eyes wide in shock, ears ridiculously red.

"Wait for me!" He shouted, hand covering part of his face as he walked swiftly towards the carriage.

_____________

After a hefty amount of more days inspecting, they returned to his home. Chen sent a report and a couple of other papers to the capital.

A day after, the kingdom was finally lowered back to where it was originally from.

The two figures that waited by the trees finally made their move. They immediately snuck into the country as soon as it landed and in a nearby alley, they wore their disguises and cloaks.

"You ready? There's no room for mistakes." One of them said as he looked gravely at the other person.

"Yes, sir." The other one replied resolutely.

"We'll meet here again with one other. He is supposed to arrive here in three days. If you do encounter any problems, try to figure it out yourself, don't hinder anybody. If it's dire of my attention before then, just shoot that firework."

The two of them split up after. One headed towards into the inner part of the country while the other one was slowly walking out of the alleyway, blending into the crowd and silently lamented,

"Please be okay, milady."