※ Chapter 34 ※

Meihua's POV »☆●

As I enter my tent, still dressed in my hunting attire, I'm met with a sudden high-pitched scream that startles me. Quickly, I make my way through the flaps and find...

Rosy cradling Nini in her arms. She's playfully ruffling up the fur on his head, causing him to wiggle his nose.

"Come here, you precious pound of fluff!" she coos, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

I let out a sigh of relief and join her, "l see you've met him."

"Met, befriended, and fallen in love!" she exclaims, still holding Nini close to her chest. "Just look at his adorable widdle cheeks! You're so lucky to have him."

I chuckle at the sight of Rosy fawning over my little furry friend, "l only wish we'd come together through happier circumstances."

Nini starts to squirm in her arms.

"I think somebody wants to be held by Gongzhu!" Rosy exclaims and hands him over to me. I cradle him gently, feeling his soft fur against my skin as he snuggles up.

While I'm holding Nini, I feel a rumble in my stomach. "I'm so hungry," I sigh, "After Dylan kept me at the hunt, I missed lunch. And I already didn't have breakfast properly because of the conversation with Uncle Mark."

Rosy smiles suggestively, "Lucky for you, the banquet is the culinary event! There will be delicacies from all over the kingdom, and I hear the chefs have outdone themselves this time."

I smile at her enthusiasm. The thought of delicious food is a welcome distraction from the weight of my responsibilities as an avenge-seeking rebel princess and a potential mate to an werewolf.

"That all sounds wonderful, except it's not that simple to just sit back and enjoy a culinary event when your engagement is being announced," I say as a matter of fact.

In a few hours, we'd leave for banquet where we'll formalize our engagement and solidify the alliance between Wuluan and Mingluan publicly. The weight of the responsibility is overwhelming, and for some reason, I can't shake off a fear and uncertainty. Of what? Who knows.

"And how are we feeling about the engagement?" she asks gently.

I let out a heavy sigh, "l only hope I don't waste away into nothing in this tension and anticipation before I'm served some food."

She giggles, "We can't allow that! Maintaining your very existence is essential for tonight."

I smile at her light-heartedness, even as my mind races with doubt and uncertainty. "I'm just not so confident," I mutter hesitantly, feeling a knot form in my stomach.

"But you have every reason to be confident! You're a princess, a warrior, and a woman of great strength and courage. Whatever happens tonight, you'll face it with grace and dignity," she places an encouraging hand on my shoulder, "Besides, the alliance built tonight, will be the strongest alliance in history. As the two great forces merge and pledge loyalty to you and Gege, you'll take back your home in no time, and Gege will have you to thank for his throne while Dylan and that little beast of his will retreat to Wang lands, tails between their legs!"

"I know. I just wish there was a way to do it without rushing an engagement," I sigh.

Her eyes narrow on me, noticing my hesitation. She whispers carefully, "I know it's difficult to get into a marriage for alliance. But I couldn't help but sense that something more is amiss. What's bothering you so much about this engagement?"

"I just.." I let out a deep breath, "Feel conflicted. This alliance is important, but I can't help feeling like something's missing."

She looks at me with concern, "Is there someone else? A past lover, perhaps?"

I shake my head, "It's not that. I just don't know if I'm ready to be with Se in that way. I care for him deeply, but..."

She interrupts me gently, "But what? Is it Gege himself? Do you not love him?"

"No, it's not that either. I just-" I trail off, unable to say the words.

She looks at me with curiosity, "Just?"

"Just nervous, I suppose," I answer reluctantly. How am I supposed to tell her I feel a connection to someone else? Someone I've never met? I still keep having vivid dreams of those grey eyes that seemed to call out to me, and I don't know what it means.

She nods with understanding, "It's okay. You don't have to have all the answers right now. But you should know that Gege loves you. He'd do anything for you."

I nod, "I know, and I care for him too. But-"

"But do you love him?" she asks, abruptly interrupting me.

Her pointed question hangs in the air, and I feel a rush of mixed emotions. The question lingers in my mind as I struggle to find an answer. I love him as I loved my family. I love him as I loved my friends. But do I love him in any other way? I don't know what's that like. But ain't I supposed to feel something more for my soulmate?

The mate bond between us is undeniable, and yet I can't shake off the confusion that plague me. Is my denial causing me to question my feelings? Maybe confessing to him about the truth of our mindlink will clear my doubts. I owe it to Se to be honest with him.

Rosy's expression softens, "It seems to me you're conflicted about your feelings for Gege. But remember that he's been your friend since childhood and he's always there for you. This engagement is solely for alliance purpose, not forcing feelings onto you. You don't have to be scared. At court, marriage is politics."

I nod, biting my lower lip, "You're right. I'm doing what's best for our families and our kingdoms. Se is a good guy. I trust him. I won't let my doubts cloud my judgment."

She smiles, "That's the spirit. Let's focus on what's for the best for now. We'll have time to figure out who steals your heart later. Speaking of stealing hearts.."

She grins at me mischievously and leads me back inside the tent, where she quickly takes something from the rack and hides it behind her back.

I raise a skeptical eyebrow, "You're looking proud of yourself. Should I be worried about what you're holding behind your back?" I ask, lips curving into a smile.

She chuckles softly, "Only if you find the idea of catching every single eye at the banquet worrying," she replies teasingly.

"What are you implying?" I cross my arms, my curiosity has piqued from her playful demeanor.

Without a word, she reveals a shimmering hanfu delicately threaded with small, glittering diamond.

I gasp in shock, "Are those real diamonds?"

"Of course, they're real!" she replies with a grin. "Tonight's banquet will be held beneath a blanket of stars. How else is a bride-to-be supposed to outshine them?"

I can't help but laugh, my worries momentarily forgotten. I take the dress from her outstretched arms, trailing my fingers over the sparkling gems. "It's pretty," I comment.

"Now, let's get you ready for the banquet. You're gonna look stunning tonight!" she exclaims and pulls me along with her, rushing towards the boudoir.

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As we reach the boudoir, Rosy makes me sit at the table as she browses through the supplies to find a comb, hairpin, tassel, small mirror and other cosmetics. I let out a deep breath.

My mind keeps racing back to those mysterious eyes, for some reason now more than ever. I just can't shake off the odd feeling it gives me. Rosy's words comforted me, but didn't completely alleviate my doubts.

As Rosy begins combing my hair, she glances at me worriedly. I can tell I haven't done a great job masking my hesitance.

"Is there something else on your mind? You still seem uneasy," she asks softly as she gently untangle any knots through my hair.

I thought about confiding in her about my dreams but decided against it. I don't wanna drive her insane with my crazy thoughts like I did to Siyaah. Maybe she'll think it's a hallucination too. Perhaps, it's actually a hallucination, a fragment of my mind.

"Are you okay?" Rosy's voice interrupts my thoughts, pulling me back to reality.

I nod and look up at her, "Rosy, do you think your brother loves me?"

She lets out a sigh, "You're still thinking about that?"

"I'm not gonna change my mind about the engagement, but I'm curious. As his sister, I value your opinion," I reply.

She sits down next to me and takes my hand in hers, giving it a squeeze. "Gongzhu, of course he does. It can't be more obvious. Everybody in the pack knows that by now. He loves you alot."

"Does he really? Surely?" I ask, my urgency betrays my anxiousness. "There's no misunderstanding?"

She nods, looking into my eyes with determination "Have you seen the way he looks at you?"

Her question hits me like a ton of bricks. "l..haven't," I mutter hoarsely.

I realized I had been avoiding his gaze, afraid of what I might find. I didn't fully understand the intricacies of the mate bond. I was scared. When he confessed to me, I wanted to run away, to escape everything. I had always harbored a lingering doubt, but I never knew that he felt this way about me until he said so, or maybe I had been ignoring all the signs that were right before my eyes.

"See it. You'll see everything you need to know," she suggests.

I feel a pang of guilt surge over me. I know he loves me but I can't reciprocate those feelings. He has been nothing but kind and loving to me. I can't bear the thought of hurting him.

Rosy leans in closer to apply cosmetics on my face. As she begins to powder and rouge my face, I close my eyes and lean back.

The next thing I see is beautiful grey eyes that seem to stare right through my soul. My heart flutters all over again with the inexplicable pull I feel towards them. It's always been this way. I don't remember when I started to dream about it but they sure captivate me the same every time. I can't explain any of these intense feelings swirling through me because nothing in the world feels quite like this.

I never tried to stop it, the pull towards those eyes. For as long as I can remember, the mysterious eyes haunted my dreams. I don't know why and how, but I'm drawn to them. It's an addiction and I can't help but feel helpless against it.

"Gongzhu?"

"Gongzhu!!"

I jolt out of my dream as Rosy calls me out.

"l know it's been a long day, but it's not time for a nap. Take rest later. I need you to keep your neck straight while I do your hair," she chuckles softly.

I nod and sit up straight, giving her access to my hair. She deftly divides my hair into sections and begins braiding into an intricate design.

I turn to her, "Rosy, there's something I've been meaning to tell you."

"Tell away," she hums as she weaves in small flowers and pearls in my hairbun for decoration.

I take a deep breath, summoning the courage to admit to her, "Se's probably my mate."

Her eyes widen in shock, "Your mate? Gongzhu, that's..a big deal. Did you finally get the confirmation?"

I nod hesitantly, feeling overwhelmed. I fill her in about everything from the first meet when I felt the bond till today when we mindlinked.

Her face brims with delight, "Wonderful news! We prayed for this to happen. The moon favoured us with a perfect match, and now the alliance between our kingdoms would only strengthen. We won't have to worry about the marriage prospects. On the next full moon, he can even officially claim you as-"

I shake my head, stopping her from thinking further, "I'm not ready for the claiming stuff! I'm not sure if I love him the way mates are supposed to. What if it's not mate bond?"

She places a comforting hand on my shoulder, "Love takes time. Gege is your mate. If anyone can make you fall in love, it's him. Don't push him away."

I nod. Her words bring a glimmer of hope to my heart. I've to give this a chance and see where this goes. I take a deep breath and she continues to prepare me.

"You can't predict what the future holds. But you've to trust your heart and your instincts. If he's your mate, you'll know it. If he's not, you'll find the one who is," she continues, her hands deftly adjusting the folds of my gown.

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of her words. She's right. I feel somewhat reassured by her words, "Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Nothing. That's why I'm your saviour angel," she giggles as she fastens buttons at my back.

I stand in front of the mirror, fingers trembling as I adjust my ornate hairpin. Rosy steps back to observe the complete look, "You're looking like the brightest star in the sky," she smiles warmly, "Let's make our way to the banquet now. I know you're urgently excited for dinner."

I chuckle as we make our way out of the boudair. I know that whatever my feelings may be, I've a duty to fulfill. So the only thing I can do right now is trust my heart and hope that it'd lead me where I need to be.

To Be Continued »☆●