26 When did you learn to sweet talk?

AYAN'S POV

I was freaking out. I sat on the front port of my house sorting out vegetables in a basket. I thought the distraction of doing something would make me forget but my mind was still racing. The General was coming over for dinner tonight. I was going to be alone with him. It was awkward enough at the gazebo that night. I could only imagine how it was going to be tonight.

Not to mention all the gossip going around the estate about the General visiting my house.

"Lady Ayan is being visited by the General."

"Has she fallen back in his favor?"

"How fast."

"I thought for sure she was gonna get kicked out."

Kaylee and Yema had informed me the day prior of everything the servants had been saying about me having a night with the General. Well, mostly Kaylee who of course was thrilled about the "progress" I'd been making with him. "You proved them all wrong my lady." She had excitedly told me.

However, I was far from thrilled I had enough on my mind and I now I had to worry about tonight.

I still couldn't stop thinking about the boy and the revelation that he was Crown Prince Teon. I'd pieced together that the reason he was in the imperial city by himself that day was because he'd run away from the palace. This was interesting because he had run away from the palace more than six months ago, the palace had publicly announced his disappearance and asked the public to help look for him.

However, at this time that wasn't the case. I remembered the fruit vendor and his friends mentioning there were more imperial guards than usual patrolling on that day. They were secretly looking for him.

Considering it had been months between the first time he ran away and this recent time, could it be that the prince had been continuously running away from the palace but it wasn't being publicly announced? If so, I understand why it would be embarrassing to continue announcing that you keep your son under control.

He'd run away from the emperor's watch and come to my house. It seemed like the Prince was very comfortable getting in trouble. What a handful he must be. The image of the visibly angry emperor then came to mind. That man was intense. Beautiful, but scary. I was scared to anger General Kang I wouldn't even attempt to make someone like the emperor upset. I give Teon credit for having the guts to constantly get in trouble with the emperor.

Jokes aside, did Teon really hate living in the palace to the point of running away? Did he hate being a prince?

And what was that about with that rude servant who didn't address the prince properly? In fact, Teon seemed to be afraid of her remembering how he had hidden behind me. What a strange situation indeed.

"My lady, have you chosen the dishes you'll be preparing?" Kaylee asked me bringing me out of my thoughts.

"Oh yes," I responded as I sorted through the basket of fresh vegetables I had picked from my garden, I had also received some from Enan.

The last two days I'd been struggling to decide what dishes to prepare for him. The General had said I could make anything I wanted for him. Which only made it more difficult to decide what to cook. There were several ideas that Kaylee, Yema, and I had suggested. In the end, we couldn't come to a conclusion. So I decided to sleep on it.

I told Kaylee the list of dishes I had finally decided to prepare.

"But I would have preferred if you made the other..." Kaylee started to suggest.

"Kaylee it's too late I can't change anymore or else it'll be too overwhelming." I interrupted her.

"You're right I'm sorry my lady."

"Can you and Yema wash these vegetables?" I asked as I finished sorting.

"Of course my lady," she said as she took the basket of organized vegetables.

We had to start preparing early I had several dishes so I needed to make them in ample time before he arrived. It was after lunch that I began to cook meanwhile Kaylee and Yema were making sure the house was immaculate. It was early evening by the time I finished.

I kept the pots of cooked dishes near the fire to keep them warm, it would only be an hour or 2 before the General arrived. Kaylee and Yema prepared me for the evening. "Kaylee don't do too much with the makeup," I told her she had a scheming look on her face I told her

They helped me put on the dress and as they adjusted it to fit my body I noticed something.

" Please cover up my cleavage Yema. " I told her as I glared at Kaylee who was the one who had accentuated the cleavage on purpose. Kaylee glared back at me.

"It's almost as if you don't want to seduce the Lord, my Lady." She criticized me.

I don't. I thought to myself. Seducing him was the last thing I wanted.

"It's not that," I started my excuse to Kaylee. "I just don't think the General would be delighted given I used to show my cleavage a lot and he didn't like it." This was true the General always used to be annoyed by Ayan's exaggerated efforts to catch his attention.

Kaylee thought about it for a moment realizing I was right. "Alright, then."

When he arrived I stood by the front ports of my house waiting, Yema and Kaylee stood close behind.

"Good Evening my Lord, welcome to my humble home," I greeted, giving him my best smile as he approached. He was looking at my garden.

"Good evening, Ayan," he said with a dazzling smile on his face. He seemed happy to see me. He wore casual robes like he usually wore when he was at the estate. "You've been taking care of your garden I see." He commented.

"Yes, Enan has taught me a lot about gardening and taking care of plants, " I told him

"Enan?"

"Oh he's one of the farmers of the estate, he'd been taking care of the garden before I moved in. He's amazing. His work is so impressive and he's hard-working."

An annoyed expression then appeared on his face. "I didn't quite realize you were close to him."

Close? I thought confused. "No, we aren't close he just..."

"In any case, it doesn't make me happy to hear you talk highly about another man." He cut me off.

Was he seriously...jealous? I couldn't believe this guy. I'll admit maybe I did go a bit overboard whilst describing Enan. However, he sleeps with 4 different women every night(He was even allowed to have mistresses on top of that) and he complains about me talking to the gardener. I know we were all technically and legally his wives and but still...

The General entered my house and I took him to the room where we would be having our meal. There were three tables at the center of the room. One large empty table and two smaller tables on either side of it. The smaller tables had cutlery and plates set up on them as that was where the two of us would be seated.

"My goodness, I see you've done a lot to this place. It's beautiful." He commented looking at all the decorations around the house.

"Thank you, my Lord," I accepted the compliment.

"Did Enan help with this as well?" He asked snidely, the jealousy coming out again.

This man couldn't be serious. He wasn't going to let that go, was he? If he wasn't my meal ticket I would have a few things to say to him. In any case, I had to quickly appease him the last thing I want is to upset him.

I laughed off what he'd said. "No, I did it all by myself, my Lord." I turned to face him and got closer to him. "You are, and always will be the only man I look at." I widened my big green doe eyes to seem more innocent and sincere.

His narrowed eyes which glared at me began to soften. The anger that showed on his face slowly dissipated. Oh gosh, it worked I thought. " Is that so?" he then asked as he brought a hand to my face. I assumed he was going to touch my cheek but he surprised me when instead he flicked my forehead with his fingers. "When did you learn to sweet talk?" He scoffed as he turned to the tables where we would be sitting.

I brought my hand to my forehead from where he'd flicked. That man! I wanted to smack him. I glared at him taking comfort in the fact that he couldn't see me. He then suddenly turned back to look at me to which I instantly straightened my facial expression.

"If dinner is ready you may serve." He said.

"Of course." I nodded "Please sit down. Make yourself comfortable." I motioned for him to sit. He went to sit down cross-legged on the cushion in front of one of the tables.

I had Kaylee and Yema bring in all the bowls of dishes I had prepared and them on the large table meant to hold all of them.