A Battle

Shen's P.O.V

I had managed to find an escape route through the massive garden they have. I want to declare my love to Lady Chen but at the same time, I want there to be no casualties. Lady Chen be raging if me and the His Highness were to fight, on a royal occasion of all time. I would be known for a party pooper.

"Ah, so much for my peaceful date with the food."

I sighed then started walking. As I walk, tall grass brushed my pants. The moon was full and it was beautiful. The wind was not suffocating and it was cool. It doesn't feel like it's snowing here. I wonder who designed this? Also, the one in the Chen manor. It seems to be the same person, though I can't pinpoint it now. It felt somewhat familiar.

After minutes of walking aimlessly, I have come across a pond. Again? What is it with pond here? Are they obsessed or something? Crickets joined me as I sit beside the pond. They made a melody that I could not describe. It was pleasing yet intriguing. How did I find this peaceful?

I lay on the grass, eyes on the moon and hands behind my head, as if a pillow. I closed my eyes, feeling a little bit sleepy. Then I heard a splash of water. I sat up straight and looked at the figure at the center of the pond. Can you even take a bath in the pond? With a banquet near here? Are you serious? Is she not embarrassed?

Her hair glistened with the pond as the moon's reflection looked like it's her skirt. She was naked and her body was dangerously lustrous. Her body was alluring but what caught me the most was her eyes. They were red, an obvious contrast with light brown hair. Her body screamed contrast. Her skin was pale and her lips were pink.

She looked over to my side and smiled as she makes her way towards me. She knew I was captivated. She knew that. That smirk on her face says so. How long has it been since I saw a woman's body? And a sexy one at that?

Lady Chen.

I snapped out of my thoughts and jumped, establishing a definite distance between us. The water was just on her knees and I could see her womanhood. She was hairless. My face instantly heats up, making me look away.

I heard her chuckle.

"Aren't you adorable?"

"Excuse me for my rudeness, but what are you doing there, bathing, near the banquet of all places?"

"You forgot to add 'naked'."

"Uh-"

She chuckled again, ever so lightly.

She gave me the impression of... Lady Chen. They seem similar yet different. Aside from the appearance, she gives of the vibe that only Lady Chen can give.

"Those fools cannot entertain me."

"Entertain?"

She smiles, a meaning that I can't comprehend. She was still naked and the fact that she did not avoid eye-contact made me think that she was seducing me.

"Yes, an entertainment with pleasure."

Sex.

"I suggest that you find somewhere else, Lady."

"My, my, no need to be rude now, is there?"

"I apologize. It is me that will leave. Enjoy the rest of your night, Lady."

"Lee Rou."

"Rou?"

"Weird name?"

"Ah, no. Then, farewell, Lady Lee." I bow and turned around, walking away hastily.

If I had stayed a bit longer then my eyes could have traveled a bit further than earlier. My heart was thumping so fast that it made my breath ragged.

"I found her, Prince!"

Fuck. I forgot about them. I look around to find an exit but it seems that they had me surrounded. Why is he so persistent? Well, of course, it's Lady Chen we're talking about. If I had also found out that my love is in love with someone else, I'd go crazy, like this Prince.

"What is this commotion all about?"

I couldn't hide my smile as Lady Chen approaches us. She was in the middle of me and the Prince. She looks at us simultaneously and then glared at me and then the Prince. Why am I even included? I was only minding my own business.

"My love, is it true-"

"I am not your love."

Did I just hear the Prince's heart break? Wow, a straight-ass rejection. Lady Chen is too cruel. Would she do that to me if she didn't fall for me? Just the thought of it made me shiver.

"B-but is it true?"

"Yes, she is my lover."

Lady Chen makes her way towards me, invisibly making all the servant of the prince make way. They dare not stand in her way. She grabs my hand and links our arms together. The image of us linking arms together made the prince more furious than ever. When Lady Chen was not looking, the Prince told me that he will kill me with a gesture.

Should I feign scared? Threatened? Oh, gods.

"My Princess, she is a woman!"

"And she is better than anyone else here. Aren't you ashamed that you call yourself a man yet you can't do anything without the help of your servants?"

By this time, a crowd had already formed. They were whispering amongst themselves. They were amused and intrigue. Their beloved prince was being rejected in the face and in the flesh. Their handsome prince was being destroyed.

"Ugh- I-"

"Save your excuses to yourself, Your Highness. Excuse us,"

Lady Chen pulls on my arm. I nod and she starts pulling me towards the table full of food. My mouth instantly waters at the sight of food. They still looked magnificent. I doubt anyone touched them. I don't understand how rich people can just waste this much food.

"Shen,"

"Yes, Lady Chen?"

"You must be hungry,"

I grinned at Lady Chen. She obviously knows.

"Indeed I am!"

I grab a plate gently, to not shatter it or let it drop. When the food was in front of me, I made a mountain of food.

"Goodness. Are you that hungry?"

"I will not it all of these by myself."

"Who are you sharing it with?"

"Want me to show you?"

"Am I telling you to not?"

"Geez, Lady Chen is so rude."

She rolls her eyes.

"Come, Lady Chen."

When no one was looking, I put all the food in my interspacial ring. I gestured for Lady Chen to walk with me. We pass by people, the guards and the gate but of course, with interruption.

"Milady, where are you off to?"

"We need to take a look outside the manor."

The guards looked at each other and backed away with a nod, telling us that we can go.

"As you wish,"

Lady Chen must hold a very fancy position to let the guards succumb to her. Is she really a princess? Is she someone important?

Lady Chen tugs on my sleeve. I shake my head to get rid of the thoughts and started walking. Lady Chen was following closely from behind. When we got around the manor, there we saw hopeless and homeless people. They were eating food from the garbage. My face scrunched at the sight.

This is why I don't like rich people. I start walking to their direction when Lady Chen sent spikes to the garbage. The poor people were frightened and backed away. I looked at Lady Chen and was ready to shout but then, Lady Chen's expression was more pained that mine was. She uses her magic and power to create an ice shelter to not let the snow hit the people and kneeled down in front of them.

"You people are from here, are you not?"

"Y-yes, Milady."

"Tsk." Lady Chen storms away in rage.

She left me behind. Well, that was something. I turned to the homeless people. They backed away again, obviously scared.

"Oh! It's alright. Don't be afraid."

"W-what do you need-"

"Need? I don't need anything. Here," I set up a table made of warm wood.

I thought at first that this place no longer had trees but I asked myself, what about their necessities? And then at the pond, I had discovered that there really is.

I opened my interspacial ring and brought out the mountain of food for these people. When they saw the food, they instantly drooled. They looked at me and then at the food and then at me.

"I-is this p-poisoned?"

They were so afraid to die they had to eat from garbage and take refuge to anywhere so that they won't die from the cold. They were even too afraid to eat something that a stranger give.

"This is from the manor. Don't worry. I had already ate before I came here."

"Are you g-giving this to us?"

"Yes, these are all yours."

I smile at them and they gleamed back.

"Everyone! There is food!" someone shouted.

I was surprised at the sudden screaming but when I saw three more people running to our direction, I instantly felt warm and happy. Despite them being hungry for themselves, they still called their people to eat. I wish noble people were like this. But that would be wishful thinking.

"That lady before," a little girl spoke from under the wood table, looking so adorable.

"Yes?" I crouch down so that I could be leveled with her.

"She was very pretty."

My face flushed.

"She is indeed."

"She is the first daughter of the Chen Family?"

"How do you know that?"

"The Chen Family is the only Family that helped us before."

The mother of the child answered me with such happiness that it was reaching me. The Chen Family is a respectable family indeed. They are not like the other families. Just from knowing General Chen, I could tell.

"Is that so? Then, they are a good family."

"They are the only family that has ever helped us."

Right there and then, an explosion occurred. The grounds shook at the explosion. Smoke instantly surfaced. It was from the inside of the manor.

"What was that?"

"Is there a terrorism attack?"

"An attack?"

"Everyone, evacuate to somewhere more safe. Grab your things, foods and go."

I jumped to the gate. It was quite high but I managed to land on top, getting a full view of everything. The noble people were running, screaming and scared for dear life. I wish I could rub this to their faces. I try to search for Lady Chen but I, instead, found the empress. She was held captive and was dragged gently.

I'm sorry, Lady Chen.

I land in front of the buffoons who held the empress captive.

"Well, well, where do you think you're going with such a beautiful empress?"

"If you don't want to get injured, go away."

"Scram."

I sighed.

"Look, this should be the other way around."

I charge at the one at the right, kicking him in his stomach, making him let go of the empress. The other one also lets go of the empress but drew his sword. Ooh, it was shiny.

"Say, Your Highness, where are your guards?"

"Poisoned."

"Oh, well, I'll be your guard for tonight."

I brought two of my palms together and summoned and thunder sword. It was blue and sizzling. The guy flinched a second before charging at me. Our swords clanked at each other.

"Are you seriously going to fight me?"

"I-I have no choice."

"No choice?"

He backs away for a second and charges again. Should I stall this battle? Should I not finish this away? General Chen might see me and think of me better. Would he? Nah, he wouldn't. I took one final swing and the guy flew by the side, hitting his head with the wall, making him unconscious.

"Young one! You are both talented and as brave. You two suit each other."

I turn around to smile at the empress. I wish General Chen would think of me like that. It would save me the trouble of proving myself more than I already try to.

"Empress! I shall protect you!" the prince came running towards us, gasping for air with every step he takes.

"The enemy has been defeated by this young maiden. You are far too late."

The prince scoffs as he saw my grin.

"Do not be fooled, empress! She is a cunning woman! She is-"

"My lover."

Lady Chen stands by my side and inspects if I have injuries. I had a look of embarrassment as she inspects me. I look away, avoiding the empress' and the prince's eyes.

When she was done with inspecting me, she looks at the prince and the empress.

"Are you hurt, Empress?"

"My, my, your beautiful lover had saved me just in time."

"It's my honor to be able to help the empress."

"I doubt she is far stronger than me."

"Then let us test your abilities." General Chen suddenly appears.

"Test?"

"Hmph! She is just another weakling with a beautiful face."

Beautiful face? Me? I have a beautiful face?

"Then it is settled. Pardon our feud, Empress."

"We shall witness this battle."

"We shan't trouble you you, Empress."

"Eh, it's fine. After all, your daughter is like a daughter to me."

And that was how the battle was decided.