"The queen said I came here unprepared..."

Liu Wei had woken up relatively early; old habits didn't change easily. It was the first day of Bloody Spring. Was the queen already on her first date? She sighed inwardly.

Despite having drunk a lot the night before, she felt nothing but thirst—her resistance to alcohol was truly enviable.

For a few moments, she stared at the unfamiliar ceiling of the room. Still so sleepy, it took her a few seconds to recognize her surroundings. She sighed. It was Wang Zheng's palace.

She turned to look for the glass of honey water left by the queen the night before, but it was gone. She felt a pang of disappointment.

Anna had probably already passed by the room while Liu Wei was asleep and taken the glass back.

She wondered if she'd be lucky enough to go out for breakfast and accidentally run into the queen in the palace halls. Could such a big place offer a chance encounter?

Her house in Martana was quite large, but the palace was even more immense! Liu Wei had come to realize that everything around the queen was on a grand scale: a huge house, numerous employees... Yet she was the only person living there. Did she ever feel lonely?

The rooms were pristine and the floors gleamed. But did Wang Zheng ever get into arguments with her parents about washing the dinner dishes?

With each passing day, Liu Wei grew more concerned about the queen's world but longed for the day when she would have some certainty .

She wondered if Wang Zheng would ever see her as someone trustworthy.

She stretched her arms and legs and rubbed her eyes.

Anna had left a thermos of warm water to alleviate any lingering hangover. Liu Wei poured some into the glass beside her.

She took out her cell phone and swiped the screen for a few seconds until she found the contact she needed.

Liu Wei desperately needed to think of something for her meeting with the queen. It was embarrassing to admit that she felt so unprepared.

She placed her cell phone on the table and sat up, trying to smooth the tousled strands of her hair. The phone rang twice, and on the third ring, a woman appeared on the screen. "Mom."

The young woman frowned upon seeing her daughter's disheveled state, clearly indicating she had just woken up.

"Hi, sweetie. I can see you didn't even wash your face before calling me..."

Liu Wei's mother, Liu Hui, was a woman in her early 40s with strong, lively features. Always in a good mood and often with a good glass of wine in hand.

Liu Wei was the product of an arranged marriage.

Two countries came together, resulting in a prosperous and happy family.

Despite the advantages of a good marriage, Liu Hui couldn't help but feel anxious about her daughter competing to marry Wang Zheng. Her greatest fear was that her daughter would be unhappy.

She sighed worriedly.

"I have more important things to discuss."

"What, for example?"

"The queen said I came here unprepared..."

Liu Hui blinked a few times in surprise, then burst into loud laughter.

Her phone shook with the force of her laughter. Liu Wei felt a slight regret for contacting her mother. Now she was being laughed at, and soon the rest of the family would hear what the queen thought of her.

"Well, she's probably right."

Liu Wei knew that her mother had a good relationship with Wang Zheng; they attended charity events together and were always chatting on the phone.

"What do you think she likes to do?"

Liu Hui paused for a few seconds, carefully considering what the young queen might enjoy.

"Hmmm, Wang Zheng has simple tastes... The more luxurious something is, the less she likes it."

Mama Liu remembered well when she tried to gift Wang Zheng a beautiful gemstone necklace on her second birthday as queen. The young girl had looked her up and down, accepted the gift with humility, but showed no sign of happiness.

It took a few years for Liu Hui to understand why the girl seemed so unhappy with such fine gifts. When she asked Wang Zheng about it during one of their meetings, the queen simply said she wouldn't want something that would just stay in a safe.

Liu Hui was silent, thinking it was just a passing moment, but Wang Zheng never wore anything but the few jewels her mother had left her. There must be hundreds of jewels stored in some fully secured safe, waiting to be used.

Liu Wei seemed lost in her thoughts, and for a few seconds, there was an awkward silence between mother and daughter.

"I see... But I have nothing but money to offer."

Liu Hui huffed in dissatisfaction. Her daughter sometimes became so practical that she forgot to think creatively.

"What a silly little daughter of mine... You have arms and legs, find something useful to do with them."

Liu Wei nodded. She was determined to impress the queen with her hard work.

"I see. I'm going to work hard."

Liu Hui smiled with satisfaction. Her daughter was stubborn and strong-willed when she set her mind to something.

"How's it going over there?"

"Can't say it's not lively."

"As expected from Wang Zheng."

Liu Wei heard a light knock on her door and asked the person to come in. Anna emerged carrying a large breakfast tray, and the aroma made Liu Wei's hunger intensify.

"Mom, I need to hang up. I'm going to have breakfast and then see the city."

Liu Hui was intrigued. Weiwei had never shown much interest in tourism or exploring a city on a whim.

"Alright, be careful with your pheromone."

"All right..."

Anna positioned herself next to Liu Wei's bed and began arranging the dishes so the princess could eat comfortably.

"Good morning, miss. I brought your breakfast."

"Thank you. Also, I need you to inform the head of the guard that I'm going to take a walk around town."

Liu Wei got up and grabbed a toast with jam. She was starving.

"Yes, miss."

"Also, bring some of the barrier protectors; I'm going to use one today."

"Right. I'll arrange everything."

Anna left the room to carry out Liu Wei's instructions. Once the door closed and she was alone, Liu Wei turned to the hearty breakfast in front of her. She was ready to eat well.

Liu Wei walked over to the bathroom mirror and started unpacking the barrier protector. It was sticky and cold. The feeling of applying it to her skin was comfortable, but she knew removing it would be a hassle. Some types of protectors came with their own remover to ease the process, but it was still challenging.

The gland protector had a viscous and sticky substance that, when bitten, would release an unpleasant taste in the mouth, preventing the teeth from entering and leaving the alpha's mouth without causing a burn.

Wang Zheng's country had been selling this for at least five years, but it paled in comparison to the products created by Wang Zheng's companies.

The barrier protector was transparent, convenient, and practical. Liu Wei finished putting on her clothes and left her room, accompanied by Anna.

Liu Wei wore a light outfit: black boots, denim shorts, a white linen shirt, and a red jacket. Her light brown hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, and she wore dark glasses. She was ready to explore the unknown country.

In a few seconds, they reached the palace entrance, where two guards awaited them.

 They didn't wear their uniforms to avoid drawing attention. Given the festive atmosphere, it made no sense for royal soldiers to be parading the streets in full regalia.

 Anna was also dressed in ordinary clothes and looked quite stunning once she removed her plain black uniform.

 Liu Wei's maid was a beta, originally from Eastern Europe. A blonde woman with a gentle demeanor, her honey-colored eyes exuded a calm familiarity.

 They were in the car, conversing sparingly.

 The guards sat in the front seats, while Liu Wei and Anna occupied the back.

 They observed the scenery and the people mingling, smiling and laughing cheerfully. The streets of Wang's country featured a unique blend of European and Asian architectural influences.

 "Anna, do you see anything interesting?"

 Anna smiled in response. She noticed many intriguing sights, though none of them were particularly useful for Liu Wei.

 "Yes, people seem really happy."

 "Yes. From what I heard while we waited for pedestrians to cross, there's a festival today."

 "Great. Do you have any ideas for where to take the queen?"

 Liu Wei sighed in mild frustration. "No… I'm feeling quite lost…"

 It was getting late and they needed to eat. They decided to take a break and reevaluate their plans after lunch, which inspired Anna with an idea.

 "Miss, why don't you cook for Her Majesty?"

 Liu Wei was taken aback by the suggestion, but Anna saw the excitement spark in the young princess's eyes. "Do you think I should?"

 "Absolutely. It's one of the things you excel at, besides dancing. If I were you, I'd prepare dishes that the queen enjoys."

 "I see. Well, I've researched dating ideas and most articles mention parks and restaurants. I want to do something different…"

 Anna noticed Liu Wei's change in demeanor, as she became more focused and determined to do something that would please the queen. Anna felt that the princess was genuinely interested in pursuing a relationship and sighed thoughtfully, pondering the uncertain future.

 Anna smiled warmly at the young omega. "Princess, if I had a lot of money, I'd probably hire a private chef or rent an amusement park just for the two of us… But isn't the essence of a surprise in making an unexpected gesture? And while there's nothing novel about a chocolate cake, the meaning behind it adds value. I think you're overthinking how to impress with money instead of with intent."

 Liu Wei had a contemplative and slightly embarrassed look. She realized she had been rather materialistic.

 The princess sighed wearily. "This is more complex than I anticipated."

 "Sorry, princess."

 Anna felt a bit guilty but received a warm smile from Liu Wei in return.

 "No, you're right, Anna. Even though I cook well, I still need to figure out what to do and where to take her…"

 Anna smiled sympathetically. "Well, let's have something to eat and take a short break."

 "Right."

 The guards nodded in agreement, remaining silent throughout the car ride. The quiet was somewhat uncomfortable, but there was little that could be done about it.

 Liu Wei got out of the car, followed by the others. Anna spoke with the female guard, and they discovered that Chinese food from a nearby restaurant was one of the queen's favorites. They were all quite hungry.

 It didn't take more than a five-minute walk to reach their destination, where the enticing aroma of meat and spices filled the air.

 They chose a round table for four, and despite the guards' insistence on not eating, Liu Wei's refusal was in vain; they joined her for the meal.

 Anna placed her chopsticks on her bowl and looked at the concerned expression on Liu Wei's face. "Miss, do you have any idea where you'll take her on your date?"

 "No, I feel defeated…" Liu Wei had never been romantically involved with anyone, and the internet hadn't offered any satisfying ideas. She glanced at the serious faces of the guards and decided to break the uncomfortable silence. "Are you guys dating? Tell me what you would do for someone you like."

 The guards exchanged surprised and slightly apprehensive looks; they hadn't expected to discuss such personal matters with a princess.

 They were betas with distinct features: one was a young man who looked no older than 20, while the other was a strong, attractive woman who appeared to be in her 30s.

 The young man was extremely shy and blushed easily, while the woman had a broad smile and seemed indifferent to the others' opinions.

 The woman spoke first, while the young man stuffed his mouth with meat to avoid speaking. "I have a fiancée, she's an alpha. I proposed shortly after she was appointed as a royal guard."

 "How did she react?"

 "She cried for a long time and then scolded me for spending too much on the ring," she said, looking slightly annoyed as she ate her rice.

 Anna laughed at the candid confession.

 Liu Wei looked at the young man, who swallowed hard, his face as red as a pepper.

 "W-well… I've never dated, so I don't know how to help."

 Liu Wei smiled sympathetically, understanding his lack of experience as she was also unfamiliar with romance.

 She set her rice bowl and chopsticks back on the table. "I see, and where would you like to take someone you love? Is there any memorable place around here?"

 Everyone at the table pondered the question. The young man spoke with enthusiasm, trying to quickly finish his food so he could share his thoughts. "Well, I'd like to take my future girlfriend to watch the sunset on the beach."

 The soldier chuckled lightly. "We don't have a beach in Wang's country."

 The young man wanted to bury his face in his rice bowl out of embarrassment. "Well…"

 Liu Wei laughed softly; the scene was endearing and resembled a sibling squabble. "I need more ideas."

 Anna, usually quiet and unobtrusive, had always been Liu Wei's shadow. She thought for a moment before answering. "Well, my omega's family has a rose garden. Sometimes we'd go on picnics and spend the whole day talking under a tree and drinking wine."

 "Wine… Anna, you've given me great ideas… You too, little boy."

 The young man looked surprised and confused. "But we don't have a beach."

 "Well, we do have a heaven… I'm going to call Mom."

 Liu Wei took out her cell phone and put it to her ear.

 "Hi, honey, do you need anything?"

 "Yes. I need a shipment of the best wines from our cellar."

 "What type?"

 "You know wine better than I do; could you choose some for me?"

 "Sure. It should arrive tomorrow."

 "Great. Thank you."

 Liu Hui held two significant titles: Queen Mother and Queen of Wine.

 Being the queen mother of a nation meant being a major symbol after the king, admired and envied by many. As the mother of the future king, she was regarded as the mother of the people.

 Martana was renowned for its exceptional wines, a reputation largely due to Liu Hui's expertise. One day, when she wasn't busy, she decided to study an old book about grapes and, within months, became a wine connoisseur. Over two decades, she turned Martana into the continent's largest wine exporter. Liu Hui was a formidable businesswoman, and if anyone needed fine wines, she was the person to contact.

 The female soldier smiled. "Wine is always a good choice."

 Lunch went well, and everyone was satisfied.

 Liu Wei had a rough idea of what she wanted to do but needed to find the perfect location. She envisioned a picnic under a starry sky with good food and wine. However, given Wang Zheng's celebrity status, she couldn't simply roam freely.

 She sighed inwardly.

 Liu Wei waited in the car as Anna returned. The previously uncomfortable silence was now filled with the guards discussing ways to help the young beta meet someone special.

 Anna appeared with several bags and lightly tapped on the car window for Liu Wei to let her in.

 Anna brought drinks and sweets for everyone, quickly distributing them.

 She handed Liu Wei a large glass of iced coffee and a slice of chocolate cake.

 "This cake is really good… Did you get an extra slice as I asked?"

 "Yes." Anna showed the small travel package, and Liu Wei smiled with satisfaction.

 "Let's head back to the palace."