18 THE REQUEST

Princess Fen turned and faced shu. they stared at each other for a while, before princess fen finally answered the person from the door.

"Yes, who is there?" princess fen asked.

"His majesty sent me to call you," a maiden voice came from the door.

Princess Fen felt like she was poured ice water on her body. she was afraid, and Shu could clearly see it from the movement of her body. her legs were shaking, and so also her hands. In fact, her whole body was shaking.

"She is coming right away." Shu knew that Princess Fen was not ready to utter a word because of the fear in her, so she replied to the maiden at the door entrance.

the maiden answered and left.

princess fen sat frozen and shu moved closed and embraced her, and princess fen embraced her back. The princess felt like crying, but tears weren't coming.

Shu cuddled her to comfort her soul.

"Believe me, you will be fine. his majesty won't do you anything." Shu assured her, but she wouldn't calm down.

Princess Fen finally released tears from her eyes. she sobbed in tears and shu kept on encouraging her to be strong.

After a few minutes of sobbing, princess fen finally made up her mind to approach her father without fear. She doesn't know where the boldness to approach her father without fear came from, but that's what she felt like doing.

"I'm okay, I will go to him and hear what he wants to say to me. I'm ready to face anything he would do or tell me." princess fen said as she freed herself from shu's arms.

Shu took a handkerchief from princess fen's table and wiped the tears from princess fen's face.

"my beautiful princess, my ai, you are too beautiful to be played with. you are too bright to be stained with charcoal. the only princess who is more beautiful than cinderella, i greet you.`` Shu raised her.

The princess smiled at Shu and Shu patted her cheeks.

well, she would have blamed shu for making her find herself in this critical issue, but she doesn't want to because she believes that shu wants the best for her, that's why she asked her to do that. As a matter of fact, she thanked Shu for the wise advice she gave her, which helped her not to find herself in another kingdom yesterday. she will forever thank her if she didn't end up marrying the prince because she believes that she hasn't given up on her to marry prince gen.

"I want to get going before he sends another messenger to call me." princess fen said to shu.

"Alright, I guess he will have been expecting you," Shu responded.

Shu walked to the door and opened it for princess fen as she ushered her to pass. Princess Fen's lips were curved with a smile.

"thank you," princess fen appreciated.

"It's my duty to treat you well, my princess. I wish you good luck in meeting his majesty. I want us to pound our flesh later in the day.`` Shu said.

"What do you mean by that?" princess fen asked as she stood confused.

"Princess ai, are you still a kid? you are meant to know what i mean by that,``Shu responded.

"But I don't, and I am not a kid. can you please explain it, "princess fen smirked.

hmm. Shu sighed as she rolled her eyes and said, "Alright, it means, I want us to have body communication in bed."

"Shu, I am still in the dark. Can you save my time by not using your parables? Okay, I admit that I am still a child. so say it in such a way that i will understand." princess fen pleaded.

Shu stared at her for a few seconds and then spoke to her and said, "it means if everything went well, we would have s×x tonight."

"Wait, what? se…" before princess fen could finish her statement, shu closed her mouth and told her to be going so that she won't keep the king waiting.

Princess Fen rolled her eyes at Shu and then left her.

She headed to the king's court. immediately after she entered, the first person her eyes met was her father. He was sitting on his throne waiting for her to come. Princess Fen stiffened and stared at her father for a few seconds.

King Dingbang saw the fear in her, and he was a bit happy that she knew that she had done something wrong and that punishing her wouldn't be a sin. how he wishes she knew what was going on, but she didn't, and he wasn't willing to tell her if not it will bring another problem. so, he prefers keeping quiet about it.

After staring at each other for a while, king dingbang furrowed his brow and clenched his fist. when princess fen saw the angry look on his face, she immediately took her gaze away from him.

she walked up to him as she crossed her arms on her chest and her face looking in another direction.

"Good morning father," Princess Fen greeted, but she was still looking away as she avoided eye contact with her father.

king dingbang didn't utter a word and kept staring at her. Princess Fen turned to look at him as she had been waiting for his answer, but she didn't hear him saying anything. when she turned her eyes to look at him, she quickly took them away again when she saw him still staring at her.

"Father, I just greeted you, but you haven't answered me, what's the problem!" Princess Fen stuttered as she asked him. she knew why he hadn't answered her, but she purposely asked.

"good, are you happy that i didn't answer you?" king dingbang asked her back, and she shook her head.

"answer me!" he yelled at her. "Are you happy that I didn't answer you?"

"no, father." she finally answered.

"good. so, it means that it hurts when you want someone to cooperate with you and he/she decides to turn you down. it hurts right?" king dingbang asked her and she nodded at him.

"Never should you ever nod or shake your head to my question, or you will regret it." king dingbang warned.

"I'm sorry, father." princess fen

apologized.

king dingbang glared at her and then said, "you have successfully disgraced me and the entire kingdom. Now, I can see that your joy is complete."

"no, father. the only thing i need is…"

"keep silent. and don't try to vomit any rubbish here, or I will banish you from this kingdom." king dingbang angrily replied.

"Father," the princess fen called with surprise.

"keep quiet and listen to me. oh, so you think i can't banish you from this kingdom? if that is your thought, then you get it wrong. what you did to me yesterday can't be forgotten, and you need to be punished for that." king dingbang said.

"no father. you can't be punished for fighting for my right.`` Princess Fen raised her voice at him as she let out a drop of tears from her eyes.

"Who told you that women have rights? every woman is under a man's control and gets that into your empty skull." king dingbang responded.

"Father, please keep in mind that women are also human beings like men. and I deceive myself to be treated as one." princess fen said.

King Dingbang remained silent and stared at her.

"Do you realize you are talking to me? so, you have the guts to raise your voice at me. Who are you to decide what I say or think about women? for your information, women in my eyes don't have rights." king dingbang stopped and said to her,

"But this isn't fair, father." princess fen said and let out more tears.

"Fen, don't get me angrier. I'm trying to keep myself calm, but you are attempting to bring out the devil in me. I promise you, you must be punished for disgracing me yesterday, and that's final." king dingbang said with an angry tone.

"Father, please forgive me. don't do this to me, please.`` Princess Fen fell to her knees and cried out.

She tried to reach out to her father's feet, but he warned her never to dare touch him. Princess Fen kept sobbing on the ground and begged her father to have mercy on her, but he didn't give her listening ears.

After letting her cry her tears out, king dingbang finally said, "I will forgive you only on one condition."

"Father, I am ready to do anything." Princess Fen replied sharply.

"interesting. Did you just say anything?" king dingbang asked, and princess fen immediately knew that he was going for the marriage.

"Yes, but apart from the marriage." Princess Fen replied.

"Then your punishment is still reserved for you." King Dingbang said.

"Then I have one request to make and if that request is granted, I will marry the prince." Princess Fen said.

"And which is?" King Dingbang asked with a bit of surprise."

"Shu, my maiden will follow me to the Decresh kingdom. That's my request."