They were both in a good mood as they ate but for different reasons. Mong Ki and a few male servants cleared the table once they were done with the meal. They were all curious about Lory, but no one dared to take a peek as a certain Lord was watching them like a hawk. 

Lory waited for them to leave before asking, “Where should I stay? In the maid’s courtyard?”

​​

“No!!” Zhao Li Xin quickly answered.

“Mm… so, where should I sleep then?” Every household did things differently. Lory didn’t think much of it as she assumed Zhao Li Xin’s household had different rules. 

The question threw Zhao Li Xin into confusion. He didn’t know where to put Lory. The maid’s courtyard was out of the question. There was no way he would let her stay in that place. The guest room was also far from his room and he had the urge to always keep her close. Yet, the room next to her was too small and shabby for his precious savior. 

The small room had a bad image since it was supposed to be for ‘the bed warmer’. A female servant whose job was to serve her master’s sexual needs. Zhao Li Xin never had one and was even disgusted by the idea of a bed warmer. The thought of a strange woman touching him was enough to make him vomit both literally and figuratively. He has seen this practice in the Imperial harem growing up and what he saw gave him a bad experience.

“You are injured. Why don’t you sleep here today as I’ll be outside? I need to cultivate anyway,” He easily said as if it was a normal thing to do.

Lory’s eyebrow’s furrowed at this. She didn’t think it was appropriate, “That wouldn’t do. What maid sleeps in her master’s bed? I don’t want others to think badly of me even before I start work here…”

“Who dares?” Zhao Li Xin scoffed. “This is my manor. My word is the law. You don’t need to bother with others.”

Lory was stunned as she never said that when she lived in the Cestine palace. She was both amazed and shocked. She never had the same confidence as a royal. Then again this was a different world.

“Well, you are the boss…” Lory yielded. He didn’t seem like a person who would easily change his decision. 

“Get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Zhao Li Xin said solemnly before he left the room. Lory didn’t hear him close the door as the room was too big and the curtains blocked her view. She sighed in relief. Her swelling had reduced. Her affected skin had now turned to an orange color as a sign of healing. 

The medicine in this world was unexpectedly comparable to her world. Lory heard flapping wings as Girsha flew through the open window and perched on the bed. He was relieved to find look well. Lory was as weak as an ant without her powers. She couldn’t even use her own healing power on herself. The curse Lazarus put on her was stronger than he ever expected.

[You look fine] Girsha said with relief.

[Yeah. I don’t know what he gave me, but I don’t feel hurt anymore…] Lory rubbed her supposedly swollen cheek.

[And the necklace? I think I know why it wasn’t working at first…] 

[Really, why…?]

[Because you aren’t from this world and the fact that you are ‘The Gifted’ makes it worse. The curse may have bound your power, but your powers have not disappeared. It’s sleeping within you. The necklace that was supposed to protect you is induced with foreign energy that collided with your original powers. So, your body needed time to… adjust] Girsha sighed with annoyance at her blank look [Do you understand?]

[I stopped listening after you said ‘I’m not from this world…’]

[…] Girsha wished he could slap his stupid princess.

[I’m kiddiiiing… it’s about my power, right? It doesn’t match with the powers in this world causing what happened to happen…] she blabbered. She was uninterested in the whole thing.

Girsha sighed again. This princess had become as lazy as her brother after she discarded her title. The difference between the siblings was Lucas only pretended to be lazy, while Lory’s case wasn’t the same. He suddenly missed the ‘Smiling Demon’ prince. He was the only one who could control Lory, that is beside her father.

Lory took off her shoes and socks as she had been given a new dress to change into. She only wore the inner white robes as she didn’t like wearing too much to bed. Although she didn’t do this at Lao Manor as the other girl’s freaked out the time she tried to only sleep with her inner robes. The fact that she was sleeping alone made her disregard their custom as comfort was number one to her.

[Goodnight, Girsha] Lory covered half her face with the blanket.

[Goodnight, Princess Lorient] He responded softly.

_______________________________________

 Zhao Li Xin went to his study room and sat in his chair with a gloomy face. There was no trace of the gentleness he showed Lory. Mong Ki and Mong Yi sat across the big table. The air around them was more depressing. They could easily tell their lord was angry.

“Find out what happened at the Lao Manor.”

“Yes, Mi Lord!!” They both answered at the same time.

“That Lao Min Na… She wanted my attention… so I’ll give it to her,” He said with an intense look. “Death will be to simple for a woman like her. I want to ruin everything she holds dear one by one, bit by bit… Start with the simple things… forbidden anyone from buying pills or elixirs from Lao Min Na for now. Deny Lao Min Na from purchasing anything. I don’t care if she wants to buy a simple hairpin or an expensive item. Deny her permission without question if she wants to do business in my turf.”

“Yes, Mi Lord!!”

“Lao Min Na is hurt right now according to Ri Yi. She might need pills to cure herself. Make sure she can’t buy any pill, herbs, or anything an alchemist may need. Spread this news to all the King’s palace, ‘Lao Min Na is my enemy,'” Irritation filled his voice.

“Understood, Mi Lord,” They both cupped their fists respectfully before leaving the room. Mong Ki and Mong Yi look each other and shook their heads helplessly once they were outside the room. It was amazing how Lao Min Na infuriated their lord. If the news reached the King’s Palace, what future could she have left? The King’s Palaces were an extension of Zhao Li Xin’s power. They were his hands, ears, and eyes. 

Zhao Li Xin has four King’s Palace; The first one was ‘The Vermilion Palace’ whose job was to buy and sell information. He was good at spreading rumors and spying. His spies were maids, male servants, guards, eunuchs, and even concubines from noble families, including the royal family. There were no bad deeds, rumors, or even whispers that were unknown to Vermilion Palace.

The second King’s Palace was the ‘Black Turtle Palace’ who was also an Armament Master. Although he was not as talented as Zhao Li Xin, he was more diligent which made his level close to Zhao Li Xin’s level. The Black Turtle Palace’s job was to create products for sale and he also bought raw materials. He had many businesses including restaurants, auction houses, jewelry shops, embroidery shops, and of course weapon shops that also sold talismans and amulets. All the premises they owned were famous and booming.

The White Dragon King’s Palace was an alchemist and physician. He was a talented alchemist who controlled the alchemist society and recruited others whose talent was promising. 

The ‘One Hundred Herbs Apothecary’ was owned by white Dragon Palace but no one knew they only sold their lowest grade product in the shops and kept their best products inside the Palace itself. However, the apothecary was still considered the best shop in the country.

The last one was the Gold Lion King’s Palace. They were Zhao Li Xin’s exclusive army. They were only five thousand soldiers, but every single soldier was worth a hundred normal soldiers. If Zhao Li Xin wanted to destroy an enemy, that he called them to finish the job. All it took was a few words from Zhao Li Xin to make Lao Min Na their enemy.

Zhao Li Xin owned the kingdom in the shadows. He could easily overturn the country if he wanted. However, he was not interested in being an emperor. In fact, titles were a worthless burden to him. He wasn’t the type of person who wanted to live in eternal restriction, surrounded by people who told you what to do, what to eat, where to sleep, or who to sleep with… How could someone like Zhao Li Xin live like that?

This was also another reason he pretended to be a useless and weak prince. He didn’t want to be dragged into the stupid fight for the useless throne. He also didn’t want to be used as a pawn, especially by his mother. It was said a child should love their parents, but Zhao Li Xin couldn’t love the woman no matter how much he tried. He hated her and become more disgusted by her as he grew up. As for his father… He did not even want to talk about his father. His father was a stranger to him. The only reason his parents were alive and well was because he shared their blood. He didn’t bother with them, but this could change if they were to force him… He didn’t mind turning into an ‘unfilial’ child.