The Princess And The Lord

Before noon Lory came to the main hall with Zhao Li Xin. When she arrived everyone already there, the three King's palace, Li Mo Zhen, Yuan Shao, and Yuan Xue An.

Meanwhile, Yang Xi Ying and Ming Yue Ying holding hands with tears brimmed in their eyes, Lory rolls her eyes and sighs heavily 'Not again", it didn't mean she not sad but she already passed her tears quota for this year and she didn't want to cry anymore it only make everything feel harder than already is.

Yuan Xue An also sobbing on the side, she didn't want Ming Yue Yin to leave as well. She just got here a few days but her idol suddenly left how could she not feel upset. Not to mention she still not reassured with the relationship between Ming Yue Yin and Yuan Shao, what happened if her idol dumped her stupid brother, Yuan Xue An cursed her brother stupidity, why don't he proposed Ming Yue Yin right away, didn't he know that woman like her have a high market? What a useless Brother!

"Can't you stay for a few more weeks?" Yuan Xue An pleads in tears.

"I'm sorry, I have a lot of work waiting for me, I can't postpone my returned any longer or the old Zhang will come for me," Ming Yue Yin half-jokingly said.

"Why…..you….we…sad….wuuu" Yang Xi Ying mumbling incoherently.

"Huh, what...?" Ming Yue Yin Frowning, but yang Xi Ying only cries harder.

Li Mo Zhen holds his wife shoulder as he trying to calm her down "There – there" he feel sad because his wife never act like this when he's gone 'I want to cry too'

Yuan Shao also presence he watched the three girls with a bitter feeling, he remembers he has step sister at home, Yuan Shan and Yuan Xue An almost in the same age, normally the relationship between sister should be close but unfortunately, their relationship couldn't be worst, more than once Yuan Shan try to humiliated if not slander Yuan Xue An in public, and she always hated Yuan Xue An for some reason even to this day.

He didn't know since when Yuan Shan's mind filled with toxic thoughts, perhaps it because of the influence of his stepmother Qian Qin Wei. He felt bittersweet watching his sister have an attachment to Ming Yue Yin and the others, in the end, this is not a bad situation, after all, compared to the nature of noble ladies out there, Ming Yue Yin, Lory, and Yang Xi Ying were better role model that one could hope for, they are generous, honest, humble and kind, what more he can hope for.

"Please don't cry again…" Lory grumbles while entering the room.

"Auntyyyy…" Ming Yue Yin burst to tears when she saw Lory and she storms toward her and jumps to hug her, Lory staggered backward but thankfully Zhao Li Xin stands behind her to stop her from falling, Zhao Li Xin annoyed he flick Ming Yue Yin forehead harshly.

The sting in her forehead did stop her from smoldering Lory, she grimaces while covering her head with hands "OUCH, it's Hurt!"

"Good…" Zhao Li Xin huffed.

"Come on, don't cry anymore….look we all look very ugly right now" Lory stroke Ming Yue Yin's head.

"I'm not crying" She throws a blatant lie.

"And what is that sweat" Lory teased her.

The other laughs and the atmosphere turn bittersweet. Throughout the journey they have become good friends, they fight each other, almost die together during the storm, they also share the same secret about Lory so is no strange that they feel connected in a short time.

Because the time is getting late they have no choice but to leave, everyone escorts Ming Yue Yin to the front gate. They promised to keep up with each other as often as they could and Ming Yue Yin reminds them over and over again not to forget about it then Yang Xi Ying has to reassure her for the fifth time before Ming Yue Yin finally shut her mouth….reluctantly.

"Your Majesty!" Shin Jiu trotted with a giant bird on his arm.

Shin Jiu then bowed courteously at Lory and the others before he approaches Ming Yue Yin "Your Majesty, I present you grey stripes Falcon, this bird is the fastest flying beast I had, he also very smart so if your majesty and master want to exchange letter this Falcon will save an amount of time compare to other flying beasts."

Ming Yue Yin beamed in delight, it's a very thoughtful gift and right on time too "Wow, thank you kiddo!" she genuinely happy, Ming Yue Yin grin from ear to ear.

Shin Jiu's face turns crimson, he glads he choose the perfect farewell gift for his Master's best friend. He subconsciously shifts his gaze to Lory and she smiles back at him. since that day he learned the truth about Lory his heart becomes restless, not like he hated her but more like disappointed….because as her disciple he the last one to know if you not including Yuan Xue An.

However he is Lory's one and the only disciple she had, should she told him first at least before Yuan Shao, unlike the others Lory and Yuan Shao's relationship is not as close as the others so how come he knows before him. 

Ming Yue Yin saw the awkwardness on Shin Jiu face towards Lory, she didn't know what that boy thinking but she relief she didn't saw fear or prejudice in his eyes, Ming Yue Yin hugged Shin Jiu to thanks him at the same time she secretly whispers in his ear "I know you have a lot of question, but remember despited her name, appearance and where she came from, she still the same woman that safe your life and mine."

Ming Yue Yin let go of her hugs and she winks at Shin Jiu, They exchanged meaningful smiles to each other. 

"Take care of yourself" Lory hugged Ming Yue Yin.

"Don't worry, Yuan Shao will accompany me until I met old Fu" said Ming Yue Yin.

Yang Xi Ying finally stop crying, she holds Ming Yue Yin hands then say: "Don't do anything crazy when I'm not there" 

Ming Yue Yin chuckles "I can say the same about you"

"Take care of her Master Yuan, " Lory said to Yuan Shao.

"Considered it done!" he answers firmly.

And there she goes, her luxurious carriage went off leaving flying dust behind them. The sound of the horse galloping gradually faded and the carriage disappeared in a distance. Lory watches them left in silence, even though she knows they cannot always together because they have their own life and duty nonetheless separation left her bitter after taste.

Yang Xi Ying hugs Lory's arm and she leans her head on Lory's shoulder "I miss her already…" she softly said.

"Yeah, me too…." Lory muttered.

"Don't be so disheartened, is not like we're not going to meet again" Li Mo Zhen warmly said.

"En, this is only for temporarily" Yang Xi Ying forces her smiles.

Zhao Li Xin intertwined his fingers on Lory, he looks down on her and smiles then Lory smile back at him, she comforts herself that this is not forever goodbye, she is sure they will be reunited again perhaps even sooner than she thought.

A moment later they returned to their duty and so is Zhao Li Xin, he has to return to Sanguan Manor to finish what he started it.

While Li Mo Zhen and Yang Xi Ying handle the matters with the Jiu Yun sect, they heard the news that someone tries to approach their sect trying to offer a powerful beast for them, they thought this must be one of Lao Min Na cronies so they investigated the matters more deeply.

Lory was sitting alone inside the pavilion while Girsha perch on the table eating grapes and peaches, Lory sip her favorite 'Sun citrus' tea that she got from Bei Li Yan, at the same time she does some sketching that she hadn't done for a while. 

"Master…" 

Lory movement paused, she lifts her head and she sees Shin Jiu stand in front of her. Lory smiles her expression shows that she was waiting for him "Have a seat" she said.

Shin Jiu suddenly feel nervous, but he follows her order obediently, he seat across from Lory then he looks down, and he sees someone drawing, a middle-aged man with short dark hair and a short beard, the man expression is solemn and dignified there's something grandeur about the man but what attracted him the most is his warm – gentle eyes. 

"My Father…." Lory turns the sketchbook and shoves it lightly toward shin Jiu so he can look clearly.

"The King?" he curiously asks.

"He was…." Lory faintly smiles.

Shin Jiu remembers how Lory's Father died, he immediately shut his mouth "I'm…I'm sorry, master I don't mean to…"

"It's alright, and you don't have to be sorry…." Lory rests her cheeks with her palm, he looks at the picture and says: "He is a good Father, a better king and he dies the way he wants it to be….fulfilling his duty as a King, so nothing to be sorry about…"

Although she smiles, Shin Jiu could see a trace of sadness in her eyes, his master sometimes made melancholy expression when she was alone, he never understands what that means but now he understands.

Shin Jiu used to think that he was unfortunate because he never knew about his parents, he only has vague memory which he didn't know if it's real or part of his dream but when he saw his master, he wonders which one is more unfortunate.

People, who lose everything they could have or people who lost everything they once had?

"Why you never told me about this?" Shin Jiu finally blurted out the question that haunted him since he knows about Lory.

Lory shrug "I never thought I will tell anyone other than Zhao Li Xin"

"Why…?"

"I don't know, fear of rejection, misunderstood, hated…..perhaps because it's too painful or…..I don't want to drag anyone into my crazy life….who knew, perhaps I just coward" her expression is calmed and peaceful like nothing could shake her.

"Would you like to tell your story?"

"You want to know?" Lory squints her eyes.

Shin Jiu nods profusely "Yes!"

"Well…" she straightens her back then clasped her hand together "Where do I start….?" She looks down on Girsha, the bird emerald drawn her to a long-distance memory "The world that I come from I called Verrion, and my kingdom is called Harland and my name….my name is Lorient jean Frau Lucient and I'm the descendant of Lucient"