"Who are you?!"
Leena's voice cracked across the quiet street like a whip.
Her hands balled into fists.
"You scared us half to death! We live here! Or what—do you bully people because we're foreigners?"
Chen Yu blinked. "…Whoa."
Even Maya froze, eyes wide.
"Madam, maybe—maybe let's not yell at the tall man with a sword…" Maya whispered, tugging at her sleeve.
But Leena was unstoppable.
The exhaustion of the last weeks—palace whispers, dungeons, running for her life—boiled over.
She pointed an accusing finger at the silent soldier.
"Answer me! What is your problem?!"
The man didn't flinch.
He simply watched her, calm as a mountain, arms crossed over his armored chest.
To him…
She looked like an angry puppy.
Tiny.
Fluffy.
Yapping her heart out.
Chen Yu smothered a laugh behind his hand.
He had never seen Leena like this.
Then—
"Ah, Leena!"
The gates opened, and Merchant Bao appeared, waving cheerfully.
He took one look at the scene and chuckled.
"Oh, I see you've met my son—Bao Wen."
Leena froze.
Her mouth opened.
Then shut.
Then opened again. "…Oh."
The soldier gave a polite nod, not a single emotion crossing his face.
"Come, come," Merchant Bao said, ushering them in.
"Have some tea and cakes. We'll forget this little… misunderstanding."
Inside the estate
The aroma of roasted tea leaves and honeyed pastries filled the air.
Leena sat stiffly on the cushion, cheeks hot enough to cook an egg.
Maya sipped her tea in silence.
Chen Yu, of course, was grinning like he had tickets to the best show in town.
"So," Merchant Bao said warmly, "how was your stay at the palace?"
Leena hesitated. "…Agitated. Busy. Full of… surprises."
Merchant Bao sighed, his long ink-stained beard swaying with the motion.
"When I heard the Seventh Prince had taken you there, my heart nearly stopped. He is… well…"
Leena tilted her head.
"Well… what?"
The merchant lowered his voice, leaning closer.
"You didn't hear? In the city, they say he once—"