Chapter 268: Picnic (I)

Christy was shocked for a moment when she heard Zen and wondered if he was simply lying to her.

"You don't need to lie to me, Zen," Christy said, reassuring him that she wouldn't be a snitch or avoid him.

"I'm not lying Christy…" Zen smiled bitterly as he was being serious.

He had never once asked Krista Dragoon for information regarding her current political standing aside from the fact that he assisted her to obtain some families to join her alliances.

After all, Krista Dragoon was his woman and it was a given that he wouldn't allow her to suffer anything.

Meanwhile, Christy narrowed her gaze as she was seemingly in deep thought about Zen's position.

She was suspicious and doubtful at Zen's words since no one was allowed or able to enter the Peace Blossom Court without Krista Dragoon's permission.

"If you weren't Princess Krista's helper then how is it possible that you can enter Peace Blossom Court?" Christy decided to ask him for clarification.

Zen pondered for a moment as he didn't want to reveal his relationship to Christy.

He felt comfortable being around her but they had just met and she was already asking some really personal questions.

Christy also seemed to notice his thinking as she decided to shake her head. 

"It's fine if you don't wish to answer my question. Just- please don't give me a false answer." Christy then said.

From her expression alone, Zen could tell she was feeling some pain and there was sadness in her eyes.

"I'm sorry that I couldn't be honest with you but I can promise you that if I were to speak of something, they would not be lies," Zen said solemnly as he patted her shoulders.

Christy gave a bitter smile as she nodded her head.

"Since you're here all the time and I have nothing else to do at all, why don't we have a picnic tomorrow?" Zen suggested, hoping this would brighten up her mood.

Christy took a few moments as she wasn't sure if it's correct to have a picnic with him.

"You don't need to be afraid, I won't eat you." Zen chuckled as he reassured her that he had no impure thoughts about her.

Sure, she was a beauty and with her charm, it was enough to arouse a man's desire in obtaining her.

However, Zen has enough women in his life already and he wouldn't fall in love so easily. 

For Christy, Zen only had respect for her as anyone being able to take care of a Moonstone Flower was definitely not a bad person in his mind.

This was engraved deeply in his mind due to his maid in the past. Hence, it was impossible for him to ignore Christy.

Christy finally agreed with Zen's suggestion at the picnic after Zen continued to reassure her that he won't do anything malicious toward her.

"Great, the picnic would be wonderful." Zen clapped his hand in joy.

Christy covered her mouth as she giggled slightly at Zen acting like a kid.

"Isn't it just a picnic? Why are you so excited?" Christy then said.

"Well, it's because I'll be enjoying a picnic with a beautiful flower and woman… something that I never expect to happen ever again," Zen said slowly as he looked up at the sky.

Although his words may seem like he was flirting with Christy, he was secretly reminiscing about the past event where he would lay on the ground in relaxation as the maid fed him food that she cooked.

Christy noticed him being sentimental as she got up and said, "I need to head back to work now otherwise, I'll be punished."

Zen nodded his head in understanding.

"Same time today for tomorrow's picnic. I will cook a delicious feast for you and it will be something that you will never be able to forget." He then said.

"I shall look forward to it then," Christy said as she left the garden, leaving Zen alone.

Zen glanced at her back before returning his gaze at the three purple petals from the Moonstone Flower.

Staring at it for a few more moments, Zen got up as well and left the garden.

When Zen's presence completely disappeared, a servant that was using a secret technique in hiding quickly left to inform someone.

"E-Empress, he has left the garden." The servant relayed the information to a woman that was exuding a dominant aura.

The empress nodded her head as she asked the servant, "Did he do anything suspicious?"

The servant shook her head and said, "Replying to the Empress, he was simply staring at the Moonstone Flower with a loving gaze and nothing else."

'So it really was a coincidence huh?' The empress exclaimed inwardly as she waved her hand to dismiss the servant.

The servant bowed before leaving her alone in the room. 

Afterward, the empress lay down on her bed as she sighed softly. "How come he was nothing like what the rumor has stated?"

While the empress continued to ponder, Zen was busy in the kitchen as he prepped multiple ingredients.

"It sure has been a long time since I cooked this kind of dish," Zen mumbled softly as he started chopping some green onions.

He was going to surprise Christy with his culinary skills and at the same time, he wanted to recreate some of his precious memories.

He felt comfortable around Christy but he wasn't going to do something naive like thinking that she was his maid in the past.

He respects Christy and would never replace her image with someone else.

"Sigh, it seems like I have gotten too sentimental in these few hours," Zen decided to cleanse his face to stop overthinking things.

Afterward, he would continue prepping for the next day where he would finish the final touch on the dishes.

'Krista, Leila, and Lynette wouldn't be home tonight because they have to organize the upcoming mage tournament. Being alone all of sudden doesn't really feel good.' Zen exclaimed inwardly as he headed to Krista Dragoon's bedroom where he would sleep in her bed.