Chapter 270: Picnic (III)

The conversation lasted for a long time between Zen and Christy.

By the time they realized it, the morning sun had already turned dark and it was getting late.

"Oh my- it's already so late," Christy said as she started packing the lunch boxes away.

"Yeah, time flies fast when you're in a happy mood," Zen added as he helped her out.

Occasionally, their hands would touch either as they tried to pick up the same item.

However, they brushed it off by laughing at each other without any hint of flirting detected.

"Do you want me to escort you back?" Zen asked gently. "The sky is dark right now and it would be dangerous for a lovely woman to walk home alone without any protection."

"It's fine, Zen. I know the surroundings more than you and I can protect myself." Christy shook her head as she refused his offer.

Zen shrugged his shoulders.

"Since you don't want me to escort you then there's nothing I can do," He added.

Christy smiled at Zen for complying with her decision.

After wrapping up everything, Zen handed an item over to Christy. 

"Although you are confident in yourself, at least have this item be with you."

"What is this?"

"It's a protective item that would automatically create a barrier around you when it senses danger." Zen smiled as he bid his farewell so that she wouldn't have a chance to refuse his kind gesture.

Christy glanced at Zen's back that quickly disappeared from sight as he was using his movement technique.

Holding the item gently in her hand, Christy started smiling bitterly. 

"Why are you so different from the rumors?" Christy muttered as she teleported away from the garden.

Afterward, Christy reappeared in a luxurious room that was extremely spacious. In fact, the furniture surrounding her was all made with diamonds, gold, emerald, and more expensive materials.

Meanwhile, the movement by her had alerted the people guarding the room as they knocked on the door.

"Empress, are you inside?" A voice echoed behind the door.

"Yes, you may come inside the room, Mona," Christy replied as she started stripping her humble clothes.

Mona opened the door as she gasped in surprise to see Christy wearing some commoner's clothes.

"E-Empress- how could you wear those commoner's clothes." Mona panicked as she grabbed the clothes from the floor. "These are going to ruin your beautiful and fair skins."

Christy smiled as she started wearing some red fabric robes. "Although it's commoner's clothes, they are more comfortable to wear than these overly fashionable clothes."

"Honestly, it was a pain to wear these so-called noble's clothes." She added.

Mona was dumbfounded as she tried to persuade Christy of her status. 

"E-Empress, you can't be saying those aloud otherwise, there would be people revolting against you to join Princess Krista's side," Mona said.

Christy ignored Mona's word and sat down in the bed as she stared at the ceiling. 

"Mona, do you think I'm a vile woman?" Christy said depressingly. "People called me a whore for sleeping with the emperor for power whereas others accused me of poisoning the emperor to gain authority."

Mona held a gawking expression as she ran toward Christy's side. She then knelt down on the floor as she looked at Christy.

"Empress, did something happen to you when you were taking a stroll?" Mona asked. "You were never this hesitant and were always decisive in your actions."

Christy showed a bitter smile as she patted Mona's shoulders. "Maybe because it has been a long time since I've met a genuine man. One that doesn't look at me for appearance or the power I'm holding."

"Anyway, I'm tired now so I'm going to take a rest. As for the court meeting tomorrow, cancel it- I don't want to ruin my happy mood with those old fogeys."

Although Mona wanted to pry for more information, she simply nodded her head as she stood up.

"Then please rest well empress, the Kingdom would be in turmoil if something were to happen to you." Mona bowed as she left the room.

"What happened, Mona?" One of the servants asked when they saw Mona in a foul mood.

Mona held a fierce expression. "Luna, quickly investigate who the empress has met with recently and make sure that person did not have any malicious intent toward the empress. I will not allow anyone plotting against the empress under my watch."

Luna nodded her head as she quickly left the scene to investigate.

Meanwhile, Zen was already back in Peace Blossom Court with a dazed expression.

"Cecilia, please tell me my thinking was wrong." Zen sighed softly as he sat in the grass field, looking up at the bright and round moon.

Cecilia came out from his core as she sat next to him. "Why are you asking me when I'm busy cultivating?"

"You already know the answer yourself."

Zen smiled bitterly as he laid his head onto her laps. 

Cecilia was startled by his action as she tried to push him away until Zen started speaking again.

"I don't want to believe Christy is the empress nor my enemy. S-She is too familiar with the maid that took care of me and I can't bear to harm her." 

Cecilia's hand stopped midair as she started rubbing his head.

With a gentle smile, Cecilia started consoling him. "I know how much Christy resembles your maid but you'll have to know something. She and your maid are two different people."

Zen's body trembled slightly as he coiled more around Cecilia.

Although he knew they couldn't be the same person, Zen couldn't help but struggle to try and harm Christy.

When he tried to imagine the scene of them fighting from opposite sides, Zen would tremble in fear that he might be killing his maid.

Cecilia noticed his body shaking so she held him up and started embracing him.

"If you can't bear to harm someone- you could just make them one of yours so there won't be a reason for you to harm them."