42 Lasirion

When Chang Xiuying came back after sleeping for almost five hours, she was met with the sight of Oscar and Kiel eating their fill in the restaurant. She stood at the entrance of the bustling restaurant and then decided to approach those two.

"Good morning," she greeted.

"Good morning," they both said in unison after they gulped down their food.

Honestly, she forgot about those two.

"Hey, when are you two going back to Caer Cori?" She said as she sat down on the chair. She also ordered food for her breakfast.

"My father wouldn't be worried even if I don't came back."

"Your highness! You can't do that! You still have to do your duties as the prince!" Kiel loudly said.

Prince? The crowd of customers whispered as they looked at Chang Xiuying's group. However, they ignored the stares directed at them.

"Can you like… lower your voice? What if someone came and kill us and take advantage of our presence?"

"That's not going to happen," Chang Xiuying assured.

They both looked at her and then nodded their heads.

"True. You're stronger than you look," Oscar said.

"Indeed. So, you don't have to worry about people killing you. This is my domain."

"You sound like a Queen."

"If you say so."

"Heh! How mighty."

"Keep that sarcasm up and you won't get anymore food."

"Please forgive me!"

"When are you going to leave?" Chang Xiuying rolled her eyes.

"Well… after this meal."

"Then hurry it up."

"We still have to order a lot of food. This amount is nothing to our stomach, you know."

"Ugh. Fine," then Chang Xiuying stood up and left.

It was only one day after Chang Xiuying and Gaius met, the young prince personally came to ChangHao firm. Announcing that he wanted to meet their president. However, Qiang Zhihao was the one who came to him.

"Where's Ying?" Gaius asked in confusion.

"Ah… I see. So, she told you the truth." His tone was almost impolite, but the prince disregarded it since Chang Xiuying and him were already friends.

"Yes. When can I meet her?"

"She's in the library. Do you want to meet her this instant?"

"Yes, please."

"Follow me."

As they walked, Gaius looked at Qiang Zhihao's dignified back. He almost walk in a manner just like his father, the king. He quietly praised Qiang Zhihao.

When they arrived in front of the library and they saw Chang Xiuying, silently reading a book by the window. It was almost ethereal as the wind kissed her face and blew her hair. Gaius was awestruck as he watched, not noticing that Qiang Zhihao already left.

His eyes never left Chang Xiuying's figure. He never thought that she was that beautiful.

"Are you going to say something or are you just going to stare all day?"

"I came to visit you."

"And then? What's your business?"

"Haaah… always so serious. I just came to visit you since I feel so suffocated with my party members."

"I see now. They are stubbornly using formalities with you?" Chang Xiuying said, not glancing at Gaius and focused on her book.

"Yeah. I tried telling them that they could just disregard the formalities. But those guys went pale and bowed their heads. It wasn't that suffocating at first but after I met you, my views started to change."

"I won't be sorry."

"Haha… as I thought."

"So, what are you going to do now?"

"Ah. Right. I was leaving to come back to the academy tomorrow."

Chang Xiuying tore off her eyes on her book and looked at Gaius, her eyebrow raised. "And what does it have to do with me?"

"Royalties can invite someone to the academy once a year and the duration is six months. I want you to come temporarily and be my friend."

"I'll just be shunned there, you know."

"As a friend of the prince, that won't happen."

"You idiot," Chang Xiuying scoffed.

"Ahahaha..."

"Don't just laugh!"

"Sorry! It was just the first time that someone told me I'm an idiot. I feel great. Well… not that great."

"Are you a masochist?"

"Masochi--- what?"

"A person who finds pleasure in pain. A masochist."

"Ah… no, no. You're wrong..."

"Hmm."

"So… are you coming?"

"Let me think---"

"No, Master!" Suddenly, Flora intervened and came out of nowhere. "You have to take this once in a lifetime opportunity! Experience academy life! It would be a good expetience for you and you have to also make connections."

"Flora… what in the world are you saying?"

"I want Master to see how academy life is!" She turned towards Gaius and then said, "Your highness, it is such an honor to accept your invitation. It is a privilege to be invited and be offered by you to be our Master's first friend. However, I have a proposition to make. I also want to go as Master's attendant."

"You're… surprisingly educated," Gaius mused.

"My master taught me things."

Gaius looked at Chang Xiuying who was now reading and flipping pages. He leaned closer to Flora and asked, "Is she really the one who educated you? She seems rough and unrefined."

"Our master doesn't like formalities and she thought that everyone is equal."

"I see now..."

"So, about my proposition..."

"Ah… I can't… we can only invite one person."

"Ugh! Such a waste! I can't see master in a uniform!"

Chang Xiuying sighed. "Is that your true reason for coming?"

"I can't deny that."

"Fine… it's just six months, right? I'll come."

"Yes!" Gaius and Flora exclaimed in unison.

"We must prepare your luggage!" Flora initiated and then started---but suddenly stopped. "Oh right. Master grew again, so we have to shop for new clothes."

"Ah… right..." Chang Xiuying whispered to herself, then said, "I'll pay, so you can just shop all you want."

"No. You are a must in your own shopping!"

"Spare me..." Chang Xiuying slouched and then groaned.

"I am just going to wait for you in the northern gate tomorrow at 8 A.M.," Gaius said then left, not waiting for Chang Xiuying to respond.

"Gaius!!! You traitor!" Chang Xiuying screamed as she was dragged to a shopping spree with Flora.

* * *

Chang Xiuying was so tired of going into dress shops, trying the outfits one by one and having to twirl around just to see the overall performance of the dress on her.

When they arrived home, at around 7 P.M., Chang Xiuying immediately teared herself from Flora and then went to her bedroom. She didn't bother retrieving all their shopping bags in her Imperium Axis, the ring on one of ther fingers, as she went back to sleep.

"I don't want to go shopping anymore..." she mumbled as she entered dreamland.

When she woke up at around 12 A.M., she couldn't sleep anymore. So, she decided to work on her old clothes and new clothes. She retrieved the shopping bags as it filled the room. She folded the old clothes in her walk-in closet and replaced them with her new clothes.

She also tried one clothe and stood in front of the mirror. However, she sighed when she saw that she grew once again. She was now around 173 centimeters. Fortunately, the clothes are at least one size bigger. What if… she grew like that woman in her dreams?

Anyway, she stored bigger clothes in her Imperium Axis and decided to segregate the smaller clothes to give them to the children.

After those work, she trained until dawn. After all, she had this nagging feeling that kept on bothering her. She must've forgot something more important…

She stored half of the clothes in her closet and then put away the sweaty one she used when she trained. When she looked outside her window, she could see the children training with Qiang Zhihao. She smiled and prepared more for her departure.

The loud chime came when the clock striked eight. Chang Xiuying was already waiting at the northern gate, with no luggages, as she waited for the carriage that Prince Gaius was boarding.

When it was around 8:30, a carriage that carried the royal crest was seen.

"Finally," Chang Xiuying muttered.

The carriage stopped in front of her and the door opened that revealed Gaius who had a bright smile.

"Ying! I'm glad to see you! I'm sorry that we arrived late. I overslept."

"You? Overslept? That is one good joke."

"Hey… that one is not."

The people murmured to each other.

"Who is she? How can she be so informal in front of the prince?"

"If the King heard this… she might be beheaded."

"Didn't the prince asked us to be informal in front of him?"

"Yeah… His Highness did insist that but we refused… or else, we'll be executed."

"Haaah… that girl is a beauty."

"Huh?"

"What? I'm only saying the truth. How old is she?"

"... how could we know? Ask her about it. Anyway, we should be silent about their exchange…"

"Right."

Chang Xiuying was invited inside the carriage, but she refused.

"You are my friend! You should be inside the carriage with me!" Gaius reasoned.

"Gaius, friend or not, that carriage held the royal crest. You are the only one allowed inside and we must be outside to protect this carriage."

"But!"

"How lonely of a man are you?"

"Urk..."

"You can talk to us from there though."

"Understood..."

"Good boy."

"Hey!"

"..." the prince's companions remained silent but they gave Chang Xiuying a judging glance before they depart outside the city of Avarice.

Their destination: Lasirion.