Chapter 52 - 49

"That's true, you're known as the fierce princess after all. But I don't see you that way, I just need to melt the wall and bring out your true self. Now this is my final question, will you accept me as your consort?" asked Jia Haoyu.

Song Liya couldn't believe this prince, what kind of timing was his confession? Was the atmosphere suitable? Of course not, they were in a garden and the scenery wasn't even romantic.

"Of course, I won't accept you."

"Huh?"

"What do you mean, huh? It's as I said, I'm not going to accept you. If I could, I would throw you out the moment I saw you, but due to my mother's orders, I decided to go along with it." Song Liya replied.

"But I thought you said you would consider it or give me a chance, how come you're changing your mind?" asked Jia Haoyu.

"You still don't get it? Everything I said before was a lie, I didn't mean it at all. Moreover, who would choose a consort like you? All you did was flirt, you didn't even try to start an actual conversation nor did you let me speak at all. Get this in your head, I don't care about you at all." said Song Liya.

"Eh? Even though I tried my best..." Jia Haoyu muttered, despair could be seen on his face.

"Sometimes trying your best doesn't worry, just like how it is right now. Plus, I already have someone I love and something like an escort won't stop me from being with that person. You who care about such things like royalty and commoner won't ever be something in my eyes." said Song Liya as she turned around to leave.

"Wait!" Jia Haoyu called out.

Song Liya glanced behind in disgust, "Don't ever speak to me again, if you do, I'll cut off your tongue and make you eat it."

Song Liya started walking away leaving the despaired prince behind, the only thought she had in mind was.,

'Ugh, men.'

When Song Liya made it back into the palace, there was a familiar figure and an unfamiliar figure in her sight. The unfamiliar figure was taller than her and her mother by an inch.

"Hello, mother." Song Liya greeted to make her presence known.

Song Zihan turned her head and greeted her daughter back. "Hello Song Liya, you're back quite early. How did it go with the prince?"

Song Liya decided to be straightforward, there was no point in making up lies anyway.

"It went terrible, he kept flirting with me nonstop, he didn't even let me speak, and he didn't even try to start a proper conversation with me. Who would like someone like that?" asked Song Liya.

"Song Liya! Don't say such offending things!" Song Zihan shouted.

Song Liya was confused, normally her mother wouldn't shout at her like that when she said something insulting, how was it any different this time?

"It's fine, I figured Haoyu wasn't going to be able to be the princess's escort anyways." said the unfamiliar voice.

Song Liya scanned the unfamiliar figure from head to toe again to confirm she didn't know the person.

"Ah, how rude, it seems I forgot to introduce myself. I am Jia Xin Yi, the empress of the Jia family," said Jia Xin Yi.

Song Liya widened her eyes in surprise, she never expected Jia Xin Yi to make an appearance here. No wonder why her mother shouted at her, she just insulted Jia Haoyu in front of his mother.

"I'm Song Liya, the princess of the Song empire," said Song Liya.

"I've heard quite a lot about you, you're famous in this city. Though I wouldn't expect any less from someone who was called a genius by the age of five," said Jia Xin Yi.

Song Liya could tell Jia Xin Yi wasn't a bad person, she didn't look offended at all when she insulted her son.

"I'm honored to be known by the empress, please forgive me for the insulting words I said about your son. I was just telling the truth," said Song Liya.

"It's fine, I didn't get offended in any way. In fact, I would've been surprised if you said anything good about him," said Jia Xin Yi.

"Oh?"

Song Liya was surprised by her reply, she thought she would've defended him considering that she's his mother, but she was wrong. Song Liya decided to ask her.

"Why aren't you defending the prince? I mean, isn't Jia Haoyu your son?" asked Song Liya.

"My son? Haha! That's funny, he's that bastard of a father's son. Tsk, so frustrating." said Jia Xin Yi.

Before Song Liya could ask anything else, her mother spoke first.

"Alright, enough of this," said Song Zihan.

"You're the same as ever Zihan, interrupting a conversation you don't want to hear, though I don't mind that part about you," said Jia Xin Yi.

"And you're still the same annoying woman, always talking nonstop. That's why you tend to leak too much information and get in trouble," said Song Zihan.

"Haha! That's true, though I never expected to hear such cruel words coming from you," said Jia Xin Yi.

Song Liya looked at her mother and back at Jia Xin Yi, there was a weird atmosphere between the two. It wasn't surprising, old friends would have a different atmosphere between them, however, this felt sort of different.

It felt more like they were old friends.

Perhaps it was because of the deal? Song Liya wanted to find out about the deal as soon as possible, and the answer was right there in front of her.

She could ask Jia Xin Yi right now. However, something stopped her from asking.

"Come on Zihan, don't you remember the deal we made back then? It's time for you to fulfill it," said Jia Xin Yi.

"Now is not the time, there are still many things going on with the empire before I can fulfill it." Song Zihan replied.

"Tsk, you're not being truthful to what you said back then. I could still remember it like it was yesterday, if you won the match, you wanted me to never appear in your life ever again. But I was the one who won so you-"

Before Jia Xin Yi could continue any further, Song Zihan covered her mouth with her head.

"What're you trying to say in front of my daughter?" asked Song Zihan as she pulled her hand away.

"Ah, I forgot that she was here, sorry. But I'm serious about what I said back then Song Zihan." Jia Xin Yi stated sternly.

"Things are different now Jia Xin Yi, the deal is off," said Song Zihan.

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the air turned dark.

That was when something completely unexpected happened, not even Song Liya expected this.