Lory feels excited for attending Royal Banquet tomorrow she wants to know how much different the Royal banquet in this world with her old world, and she also curious how the Royal Palace looks like is it bigger than her Cestine Palace maybe it is.
The Emperor has many women in his Harem and most of them have their own courtyard, And the rumor said The Emperor has more than two hundred women in his Harem, Lory amazed how the Emperor make time for them while ruling the country at the same time, Lory doesn't understand the Emperor never make time, for him they just necessary tools to create heirs only the Empress who is treated differently because her position as the Mother of the country.
In Harland Lory used to attend the Royal Ball she used to escort by Fredhard because Lucas used to skip the party and run with Jay and Clift, Lory uses to complain about this to her Brother but in the end, she never tried to stop him.
She understands Lucas hate formal gathering and he feels tired from everyone's expectation as the future King, to be a King is hard enough but to be a king and Lucient descendant it would bring to a whole another level.
She knew her Brother needs more time to accept his position, that's why she gives him more leeway but Fred and Fargo said she spoiled him too much but how can she refuted it when it comes to Lucas she always harsh on the mouth but soft on her heart and everyone knows about it.
[You seem excited…] Girsha watches her rummaged her drawer [Are you gonna prepare what kinda dress you gonna wear?]
Lory frown [I'm a maid silly, of course, I'm gonna wear maid uniform, I just want to make sure everything ready for tomorrow, I need to wake up early...]
Girsha peck grape on the table [I always forgot you are maid, that because he never treats you as one]
Lory click her tongue disagree with him [Why you said that I served him every day you know..….]
[I'm a beast but still, I know that's not how a servant treat their Master] Girsha roll his eyes [you guys more like a couple than Master-servant]
Lory's mouth twitches but she did not deny it, she knew Zhao Li Xin treats her differently but she's not exposed him and he never explained it too much, in the end, they both have a tacit understanding to let thing's flow.
[That Zhao Li Xin can't be said as a good man but his good to you, maybe you should learn a few things from him, you just too soft. It's fine when you were in Harland because your Father, Lucas, and everyone there to protect you but this is a different world Lory and the people here are more savaged than people in our world] Girsha warns her seriously.
Lory finish prepares the maid uniform on the table complete with the simple accessories only maid should wear. She turns around then she sits in front of him and calmly smiles at him
[Girsha, you have something you didn't tell me?]
Girsha stop pecking the grapes he lifts his head nonchalantly [What make you think like that?]
Lory holds her chin with mischievous smiles on his face [Because you acted the same way as Father used to act in front of me...]
Girsha becomes silent, he pushes the remaining grape back to the plate [You thinking too much....] he scoffed then he jumps from the table and perch on the window frame [Good night Lorient…..] he said swiftly before he flew away.
Lory quietly watch Girsha left, she raised from the chair then she approaches the window, she leaned on the window frame while her eyes gazed into the dark night, the moon illuminated her room with dimmed light then the cold win graze her skin she rubs her arms slowly then she takes along exhales
[Good night Girsha...….] she said softly.
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Next Morning Lory wake up excitedly like a kid before school trip, she wears her new uniform that Zhao Li Xin has prepare for today banquet but oddly enough the uniform is not as good as the uniform Zhao Li Xin first gave her the first time she arrived at Ninjing Manor, this one has dull dark green color and the material also from low material even though the inner robes still comfy and soft so t's not hurt her skin at the end is just another bizarre thing for her to contemplate.
Zhao Li Xin always prepare her beautiful dress with soft color because he realizes that's what she likes and he also prepares high-quality material that was soft and gentle on the skin not like low material that commoner used to wear, Lory did not complain about the low material of the new dress but she still find it weird when she asked Zhao Li Xin, the man said with righteous face said 'It's not appropriated for royal gathering' and because Lory lack understanding with the social culture and manners of this world she easily believed whatever he said without a doubt.
Lory only nodded obediently when she heard Zhao Li Xin's explanation but other servants who heard their Lord blatant lie can only sigh inwardly.
The reason he prepare this 'ugly' dress for her is simple and quite childish, he doesn't want anyone pay too much attention to his Little savior the though someone sees her in an inappropriate manner makes him irritated, Zhao Li Xin knew exactly how are men's in behavior, It won't be the first time a woman was taken from the street just because some noble Master or Young Master slightly attracted with the poor woman and when he lost his interest with the woman she would be cast aside just like a piece of trash or send to lived somewhere in desolated courtyard.
Zhao Li Xin enters Lory's room without knocking like usual but fortunately he did not get inside but waiting behind the screen divider "Are you ready?" he asks.
"Yes!" she appears from behind the screen divider, she dresses herself like normal noble maid should dress with high bun hairstyle without hairpin or wear any kind of jewelry and wear very thin make up "Is this okay?" she ask nervously, Lory knew the rule in this world is a lot more strict than her world and if she makes mistakes it's not just her who would be in trouble but her Master also be implicated by her and that's what makes her feels worried.
Zhao Li Xin feels disappointed because the uniform can't really do the job, since she changes back her eyes to her original looks her face changed to the better, her clear big eyes make her look more innocent and her easy going and warmed demeanor gives her aura of gentleness and warm feeling, even though she not as beautiful as Lao Min Na or Ying Xuan Xie but she still has her own charmed especially after she turns her skin lighter than before.
Zhao Li Xin feels regret for the first time by his decision he thought it might be not a good idea to bring her to the Palace but he realizes it's too late for him to cancel it know not to mention how excited his little savior face now.
Zhao Li Xin can only sigh "You look fine, let's go!" he turns around then he beckoned her to follow her. Lory doesn't realize how bad his mood is, she's too absorbed with her own excitement.
Lory's used to hear all juicy rumor about what happened inside Royal Banquet from the maids in Lao Manor, the talk about how nobles woman tries to bring down each other on the Banquet or how noble family tried to matchmaking their daughter to a man without care if they already married or not especially if the man has higher position than them, maybe that's why Zhao Qin Feng and Zhao Mu Fan have a lot of concubines.
The Royal Ball in her world is not as fun as this world of course, they're still few nobles people who act annoyingly but because the Royal Family especially The King himself is known as upright and righteous person no one dares to cross his boundary or they would face the fury of the Archknight, the King most loyal and fearsome guards.
Suddenly Zhao Li Xin halts his steps "You cannot bring your pet with you" he reminds her shortly.
"Of course, don't worry about that" Lory nodded her head. Zhao Li Xin glad she not feel dejected he knew how much she loves her pet's wherever she goes the bird would follow or at least stay somewhere not too far from her, he always feels the bird is always watching her it's an odd feeling because the bird is just normal bird who had no power but yet he can shake the feeling that the bird it's not an ordinary bird.
Zhao Li Xin and Lory went to the palace using Zhao Li Xin usual carriage who look not too shabby but not too Grand in other world it was 'appropriated' or at least that's how common people saw it but no one knows contrary from the outside looks the room inside the carriage is more spacious and lavish, the wood inside the carriage is cut from special tree's, the woods who made from this tree could make people inside it feel warm in the winter but cool in the summer, and if that's not enough the floor also cover with black bear fur rugs and the sits is cover with soft cushion and a lot of pillow in the middle there also small wooden table who is so stable is not move no matter how bumpy the road is, there also small storage in every corner for tea, wine jar, snack even blankets.
Zhao Li Xin also installed a lot of amulet and talisman for protection inside and outside the carriage in the worst situation if the carriage falls or get hits from something the carriage would remain intact so people inside the carriage would remain safe, maybe bruised a little bit here and there but they won't die, for some reasoned Zhao Li Xin become obsessed to keep her safe maybe because he knew he has a lot of enemy on his back and if they knew about her she might get implicated and got hurt.
Lory peek outside the window curtains once a while, she saw a pile of snow on the roadside while commoner wearing cheap cloak watching the line of carriage on the street with awed and envy they all murmured to each other some of the commoners recognize Zhao Li Xin carriage perhaps because his carriage is too modest for s prince.
"It's that sixth prince carriage?"
"I guess so, is he going to attend the Banquet?"
"I guess so, this is the only way to get into the Palace"
"This is the first time after a year that sixth prince attend Royal Banquet"
"Is it because of Miss Xiang Feng Ran, I heard the rumor about her fondness with Sixth prince but the prince rejected her"
"How could someone reject Miss Xiang...that probably because he ashamed wit himself, did u not know the Sixth prince is a waste, he can cultivate he also has a terminal illness he probably won't live too long"
"What!! It's too bad, the sixth prince is the most beautiful man in the Kingdom"
"What the use of it if he was weak and ill"
"Ssst.... low your voice, no matter what he still a Prince…."
Because too much carriage in the street the road becomes cramped and all the carriage has to move slowly, Lory heard the gossip outside she looks at Zhao Li Xin whose sits elegantly with half-closed eyes, he looks very calmed and relaxes like he did not hear all the bad gossip outside. Lory knew he did not care about what they said everything they see or think was deliberately control by him so why must he care.
"Lou looks very pale and weak, no wonder they think you dying" Lory feel perplexed, this pill is too good.
Zhao Li Xin smile cunningly "That means the pill is work…."
"What would you think happened at today Banquet...?" her both hands prop her chin then she mischievously smiles.
Zhao Li Xin smirks with a sinister glint in his eyes "Havoc..." he said softly.