Chapter 202 - You're So Precious To Me

Chaos was the word to describe the Bernavoles camp. It was not an exaggeration, but the mere fact that the area they occupied were in flames. Most of them ran out from the site's perimeter, but the Chiangdas outside didn't spare them. Either a sword or a slash of the wind or water or anything the powers these Chiangdas had met and slain them.

However, these Platanna beings couldn't be trifled with either. They fought with all their might. It was just the sudden attacks cornered them inside. People covered their mouths while some were coughing hard as white and black smokes covered the camp, as if a fog descended.

Galdriel, with a shield, dashed right and left, avoiding the flames with one aim, getting to a certain burning tent. As he reached it, he stormed in without hesitation and dove to an orange light. There, about twenty men stood safe within that light.

"Where is the prince?" He asked Falteth, the one who owned the magical shield against fire.

"He is still in his domain with that woman."

"Damn him. Women are his weakness." Galdriel punched the carpeted floor in exasperation.

"We can't blame him. Those wives the king gave him are beauties without brains."

"Yeah, even my wife is all chatter and parties. I grew tired of it." Galdriel said.

"Chiji women are independent and intelligent, unlike in our world were women who grew up blessed and bathed in luxuries and cared less about politics and had no other aspirations in life than to get married to a wealthy family of their choice. Even I thought of bringing a wife from here." Falteth's forehead furrowed, watching the flames eating the tent.

"They wouldn't last there. The prince is a fool. Believe me. Unless she is a Chiangda. Fights between women are gruesome. I prefer to not involve myself with them if there's no law insisting on bearing more women. Who needs aspirations when they have powers and seek by us, men?" 

"Why is our world scarce of women?" Falteth extended a hand to Galdriel.

"Don't ask me. Even our ancestors had no answers to that puzzle." Galdriel got up without Falteth's help.

Falteth became silent. "Have you ever thought of living here for good? Life is peaceful here."

"Never think of it. We are here for a mission. In case you forget."

"I know."

"The penalty for desertion is death. Even if you'll fake a death, they will find it later."

"I know. Okay? I know. No need to remind him. Just a thought."

"Never think of it."

Falteth shook his head and strengthened the power of the shield when the tent disappeared and they were fully exposed.

"How long will you last, bro?" Dheries asked.

"I think I only have a minute left."

"Hold on longer, brother, until the prince comes out."

"Sorry, bro. The Chiangdas are getting stronger now." Then while speaking, Falteth's shield thinned and flickered. Those inside looked up in fear as fire raged around them.

"Happy to fight with you, brothers. Let's die with honor." Falteth said.

"Shut up! We'll survive this and go home." Galdriel glared.

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Without warning, the shield popped out. They screamed together as a huge red flame was rampaging on their way when... 

Suddenly, thunder and lightning sparked in the bright sky. A sudden rain shower fell, and the fire in the camp completely died down. And amid it, white light streamed down and enveloped the entire camp. More barrages from outside the camp couldn't penetrate that thick shield of light.

The prince appeared in his non-existent tent and frowned as he saw the ugly tall mound made of soil in there. The stone walls were still intact outside his tent.

"Stop!" His yell was so loud that everyone in and out the camp heard him well, including those inside the mound. Then he faced the small hill. "Prime Minister, I suggest you come out and we'll talk." A maid came out from the space behind him and placed two wide chairs made of fine wood in the tent and stepped backward, disappearing back into thin air. He sat comfortably, tapping on the armchair while waiting for the Xian Lang to come out.

The mound's top opened in the middle and each half was sucked down, back to the ground, revealing the five people inside. Prince Zelmer gestured a hand to the prime minister to sit on the chair provided.

"Good. Now I got your attention. What took you so long?" Xian Lang said in righteous indignation. "None of these could have happened if you came out sooner." He sat down as he spoke.

The prince was in pain as the other guards carried his two trusted knights, one flailing dead, the other was unconscious, covered with his blood. "I understand your point, but do you need to use violence? I'm a reasonable man. We can talk peacefully."

Xian Lang didn't bother to reply. This was his land, and he was the prime minister. Who was this Bernavoles merchants to defy him? "Bring out the governess now or we will continue the attacks."

"I think you missed the point here. I'm the one in charge now, Prime Minister. Your Chiangdas can't break and enter my defense shield. In other words, you're now my prisoner."

----- o -----

Xinyi and Ming had reached and landed in the forest within Cuxin Estate. Lofey and company didn't stay and ran toward the Bernavoles camp. 

Ming brought Xinyi down and kissed her with all the passion for a man in love. She responded eagerly, as if they wouldn't see each other again. Ming let go first, and embraced her tight and made her breathless, but she didn't complain. Instead, she hugged him back, as though they would be separated for so long.

"Do what you need to do. Contact Shijian when you're done. She will fetch you." He kissed her again and pressed his lips harder this time. And let go. "Go in now."

Xinyi looked at him with shimmering eyes as she held her tears from falling. "Be careful and please take care of my Pa."

"I will. I promise." And they smooched their lips again before Xinyi went into Xionmao's cave. When she was already out of sight, Ming hopped on Shijian's back. He looked up and saw the white and black smokes above. "Let's go, but don't fly. Hurry. The prime… my father-in-law might be in danger."

---- o ----

Lifen woke up from the prince's control after he left. There, she saw herself lying with a golden-colored blanket on her while lying on a king-size bed. She then realized that she was in someone else's room. A lavish room decorated with silk dr.a.p.es, more than a dozen white pillows on the bed, a soft-lighted chandelier hung on the ceiling, white flowers that she hadn't seen in her life filled the sides in a plant-boxes. The entire room was well lit with crystal in every column at the sides.

She stood and saw she was wearing a dress worthy for royalties. Glancing at a man-size mirror near the bed, her hair, hands, and legs, jewelries adorned them. And saw shiny men's clothes hanging in a rank. Shoes made of valuable leather were under it.

"Where am I?" She roamed around but found no door or windows. Her hands tapped on the walls, but nothing sounded hollow. She ran her fingers on the well-crafted furniture and felt not even a speck of dust. An idea came to mind.

"Hey! You jerk prince. Where are you? Come out." But no one replied. "Guards? GUARDS?" she yelled, but no one came. 

"Oh, playing hard to get, huh? Let's see if you can handle this."

Annoyed, she kicked the mirror. It fell and smashed to tiny pieces. "Hey! You jerk royalty, come out now or I will break this whole place down." No replies.

"Fine." She pulled the jewelries from her body and scattered the pearls and diamonds on the floor. Next, her hand unmercifully plucked the flowers and crushed the plant boxes. She threw all of its contents on the rich carpet, of which skillful hands of an artisan weaved it.

She dragged the dr.a.p.es down and ripped it apart. In other words, the entire room was a mess. Looking up, she screamed, "Come out." Still nobody came. "You want me to become your bride? How about bringing a scarred-face wife?" She had no qualms of wounding her face, trusting her miracle beauty products could bring it back to its smooth and flawless state.

Lifen picked a piece of the broken mirror and lifted it to slash her face. As she was about to do the deed, someone appeared behind her. 

"Don't," the prince said, receiving the slash on his hand while the other hand wrapped her in his embrace. "You're so precious to me. Please don't hurt yourself." Blood oozed out from the wound, dripping on his white robe with gold thread stitches on its hems.

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