80 My Lord (1/2)
Rin stared at An Sun with furrowed brows, an evident frown forming on her lips.
What was he saying? He wanted her to work alongside him and change sides?
Manchu, standing off to the side with crossed arms, elevated his eyebrows with surprise but quickly transformed them to a look of amusement.
Hmm...seems like things were becoming interesting.
Clearing her thoughts, Rin looks up at An Sun with an impassive expression. ”Surely Commander An jests. I couldn't possibly serve alongside you. I may have helped this province in our battle, but I am, nonetheless, a member of Bai family.”
”Are you rejecting my terms?” An Sun's eyes gradually tinged with a dangerous light and the air suddenly turned cold and suffocating - the smile on his lips lingered.
Rin stared unwaveringly at An Sun, her clear eyes not revealing the slightest bit of fear, but instead was clouded with uncertainty toward the man's plans. No matter how hard she searched into his eyes, Rin couldn't decipher what went on through his head.
Paying no attention to Rin's look of uncertainty, An Sun glances to the side.
”Your grandfather, he's a noble military leader. I admire his ability and success.”
Rin's eyes darkened toward the shift in conversation. At that moment, her body tensed.
What was the meaning behind his words?
”Additionally, I'm surprised by his dedication towards protecting his family members. Even after he'd just battled for two days without rest, he's still on his way to aid his nephew.” Having not gotten a reply from Rin, An Sun continues to speak with a hidden glint in his eyes.
Squeezing her trembling hands into fists, Rin coldly looks up into the man's cold eyes.
Despite his seemingly generous and admirable words towards her grandfather, Rin knew behind those words of flattery was a warning.
His words were a threat.
Rin lowers her eyelids and stares down at the wooden table in front of her.
This...what was she to do?
It was clear from An Sun's words that he had her grandfather under surveillance. If she were to reject his offer, he wouldn't hesitate to attack and kill the Bai army along with her uncle and grandfather.
But if she accepted, she'd have no choice but to leave her family - betraying them to side with the enemy of their empire.
Rin began recalling the day eight years ago when she first entered the Bai camp and fought off those bandits who raided the camp.
That time, in the tent, was the day Bai Han asked for her to be his granddaughter.
The emotions that flooded her heart that day were indescribable. Those feelings she once thought were buried away with her mother were reborn. Love, safety, protection, warmth, all of those had come back to her with a simple sentence.
Afterward, Rin couldn't bear losing her family again, therefore, she made a promise. That'd she'd protect them with everything she possessed, and to never let them end up like her mother and father.
And she wasn't about to back down from that promise now.
Rin opened her eyes, completely calm. She raised her head to look back into An Sun's cold gray eyes. Within her shining emerald eyes was nothing but a flowing river of calm.
”I am willing to serve my Lord, however, if you don't mind may I ask you three requests?”
With crossed arms, An Sun looks at the figure with steady eyes and lightly grunts in approval.
Not breaking eye contact, Rin speaks. ”First, the cities citizens, you must promise not to harm or trouble them as you're free to the province storage vaults.”
Lightly coughing, Rin continues. ”The governor and his wife, I ask that you please set up a proper burial for them. And thirdly, no harm or death will come to any of the Bai soldiers or members.”
An Sun remained silent, keenly staring into the small figures' eyes.
”I take that you're now accepting my terms?”
Staring at An Sun with a raised head, Rin's eyes blank, and a twisted, bitter smile forms on her face.
”Do I have any other choice for me, my Lord?”