Chapter 7 - Viviana de feur Lostel - Heir to the Throne (1/2)

After that unfortunate encounter with Vernon, the knight, Thalmeleo Ravien or Leo came to Viviana's palace with a statement. ”His majesty says if the princess wants her book back, she could retrieve it in his palace by going herself.”

Ling Mei paled. To be honest, she doesn't care if the book doesn't return but…that book was something Tiffany bought for her, she had to get it back. She hasn't even finished reading it yet.

So she followed Leo to the Emperors palace looking like her life has been suċkėd out of her.

In the same garden as before, Vernon sat there gracefully. He lifted his eyes to Ling Mei's direction. ”You're slow.”

Ling Mei could only force a smile and had a hard time sitting on her chair. Vernon who noticed her struggle… ”Leo, help her get on the chair.”

Ling Mei felt she like lost face when Leo lifted and placed her on the chair.

She sat up straight, faced the devil, and smiled oh so sweet. 'I see no devil, only my father. We are close. Act cute.' She chanted in her mind repeatedly.

”Good morning p-pa…pa.” Aye. How much she found it hard to say.

Vernon just stared at her while Ling Mei maintained her smile. 'I hope my smile doesn't look weird.'

The rest of their breakfast was quiet to which Ling Mei felt relieved. But it is still nerve wracking as before.

'Since when did he fetch the book?'

She nodded, thinking that it's normal as she's five already.

With this, the knight looked shock while Vernon casually shut the book and eyed her. ”Hmmm… I thought you were just playing with this.”

'Playing? I might as well just pick a story or coloring book not a History book if I'll just play with it!'

”Since when?”

Cocking her head to the side….'When?' Ling Mei felt conflicted…ever since she woke up in this world she already knew how to read words.

”Vivi learned 1 year...ago p-papa.” Ling Mei can't tell that she can read at the age of one. If she did, Vernon would probably doubt her.

”That's amazing Princess!” Leo exclaimed. ”Children normally learn how to read at age 7! To be able to read at 4… wow!” Leo was feeling enthusiastic, feeling proud for their princess.

Ling Mei blushed. Feeling embarrassed to get a sincere compliment from none other than the Emperor's confidant.

She froze at that question. 'How is she going to answer this?' Her mind drifted away until a blur image of someone came, a paper on the wall as that person slowly pronounces the words on the paper.

She frowned when she felt her head ache.

Ling Mei found that Vernon was still looking at her, waiting for her answer. ”V-vivi's maids taught me.”

Her answer is the right choice. It is not unfounded as her personal maids came from noble families.

Vernon set down the book. ”You learned to read early but… you lack proper etiquette and manners.”

'huh?'

”Starting next week you're going to learn those. I can't let you embarrass me.”

Ling Mei felt baffled. 'Learn what again?'

Vernon left the garden and instructed a maid to send Ling Mei back to her palace after she finished eating.

--

4 months have passed, since then a messenger would come to Viviana's Tacita palace to ask her presence in the emperor's palace. This baffled her maids. 'Since when did their princess earn such favour from the emperor?' but feel overjoyed. 'Finally!'

Thrice a week, Ling Mei would go to Vernon's palace, either to eat breakfast, lunch, afternoon break or dinner, whenever he has free time. And every time she goes there, she looked like a soldier ready to go to war only to return as the losing party.

Also, because of this, her taste buds improved. Eating and enjoying the most delicious delicacies in the whole Kingdom when she's in Vernon's Palace.

And true to his words, Vernon got her the best teacher for etiquette and manners. She had been learning since then.

Today too, she was asked to meet Vernon and to wear pants. 'This is the first time I'm wearing pants.'

Unlike from before, they weren't led to the garden but somewhere else, only to be told they are going horse riding.

'is the palace really that huge?'

Ling Mei, the messenger, and her maids, Jessa and Tiffany, finally arrived to a vast field of grass. 'I didn't know there was such a place here.'

”Greetings papa.” As she curtsied in front of him.

”Greetings Sir Thalmeleo and Sir Almitheo.” She nodded towards Leo and Theo who was beside Vernon.

Vernon gave her a side glance then continued talking to a man who she has never seen before.

Ling Mei brazenly examined Vernon's handsome face, his cold temperament that wouldn't let anyone come near him. A very dangerous man at that. 'So why is he doing this to her?'

”What is it? You kept looking at me.” She snapped back. 'what? You do this all the time!'