42 Chapter 42: Seriously? (1/2)

We enter the grand capital. Mei gasps at the beautiful sight.

”Wow! This is amazing! It's beyond my imagination!”

The hustling and bustling streets of crowded people get ready for the festival. Sweet and savoury smells fill the air. Cotton candy and balloons everywhere, children screaming in delight. The golden colored palace shone brighter than ever as the King and Queen stepped onto the balcony. We look up.

The King steps up, ”Dear citizens, thank you so much for coming and preparing this wonderful festival. This day has been a tradition for the decades of the Ri Kingdom. We welcome the tourists and foreign guests. We have also invited the Yue Kingdom's royal family for this special occasion. Please show everyone the beautiful, famed Valentine Festival! Enjoy!”

Suddenly, the Queen also speaks up, ”YingYue,”

I pull my hood over more.

”... if you're out there, please come back to us.”

Queen Huang also steps up, ”I know your identity as QiLing. I won't blame you anymore, so come back.”

I almost curse out loud as ZhuWu, the bandits, and Mei stare at me.

”Shh!” I gesture to them.

I'd better get going. I hold my hood and push my way away from the crowd. Suddenly, a familiar black outfit appears in front of me and pulls me in.

”I found you,” XiaoLong whispers in my ear.

I try to push him away, only to get a sneak peek at Commander Yang and a group of assassin-like troops behind XiaoLong, fully crushing my spirit to escape. He pulls me over his shoulder and jumps up to a low balcony of the palace. A familiar scent washes over me as XiaoLong hugs me tighter.

”You better not leave me again,” he whispers, ” I love you.”

He sets me down on a couch and closes the balcony door and sits beside me.

”Why,” my voice cracks, ”Why, after everything I did…”

”Because I love you, of course. Don't blame it on yourself.”

He starts to tell his story, ”You see, my life in the castle is pretty boring and all the suitors are all the same, until I met you. You're so different from the others and opened my eyes to a new world.”