21 Return Home (1/2)

”He is coming” Mai thought to herself.

Mai smiled to herself as she watched him take more than one bite, which was more than anyone else's food. To be fair even though the other people had made new dishes there properties were still fairly similar to what he already been done in the country so it wasn't a exciting as something that was completely new.

”Head chef of the palace… me? Haha” Mai thought to herself when she heard the Emperor announce those words. ”Maybe if you hadn't locked me up in a room, made me compete with no sleep, with hard labor before the contest was going to start. What do you think this is? Just because you are the Emperor that i am just going to fawn over you?!? Not everything revolves are you, your damn majesty, certainly not I.”

There were a million things that Mai wanted to say to the Emperor to show her distaste in what he had done. However, turning done his prize was the only option she had if she didn't want to create more problems later down the road. Still how many people actually turned down anything from this man. Mai was really proud with how she had handled herself in the situation, normally she would being nervous and shy, but this man had just annoyed her to much.

Watching his face when he realized that he had announced her as the winner without getting what he wanted was a little priceless in Mai's eyes. She couldn't help but laugh on the inside a little when he was left standing there speechless.

Mai was standing there in a daze not sure what to do after the Emperor left her alone at the table with a ”Hmph”. She could slightly hear him mumbly ”I will get this toy back soon” which rather terrified Mai. She had no intentions of ever coming back to the palace or seeing this man. A peaceful life was all she wanted.

Mai watched as Han Bing approached from his table with a proud grin on his face. She had felt him staring at her the hole time throughout the contest. Mai hopped that he hadn't been to worried about when she had disappeared without notice the day before.

Mai wanted to do what people on Earth did when they won contest, run over to that special someone in their life's and give them a gigantic hug saying ”I did it.” But she had to resist to do it in a more private setting. She could tell from the cold way that people treated Han Bing here that something was not right.

”Congratulations, on your win, Mai. I knew that you would beat everyone else here.” Han Bing said when he close enough for it to not be heard from other people. ”Let's go back to the manor.”

”Mmm, I am so tired” Mai replied with.

They both silently left the hall, since the Emperor didn't get what he wanted he was in a bad mood and sent everyone home ahead of time. The other chefs were highly disappointed that a little nobody had won the contest and vowed to win next year.

____

Back at Han Bings Manor

”Mai are you okay? What happened!” Han Bing anxiously asked when they were finally back at the manor.

Mai told him what had happened up from the guard to right before her name was called. There was a deep fury in Han Bings eyes as she kept on adding more and more details to her night.