The Princess And The Lord

Zhao Li Xin sat on the stone bench enjoying the evening breeze and moonlight, he never understood why Lory would spend hours sitting staring at the sky sometimes until dawn, but now he could understand the comfort and moments of calm that night provided. , a sense of melancholy as his memories jump from past and present in an irregular motion he doesn't realize he has been through so much since the day he could remember until today, usually when he reminiscences about the past Zhao Li Xin will be filled with emptiness but now is different.

Zhao Li Xin once asked Lory if her past has many bitter memories why she always remembers them, why doesn't she try to forget everything?

At that time Lory will smile and say 'Because not all of is a sad memory'

Zhao Li Xin now understands, that's when someone forgets their sadness you will forget the mistakes you made, the loss you experienced, the burden you carry eventually everything that makes you who you are, that's why Lory never wants to forget because she never wants to forget who she was, therefore, he will not forget himself as well, he will not forget the enemy he made, the friends he found, the family he created.

"Mong Ki, Mong Yi..."

The two of them had stayed close to accompany their Lord unless Lory was present they were always by Zhao Li Xin's side just like a habit they never get too far except when Zhao Li Xin give them order.

"We here, Milord!" the two of them answer in tunes.

"I always thought I was an independent person, the success I made, all the obstacles and achievements that I have achieved until now are my own… I was too arrogant, when I told my wife that I was always all alone she told me to think again if I'm truly alone all this time, only now do I understand that I'm never alone… because I always have both of you by my side" Zhao Li Xin looked at the moon and smiled, the same smile he used to show Lory.

"Milord..." Mong Ki's words choked in his throat.

"Perhaps the only good thing my dear stepmother has ever done to me was to appoint you two as my personal servants" Zhao Li Xin chuckled as soon as he remembered Ying Xi Lu appointing Mong Ki and Mong Yi as his servants because she thought they were weak and stupid because Mong Ki rarely spoke and Mong Yi always looked flustered but who would have thought that they became his first sword and shield even today Zhao Li Xin regards them as an extension of his limbs and he trusts them even more than the four king's Palaces.

"I remember you both were there when they put me in the cold warehouse, we also shared that hard bread when they starved us, you even took my place to receive punishment from them" Zhao Li Xin suppressed a smile.

"It's nothing my Lord besides the one who usually gets punished is Mong Yi," said Mong Ki casually.

"That's because he got a big mouth." The corner of Zhao Li Xin's lips slightly lifted, Mong Yi used to deliberately annoy them to shift their anger from Zhao Li Xin, as a result, he was hit severely.

"You...are right, Milord." Mong Yi shyly rubbed his nose.

Zhao Li Xin looked at them and scoffed, "You guys have so many opportunities to leave me and choose a better Master, but you guys are too stubborn, I can never get rid of you two"

"Well, it's because we are smart," Mong Ki states the fact as if it's true.

"Yes, my Lord, we have a hunch that you will become a great man, which is why we refuse to let go of your golden thigh," said Mong Yi confidently.

"Hump, you two are just stupid!" Zhao Li Xin chides them mercilessly.

Mong Ki and Mong Yi clamped their mouths, they couldn't deny that they stayed with Zhao Li Xin not because they saw potential in him, it was simply because they couldn't bear to leave the little boy all alone.

Seeing them being quiet Zhao Li Xin chuckled, it had been a long time since he had seen them make such expressions, suddenly their memories of their childhood flash in his mind then he realized there wasn't only pain, heartache, and sadness there was also joy, warm even laugh, he wonders why he couldn't remember until now perhaps because the resentment was too much it blinded him, to survives he steels his heart and when that's not enough he created giant ice wall around his heart then he pushed everyone away so no one can touch him but at the same time he couldn't touch them.

Why did he never realize it was a lonely world, well he never care so he had no time to contemplate, he doesn't even make a time because he knows he had so little time to make the world feel how he felt.

'Emptiness'

"Milord, are you okay?" Mong Ki got worried a bit since Zhao Li Xin seem like in a daze.

There was a gentle calm in Zhao Li Xin's eyes as he turn his eyes at them "It's been a long time but I never told both of you..."

"Milord?" Mong Yi and Mong Ki turn back at Zhao Li Xin waiting for his next words.

A warm smile bloomed on Zhao Li Xin's face as he sincerely looks at them "Thank you...thank you for staying by my side all these years"

______________________________________

When Zhao Li Xin entered his room, Lory sat while leaning on the windowsill, she prop her chin with her palm while watching the moon with a melancholy expression. The bluish wavy hair fluttered on her back then gently fell on her shoulder like a flower petal falling on snow, meanwhile, her soft pink lips were slightly part as she immersed in her thought, for a moment time seems to stand still.

Zhao Li Xin knew she must be in the middle of reminiscences of her past, some memory might be good but some might be sad nevertheless it was all part of her. For as long as he lived Zhao Li Xin had never met anyone as strong as Lory, someone who was strong enough to carry the burden of her past and brave enough to accept her future ... whatever it would be and walk tall towards it.

Lory suddenly sensed Zhao Li Xin's presence, he turned his head and smiled, "You are here..."

"I'm here..." Zhao Li Xin smiled back at him as she walked over to him and then sat down beside him then Lory leaned her head on Zhao Li Xin's shoulder intertwining their fingers "What was their reaction?"

"They don't look happy..." Zhao Li Xin replied simply.

"As expected..." Lory answered purposely, "but it was necessary..." Lory said again.

,m Zhao Li Xin smiled as she lowered her head on Lory's head while gazing at the moon surrounded by stars that looked like shimmering dust, it was undeniably a beautiful night almost like a dream.

"You know what...at night a lot of good things happened" Zhao Li Xin suddenly speak.

"Hm?"

"You found me at night right, then I fell in love with you at night too, and the first promise you made to me also happened at night...a night like this" Zhao Li Xin gently hold her cheeks with a dazzling smile spread on his beautiful face, his eyes that used to be cold sparkling under the soft moonlight.

"You still remember what you promised to me right?"

How could he forget, he was the one who made her integrate into this world, without him she would still be lost between past and present. Lory placed his hand on Zhao Li Xin's then he kissed the inside of her palm gently as he looked at her gently.

"Wherever I go, I will take you with me" Lory's purple eyes gleamed like precious gems.

Her heart was pounding like a horse galloping a thousand miles, only she who could make him feel this way. Zhao Li Xin pressed his lips against her while slowly enjoying the sweetness of her lips, it was a long and passionate kiss.