"What's your name, your majesty?" I asked after a long silence between us.
"Liu Wang." He answered kindly.
I smiled a bit looking between him and Zhang Wei who stood next to Liu Wang, "Your majesty.." I began but he held a hand to stop me.
"Because you are playing the role of my sister, you may call me brother." Liu Wang said.
"Brother, I get that you can use me as a pawn and that you can easily dispose of me, but you are putting blind trust in me. I don't deserve your kindness or help and it makes me feel a little uncomfortable. How do you know I mean you no harm?"
Zhang Wei straightened up and looked at Liu Wang as Liu Wang studied me carefully.
"I-I don't mean any disrespect nor do I intend you harm, your majesty but I'm just simply confused. I want to trust you but I must ask forgiveness for I can't fully trust you after Andreas and Red. I may always be skeptical and I'm tired of living in fear, though I know there is a new fear here as I live as your sister. I just never expected you to play along with Xiaoshun's games.."
"They are just as much my games as they are his. Zhang Wei here really enjoys the games we play too." Liu Wang spoke. "To ease your mind just a bit I know more about you than you believe and I know who Andreas and his father are."
I smiled, "So you'll still be cautious of me as well as on the surface act as if I'm your sister?" Liu Wang nodded, "That's good. I'd have worried about your mentality if you didn't"
"I'm worried about her mentality.." Zhang Wei spoke
"Just know that my life is in your hands and I will not fight if it is just" I said.
"I like her." Zhang Wei said.
"Me, too. That's why I accepted her position as my sister." Liu Wang stated.
"On note of that, when you introduce me, can you say that I was sent far away because I was the illegitimate daughter of Liu Ming and lived in a small village in the mountains until you decided to allow me to come back to the capital?" I asked
"Quite clever of an idea you have. I'm sure you have reasons." Zhang Wei inputed.
I nodded.
"Very well. Let's head back to the hall. I'll pass you back off to our brother before he leaves for a time again." Liu Wang rose and helped me up as I rose up.
Together the three of us walked back to the hall where we left Xiaoshun. When we re-entered Xiaoshun was sitting at one of the side tables with another official going over some sort of business.
"Xiaoshun!" I called happily
"Shh.." Zhang Wei scolded me.
Liu Wang chuckled, "Let her be Wei. They have a bond of sibling not often found in the palace. They are a bit closer than he is with out actual sister."
I ran over looking at the book in his hand, "Xiaoshun,"
"Rong'er, great timing as always" Xiaoshun smiled at me then looked at the official, "I'll finish this with you later."
"Xiaoshun, you didn't have to stop on my account. I could have left and went home."
"I wouldn't send you off on your own just yet." Xiaoshun replied, "How was your time with Liu Wang?"
"It was good," I smiled, "I met a new "friend" and can't wait to get to know everyone better."
Zhang Wei coughed, "New what..?"
I smiled at him, "One day, lets have a battle. you and me."
"You're a lady, and supposed to be a noble at that." Zhang Wei spoke.
"You're a bully" I joked.
"Now, now. Finish this later you two." Xiaoshun but in.
"You're majesty!" One of the servants called, "Amato has arrived"
"Quick, bring Rong'er a veil" Xiaoshun said to one of my maids and she ran over pulling a veil out of her sleeve handing it to him. He then turned to me, "I'll tie this on you and it'll help hide your face. It is good your eyes are like ours or he'd know."
"Now's not the time to jest, Xiaosuhun. Someone needs to keep Rex calm. Rex is very hyper aware of his surroundings and he'll know Andreas is here." I said as he tied the veil over my nose and lower half of my face.
"Does your maid know how to keep him calm?" Xiaoshun asked as pointed to one of my maids and I nodded, "Go back to the Liu manor and do your best to keep Rex happy and distractred until we come back."
"Here," I handed over a lavender pouch, "Tie this to his collar. It'll help."
"Of course." She said bowing after taking the lavender pouch.
"You must make sure nothing happens or it will mean your life if my sister's is put in danger." Liu Wang spoke.
"Yes, your majesty. I'll do it correctly." she said and left after bowing again.
"Come, stand next to me" Xiaoshun spoke as Liu Wang and Zhang Wei went to the throne. Zhang Wei stopped at the bottom of the stairs while my new brother, the emperor, sat in his seat.
"Let him in" Liu Wang said.
Soon Andreas entered, Zhi right next to him, and they walked to stand in front of Liu Wang. Andreas wore a suit as well as Zhi. Suddenly my heart began to beat really fast and I could feel the fear sinking in. Andreas and Zhi bowed to Liu Wang before rising.
"Andreas, why are you here?" Liu Wang spoke in English.
"I'm in search of a girl in my care. Amaya disappeared a year ago and I've been worried every since." Andreas spoke.
"That doesn't answer my brother's question!" I spoke up still speaking in Mandarin. I wasn't going to risk speaking English around them.
"Zhi, what did she say?" Andreas asked him.
"Your answer didn't answer her brother's question." Zhi explained.
"Your majesty, I thought your sister was married off for alliances." Andreas spoke.
"How bold.." I grumbled. From here on I absolutely refuse to speak English ever again.
"She is my other sister. She has recently come home since the passing of my father." Liu Wang said. You could tell he wasn't happy with Andreas.
"Answer my brother's question." I said.
"Boss, she wants you to tell the emperor the reason you're here." Zhi translated.
"I have reason to believe Amaya is hiding out here in China." Andreas stated.
"You never informed me you were coming here today. Or even at all" Liu Wang
"Forgive me, your majesty. I have been searching everywhere. I know she boarded a ship and you are my last hope. I want to bring her home and marry her." Andreas spoke
Zhi turned his attention toward me, assessing me from where he stood. Suddenly Zhang Wei was in front of me facing Zhi.
"Why are you focusing on her like that?" Zhang Wei spoke in Mandarin
"She looks familiar." Zhi replied then looked at the emperor still speaking Mandarin, "She is who we are looking for, isn't she?"
"Prove to me you are still on my side." Liu Wang said in Mandarin.
YOU ARE READING
The New Life of Amaya
RomanceA young girl who is living a life that is not meant for her finds herself somehow swept away to an island, no one can tell her where it is, occupied by a person who is obviously rich and a town of people who don't travel off the island much only to...
