The Fine Print✔️

Chapter 7

As our motley group moves from village to village, I observe the situation repeating over and over again. And by the time dusk approaches, I am a fuming mess of disappointed, agitated, irritated, sexually confused bundle of nerve endings.

They have lost count of the number of times I have muttered Fuck under my breath. LiFen would for sure have felt disappointed in me today. The fact that she was not with me now was a blessing, to be honest. She was, after all, almost like a mother to me and one of the two people whose feelings I gave at least few fucks about.

When we were done with my mission to walk through the entire kingdom, barring the palace and the inner circle, my stomach growls again.

Zhan sighs, and without a word, starts pulling me towards a nearby inn. I have neither the patience nor the politeness to act like I am not starving. The prospect of filling my stomach with a good portion of roasted chicken sounds lovely after a day filled with nothing but negativity. Moreover, I am not a fruit and salad kinda girl...boy... man... Fuck!

We pick out a spot in a less crowded part of the inn, and Weredra takes a seat between us.

Oh yes, she was very much with us throughout the day, but unlike how she had acted in the morning, during our time surveying the villages, Weredra had stayed silent for the most part. True be told, none of us had been particularly chatty. Uncle Kua and his incompetent way of ruling my kingdom had made sure of that.

As we sit minding our own business, a petite girl walks towards us and recites the menu.

There are only three items on it. 

1. Herbed potatoes with steamed rice. 

 2. Salted fish with steamed rice. 

 3. Yellow wine. 

 Zhan sighs. I have come to understand that he does that a lot. He shakes his head as if surrendering to his crappy fate. "Salted fish with steamed rice, please." He orders, with as much enthusiasm as a dead fish, and looks at me, "And you?"

I look at the impatient tiny girl, and with a withering look that mirrors my crush, I place my order as well. 

The girl nods and walks away.

As soon as we are alone, I hear the now familiar cough and side-eye Weredra.

"She didn't even bother to ask me what I would like to eat." The ancient creature cribs.

"We can share." I blurt out irritably and immediately regret it.

Zhan quirks his eyebrow. He gives me a 'what the hell are you talking about?' look. I shrug and pretend like I had said nothing.

He tilts his head dumbfoundedly, and I can't even begin to tell you how adorable he looks right now, without it sounding like I am fangirling...fanboying.... fan-maning... Fuck!

"Stop ogling at that fine piece of meat. You are embarrassing me!" Weredra mutters under her breath and pokes my side, successfully stopping me from making a fool of myself.

Thank fuck.

"We need to take shelter for the night," I state, trying to salvage the situation, and he nods solemnly.

"How much money do you have?" He enquires, and I dip into the pouch LiFen had given me.

As I rampage through the items, some more things become clear to me.

First, that LiFen was short-sighted. For she had assumed that I would reach my maternal uncle's place before the day was up.

Second, that I was stupid as hell. For, it had not occurred to me even once that now that I was on my own, I would need money for food and shelter. If I was smart, I would probably have wished for an eternally full pocket of coins.