His Majesty And I ✔️

Smelling Freedom

So excited! Look who's back below! As I write, right now, I realise it is only with my girl that I can not hold back as I write.

Chapter 72

Wei Li Lian
Princess Elora
Imperial Concubine Wei
Nevoria

Li Lian opened her eyes to a hazy canvas of what was before her, the duplication of items that made one chair turn into two, two fingers to become four. All things merged and stopped corresponding when her eyesight adjusted to the unfamiliar room she was sleeping in.

It was a dark dungeon of some sort, that had all types of small living things, captured in big jars.

No wonder her head hurt, it was a cacophony that surrounded her. Bees buzzed against the jar, locusts chirped, snakes hissed and birds tweeted.

Where was she?

She slowly sat, her back not feeling like her own and the rest of the body aching. She was basically fighting against her own body, tug and war, to have her way.

The door opened and someone gasped loudly. "Wife, you are awake!"

"Shut up." Li Lian groaned. "My head hurts." She sorely held her temple by her fingers. "Where am I?"

"Rude, aren't we?" The man sat at her bedside. "You are at the Black Sword Academy. How are you feeling?"

"Like rocks are hitting my head. Get me water."

"Of course." He stood and went for the nearest table to pour her a cup of water.

"Those things in the jars are making my headache worse, get them out."

"Commanding like a capable Furian woman, you are indeed my type." He brought her the cup of water and went out, where he brought back a dozen of servants dressed in black, who carried the jars out of the room, leaving the place quiet.

"Excuse me." She covered her mouth as she burped after drinking the water. Some strength seemed to return after quenching her dehydration.

"Who are you?" She assessed the man who was a plain 'barbarian'. He had short blonde hair, blue piercing eyes that were complimented by the large build of his body.

Anyone who had no characteristic as close to that of a Nevorian, just like him, was what Nevorians called barbarians because those who were not like them were considered unruly, primitive and uncivilised. Nevorians were so self conceited in every way, Li Lian could not believe for so long she had lived with them.

The man's wings flared, then knit back together as he sat beside her again. "My name is Lance, your betrothed." He gave her a smug smile, puffed up with pride.

Betrothed? "Say that again."

"We are to be married when we go back home, you are my wife." He said matter of factly. "Do you want a wet cloth for your head?"

She lazily laughed. He was funny. "I will not be tied down."

Yuwen Hong is enough trouble as it is.

"Does the emperor know I am here?"

"No. They think you are dead. We bribed the leading general in charge of your search to proclaim your death. What was his name... Yes, General Feng."

"Nevoria thinks I died?"

"Have you forgotten that you were thrown off the cliff? That evil woman who did it, I told her I was going to kill her whole clan because of it, and she lost her mind."

"Consort Wang? Where is she?"

"She died."

"You killed her?"

Lance shook his head. "The emperor did."

Li Lian tried to piece it all together in her mind, but there was one thing that stood out the most.

She was free.

She was free from Nevoria, from Huticah, from those who made her life unbearable. This man had freed her.

"What is your name again?"

"Lance."

"Lance, how do you know so much concerning my life?"

"I have been watching you. Your mother sent me and Nelo to get you back home, so we have been following up on you for a while. I am sorry I was a little late at the cliff."

In other words, she was being stalked all this while. How nice and romantic.

"Who is Nelo?"

"Another servant of your mother, who she considers a confidant. You shall meet her sometime. She is a skilled warrior."

Was this heaven? All these things she was being told were mostly welcomed news. Her mother had been looking for her and had not abandoned her. She was not a forsaken and unwanted child.

"When can I see my mother?"

"She was here, taking care of you when you were sick, but had to leave without you as you were still unwell."

Li Lian's heart hammered against her chest with all the excitement in her veins. Her lifelong dream was to be reconciled with her mother and it was finally happening. "When can we leave, then?"

"Not so fast," he chuckled. "I still have some training to finish with my master, then we can leave."

"Who is your master?"

"Oren. This is his place too."

Oh, no. Oren was the swordmaster of Yuwen Hong. "Why have you made me stay here? They will find me if I'm staying with Yuwen Hong's master, and to make matters worse, Yu'er is looking for Oren that it will not take him time before he decides to visit."

"This place is well guarded and Oren understands your situation. We will know that he is coming while he is still miles away, plus this place is big, how would he easily find you if he has just come looking for Oren, who does not live in the quarters of his students."

"I don't like taking risks when it comes to Yuwen Hong. He is not stupid and must not be underestimated."

"Just wait with me in this place and we will leave for home, soon."

"Why should I wait for you to finish the training? You can just tell me where my mother is and I will go alone."

She pushed her blankets aside, pulled out her legs and stood but strength was not found in one of her legs, causing her to fall. "Aah!" she whimpered. "It hurts!"

"Your leg is still recovering, you must use crutches or have me carry you."

She just got fooled. This was not freedom. Where could she go with a leg that was in such a condition that she must rely on others for help?

"I don't like this."

"Wife and husband must compromise, wait for me a bit and I will be done with my training within three months."

"I am not your wife, don't get clever with me."

"All right, Wife."

"Shut up. You are irritating me." She sighed, seating herself on the floor with great effort.

"Yes, Wife."

Argh. It surely was going to be the longest three months she'd ever had.

S.V