The Fine Print✔️

Chapter 12

Reluctantly, the three of us make our way into the inner city, which had changed beyond recognition since the last time I had set foot in it. Gone were the natives selling unique crafts and stalls selling homegrown fresh fruits.

The heady, musky odor hung in the air, the kind that made it difficult to fill my lungs with air. Everywhere I looked, unsteady gaits, lust-filled gazes, and seductive, beckoning smirks greeted me. The place had lost its rustic charm and innocence. In place of stalls that once lined the streets stood two-storied brothels, taverns, and gambling establishments.

My eyes, as they take in this new Inner City, sting and threaten to expose the side of me that I hate most: the emotional side, the side that still remembers the perfect past.

Father, mother, I miss you.

I feel petite fingers intertwine with mine, pulling me out of my reprieve, and look up to see Weredra giving me a warm smile. A smile that seems to say, 'hang in there, buddy, I am here for you.' I am about to take comfort in that look when the little devil yells in my head, 'Don't tear up now, you moron. Stay in character.''

What the hell, Weredra!?

Anger replaces gloom, 'The last time when I asked  if you had done something to Zhan ge why did you give me a splitting headache instead of answering me like this!?' I yell back and the creature disguised as a cute, angelic munchkin leaves a condescending sigh, looking away, disinterested.

Are you kidding me right now!?
I finally look at Zhan ge. He looks on the outside, how I am feeling on the inside. Just as my eyes are about to move away from the only beautiful sight within ten miles of us: my Zhan ge, he side-eyes me, to check on me, no doubt. He doesn't know that I am feeling fine (at least physically) now the Weredra had stopped shouting in my brain.

A morally correct and ladylike thing to do would have been be to nod and smile or a look that conveys a message on the lines of: Thank you, kind sir, I am fine. But I am neither morally bound to act like an upstanding human (at least now when I have an opportunity to do what my heart desires) nor am I a lady. So I wince and sway, expecting to beautiful land in Zhan ge's gentle embrace, but unfortunately, it did not pan out as planned.

Why do you hate me so, Karma!?

As I pretend to lose my balance, muscular arms snake around my waist, and the next moment, I find myself plastered against a burly stump nosed man's chest.

The Fuck!

The disgusting stink of sweat assaults my nostrils with a vengeance, and I almost throw up. Scratch that, I throw up.

"Aagggrh!" The armor-clad soldier yells, pushing me away and looking disgusted, "The hell is wrong with you, boy!?" He barks.

It's just undigested apples; I swear they don't smell that bad, but I guess puke is puke. That Serves that uncouth fellow right! How dare he touch this amazing hot body that I have acquired after great pains (that's a lie, but whatever)! Moreover, I am royalty. I can't just let any dick come close to me unless I so desire. And right now, the only dick I am interested in belongs to the man who has his arms around my now blessed waist and lucky as fuck shoulders.

"Zhan ge." I whimper, pressing myself as close as I can without it looking as if I am flirting.

'Control yourself, YiJun.' Weredra whispers in my mind, 'Or your sword will start seeking attention.' She warns, and I realize that she has a point.

I try to lean away; two things happen simultaneously. One, Zhan's grip on me tightens, and I find myself blissfully pressed to his chest. Second, the senior guard tries to pry me away from Zhan.