The Crown Prince's Guard

chapter 7: Meeting the King and Queen

"Good morning. Did you sleep well?" Seeing her made him feel uncomfortable in this new environment. He relaxed a little around her.

"Not really," he answered honestly.

"I'm not used to the bed. I'm afraid of falling out of bed because it's too comfortable."

"That would be a nice sight to behold," he grinned.

"Have you eaten yet?"

"Yes." Yeah." Someone had gone around to every guard room and had stopped by before to give him a tray of food.

He swore that the food served here made him feel like royalty as it tasted so delicious.

"Good." Li Xun put his book aside and stood up. He observed her appearance, paying attention to the white uniform she was about to wear.

"It looks good on you" he commented, before his curious eyes stared at the mask he was wearing. Ever since they met, she had always wondered why she had not revealed her face.

"Why don't you open it?" Long'Er threw away his face nervously.

"Please let me wear it - I have a burn scar on my face" he asked.

Believing he lied easily, his eyes widened in shock and he was suffused with sympathy.

"If you don't mind me asking, what happened?" He bit his lower lip.

"Fire. I'm trapped in the fire." Justjust wonderful. He was taught to never lie to others, and here he did that. Time and time again. Guilt gnaws at him from within. If the prince knew, would he punish him?

"I saw." Li Xun's voice disappeared, clearly unsure of what he should say to reduce the awkwardness.

"Then keep wearing it." While rubbing both of his hands, he decided to change the subject by giving him shocking news.

"Well then, I hope you're ready to meet my parents" he announced.

"Wait...what?" His jaw immediately drooped. Did he hear it wrong? When he mentioned his parents, did he mean them? Like the King and Queen of this nation?

"What's wrong?" his question, a mocking smile slowly appeared.

"Are you afraid of them? They may bite but they can't be more terrifying than the monster you defeated."

"It is easy for you to say that when they are your parents" he murmured bitterly. One wrong move and he might be hunted to the other side of the world.

"If anything happens, I want to be buried by the sea."

His sudden joke shocked him, and he couldn't help but laugh. So, even the cool Long'Er was able to say something funny?

"Nobody's gonna die, that's ridiculous."

With his hands folded and his head bowed deeply, Long'Er continued to stare at the ground. A wave of anxiety swept over him. He was currently facing two of the most important people walking on this land, the King and Queen of the kingdom. When he first met them, he noticed that they were opposite each other.

The king was a fierce-looking man in his fifties, while the queen smiled back at him. Regardless of her age, the beauty she exuded was truly charming. That would explain where Li Xun got his look. The voice of the king echoed across the hall.

"Please, get up." He stood up slowly, letting his eyes meet the glacial balls as calmly as he could.

"I thank you for giving me the opportunity to meet you in person, Your Majesty." His voice sounded loud and clear.

"It's really a great honor."

"Li Xun has told me a lot about you" he said.

. "It wasn't a good achievement - I did what everyone else would do" he said.

"Son," the queen spoke this time, smiling at him with sparkling eyes.

"You didn't save just his life - you saved mine too. I owe it to you"

Long'Er looked up with a puzzled frown, and he looked towards Li Xun, who nodded his head in agreement. Realized that he finally realized it.

"Oh," that's all he managed to say.

"You are a very brave young man" continued the queen.

"How's your sister's fate? I heard from my son that you also obtained the Heavenly Flower for your terminally ill sister."

"I-" Long'Er peered towards Li Xun, realizing that he suddenly looked confused and secretly talked to her to play around with her mother's story.

There was no doubt that he was trying to keep the beast and his home a secret, although he never told him the real details about his reason for living there. Why did he go so far to help her?

"A-he's fine," Long'Er exclaimed quickly.

"Better than ever."

"Son," the king's powerful voice caught his attention.

"You will be rewarded gold for your outstanding performance."

"Y-Your Majesty," she stuttered, confused.

"I'm not looking for a gift for this" But the imposing man interjected in the middle of his sentence. Gazing at his cold eyes, he made sure to say each word slowly and carefully.

"I don't accept rejection."

For the first time in his life, Long'Er had never seen someone exuding such a terrifying aura. He is a true king. Swallowing loudly, he replied calmly.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The queen sitting beside him placed her hands on his.

"Honey, stop scaring that poor boy," she reprimanded her husband, before returning to Long'Er with a beaming smile.

"Receive our gratitude for helping our son. I hope you will stay by his side and serve him well. He still behaves like a child and is very reckless."

"Mother," lamented Li Xun. A little red creeping around his neck.

"I don't behave like that!"

"Then why haven't I got a daughter-in-law ?!" The words accusing her mother caught her off guard.

"That-" The prince stammered nervously, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"I'll think about it, I promise."

"Fine, son," the king said to the annoyed Li Xun.

"I'll soon be abdicating from this throne."

"I know, Dad." Seeing the three of them talking about the prince's affairs, Long'Er remained silent and thoughtful. He felt a hint of jealousy, yet at the same time, a sorrowful pain hit him deep in his heart. Is this the look of a whole family?

For two whole weeks, Long'Er had to undergo mandatory training along with several other people who had just been recruited to be part of the Crown Prince's security team. The team consists of forty people who will be divided into two teams, each taking a turn for day and night shifts. From what Captain Ling Yao shared with them, the prince had always been the target of the enemy.