“The insolence of that woman!”

The speaker was the proud Lady Bidao. Her cheeks were flushed and her arms were crossed over her chest as she strode down the path with her friend at her side. “How dare she speak to us in such a manner!”

Shian nodded. “It was very rude of her. I should speak with His Majesty and see that she is punished.”

A little bit of color drained from Bidao’s cheeks. “Perhaps we shouldn’t. Those brats may side with her, after all, and there was His Majesty’s grandson among them.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Shian mused with a deep sigh.

Bidao bumped her elbow against her friend’s arm. “Of course I’m right. When have I ever been wrong?”

Shian laughed and looped her arms around one of her companion’s limbs to lead her on a righthand path. “There was that time you told me Lord Eastwei liked very salty meat.”

“I had that on good authority that he did!” Bidao insisted. “But why ever bring that up?”

“I served him salty meat at my banquet just the other day,” Shian told her.

“And?”

“He hardly touched it and even Prince Yushir couldn’t finish the meat.”

Bidao wrinkled her nose. “Yes, well, perhaps his appetite was off that day. You should make it up to him in some way. Perhaps redressing his palace?”

Shian sighed. “If only it was that easy. He seems to loathe things being moved about. I tried to move his desk closer to an open window and he immediately told me to stop.”

“Things will change once you marry him,” Bidao assured her.

The idea perked up her friend. “Do you think so?”

“Don’t you?” Bidao countered.

Shian smiled and squeezed her arm. “There’s only one way to find out. Hurry on now!”

She pulled her down the path and they found their way through the gardens to a shaded corner of a three-way intersection. Stairs led up the center path while the other two were just a continuation of each other. A gurgling brook ran along the left of the path and flowed through a dam of rocks behind which swam a few fish. Shian guided her friend over to a bench that stood near a large boulder and seated them.

Lady Bidao looked around at the simple patches of grass and the flowing brook and wrinkled her nose. “Why have we stopped here in this out-of-the-way place?”

Shian lifted her chin and smiled. “No reason.”

Her companion’s eyes lit up and a smile slipped onto her lips. “Oh, I see. Might I guess that a certain handsome lord passes by here?”

Shian turned her face away but couldn’t hide the upturned corners of her mouth. “Perhaps.”

Bidao laughed. “You are so mischievous, Lady Shian! How did you ever learn that he frequented such a desolate spot? There is hardly a soul to be found around here and all the banquet halls are far away.”

“One of my maids glimpsed him reclining on the couch over there,” Shian revealed as she leaned forward and nodded at a wooden reclining bench situated under a tree. The bench sat only a few feet from the water and was surrounded by a bed of grass and flowers. Their seat was mostly hidden from view by the boulder. “I instructed them to watch over the spot for several months and they discovered that he frequented the bench several times a week.”

“But you have yet to meet him here?” Bidao guessed.

Shian squirmed in her seat. “True, but I brought you here as my good luck charm. After all, you survived the horrors of that mortal realm for a whole week.”

Bidao leaned back and wrinkled her nose. “Yes. I must admit the description of those villages as ‘quaint’ was greatly exaggerated. They were terribly backward. Do you know, each house had its own kitchen?”

Shian lifted an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Because many homes did not have maidservants to cook for them so the woman did it with her little brats racing about her,” Bidao revealed. “It was so common that I was loathe to stay in a town that did not have a reputable inn for fear of eating out of such a-”

“Ssh!” Shian hissed as she ducked back.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

They fell silent and could hardly hear the soft pad of boots on the stone walk. A rustle of robes was heard and then all was quiet. Bidao risked leaning forward and glimpsed the great lord reclining on the bench. He leaned his temple against his cupped hand and his eyes were closed.

Shian squirmed in the seat beside her. The elder woman rolled her eyes. “Go on then!” she whispered as she gave her friend a push.

Shian glared at her but reluctantly stood. She brushed out the wrinkles in her robe and lifted her chin before strolling out of their hiding spot. The lord didn’t so much as twitch as she stepped through the flowers and arrived at the bench.

“What a coincidence finding you here, Dadan,” Shian spoke up.

Dadan opened his eyes and looked impassively at her. “Is it?”

She nodded. “Of course, but I must admit I did desire to see you alone.”

His eyes flickered toward the boulder. “Did you?”

Shian’s smile became a little shaky. “Yes. That is-” She took a seat on the bench at his feet and was perturbed when she didn’t find enough room. Her butt was forced to hang over just slightly but she managed to keep a stiff smile on her lips. “I wished to apologize for the banquet. I could see the meat was not up to your standards and I have come to beg you for a chance to make amends.”

His expression didn’t change in his reply. “Oh?”

She nodded. “Yes. I wish to cook you another meal and this time you may enjoy it at your own palace.”

A wonderful idea! Bidao inwardly squealed. Just the place to capture him!

Dadan closed his eyes. “There is no need for that.”

“But I insist!” Shian persisted as she turned to the side and bumped against his legs. He opened one eye to stare at her and she blushed before scooting away from his leg. “You must allow me to show you how sincerely sorry I am for serving such terrible food.”

He closed his eye. “The tea was enough compensation.”

Her eyes widened. “Truly? Did you enjoy it that much?”

He nodded. “Very.”

She bit her lower lip. “I-I see.”

“Perhaps you might make some for me another time,” he suggested.

She plastered a smile on her face. “O-of course. I would be only too happy.” She stood and bowed lower to him. “If you’ll excuse me.”

Shian spun on her heels and hurried away around the far side of the boulder. Bidao stood and was just in time to have her hand grabbed by her friend. She was whisked away from the lord and back down the path from which they’d arrived.

“What is the matter with you?” Bidao whined as she stumbled along behind her quick-footed friend. “You had him in your grasp and you let him go!”

They had traveled far out of earshot of the lord, so Shian stopped with her back to her friend. She grasped the front of her robe. “I cannot grant him his wish.”

Bidao lifted an eyebrow. “Why not?”

Shian spun around and revealed her discomforted expression. “Because I did not make the tea.”

Her friend shrugged. “Why does that matter? Have it made by your servant again.”

Shian shook her head. “You do not understand. I do not know who made the tea.”

Bidao blinked at her. “Come again?”

The young goddess paced the path in front of her companion and threw up her arms. “I cannot find the person who made the tea! Whoever it was is not a member of my household nor can I find that anyone was in the kitchen that day to slip in that sweet flavoring!”

“That is most mysterious,” Bidao commented as she folded her arms over her chest.

“Mysterious and frustrating!” Shian snapped as she stopped and balled her hands into quivering fists at her sides. She stomped her foot. “It would be all he would desire, too! Just my luck!”

Bidao sheepishly smiled. “I suppose I failed you as your charm.”

Shian shut her eyes and let out a long, trembling breath. She opened them and pursed her lips. “I must find who crafted that drink and make them show me how they did it.” She grabbed her friend’s hand and tugged her down the walk. “We must hurry before Dadan’s taste for the tea grows cold!”