Crisis averted.

Who knew that giving someone a smack-down and threatening severe bodily harm could get someone to act right?

After Yeonha politely escorted Monty out, some staff members came to clean the room, replace the tablecloth, and... take Tyvan’s order.

He asked for two of everything on the menu.

--and he meant it.

There was still blood on the floor where Yeonha planted Monty’s face.

That Yeonha was different from the harmless, innocent-faced, talk-about-nonsense Yeonha. That Yeonha was a lot stronger than she looked... and a little scary.

But... that’s just how things were in ❴The Kingdom❵. She and all her coworkers had to have at least the ability to defend themselves-- and from threats way worse than a wealthy and pretentious young master.

Oh! That reminded her~

There was one more person in her Kingdom family that she had yet to meet. They called her Empress. And whenever someone talked about her-- whether it was Bishop, Raia, or Tyvan, it was with a lot of respect.

Was that... Yeonha’s secret identity?

The little redheaded Korean girl sat next to Tyvan, happily transferring dumplings to her plate.

Or...... maybe it was Heidi?

Shay sat between her and Tyvan at the table.

Supernaturally blonde, mysterious, and full of ethereal wisdom; she sat with her back straight, sipping her tea with her pinky outstretched.

HmMmm. Very Empress-like behavior~

That very much implied that Heidi was actually super-scary if someone pissed her off.

And that would... actually be really cool! Shay loved Heidi.

Before Monty got forced to kowtow, Tyvan looked like he was about to break him in half. But with that issue resolved, he was...

Well-- Tyvan was a different person when he had food in front of him.

He led the table conversation, all about the food and the ingredients used and... cooking hacks? Heidi made some positive comments about the vegetables and Yeonha made little happy noises when Tyvan asked to respond.

Tyvan even ordered more.

Oof. Shay was already super-full, though. She noticed Yeonha slowing down too.

How was Heidi doing?

She gently nudged she who may or may not have been Empress.

“You doing okay?”

“Hmm...” Heidi closed her eyes. “I’m sure they tried their best with the tea.”

“No, I mean-- with the... you know.”

The deep blue of Heidi’s eyes shone with sudden passion. “Oh, that boy was so rude. Did you hear the things he said?”

Shay smiled politely. That wasn’t what she was referring to, but that was fine.

“He had some ability,” Tyvan said. “His confidence was not without reason.”

“T’was more arrogance than confidence, Mister Valorum,” Heidi countered. “Considering the latter, I harken back to a meeting with a very capable young man, some years ago.”

Tyvan, a perfect picture of gentlemanly charm, took a moment to refill Heidi’s teacup. “I’d imagine that young man was far more polite.”

“He’s always been such a distinguished and handsome gentleman,” Heidi said, fluttering her eyelashes.

The way she said it made it sound like she wanted to pinch Tyvan’s cheeks.

“Ah, you must be talking about me,” Tyvan replied.

He had on the barest hint of a smile. Just that was enough to make Shay’s heart pump in her ear canals.

She-- she wanted to say something! She wanted to tell Tyvan he was handsome too!

Yes!

She was going to say it!

She opened her mouth to speak-- but Yeonha spoke first.

“Boss... muscle. Jiang... cute face.”

“Hm. You think so?” Tyvan replied.

“Muscles better,” Yeonha said, smiling wide.

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Heidi leaned toward Tyvan. “You also seem to think highly of him, Mister Valorum.”

“He has potential,” Tyvan nodded. “Perhaps we can cultivate that into something more.”

Shay raised her hand. “Wait, what?”

“Training,” Yeonha added.

Was she suggesting that-- with Monty? No! Why?!

“Indeed,” Tyvan said. “We can train him. I surmise Mister Jiang has a background in martial arts.”

‘I have a background in martial arts, too,’ Shay said... in her heart.

Heidi pressed her hands together, practically beaming. “Oh, I just read a study about hibiscus extract. I’d love to see the effects a tea would have on weight loss.”

“Thy expertise would be most invaluable,” Tyvan said, bowing politely.

Shay wanted to lose weight too! She just knew she was getting fat, snacking with Yeonha and Tyvan all the time.

“T’was a most auspicious meeting,” Tyvan said. “I look forward to seeing Mister Jiang again in the near future.”

--but Shay didn’t want to see that person ever again~!!!

----------------------------------------

Shay was almost late to school on Tuesday.

She spent too long in the shower thinking about the day before... imagining things she could have/would have/should have said to Tyvan. She acted out her best lines, delivering them with burning determination and steamy passion. But after her award-winning performances, she had to run to make it through the school gates on time.

Due to Grandpa’s training, that wasn’t too difficult... but sitting sweaty and gross through first-period was exceedingly uncomfortable.

Classes ended without anything crazy happening. As she walked through the hallways, she did spot Brett and the members of the car club.

They avoided her like she had a contagious disease.

Monty wasn’t with them. Maybe they’d learned he was a bad influence? Or maybe they had a falling out after Brett and the others abandoned him at the Royal Sun Palace.

Shay walked back to the Elysian Heights, still trying to get Tyvan’s excited face out of her mind. She didn’t think that red-haired guy had any good points... even if Tyvan, Yeonha, and Heidi seemed to think so.

Or... maybe Tyvan didn’t think Monty was that special. At the time, he had food in front of him, so he would have been excited anyway.

But anyway, that Tuesday was her dad’s day off from work. He was going to get a home visit, whether he liked it or not.

Shay changed into casual clothing-- jeans and her zip-up hoodie, then happily skipped across the courtyard to the front office. She took a moment, appreciating the scents of the woodsy decor, the dizzying intricacy of the rugs, and the majesty of the ebony sphinx statue at the entrance.

Tyvan’s secretary, Miss Raia Latorre, sat at the front desk, working tirelessly, as usual. Dark-haired, dark-tattooed, and dark-clothed, she pored through paperwork with a somber expression.

She spoke without looking up. “If you’re here to steal from the office fridge, lay off the Rocky Road.”

Shay smiled innocently. “I wouldn’t dare. I’m just here to use the ⌈Sigilla⌋.”

Due to a crazy coincidence, the ⌈Sigilla⌋ in the front office connected to the very complex Dad lived.

Raia looked up, raising her eyebrows and the spherical pins clipped into them.

“You slacking off, Shay? Even PC’s been working lately-- weird, I know.”

She was talking about her brother, Prince Charming Latorre. He was a coworker-- and he was awesome.

“I already told Yeonha she was on her own today. I made plans to hang out with my dad.”

“Your dad?” Raia said. Her brown-eyed gaze seemed to soften, but she frowned almost immediately. “Did you get him a gift?”

Shay looked away before composing herself. She waved her hand in front of her chest and bowed super-formally. “Me. I’m the gift.”

Raia rolled her eyes. “Don’t copy my brother-- it’ll rot your brain. Wait right here.”

She got up and walked into the break room, leaving the door open.

Shay looked around the office, looking for something to amuse herself. The old Italian globe next to the desk attracted her attention. She really wanted to spin it. Last time she did, though, Tyvan stopped it and tightened a screw on the side.

So... that should have made it safe to spin it properly.

“Don’t touch anything,” called Raia through the open door.

“Yes, ma’am,” Shay replied obediently.

Not long after, Raia came back out carrying a wicker basket full of fruits, placing it on the desk.

Lychees, dragon fruit, a pomelo, and a bunch of other stuff-- it was a traditional Chinese gift with a lot of symbolism. Raia had done her research.

“This is what we usually send to our tailor after an order,” she explained. Suddenly, she rolled her eyes and groaned. “Ughhh. That reminds me. We have to make an appointment-- to get you fitted? You’ll need a suit and jacket to wear for Kingdom matters.”

“Is that... really necessary?” Shay asked, “I don’t really plan on... y’know, beating up hotel executives.”

Raia bared her teeth. “Better to be safe than get a few new scars. Consider this an order from Boss, not me.”

Shay’s eyes drifted to Raia’s mouth... at the faded scar that ran from her chin to her lips. There was a story behind it that she didn’t know... and maybe didn’t want to.

“Got it.”

She looked through the gift basket... and took out the bottle of booze. Dad would have liked that the most, but she didn’t like when he drank-- even on his off-days.

Oh, and there was also a red envelope that contained a gift card to a steakhouse. She could use that to take her dad out!

“Raia~ Can I hug you right now?”

Miss Latorre recoiled in disgust-- which hurt Shay’s feelings a little.

“Air hug,” Raia said, “I am really gross from sweat, right now.”

Oh. That was reasonable-- and she knew the feeling. She shared a no-touching hug with her favorite, sweaty goth girl.

“Thank Tyvan for me,” Shay said, “Where is he, by the way?”

“He’s busy,” Raia said as she sat back down, “and so am I.”

She turned her attention back to her paperwork while making a shooing motion with her hand.

Shay chuckled to herself. Raia’s actions always meant more than her words.

--and to test that theory, Say put her hands together to make a heart.

Raia did it back-- even without looking. P-erfect.

Shay smiled as she opened the office window. “I’ll see you later, Raia!”