Mark stared at her for a while, calculating the pros and cons. She patiently waited in silence until he opened his mouth, "Before I give you my answer, I should tell it to someone else."
Shen Ling didn't have to think hard to understand who that someone is. She told him that she will wait for his answer, feeling positive in her mind.
Soon, they got out of the treasury room and parted ways.
While the princess went to the king's chamber to give good news to her father, Mark went to Song Yue's room.
He didn't reveal anything about his conversation with Shen Ling or about the hidden treasure but only informed her that he was considering marriage to the princess.
Song Yue's face was frozen for a moment before she turned away to hide her expression from him and simply replied, "I'm happy for you."
Mark was probably still hoping for her to express her rejection so that he gets a hint that she likes him. He didn't leave right away and continued to engage in the conversation while walking toward her, "Are you really fine with this? Then, why are you looking away?"
As he grabbed her arm and make her face him, he saw tears fill her eyes and before he speaks anymore, she raised her hand to show the scroll in her hand.
Mark took the scroll and opened it.
"Hmm? This is a letter." Mark read it from start to the finish and frowned as he looked back at her, "What are you implying?"
According to the letter, Song Yue's mother had returned to her maternal home, and just a few days ago, her uncle apologized to her on his knees for the betrayal from the elders and requested her to return for the sake of the dignity of the clan. After all, she is a daughter-in-law of the Song Clan. In the end, she forgave him.
Song Yue replied slowly while looking down at the floor, "I got this letter when you are at Mt. Jizu. No matter how bad my father turned out to be, I used to feel safe by his side. You are the second person I felt like that. I know that I'm nothing but a burden to you. Still, I acted selfishly because I think I'm happy at our home... I mean... your residence.
And now that I see that you have a bright future ahead, I realized that I shouldn't hold you back. Don't worry about me and take every decision that benefits your life."
By the time she finished her words, tears were already running down her cheek and she wiped them off to turn away from him.
Mark stood there on the spot, stunned by her words. He came here to say about his marriage and ended up listening to something else.
He turned around in a daze and left the room without responding to her words.
Mark locked his door and sat on the bed, grabbing his head. "Just what in the hell just happened earlier? Song Yue will leave me? But why? Isn't she happy at the store? Maybe, she doesn't want to work? No, that's not it. Was she against this marriage, perhaps? No, I don't think so. After all, she is the one who gave an okay to this marriage in the first place? Then, why? A burden, huh? Was I too good to her that she felt that she was useless or something? Then, is it my fault? Ugh... I just don't want to think anything..."
Mark collapsed on the bed, feeling that his brain is getting heated by numerous thoughts.
And when he closed his eyes, Mark started to think of his memories with Song Yue. Unknowingly, a smile appeared on his face and it stayed until the end.
He suddenly opened his eyes as realization dawned upon him. Sitting on the bed, he shook his head with a smile, "Mark, you are finished..."
A few hours later, at the dining hall;
"yeah, I know that" "C'mon, King Shen. Those are trade secrets." "Really? I didn't expect Mr. Zhu has such a sense of humor, hahaha"
Everyone was eating, looking rather delighted except for Song Yue and the current Queen. Both of them were uncomfortable for various reasons.
Shen Ling was observing her guests as she chatted with them, and she found Mark was laughing a bit more than necessary and Song Yue was a bit too silent.
It was clear that she was sad but why Mark is too happy? Because he was marrying her? The princess didn't think so. She wondered what happened.
She wasn't the only person who thought that way. Even Song Yue wondered why Mark is too happy. Is it because she was leaving and he was free of the burden? She became sadder.
After finishing dinner, she didn't even bother to wait for Mark and left for her room. She decided to part ways with Mark when he was about to leave for the port city.
Meanwhile, Mark didn't talk to her at all and he comfortably finished his dinner. After a while, Shen Ling was seen escorting Mark to his room. On the way, they were silent for a while and she decided to poke into his business, all of a sudden. "It looked like something happened between the two of you. Was she against our marriage or something?"
Mark didn't reveal the details of his conversation with his fiancée and simply answered, "I haven't given my answer to you, yet."
"But, your actions are indicating that you are willing, though," countered the princess.
Mark shrugged off his shoulders, "even then, I still have yet to give my official reply to your father. Until then, you should refrain from mentioning it."
"So, you didn't tell her yet? Should I talk to her?" The princess acted a lot casually compared to the afternoon. It was as if she had suddenly become close friends with him.
Since Mark had decided to marry the princess already, he didn't try to stay distant from her and asked a question in return, "do you know the popular sites in the city?"
*
It was around midnight. Everyone else in the city is sleeping but Mark was just staring at the ceiling while keeps looking at his pocket watch every few minutes.
The night was over and the dawn arrived.
Mark had a shower and wore new clothes before getting out of the room and going to Song Yue's room.
There are a couple of soldiers stationed outside for her security but they didn't stop him from knocking on the door, obviously.
He kept on knocking until the door was opened and saw the lady.
Song Yue's face didn't look good at the moment. Her eyes were red and her face was too pale as if she was sick.
"Are you alright?" Mark asked in worry as he raised his hand to touch her forehead. Fortunately, it is normal and he sighed in relief.
Meanwhile, Song Yue was a little bit taken aback as she didn't even expect him to care about her and backed away a step by reflex, "yeah, I'm fine."
Looking straight at her, Mark then said, "We are going out to someplace. Go and change."
"Eh?" Song Yue was slightly surprised, "where?" She asked.
"Do you trust me?" Mark responded with a question. To which, Song Yue nodded twice, "more than anyone."
"Then, go and freshen up. I will wait for you."
Mark stared at her for a while, calculating the pros and cons. She patiently waited in silence until he opened his mouth, "Before I give you my answer, I should tell it to someone else."
Shen Ling didn't have to think hard to understand who that someone is. She told him that she will wait for his answer, feeling positive in her mind.
Soon, they got out of the treasury room and parted ways.
While the princess went to the king's chamber to give good news to her father, Mark went to Song Yue's room.
He didn't reveal anything about his conversation with Shen Ling or about the hidden treasure but only informed her that he was considering marriage to the princess.
Song Yue's face was frozen for a moment before she turned away to hide her expression from him and simply replied, "I'm happy for you."
Mark was probably still hoping for her to express her rejection so that he gets a hint that she likes him. He didn't leave right away and continued to engage in the conversation while walking toward her, "Are you really fine with this? Then, why are you looking away?"
As he grabbed her arm and make her face him, he saw tears fill her eyes and before he speaks anymore, she raised her hand to show the scroll in her hand.
Mark took the scroll and opened it.
"Hmm? This is a letter." Mark read it from start to the finish and frowned as he looked back at her, "What are you implying?"
According to the letter, Song Yue's mother had returned to her maternal home, and just a few days ago, her uncle apologized to her on his knees for the betrayal from the elders and requested her to return for the sake of the dignity of the clan. After all, she is a daughter-in-law of the Song Clan. In the end, she forgave him.
Song Yue replied slowly while looking down at the floor, "I got this letter when you are at Mt. Jizu. No matter how bad my father turned out to be, I used to feel safe by his side. You are the second person I felt like that. I know that I'm nothing but a burden to you. Still, I acted selfishly because I think I'm happy at our home... I mean... your residence.
And now that I see that you have a bright future ahead, I realized that I shouldn't hold you back. Don't worry about me and take every decision that benefits your life."
By the time she finished her words, tears were already running down her cheek and she wiped them off to turn away from him.
Mark stood there on the spot, stunned by her words. He came here to say about his marriage and ended up listening to something else.
He turned around in a daze and left the room without responding to her words.
Mark locked his door and sat on the bed, grabbing his head. "Just what in the hell just happened earlier? Song Yue will leave me? But why? Isn't she happy at the store? Maybe, she doesn't want to work? No, that's not it. Was she against this marriage, perhaps? No, I don't think so. After all, she is the one who gave an okay to this marriage in the first place? Then, why? A burden, huh? Was I too good to her that she felt that she was useless or something? Then, is it my fault? Ugh... I just don't want to think anything..."
Mark collapsed on the bed, feeling that his brain is getting heated by numerous thoughts.
And when he closed his eyes, Mark started to think of his memories with Song Yue. Unknowingly, a smile appeared on his face and it stayed until the end.
He suddenly opened his eyes as realization dawned upon him. Sitting on the bed, he shook his head with a smile, "Mark, you are finished..."
A few hours later, at the dining hall;
"yeah, I know that" "C'mon, King Shen. Those are trade secrets." "Really? I didn't expect Mr. Zhu has such a sense of humor, hahaha"
Everyone was eating, looking rather delighted except for Song Yue and the current Queen. Both of them were uncomfortable for various reasons.
Shen Ling was observing her guests as she chatted with them, and she found Mark was laughing a bit more than necessary and Song Yue was a bit too silent.
It was clear that she was sad but why Mark is too happy? Because he was marrying her? The princess didn't think so. She wondered what happened.
She wasn't the only person who thought that way. Even Song Yue wondered why Mark is too happy. Is it because she was leaving and he was free of the burden? She became sadder.
After finishing dinner, she didn't even bother to wait for Mark and left for her room. She decided to part ways with Mark when he was about to leave for the port city.
Meanwhile, Mark didn't talk to her at all and he comfortably finished his dinner. After a while, Shen Ling was seen escorting Mark to his room. On the way, they were silent for a while and she decided to poke into his business, all of a sudden. "It looked like something happened between the two of you. Was she against our marriage or something?"
Mark didn't reveal the details of his conversation with his fiancée and simply answered, "I haven't given my answer to you, yet."
"But, your actions are indicating that you are willing, though," countered the princess.
Mark shrugged off his shoulders, "even then, I still have yet to give my official reply to your father. Until then, you should refrain from mentioning it."
"So, you didn't tell her yet? Should I talk to her?" The princess acted a lot casually compared to the afternoon. It was as if she had suddenly become close friends with him.
Since Mark had decided to marry the princess already, he didn't try to stay distant from her and asked a question in return, "do you know the popular sites in the city?"
*
It was around midnight. Everyone else in the city is sleeping but Mark was just staring at the ceiling while keeps looking at his pocket watch every few minutes.
The night was over and the dawn arrived.
Mark had a shower and wore new clothes before getting out of the room and going to Song Yue's room.
There are a couple of soldiers stationed outside for her security but they didn't stop him from knocking on the door, obviously.
He kept on knocking until the door was opened and saw the lady.
Song Yue's face didn't look good at the moment. Her eyes were red and her face was too pale as if she was sick.
"Are you alright?" Mark asked in worry as he raised his hand to touch her forehead. Fortunately, it is normal and he sighed in relief.
Meanwhile, Song Yue was a little bit taken aback as she didn't even expect him to care about her and backed away a step by reflex, "yeah, I'm fine."
Looking straight at her, Mark then said, "We are going out to someplace. Go and change."
"Eh?" Song Yue was slightly surprised, "where?" She asked.
"Do you trust me?" Mark responded with a question. To which, Song Yue nodded twice, "more than anyone."
"Then, go and freshen up. I will wait for you."
