Chapter 32

"Let's go, Jongsu."

I'm so annoyed with the whole situation. How Danielle could even act so dismissively about everything and still want to retaliate when she knows she's wrong. Deciding to see if Khelani knows anything about it, I search for the old room we used to share. Walking in, our old Butler, now Khelani's Butler, oversees the maid staff as they change the bedsheets and clear dishes.

"Do you guys only clean once a day?" The disdain in my voice seems to agitate the Butler. Though it's only evident by the raised brow before he bows to me.

"No, My Lady. We clean up after every meal."

"Then, why are there so many dishes?" I gesture towards the stack on the cart being rolled out.

"That's not any of my business. If you'll excuse us." He snaps his fingers, and all the maids bow to me as they head out of the room.

"What's that about?" My brows crease as I face Jongsu, who just shrugs. "By the way, where have you been disappearing off to?"

Sitting at the table, I grab one of the Mung Bean cakes left on the table. It's one of my favorites here. Kind of like a sweet cake with sweet bean filling. I know it sounds weird, but it's so good. These are stamped with dragons on them.

"I have been catching up with Kinta. Until recently, anyway. Khelani has asked him to stay close to her until that State official leaves."

"Hmm… I see… Who is Khelani spending time with?"

"Ah… that…" Jongsu shifts, uncomfortable, then gives me an apologetic smile. "I promised her I wouldn't say. However, I am sure someone here will be willing to tell you."

"Why are you prying, Astari? You know you could just ask me directly." Khelani walks in.

She seems to have changed clothes, but when and where? She walked in from her main door, not the bathroom. She sits across from me and grabs a cake as well. Raising a brow, she laughs at my annoyance.

"Then, who is it?"

"Kinta, you guys can go. I don't plan to leave for a while. I'll message you when I am ready." Khelani dismisses our guard and then stares at me for a long while.

"What?" I feel my face heat up. Khelani's eyes begin to change to suspicion.

"What did you do?" She asks.

"What are you talking about? Don't change the subject. I was talking about you. Who was here with you?"

"Hmm…" She side-eyes me before grabbing another cake. "I invited Lord Shi over."

"Wait, wait, wait. You mean you slept with him? Is that even wise?"

"Who said I slept with him? Seriously Astari? What do you take me for?" Khelani's indignation is evident in her voice.

"Well, why did they change the sheets?"

"Oh, I just wanted them changed. I haven't slept with anyone here." Her demeanor turned to one of despondency.

"You seem… disappointed." I try prying. "You want to sleep with Lord Shi?"

"Well, initially. He refuses." She pouts before going to her bathroom.

I follow her and watch as she sits at the vanity. I take the brush from her hand and begin brushing the braids out of her hair.

"Initially? And why did he refuse? How long has this been going on?" I cannot help but be nosy.

"Hmm… I met Lord Shi a while back when I was on set. I didn't know he was a part of the Yaotián syndicate. I still don't know why he was there, though. Well, that's when I first approached him. He just dismissed me. You know I like a good challenge. So I just kept flirting with him."

"He didn't fall for you?" I am stunned. She never has had anyone tell her no before.

"No. The crazy part is Lord Shi would let me flirt with him but then turn and walk away. Like he was just indulging a child. Used to piss me off."

"So then, how did he end up in here?"

"Oh, well… I don't know. Lord Shi showed up in the medical ward while I was treating his brother. At the time, I didn't know Lord Xin was his brother. I was treating him because he needed to be seen, and everyone else was busy with Prince Jaidan and Lord Aiden. Lord Shi seemed just as surprised as I was when he walked into the room. I just gave him the report on his brother. Before I was about to leave, Prince Xaoi-He walked in, and I left them alone and found you with Danielle."

"Ok, but how did he end up here?"

"Oh yea, sorry, he came and found me again with his brother. I guess it was after the meeting officially ended. He seemed agitated but didn't say anything. I invited him to eat with me. He finally agreed. And that's how he ended up here." She took the brush from me and began re-braiding her hair.

"You guys didn't do anything?"

"Really, Astari? We didn't do anything. He told me he won't do anything with someone he wasn't married to. I don't want to get married. Not right now, anyway. Besides, according to Wen YunChi, Lord Shi cannot marry until he marries someone." She slams the brush down and stands. "Why does he have to be so old school?" I don't have the heart to tell her that he slept with others. But maybe he's like Prince Xaoi-He and refuses to sleep with ladies unless he's married to them. So I just nod, backing up so she can move away from the vanity.

"Forget him. Did you know that Wen YunChi and Hyun-Ki are in a relationship?" Khelani informs me.

"They are what? What about Prince Lee? Our brother wouldn't double dip. Would he?"

"I don't know. I didn't mention Prince Lee. But Wen YunChi said they've been dating for a few years now. I didn't even know our brother… Well, whatever. I decided I am going to stay out of it." Khelani goes back to the room and collapses on her bed.

"Hmm… I think we should at least hear from Hyun-Ki. I agree to stay out of it, but I also don't want to be blindsided. I am glad you met him first. I would have probably said something. How did you even meet him?" I admit as I lay on the bed next to her.

"Yea, maybe. I don't know where he is, though. I just went to see Prince Lee, but Hyun-Ki wasn't there. Prince Lee seemed annoyed, so I didn't say or press the issue. As for how I met Wen YunChi, he showed up in my room looking for Lord Shi. Anyway, I was about to go see Ellie. Want to come with me?"

"No. I would rather not. I think I will find Hyun-Ki." Something in my voice must have alerted her. Khelani sits up quick, and she watches my face.

"Why are you mad at her?"

"I'm not angry, just disappointed."

"But why?"

"You know what she did to those women, don't you? Then they were all killed to protect her. Now she wants to retaliate because of what one did to her. It's her fault she ended up in that position in the first place."

"So…how do you know what she did?" Khelani is scrutinizing my face. It's obvious she guessed it.

"You already know how I know. I can see it on your face. Why are you going to make me say it?"

"I see… well. Ellie indeed did things with them. I also cannot say I fully agree with her. It's just it was all one-sided. Ellie did things to them, but they didn't do anything to her. She also didn't do anything with them. In reality, they wanted to reciprocate the pleasure Ellie gave them back to her. Then they would get angry when Ellie wouldn't let them. Ellie never even kissed them. I cannot say I haven't done something similar, so I have no place to judge her. However, she never physically hurt anyone. There was no reason for Stephanie to do what she did." Khelani defends Danielle. I don't like the idea that my own sister did this too.

"You and Danielle?" I ask for clarification

"Eeew, no. She's like my sister, just like you are. Ellie would never. Besides, I have never been with a girl. Do you have any idea what Stephanie did to her?"

"No… Just that Ellie's tongue has holes in it. But they are closing up, so it's fine. She can even speak to me now."

"Oh? Can she talk? That's great!" Khelani seemed really happy.

"How come neither of you told me about the secretaries?"

"Oh, I just found out a couple days ago. I wanted to know why Prince Lee and our Brother had to go and kill all her secretaries. Ellie said she didn't give the order and only found out when I told her. That's when I asked her what they did, and she finally told me."

"And you were just ok with it?"

"Hmm… I didn't have an opinion. It's not like Ellie will do anything like that again. Prince Myom-Li would have a fit." We both laugh. "How did you know what happened?"

"Kurtis….showed me…." I can feel myself blush as Khelani begins to smirk before outright laughing.

"Hmm… well, that means you still have a bit of learning before you catch up with me."

"Who's trying to catch up with you?" I shove her off the bed, and she laughs as she hits the floor. "Anyway, so are you saying Lord Shi proposed to you?"

"No. Lord Shi said he doesn't have sex with someone who isn't his wife. I asked if Lord Shi had a wife, and he said no. Wen YunChi laughed."

"Ok fine, then, last question. Why did you change clothes?"

"Oh, Wen YunChi is mischievous. He reminds me of that guy earlier. Park Zixin. He tripped the maid, bringing juice, causing it to splash on Shi and me. They left, and I showered. I had the sheets changed because I wasn't sure if it got on them."

"Then why didn't you just say that earlier?"

"How do I explain it, though? I feel like Wen YunChi did this purposefully so people would misunderstand the situation. Anyway, let's go find our brother. I want to know what the relationship truly is and when he started dating men." Khelani grabs my hand and drags me out of the room.

Author's Note:

Welcome Back My Alliance Family. Khelani seems to have a crush. Astari is still indignant. Poor innocent little bean.

SieyaSigningOut