《The Tale of the Lotus Heart》


 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1


    I always felt like I didn''t belong. No matter where I was, or what I did, I never really fit into anywhere.


    Growing up, I was an orphan the entire time. I grew up in group homes until I turned 18 years old, then


    I was just left to fend for myself. Finally finding a good paying job as a barista at the popr coffee


    shop was my life achievement. At 23 years old, the only interesting thing about me is the flower shaped


    red birthmark ced over my shoulder de on my back. I graduated high school as a mediocre


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    student, I didn''t get to go to college, and I could count the number of friends I had on one hand.


    Everything about me was simple. I didn''t have any special hobbies or interests, and my life was like


    clockwork. So suddenly catching the attention of a rich man''s son threw me off kilter.


    It started a few weeks before everything finally climaxed. I was taking orders like I would any other day,


    when Lucas Pratt walked into my coffee shop of all ces. I took his order as I normally would, but he


    didn''t leave the counter despite the line.


    "I''m Lucas Pratt, and you are?" He asked as he leaned against the counter. I knew about Lucas Pratt.


    He was the son of a millionaire. His dad apparently made a killing in stocks and used the money to


    start his ownpany, but why did he care who I was?


    "Your drink will be ready soon," I said politely before I went to make the drink.


    "What''s with that guy?" My coworker, Harper asked. I shrugged before making the drink and returning


    to the checkout counter. That was only the first day. He came back everyday he could for the next few


    weeks, demanding to know my name. I wasn''t stuck up or anything, but the arrogant manner in which


    he seemed to think no one could say no to him pissed me off.


    Everything climaxed a few weekster. Lucas was back and he was demanding the same thing he did


    every day, only this time it was during rush hour. The held up line was getting irritated with Lucas''


    tantrum as well, but the me was being put in me.


    "All you have to do is give me your name and number, and all of these lovely people can get their


    coffee and get back to their day," he smirked at me.


    "Mr. Pratt, you''re disturbing the other customers," I said nervously as I looked at the growing line. While


    I was distracted, Lucas grabbed my arm and brought me closer to him.


    "Or I could just grab your phone and get your information that way," he smirked.


    "Let me go!" I struggled against him. I was pulled forward and then released as someone pushed


    Lucas away. The motion made a sickening pope from my shoulder. I bit down on my lip from the


    pain.


    "Are you crazy?! Do you know who I am?" Lucas yelled at the culprit. I couldn''t see much, just the back


    of a man in a suit.


    "I don''t really care who you are. Frankly, who I am is much scarier, but that''s besides the point. You''re


    harassing thisdy so publicly. I could have you arrested. Sure, your father could set the bail for you... if


    he was okay with beingpletely humiliated by his own son. Think about your next move very


    carefully," the stranger said to Lucas. Lucas hesitated before ring at the stranger. I held my arm in


    ce as I waited for the result.


    "Just you wait," Lucas said before leaving. Harper tugged my shirt sleeve gently.


    "Go take a break. I''ve got the counter and Sarah will be clocking in soon. Go," Harper said. I held my


    shoulder gently as I came from behind the counter. I froze as my rescuer turned to face me. He


    seemed familiar, but I could swear that I''d never met him before. His styled dark hair, warm brown eyes


    and chiseled featured stopped me in my tracks and made me forget the pain in my shoulder briefly. My


    heart fluttered at the sight of him. I turned away quickly as my cheeks heated. The move made my


    shoulder hurt as I winced.


    "Are you okay?" The stranger asked me. I couldn''t move my arm. He stood in front of me and nced


    at my arm briefly.


    "It''s dislocated," he said.


    "Are you a doctor?" I asked. He smiled lightly before looking around.


    "I am actually, and your shoulder needs to be reset. Is there somece quiet we could go? It may hurt


    a bit to reset it," he said. I nodded and led him back to the employee changing room. He sat me down


    before touching my shoulder gently.


    "I''m Yong, by the way. Like Yang but with an -o," he said as he held my arm gently and propped a foot


    on the bench.


    "I''m Aivi. Like Ivy but spelled A-I-V-ah!"I yelled as Yong pulled my arm, making an audible pop.


    "I," Yong finished for me as he rotated my arm. It was still sore but at least I could move it now.


    "It''s meaning is ''always the one; forever''. I actually prefer that spelling," he said. He reached for my


    shoulder before hesitating.


    "Most people have never even heard of my name before. You seem familiar," I said.


    "I''ve known a lot of people," he said vaguely. "I need to inspect for bruising, but..." he started. I


    hesitated before I faced away from him and unbuttoned my shirt. Almost as soon as I finished with the


    buttons and slipped the shirt over my shoulder, a suit jacket was ced over my chest from behind.


    Even though the lights were dim already, I appreciated the gesture. Yong touched the area gently


    before sighing.


    "I should send you to the hospital to get it braced. Even though I set it back, it still needs a recovery


    period," he said. His hand hesitated on my shoulder de.


    "Your birthmark..." he muttered. I felt myself blush as I pulled my shirt back up.


    "The lotus," I sighed. "When I was younger, I was teased a lot for it by other kids. An olddy who often


    helped out at the home would often tell me that it''s a curse. She said I''ll lose my life at age 24, but I


    never took her seriously," I exined as I buttoned my shirt back. I stood and handed the suit jacket


    back to Yong.


    "Sorry, I''ve talked too much," I said. Yong stood and shook his head with a small smile.


    "It''s okay. In fact, it''s been a while since anyone has talked to me this long. Most people get intimidated


    and run off," he admitted.


    "Alright, let''s send you to the hospital for X-rays," he said as he draped his jacket over my shoulders. I


    clocked out before following Yong out of the coffee shop.

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2


    Yong''s POV


    I was minding my own business, getting a coffee on my break when I saw a man harassing a barista.


    Normally I wouldn''t get involved but I only had so much time for my break to start with. In this


    generation, I was a doctor, but I had really onlye down to y for a lifespan. I wasn''t a normal


    human being although I was parading around as one for the time being. In truth, I was an immortal from


    the Heavenly Realm. I was over 30,000 years old, but after certain events that happened 4,000 years


    ago, I idled around mostly these days.


    I intervened on the side of the barista when I saw the altercation getting physical. I had no other


    motives, I just wanted to deescte the situation, get my coffee, and head back to the hospital. But I


    wasn''t prepared to see who it was exactly I saved.


    Zyanya.


    No, it wasn''t Zyanya. Zyanya was dead. I watched her die 4,000 years ago to save me. This girl was


    just someone who looked exactly like her. Still, the resemnce was so uncanny, I couldn''t stop myself


    from helping her with her dislocated shoulder.


    "Your birthmark..." I muttered as my fingers brushed across her shoulder de. I knew that mark. It


    was the mark of the lotus heart. This girl Aivi, was surely the reincarnation of Zyanya. There was no


    other way to exin Aivi''s resemnce to her and the tie to me. She pulled her shirt back up with a


    little difficulty.


    "The lotus," she sighed. I was surprised she even recognized the flower. What else did she know? Did


    she have any memories of her previous life?


    "When I was younger, I was teased a lot for it by other kids. An olddy who often helped out at the


    home would often tell me that it''s a curse. She said I''ll lose my life at age 24, but I never took her


    seriously," she exined as she buttoned her shirt with her back facing me. She stood and handed my


    suit jacket back to me as a faint blush covered her cheeks.


    "Sorry, I''ve talked too much," she apologized. I could only shake my head with a small smile.


    "It''s okay. In fact, it''s been a while since anyone has talked to me this long. Most people get intimidated


    and run off," I admitted truthfully.


    "Alright, let''s send you to the hospital for X-rays," I said as I draped my jacket over her shoulders. Aivi


    couldn''t have known anything from Zyanya''s life. If she did, she would recognize me. Her knowing


    about the lotus birthmark was pure coincidence. She didn''t know what it truly meant. The lotus marked


    where the lotus heart was kept. If Aivi really had the lotus heart. It was usible that she wouldn''t live


    to see age 25. But from what I could sense, the lotus heart was dormant. I walked with Aivi the short


    distance to my ce of work, the hospital. After checking her in and getting her shoulder X-rayed I


    braced her shoulder and walked her out.


    "So you really are a doctor," she chuckled to herself as we walked out of the automated sliding doors. I


    smiled lightly and nodded.


    "I''m a doctor who''s shift is about to start again. If you have any questions, feel free to call," I said as I


    handed her one of my personal business cards. She looked it over before smiling at me.


    "I will. Thank you," she said before she turned to leave.


    "Aivi," I called to stop her. She stopped just before stepping into the road and turned to look at me. I


    scratched the back of my head nervously. I wasn''t purposefully trying to make her stay, I just didn''t want


    her to leave yet.


    "Would it be too presumptuous of me to want to see you again?" I asked. She hesitated before smiling


    at me.


    "I''ll call you," she promised before she left. I sighed before going back inside. In my office, my brother


    Tase was waiting on me. He came down with me from the Heavenly Realm to keep mepany. He


    was idly spinning in my chair when he noticed me. He perked to attention.


    "You look different; less depressed. What has you in such a good mood?" He asked. I sighed and sat in


    the chair across from him.


    "Zyanya was reborn. I just ran into her," I admitted. Tase stood out of the chair quickly as his eyes


    widened.


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    "She was reborn? I thought she wouldn''t reincarnate after the way she died. Her soul wasn''t destroyed


    back then? How do you know it''s her?" He asked in surprise. I understood his feelings though. It was a


    shock to me first too.


    "It''s her. Same look and temperament, but it gets worse. She has the lotus heart," I exined.


    "If that''s true-"


    "It''s dormant for now, but as soon as the lotus heart is activated, she''ll be in danger," I cut him off. He


    sighed before he sat back down in disbelief.


    "Zyanya really can''t get away from a fate that makes her suffer," Tase shook his head thoughtfully.


    "I''ll protect her. I don''t want her to die again," I spoke my thoughts.


    "But she''s a mortal for the time being. Mortals are fragile. She''ll eventually die of something. It''s one


    hundred years alive, if they''re lucky," Tase felt the need to remind me. Of course, I already knew all of


    this.


    "As long as I preserve her essence and the lotus heart, she''ll live," I replied. Tase sighed beforeing


    around my desk and patting me on the shoulder.


    "Your star-crossed fate with Zyanya is really tragic. You know she''s going to die and many will be after


    her lotus heart, yet you still hold on to her. Maybe it''s time to let her go," Tase advised.


    "The legend of the lotus heart has still yet to be proven. I don''t believe that killing her for the lotus heart


    to rule the realms is the only way," I argued.


    "Regardless of if it''s true or not, everyone believes it. Why fight it when you already know how this


    ends?" He asked. I rubbed a hand over my face as the wheels in my brain started spinning. I needed to


    protect Aivi. If nothing else, to repay her for saving me back then.


    "It hasn''t ended yet," I reminded him.

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3


    Aivi''s POV


    I couldn''t stop thinking about Yong. why did he feel so familiar? Why did I trust him immediately? Why


    was I sofortable around him? Days passed. I went back to my job, working only the register until I


    was cleared to take my arm out of its brace. Lucas didn''t show up again. Thankfully Yong thoroughly


    scared him off. Harper, my only friend and roommate, pestered me constantly trying to get me to tell


    her about Yong but I kept my mouth shut for some reason. I felt that before I got a chance to figure him


    out for myself, it was best not to involve anyone else.


    "Why don''t you just call him?" Harper said after catching me staring at his business card again in the


    changing room after a shift. I sighed and set the card down beside me.


    "He could''ve just been being nice to me. He''s a doctor. He saves people all the time. He probably


    doesn''t even remember me," I spoke my thoughts honestly. Harper chuckled as her phone rang on


    speaker.


    "Talk to him and you''ll find out," she said with a smirk. My eyes widened as I stood quickly. I didn''t even


    see her take the card, but yet, she was already dialing his number.


    "Harper!" I tried to take the phone from her but she sessfully kept it out of my reach.


    "Hello?" Yong''s voice came through the phone.


    "Hi, Yong. This isnt my phone, but this is Aivi. The girl who got her shoulder reset in a coffee shop


    changing room," I said awkwardly.


    "I remember. But if this isn''t your phone, are you okay? Are you in trouble somewhere?" He asked


    seriously. I felt my cheeks blush in embarrassment.


    "No, I''m fine!" I said quickly. "My coworker, Harper, let me use her phone to call you because my phone


    has been broken," I lied instinctively. Harper was having a hard time holding in her giggles as she


    finally handed the phone to me. I took it off of speaker and ced it near my ear for some privacy.


    "I was wondering why you hadn''t called me yet. Do you need to get a new phone?" He asked.


    "No, it''s in a repair shop and should be done by today," I continued my lie. Saying that I was too self-


    conscious and conflicted to call him thest few days would make me want to bury myself from


    embarrassment, but it also seemed like he was easily catching my lie.


    "If that''s the case, this is my personal number, you can send me a text when your phone is fixed," he


    yed along anyway.


    "Oh, are you at work today?" I asked.


    "It''s my day off. Want to do something fun with me after you get off of work?" He asked.


    "I actually just clocked out. What did you have in mind?" I asked.


    "I know a great spot for viewing flowers," he answered.


    "Sounds like fun. Um..."  I hesitated when I tried to think of how I could continue the lie but meet up with


    him at the same time.


    "If you''re still at the coffee shop, I cane there to pick you up now," he offered. I found myself


    smiling like an idiot.


    "Sounds good, I should have my phone back by then," I replied.


    "Well then, I''ll see you in about 20 minutes," he said before we hung up. Harper giggled as she took her


    phone back and handed me Yong''s business card.


    "I take it he didn''t forget you," she teased me. I shook my head at her with a sigh.


    "Just wait until I get my revenge," I joked. I changed back into my normal clothes and waited before


    texting Yong from my own phone. When he arrived, I went to meet him out front. I smiled lightly as I


    stood in front of him.


    "Yong," I smiled like an idiot. Yong was quick to smile back at me though.


    "Aivi... I parked my car right over there if you''re ready to go," he said as he pointed to a sleek ck


    Te. I followed him to the car and he opened the door for me. After driving a while, we came up upon


    one of the few pieces of greenery in the city. I got out and looked at it in awe. It was actually very


    beautiful. Tall trees with vibrant green grass and hints of yellow and pink followers on the other side of a


    small hill.


    "What is this ce?" I asked in a breath as my eyes stayed on thend.


    "My brother and I started buying thisnd when we moved here to nt this. The city was too barren.


    Wee here from time to time to tend to the nts and get some fresh air. I didn''t peg Yong for a rich


    environmentalist, but the flowers and trees on thisrge stretch ofnd said otherwise. I was about to


    take a step when Yong stopped me.


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    "It''s a bit of walking to get to a good vantage point. Let me check your shoulder first," he said. I took my


    sling off and faced himst his hand went to my shoulder. As his hand connected with my shoulder, a


    surge of energy flew through me. He rotated my shoulder gently before smiling at me.


    "Feeling better?" He asked. I nodded before we started walking to the top of the hill. I sighed and took a


    seat next to him on a nket that was already prepared.


    "I have a question," I said as I watched theyers of colors from the flowers.


    "Fire away," he replied.


    "What made you want to talk to me again?" I asked. Yong only chuckled as he sat back with his hands


    on the nket.


    "I feel like we were fated to meet each other. With one nce, I was alreadyfortable around you,


    and I''m notfortable around most people. I fancy you," he exined. I found myselfughing at his


    choice of words.


    "Fancy me?" I repeated. "So what? You want to date me?" I asked yfully. He smirked as he turned to


    face me. The movement made me look at him also.


    "I want to get to know you and date. Do you agree?" He asked simply.

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4


    Yong and I gave each other official titles that day. He was right, I was oddly pulled to him by some


    unknown force. I feltfortable with him. We dated for six months. Every day, the butterflies tickled


    my stomach with him just like the first day. We didn''t grow tired of each other or even argue. Yong


    mentioned that he was willing to give me the world, and he stuck by that promise. Even though the


    hospital kept him busy, he always made time toe see me or call me everyday. He treated me like I


    was a precious rare gem, and I was eating it up. We held hands and hugged often, but we hadn''t


    kissed yet. Call me a prude if you must, but I still hadn''t had my first kiss. Plus, I had other things to


    worry about. My 24th birthday was one day away and it made me nervous. As much as I told myself


    that the olddy''s words were ramblings of a madwoman, the threat of me losing my life at 24 still


    nagged in the back of my brain. Yong suggested we have a private birthday party with just the two of us


    at his condo. My recent paranoia made me immediately agree. I was less likely to die of an ident if I


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    stayed in one ce.


    On my birthday, Yong picked me up from work and drove us to his condo for my birthday party. I was


    shocked when I walked inside, besides therge space and modern furniture, the room was lit by led


    twinkle lights that were strung to the ceiling. On the coffee table in the living room, there was a two


    looking crystal decanter.


    "Yong," I said in amazement as I walked towards the cake. He sang happy birthday to me as he lit the


    candle on the cake. I sat cross cross on the floor in front of the table as he finished the song.


    "Make a wish," he smiled at me. I sped my hands together and closed my eyes tightly with a sigh.


    "I don''t want to die yet," I pleaded with the invisible gods. As I unsped my hands, Yong held my hand


    in his.


    "I promise, I''ll protect you," he swore. I smiled lightly before blowing out the candle. Yong poured the


    wine for us and held his ss up to me.


    "To many more birthdays," he toasted. I clinked my ss against his before taking a sip of the wine. It


    was exquisite with a sour spice vor and sweet aftertaste. We simply talked and ate cake, keeping the


    wine forpany. I admit, I was getting slightly buzzed, but I was also having a good time.


    "I also have a present for you," he said quickly. He stood and went to a different room as I waited.


    Alone, I felt a pain start in my chest. It aggressively got worse as my hand clutched my heart. I gasped


    as I tried to crawl away from the table. I wanted to tell for Yong but the pain left me unable to talk. I felt


    an unbearable heat spread through my body as a pink light filled the room from somewhere. When


    Yong came back, he dropped the present quickly and came to my side.


    "Aivi! Aivi, hang on," he said as he cradled me and took me into a bedroom. The pink light followed. I


    expected him to take me to the hospital or call 911, but instead, he sat me on his bed, sat behind me,


    and pressed his hands against my back. I felt two different energies fighting for power in my body. One


    was calming, while the other was chaotic. The pain was a little more bearable, but it hadn''t gone away.


    Several minutes passed before the chaotic energy finally subsided. The pink light faded away


    gently toy down in hisp.


    "What was that?" I asked hoarsely. Yong looked conflicted before he sighed.


    "I won''t keep it from you. The lotus birthmark on your back isn''t just a curse. It''s the marking of the lotus


    heart. Your body holds an ancient power that many beings, human and not, will eventuallye for.


    The lotus heart was dormant, but it''s been awakened, which means others will soon be able to sense it.


    That olddy''s words were partially true. Now that it''s been activated, your life is in danger. When


    activated, you''ll feel pain because you''re only human, but I did my best to ease the pain in the


    meantime. I couldn''t stop it," he exined. I used my weak body to push myself up. Yong helped me


    until I was finally back in a sitting position as I faced him.


    "Lotus heart? A lot of... things want it?" I asked, trying to process what he said. Yong nodded.


    "Yes, but I promised to protect you, no matter what. Even if you die on Earth, I won''t let you disappear,"


    he promised.


    "What does that mean?" I asked confused. His hand touched my face gently as his thumb rubbed over


    my cheek gently.


    "It means that I''ll protect you. I love you, and I refuse to lose you,"  he simplified. I saw the


    determination in his eyes. I leaned forward and kissed him gently. Even after knowing what trouble I''ll


    inadvertently bring, Yong still cared about me. He said he loved me. Yong deepened the kiss as he


    pulled me closer. The longer I kissed him, the more energized I felt. My arms went around his neck as


    he moved toy me down and hover over me. His kisses slowed before he pulled away just enough to


    stare at me.


    "I love you too, Yong," I said gently.


    "You finally kissed me," he smiled lightly. I blushed as I looked away from him.


    "You''re my first kiss," I admitted.


    "I want to be all of your firsts," he said coyly before he kissed me again.

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5


    Yong and I had been talking about me moving in with him. Now that danger lerked in every corner, it


    made sense to be around Yong more. I would also be able to sleep easier knowing he was there. It


    only took two days for me to gather my things and move in with him. Yong and his brother Tase actually


    lived together in the two bedroom condo, so I moved directly into Yong''s room. Yong also took some


    time off of work, opting for working morning clinic hours instead. He made sure that either Tase or


    himself were always home. And me? I quit my job to opt for staying inside or with Yong. It was safer


    that way. After settling all of my things in Yong''s room. I stepped out to meet his brother for the first


    time. Tase looked different than Yong. Where Yong had long, shiny ck hair, Tase had shorter brown


    hair and he was a little taller than Yong.


    "You must be Aivi. I''m Yong''s older brother, Tase," Tase smiled at me as he offered his hand. Before my


    hand could make contact with his, Yong smacked his hand down.


    "What did I just say?" Yong red at his older brother.


    "Don''t touch your girlfriend unless it''s a life or death situation," Tase recited as he rolled his eyes. I


    giggled before giving Tase a nod.


    "It''s nice to meet you, Tase," I smiled. As Tase went to his room, Yong wrapped his arms around my


    waist with a pout. I smiled as I brushed my finger against his straight nose.


    "Aren''t you being a little overprotective?" I asked as I quirked an eyebrow at him. Yong pecked me


    gently before pulling me closer.


    "Tase is widely known for being a yboy. I don''t want him trying to seduce the woman I love," he


    exined before cing a kiss on my forehead.


    "I don''t think anyone could take me away from you," I said sweetly. He finally smiled before sighing.


    "If you want to go get ready for bed, I''ll start on dinner," he said. I nodded before I went back to the


    room. After taking a shower, washing my hair, and changing into a big t-shirt and pajama pants, I went


    back to the kitchen where Yong was finishing up putting all the food on tes. He smiled over at me


    briefly before setting the pot back on the stove.


    "Food is ready. Will you help me take this to the table?" He asked. I grabbed a te before bringing it


    to the dining room table where Tase was already waiting. Yong set the other two tes down as I took


    a seat. Yong looked to me expectantly.


    "Try it," he urged. I took a bite of the vegetables and tried to surpress the moan of pleasure. It was


    delicious, and I didn''t even like vegetables. The food was savory yet, not too greasy either.


    "This is amazing," I praised. Yong seemed satisfied as he and Tase dug in as well. After dinner, Tase


    did the dishes as Yong went back to the room with me. After he was showered and ready for bed, he


    got in the bed next to me and wrapped his arms around me.


    "I want you to stay by my side forever," he said gently before kissing my head.


    "I have a question. How did you know about the lotus heart?" I asked randomly. He smiled lightly.


    "Where Tase and I are from, it''s a widely known legend. I didn''t believe it until it activated on your


    birthday," he answered.


    "How did you calm the side effects?" I asked a follow up question.


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    "Tase and I were taught how to cultivate internal energy. I simply passed some of it to you. It can be


    used as a lifesaving tool, or a weapon. One day, I''ll teach you how to cultivate as well, but for now, we


    should go to sleep," he said. He switched off the bedsidemp, covering the room in darkness before


    he wrapped his arms back around me.


    "Yong... I love you," I said softly in the darkness. I felt his lips against mine as he moved to hover over


    me.


    "Tell me if I''m going too far. I easily get carried away when ites to you," he breathed. My hands


    held his cheeks gently.


    "You can go as far as you want. I trust you, and I''m giving you permission," I said back softly before


    bringing his lips back to mine. Our kiss grew heated as his hand slid under my shirt. I moved my hands


    to pull off his shirt before my hands went to his back. I felt a long deep scar but so ignored it as lust


    took over my body. I wanted Yong in every way. Even though I trusted him, there was still a high


    chance something, or someone, out there would kill me. I didn''t want to leave any regrets before I died.


    Our clothes were taken off by each other before there was nothing in between us anymore. Yong tried


    his best to be gentle. I could feel him shaking with restraint as he made love to me. The feeling was


    euphoric. If I could stay forever with Yong, I would be happy, but I knew that it probably wouldn''t


    happen. As much as Yong didn''t want to lose me, and I didn''t want to die. If something otherworldly


    were toe for me, Yong wouldn''t be able to handle it on his own. As Yong continued to make love to


    me, I slowly began to ept my fate. If I was meant to die in this life, I would do everything I wanted to


    do first. I would continue treating Yong with sincerity and loving him. I would put my life on the line for


    him. Even though we''d only dated less than a year, I knew that Yong was my forever. As a girl with a


    countdown clock, I didn''t want to keep him from his goals and aspirations. I didn''t want to hold him


    back.

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6


    Two months passed in a blur like this. Yong would go to work,e home early, then spend the rest of


    his time with me. I had been worried recently. Every time Yong made love to me, I felt more and more


    determined to protect him at all costs. I couldn''t continue to be around him knowing I would only be a


    danger to him. But with Tase and Yong alternating being my watch guard, I rarely went anywhere


    without one of them. My smile has turned sad and regretful. I didn''t want to leave this world with


    regrets, and if I kept putting Tase and Yong at risk, I would regret it. But I never had the opportunity and


    n to leave unnoticed.


    I woke up without Yong beside me, but he left me breakfast and a love note. It was a rare time when


    neither of the guys were home. They were normally so good about always having one person home,


    but I guess there was ack inmunication somewhere this time. I''d been looking for a chance to


    sneak out quietly without Yong noticing. This was my best chance. I pulled out a piece of paper before I


    started writing.


    Yong,


    I love you with all of my heart, but I couldn''t live with myself knowing that I''m the person who''s holding


    you back. I know you''re a doctor who wants to save lives, and all I do is take up all your time. I know


    you''re worried about me, but I don''t want you to get hurt trying to protect me. I''vee to terms with


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    my fate. If I''m meant to die, I don''t want to drag anyone else into it. I know you love me just as much as


    I love you, but if me living means that you have to die, I''d rather be the only one dying. Thank you for


    your love. You made me feel confident enough to leave this world with no regrets. I love you, and I will


    always love you. I just want you to be happy.


    Aivi


    I left the note on the fridge before packing a quick duffle bag and leaving Yong''s condo. I took the bus


    to the other side of town and waited at the train station. The further away I could get, the safer Yong


    would be. I went to the bathroom after seeing there was an hour until the next train. While washing my


    hands, a beautiful woman appeared next to me. She had long silky ck hair and silver eyes; sporting


    ripped skinny jeans, a simple shirt and a ck leather jacket. She smirked at me as she leaned against


    the counter next to me.


    "Do I know you?" I asked in confusion. She giggled beforeing closer to me. I took a cautious step


    back and I looked around the empty bathroom for a weapon. I couldn''t find one.


    "No, but I know you... Lotus Heart," she answered. My only option was to run. Leaving my bag behind, I


    sprinted out of the bathroom and out of the train station. I ran down the sidewalk as fast as I could.


    When I nced behind me, I didn''t see anyone following, but when I turned around, I ran right into the


    girl who stalked me in the bathroom. I gasped as something sharp pieces my chest. I fell to my knees


    and gasped for the air I wasn''t receiving as the sharp object was pulled out of my chest.


    "Aivi!" I heard a scream in the distance. The woman turned to dust right in front of my eyes as someone


    cradled me into their chest. Looking up, I saw Yong. I smiled to the best of my ability as my bloodied


    hand came up to touch his face gently.


    "You weren''t supposed toe after me. I didn''t want to put you in danger too," I croaked out as best


    as I could. He held me hand against his cheek as his eyes closed tightly. Tears dropped onto my face


    from his eyes.


    "I told you I would protect you! I knew what I was up against before I promised you. Why couldn''t you


    think of yourself for once. This self sacrificial attitude has never changed. Why did you have to die for


    me again?" He cried. I rubbed my thumb over his cheek before trying to take abored breath.


    "I''m dying, Yong, but I couldn''t watch you get hurt too," I tried to exin.


    "No, you''re not dying. You''re just going somewhere else, okay? You''re not going to die," he rambled.


    "It''s okay. I was prepared for this when I decided to leave," I tried to assure him.


    "Well I wasn''t prepared! And I don''t ept this. I read your letter and I don''t ept it. Why can''t you


    just stay with me and be happy for once?! I told you I would take care of you! I''m going to take you to a


    save ce. I''ll find a way to seal the lotus heart again. I''ll let you live a life where everything doesn''t


    be just fine," he said with determination as he held my hand in his. I was tired from holding on to


    staying alive for so long. I just wanted to say my final goodbye to Yong. I didn''t want him to be too


    upset.


    "I love you," I managed to get out before everything started going ck. I couldn''t force myself to


    breath anymore. It was too painful, so I let go of this life.

 Chapter 7 (Yong)

    Chapter 7 (Yong)


    *Yong''s POV*


    AS Aivi''s body started to disintegrate in my arm. I pointed my index and middle finger at her head and


    moved her essence and consciousness to the lotus heart. The same thing that got her killed would be


    the thing to save her life. With the lotus heart, Aivi could be reborn as an immortal. After two miserable


    self-sacrificing mortal reincarnations, I was determined not to make the same mistake twice. I wouldn''t


    let Aivi die.


    "Yong!" I heard Tase call for me as I finished putting Aivi''s essence and thoughts into the lotus heart. I


    didn''t have time to talk to Tase. My tears still flowed freely as Aivi''s bodypletely disappeared into


    dust. Luckily I made the transfer in time. I made a circle with my hands, then fingers before pushing my


    palm towards the crystal pink lotus heart. I pushed all of my energy into concealing the way lotus heart


    until it finally turned into a seed. I stood as I held the seed gently in my hand. I turned to Tase''s worried


    face before wiping the tears off of my face.


    "Quickly, we have to get to the Heavenly Realm," I said before jumping off, into the sky. With Tase right


    behind me, we flew start to the Heavenly Pce gates. The guards recognized me and bowed out of


    respect, but I was in a hurry. I went straight to my Serenity Pce and to my room. The maids that


    were bustling around greeted me, but I was running out of time.


    "Go get me a zed jade jar, water from the pond of happiness, and the pearl of life. The rest of you


    are dismissed," I said quickly. They left before I ced the send on the table. I enforced the


    concealment formation again before pushing all of my energy into it. I could still feel Aivi''s essence


    inside. After a few minutes, my items arrived. I poured the water into the zed jade jar and dropped


    the pearl in before melting it to be absorbed by the water. I carefully ced the seed in the jar as well


    before pushing my internal energy into the seed.


    "Crown Prince of Heaven, if you continue to push yourself like this, you''ll lose at least half of your


    30,000 years of cultivation," one of the maids warned.


    "I''m willing to part with it," I said quickly as I continued to push my energy into the seed. Once I felt the


    seed stabilize, I stopped with a sigh. It worked. The Lotus Heart was concealed and Aivi was stable for


    now. I could finally rx a little bit.


    "From now on, only call me ''lord'' inside my Serenity Pce walls. No one is to utter the words ''Crown


    Prince of Heaven''. Understood?" I ordered.


    "Yes," my maids obeyed. Tase ran in out of breath and back in his normal garbs.


    "Yong, Royal Father heard you were back. He wants an audience with you," Tase informed me. I


    sighed before taking the disguise concealment off of myself. My hair was pulled up in a half up style


    with the rest of my hair hanging down to my lower back. I was dressed in my royal blue and white robes


    once again.


    "I''ll go see him now," I answered Tase. I walked to the main hall of the pce before entering. It was


    still the same as I remembered. The seats provided on either side of the massive hall were empty as


    the sky served as a roof to the hall. At the end of theblong walkway, my Royal Father and Mother sat


    on exquisitely designed golden thrones. My mother smiled at the sight of me while my father kept the


    same stone face he always wore. I put my hands together in front of me before bowing.


    "Crown Prince Yong greets his Royal father and Mother," I said diplomatically.


    "I don''t know what brought you back in such a hurry, but I''m assuming your done ying around in the


    Mortal Realm. Now that you''re done ying, it''s time you shoulder some of my burden and start


    learning about the duties of a Crown Prince," my father said.


    "Royal Father, I came across an ancient demon in the Mortal Realm by ident. I was caught


    unprepared, and it caused me to lose half of my cultivation," I lied easily.


    "My baby, are you alright?" My mother asked worriedly.


    "I''m okay,  Royal Mother. I vanquished the beast in the end, but my cultivation was severely damaged. I


    may need time to recuperate and strengthen my cultivation," I gave myself an out. In truth, I hated


    being the Crown Prince. I was expected to bear all responsibilities of the three realms with an iron fist


    and unbreakable will. I still preferred being carefree over being the Crown Prince of Heaven. My father


    forced out a spell and floated a spirit egg my way.


    "Since your cultivation was hurt protecting the Mortal Realm, take this 30,000 year spirit egg as


    That should bring your cultivation up to 55,000 years. Next time your up against an ancient demon,


    they won''t be able to take you by surprise again. You''re the Crown Prince of Heaven, you should


    always be weary of your surroundings," my father lectured me.


    "Thank you for tour grace, Royal Father. I will remember your teachings," I thanked him as I bowed. My


    father waved me away, so I left. Going back to my Serenity Pce, my maids surrounded the zed


    jar as they tried to see what was inside.


    "Back away from that," I warned them. The bowed and stood in a line in the middle of my floor.


    "My lord, what was it you were trying to rescue?" My fairy, Ixia asked. All of my maids were fairies: low


    ranking cultivating immortals. I smiled gently at the jar as I touched it gently.


    "I''m helping cultivate another floral fairy. She should be able to transform into her human form by the


    time Ie back," I answered.


    "My lord, where are you going? You just came back," my fairy, Willow partially whined.  Tase ran in at


    that moment.


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    "So, what did Royal Father say?" Tase asked.


    "I told him I lost half of my cultivation fighting an ancient demon in the Mortal Realm. He ordered me to


    eat a spirit egg and cultivate for 10,000 years. Tase, I''m going to need your help. Aivi is stable, but


    she''s going to need external energy from someone every day until her flower blooms. Then she should


    be able to slowly cultivate her human form, but I have to go into seclusion. Will you take care of her for


    me?" I pleaded.


    "It''s rare of you to ask me a favor, brother," Tase noted.


    " You know how important this is to me. I''m trusting you to take care of her," I practically begged. Tase


    sighed before picking up the jar gently.


    "Leave her to me," Tase finally agreed.

 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8


    *Aivi''s POV*


    I felt a rush of energy before I was standing beside a desk in a strange room. I was conscious as I grew


    as a white lotus flower, but I still had no idea how it was possible, how much time had passed, or even


    where I was, but I remembered Yong and his promise. I still couldn''t believe I wasn''t dead.


    "Aivi," a relieved voice called to me. Cloth came from different directions to cover my naked body. The


    cloth made up the undergarments, dress, and robe. It was unlike anything I''d ever worn. I was pulled


    into a set of familiar arms. I knew this scent. I knew this touch.


    "Yong, how am I still alive," I asked as my eyes watered with the threat of tears.


    "I told you I would take you to a safe ce. I told you I wouldn''t let you die. I''ll have to exin slowly,


    but to start with, I was never a mortal human. I''m a high ranking immortal god who lives in the


    Heavenly Realm," he started. He slowly exined the three realms and how they worked. He


    exined how he saved me and how he concealed the Lotus Heart. No one should be able to detect it


    for now.


    "I''ve waited 12,000 years for you to cultivate your human form," he finished. My eyes widened.


    "12,000 years! How is that even possible?" I asked in denial.


    "One day on the Heavenly Realm equates to a year in the Mortal Realm. Time is irrelevant here as


    everyone lives far longer than human do... including you now," he exined as he held my hands in


    his.


    "I''ve been a flower for 12,000 years?" I asked again in disbelief.


    "You''ll get used to it slowly. All beings here have an original form or spirit animal. Mine is the Golden


    Dragon," he replied. It was too much for my brain to handle at the moment.


    "Come sit, let me make sure the concealment is still in tact," he said as he led me to his bed. He sat me


    down before pointing his index and middle finger at me. I closed my eyes as I felt a calming energy


    rush through me. After a moment, I felt a pair of lips on mine as Yong''s hand went to my cheek gently.


    "I''m so happy that you''re okay. Do you want to rest?" he smiled gently when he pulled away. I hesitated


    before I nodded. Heid me down before pulling the nket over me and sitting beside me on the edge


    of the bed.


    "We can handle everything else tomorrow," he promised.


    ~


    When I woke, Yong wasn''t beside me. Looking around, I saw him mulling over paperwork at his desk.


    He looked at me when he sensed I was awake.


    "Ixia, Willow!" He called loudly. Two adorable looking girls came in and curtsied to Yong.


    "Willow, go get suitable clothes for Aivi; not maids clothes, either. Go to the Love Immortal and get the


    finest silk you can find. Get as much clothing as you can, and make it fast," he ordered.


    "Yes, my lord," she said before leaving.


    "Ixia, I''m assigning you as Aivi''s personal maid. Treat yourdy well. Help yourdy get washed up and


    start teaching her the customs and courtesies eptable for a noble of the Heavenly Realm," Yong


    ordered the tiny girl. She smiled and curtsied quick.


    "Yes, my lord," she agreed. Ixia was a cute little thing with her long dark hair pulled into two buns at the


    sides of her head. She had a small face and milky skin. Her delicate frame seemed to match her overly


    bubbly personality. She turned to me, her smile never leaving her face.


    "Mydy, please," Ixia curtsied to me as she motioned towards the door. I gave onest look at Yong


    before following the tiny Ixia out to a separate part of Yong''snd. Maids were moving around


    everywhere.


    "You''re all Yong''s maids," I asked curiously.


    "Yes. We''re fortunate enough to be taken in by such a caring and merciful immortal god," she


    answered.


    "Are you all... humans," I asked hesitantly as I followed Ixia into a separate room. It was set up


    differently than Yong''s room. There was a partition beside a huge porcin tub. Ixia giggled.


    "No, mydy. We''re fairies, and right now, so are you. Except this is the first time my lord has ordered


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    us to call another fairy ''mydy''. It''s normally a title reserved for those of immortal status or higher. My


    lord waited a long time for you to sprout. I''ll prepare your bath," Ixia told me. After warming the water, I


    took the clothes off and got in the huge bathtub. As I sat in the tub of flower petals, Ixia exined the


    rules of Heaven to me. I still couldn''t believe that Yong was an immortal and I had reincarnated into a


    flower. Ixiabed through my long ck hair as she talked. My hair had grown a lot from when I was


    in the Mortal Realm. It flowed beyond my butt. Ixia carefully washed my hair before I stepped out of the


    tub and into a drying robe. It amazed me that even with all of the modern technology on Earth, the


    Heavenly Realm was still doing things the old fashioned way. Ixia used a long piece of cloth to carefully


    dry my hair before putting the top half of it into an intricate updo while the rest of my hair hung straight


    down my back. Willow entered the room with a change of clothes.


    "Mydy, these are the clothes my lord got for you," she curtsied. I touched the soft looking fabric that


    Willow was holding on a tray. The soft pink colors made me smile lightly. It was the same color as the


    glow that filled the room when my Lotus Heart activated on my birthday. I thanked her as she set the


    clothes down on the vanity. Ixia had me stand before she disrobed me and helped me put the new


    garments on. The dress and robes were elegant, and the thick white belt that went with it set the whole


    outfit off nicely. Ixia used the room to instruct me on how to greet immortals and serve tea. She taught


    me a lot in the short amount of time. I prepared a tea set before taking the tray back to where Yong was


    working. It was a different room than the one I woke up in. The room looked like it''s only purpose was


    to be a study. There was a low table where Yong was sitting on a cushion on the ground, and a


    bookshelf nearby. I brought the tray over and set it down gently before I poured the tea into a cup.


    "My lord, have some tea," I said just as Ixia instructed me. After I set the teapot down, Yong pulled me


    to sit in hisp.


    "You''re the only one who''s not allowed to call me that. You''re not a maid here. This is your Serenity


    Pce too now. You can still just call me Yong," he said as his face hovered close to mine.


    "Yong," I said softly. He smiled lightly before his lips connected with mine in a kiss.

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9


    Learning how to fit in as a fairy in the Heavenly Realm wasn''t nearly as hard as I thought it would be.


    Although Yong wouldn''t let me do the maids'' jobs, I did get to practice my cooking often. Some of the


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    more talented maids even taught me calligraphy, chess, zither, and dance. Dancing was my favorite, I


    picked it up quickly. ording to the fairies, those were the four arts that determined the talent of a


    woman here. It was required of nobledies to have such skills. It took me a few weeks to get used to


    their way of living, but once I got the hang of it, I couldn''t even remember how I lived before. Yong tried


    to keep me around as much as possible, but he always seemed busy with work I didn''t understand. I


    didn''t know Yong''s job in the Heavenly Realm but it seemed important. He was always either out of his


    pce or mulling over scrolls. Finally, Yong had a break and kept true to his promise to teach my how


    to cultivate. We sat facing each other on his bed.


    "First thing''s first, don''t talk about your true life force. You should already know by now but a lot of


    beings are still willing to kill you for it. I''ve resealed it, and as long as the source is in tact, you can be


    reborn a thousand times over. And any wounds you sustain will heal, especially in water given the


    nature of your flower. You can be brought back to life this way. That thing will save you as long as it''s


    not forced outside of your body, but you also need to be careful not to expose yourself. Remember in


    the Mortal Realm when I helped with the side effects of... that thing?" He asked. I nodded.


    "You said it was internal energy, right?" I asked. He smiled softly at me.


    "Right. I''m going to teach you how to channel and cultivate that energy. With what''s protecting you, it''ll


    be your greatest weapon," he exined. Yong walked me through cultivating meditation. My powers


    were already at strong levels because of the Lotus Heart. After channeling our inner energy for an hour,


    Yong had me stand.


    "You have so much energy already. I think it''s more than enough channel it outwardly," he said. Yong


    came up behind me and put a hand on my waist. I hesitated as I looked at him. ording to Ixia, the


    rules here were different. Men and women weren''t so easy to get close to each other. Even marriages


    were mostly arranged ording to ss and familial ties.


    "Yong," I said hesitantly as his other hand held me arm out. He paused before smirking at me.


    "What''s wrong? I''ve done more than this with you in the Mortal Realm. Technically, what we did there


    could be considered eloping," he said slyly as he brought his face closer to mine. I blushed as I tried to


    move away from him. He held onto my waist tighter and kept me in ce as his cheek pressed gently


    against my own.


    "Don''t move. Nothing has changed between us. No matter who I am, you''re still the one I will love


    forever," he promised.


    "Yong, I could be considered a ve here. Our statuses are different," I tried. He shushed me before


    holding my arm up again.


    "Focus your internal energy to your hand," he changed the subject. I took a breath before doing as he


    told me. As I focused, my hand started to glow.


    "Good. Now focus on pushing that energy out of your hand," he instructed. A stream of pink light flew


    out of my hand and smashed a nearby vase. I immediately felt bad for breaking it but Yong was


    smiling.


    "My lord! We heard a noise," two fairy maids said as they rushed in. I quickly moved out of Yong''s hold


    and blushed at being caught.


    "We''re training. Don''te in if I don''t ask for you. Dismiss," Yong said shortly. They curtsied before


    leaving the room.


    "Yong, I''m grateful that you saved me, but couldn''t I get in trouble for being so close to you? Couldn¡¯t


    you get in trouble as well?¡± I asked. Yong held my arm and pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around


    my waist.


    "I''ve already told you; you are the woman I love. In every realm and every life. I''m not letting you go


    that easily ever again," he said seriously. I could see the regret and seriousness behind his eyes. He


    felt guilty towards me, but he also loved me.


    "Won''t loving me, get you or me in trouble? I''m already satisfied just being alive still and seeing your


    face again. I wouldn''t dare ask for more," I tried to reason with him. When Ixia was exining the


    Heavenly rules to me earlier, she touched on improper rtionships. She mentioned that Yong had a


    very important noble status, while we were the equivalent to ves. We could be taken as fairy maids


    to serve the nobles however they wanted, but having a serious affair with a noble would result in


    punishment.


    "Whether you ask for it or not, I will still love you. I''d like to think that your feelings for me haven''t


    changed either," he raised an eyebrow at me. He wasn''t wrong; I still loved Yong. But if I were to


    continue flying under the radar in the Heavenly Realm, I would have to ept the truth at some point.


    Being with Yong forever was a pipe dream. Even if I managed to keep the Lotus Heart hidden, our


    difference in status would lead to an uproar.


    "My lord, Second Prince is here to visit you," a maid called from outside the door. Yong sighed before


    releasing me. I stood beside him and held my hands gently in front of my stomach with bent elbows like


    Ixia taught me.


    "Let him in," Yong responded. A momentter, Tase was walking into the room.


    "Brother... I see Aivi is adjusting well," he smiled at me. Something in my head clicked. If Tase and


    Yong were brothers, and Tase was the Second Prince, wouldn''t that make Yong a prince too? I looked


    up quickly as my wide eyes went to Yong.


    "You''re not a noble... you''re royalty here. Tase being the second prince makes you a prince as well," I


    said out loud before I could stop myself.


    "He''s not just royalty either; he''s the Crown Prince of Heaven. Cool, right?" Tase added, blissfully


    unaware that I didn''t view that as a good thing.


    "Tase, stop!" Yong said toote. My knees went weak as I fell to the ground with shock. Yong knelt


    beside me and hesitantly touched my cheek. My eyes went to his. I wouldn''t deny that I was scared.


    Not only were our statuses different, we couldn''t be further apart. All eyes would be on him at all times.


    He was the next ruler after all. But me?


    "Aivi," Yong checked on me softly.


    "Send me away," I barely whispered.


    "But the safest ce is by my side," he argued.


    "It''s the most dangerous ce," I countered quickly. "The way you treat me... even if no one notices


    me, eventually, they''ll start looking. I''m already getting eyed by your own maids. If you want me to be


    safe, you should send me away," I tried to reason with him.


    "I don''t want you leaving my side again. Just let me protect you," he begged. I knew with how weak I


    was now, I would only implicate Yong. I didn''t want to see him get hurt, especially for my sake. It was


    the whole reason I ran away in the Mortal Realm in the first ce. I didn''t want to be the one who


    caused Yong trouble. The only way I could love him right now, was to get away and get stronger. Only


    then could I protect Yong for the trouble I would inevitably cause.

 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10


    "Are you sure about this?" Yong asked for the millionth time as my bag was set in the carriage. I


    nodded as Yong held my hand in his. He finally agreed to let me go after Tase and I reasoned with him


    for weeks. I also tried to continue cultivating in the meantime.


    "I wille back eventually," I promised. Yong finally agreed to let me go to the Heavenly Cloud


    Cultivating School. It was for nobles and talents across the three realms. With a rmendation letter


    from Yong and Tase''s green jade pendant, I wouldn''t be treated as a fairy maid, but a cultivating


    immortal of royal status instead.


    "Don''t worry. I''m personally escorting our little flower to the entrance exam," Tase tried to assure Yong


    as he ced a hand on his shoulder, making Yong drop my hand.


    "She''s not yours," Yong said in irritation. Tase chuckled lightheartedly before turning to me.


    "I''ll prepare some snacks for the ride," he offered before walking away. Yong picked up my hand again


    as we stood at the entrance of his pce.


    "Do you have to leave?" Yong asked again. I smiled gently at him.


    "You said yourself though, this was the only way to rid myself of a ve status and help cultivate my


    powers at the same time. In a thousand years'' time, I''ll be able to protect myself and be on track to


    be an immortal. Then I won''t worry about dragging you down," I exined for the millionth time.


    "You could never drag me down. I can protect you," he argued. I took my hand out of his gently and


    ced his hand at his side.


    "I won''t let you sacrifice yourself. Even just having me around is dangerous to you," I said softly. Yong


    reached into a belt pouch before pulling out a hairpin.


    "I got this for you just in case. At least wear it," he offered it to me. Looking at it, it was a solid gold


    hairpin with an intricate design and sapphires embedded. If this would make Yong feel more at ease, I


    would ept it.


    "Will you put it on for me?" I asked. He smiled gently before sticking it into the bun of my hair. After the


    hairpin was in ce, I faced Yong before I curtsied.


    "Crown Prince, I''ll be going now," I offered my respects. He held my arms gently, making me stand


    before touching my cheek gently.


    "I''ll wait for you," he promised. I nodded once before turning to the carriage. Tase was already mounted


    on the horse leading the way while Ixia was seated in front of the carriage with the reigns on her hands.


    Yong insisted on gifting her to me. I happily epted since Ixia had quickly be a good friend, but


    Yong ordered her to keep my identity a secret. From here on out, I would be Princess Aivi, Tase''s


    goddaughter. Yong and Tase worked together to forge my identity as the daughter of the Northern


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    General''s daughter. ording to them, the Northern army perished in a battle with demons, wiping out


    the entire n around the same time I arrived in Yong''s Serenity Pce. With no one to either confirm


    or deny my identity , it was the perfect cover.


    I boarded the carriage before sitting inside. I couldn''t help but to lift the curtain to nce at Yong one


    stay by Yong''s side. The carriage pulled away. I let go of the curtain with a breath when Yong was no


    longer in my sight. ording to Tase, the Heavenly Cloud Academy was on sacred ground, and being


    that I wasn''t of Immortal status just yet, we had to travel by horse in order to get there.


    "Princess, feel free to rx. It''ll be a few hours until we reach Heavenly Cloud Gates," Ixia informed


    me. Being suddenly called ''Princess'' would take some getting used to. Being Tase''s goddaughter


    meant I was to be called by that of a Royal status from here on out. Tase promised to find a suitable


    exnation for the Heavenly Emperor after I was safely enrolled at Heavenly Cloud. I rxed in my


    soft pink dress and robe as I waited. Yong said he loved the way the pink colors looked on me. It wasn''t


    a coincidence that the color matched my energy color. All the clothes he packed for me were either


    pink or white. I decided to take Ixia''s advice and used the time to cultivate.


    "Princess. Princess Aivi," Ixia was suddenly calling me. I opened my eyes with a breath.


    "Yes?" I called back.


    "We''ve arrived, Princess," Ixia answered. It didn''t feel like much time had passed, but apparently I


    cultivated the entire trip. I felt energized as I pulled away the curtain door. Ixia helped me down before I


    stretched from the long ride. Tase dismounted his horse and came to my side.


    "Today is the entrance exam. My status can get you through the door, but staying will depend on your


    capabilities. Regardless, I won''t leave until you''re enrolled at this school. Don''t forget, you must call me


    Godfather from here on out," Tase informed me. I nodded before following him through the huge silver


    gates with Ixia following behind me. The ground was literally a cloud. The entire ce was bright and


    airy. Inside was a bustling scene. Many beings were chatting and waiting in front of a dormant orb that


    was set on top of a tform.


    "Godfather, what is that?" I asked. He adjusted the sword in his hand as he crossed his arms.


    "For a long time, future students would battle to determine who would be epted, but eventually, they


    realized that battling doesn''t determine internal energy aptitude. The orb reads your internal energy


    potiential. The brighter it glows, the more powerful you are. After examining all the students, only those


    who pass immortal potiential are epted. There''s different potiential levels based on the glow.


    Starting with no glow, no potiential. A faint glow will be fairy potiential, a brighter glow will be fairy


    immortal potiential, then immortal, senior immortal, and god or goddess potiential. The highest


    potiential is god of gods potiential, but no one has ever seen it happen," he exined. At the notice of


    Tase, those waiting bowed in respect, but soft chattering swiftly followed as their eyes shifted to me.


    Just then, a white haired immortal in gold lined garments came from inside the building nked by eight


    others in simr clothing.


    "Wee to the entrance exam for the Heavenly Cloud Cultivating School. I''m the headmaster:


    Horus," he introduced himself.

 Chapter 11

    Chapter 11


    "Greetings Headmaster," we all bowed or curtsied respectfully. Tase only stood there with his arms


    crossed. The headmaster noticed him immediately and offered Tase a bow.


    "Second Prince, I had no idea you would be in attendance today. Are you also enrolling in Heavenly


    Cloud?" The headmaster asked. Tase only scoffed.


    "I don''t have the luxury of going to school here, I have far too many duties to attend to. I only came to


    oversee the enrollment of my goddaughter," Tase answered. The masters at Horus'' sides began talking


    amongst themselves before Headmaster Horus cleared his throat to shut them up.


    "I wasn''t aware you had a goddaughter, Second Prince," he responded.


    "Daughter of the deceased Northern General. After finding her as just a seedling after the war, I took


    her in as my goddaughter. I''m very fond of her and wanted her to recuperate, so she hasn''t been seen


    outside of my Eternity Pce until now. me me, I dote upon her and worry about her safety too


    much. Greet the Headmaster, Aivi," Tase said, effectively giving my falsified story and letting him know


    how important I was at the same time. I curtsied as I lowered my head.


    "Greetings Headmaster Horus. My name is Princess Aivi," I greeted upon Tase''smand.


    "I can assure you, Second Prince, if the Princess is able to enroll today, we will keep her safe,"


    Headmaster Horus bowed again.


    "Continue, don''t bother with me," Tase waved him off. The headmaster turned back to the crowd as he


    cleared his throat again.


    "The orb of destiny will judge if you''re able to enroll today. One at a time, line up to touch the orb. Your


    potiential will be gauged by the intensity of light given by the orb under your hand. We will begin now,"


    Headmaster said to the crowd. One by one, the beings stood on the tform and touched the orb.


    Some made the orb give off a greater light than others.


    "Princess, I think it''s time you approach the orb as well," Tase hinted. I wouldn''t lie, I was nervous.


    Even with the Lotus Heart, would I have enough potiential? People were being sent away on the spot if


    they didn''t have immortal potiential or higher. The once bustling crowd had dwindled to a couple dozen


    left, and the testing wasn''t over yet. After the crowd separated slightly, I lifted the hem of my dress


    slightly to walk to the tform. People were quick to move out of the way as I approached. After


    standing on the tform, I took a breath before cing my hand on the orb. Almost immediately, a


    radiant light blinded everyone in radius, including myself. The orb shuddered as a gust of wind picked


    up from nowhere and blew in all directions. I was stunned momentarily with my hand on the orb before


    pulling it away. When I did, the wind stopped and the blinding light receded. Everyone was silent as


    they tried to let their eyes adjust.


    "In all my 500,000 years of living, I''ve never seen this before. Princess Aivi has the god of gods


    potential," Headmaster said in awe after everyone recovered.


    "Does that mean my goddaughter has been epted?" Tase asked even though he already knew the


    answer.


    "We can set up a room for the Princess immediately," Headmaster replied. I curtsied.


    "Headmaster, I''m unaware of the rules here yet, but I would like to bring my personal fairy. Is this


    allowed?" I asked.


    "You''re of Royal status, Princess. We won''t make you suffer without your fairy maid," he agreed. I


    smiled gently before leaving the tform. After the testing was over, the remaining students were


    invited into the school for room distribution and orientation, but first, I had to say goodbye to Tase. After


    Ixia pulled my things from the carriage, I turned to Tase with a frown. I wouldn''t lie, I was going to miss


    him.


    "Godfather, please take care while I''m away. I''ll have to trouble you to look after Yong for me," I said


    softly. Tase smirked before putting a hand on my head gently.


    "Little Flower, I believe in you. I know you''re doing this for his sake. I believe you''ll be back in no time,


    and you''ll be stronger and smarter. You''re good at adapting, and I''ve already taken you as my


    goddaughter. I''ll take care of my little brother until youe back," he promised. I curtsied before


    looking to Ixia.


    "We should go settle in. Godfather, take care," I said myst goodbye before going back inside. One of


    the masters was waiting for me at the steps.


    "Princess, Headmaster had a room especially prepared for you," she informed me. I followed her inside


    and through the campus before finallying upon a courtyard named Longevity Courtyard. It was


    separated from the other dorms. Walking inside, the ce was spotless. There was a garden before


    reaching the building. Inside the building there was a desk, two beds, and a partitioned area for bathing


    and dressing. The room was also spacious. I had full room to dance in the middle of the floor if I so


    Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    pleased.


    "Since your maid is also with you, we''re giving you this room for privacy," the master exined.


    "What are the other dorms like?" I asked out of curiosity as I ran my finger along the desk.


    "Students will typically share rooms, two per room with men on one side and women on the other. Your


    Longevity Courtyard is situated in between the two wings," the master exined.


    "Take some time to settle in, orientation will begin soon," she said.


    "No need. Ixia, stay and settle our things. I''ll follow the master back for orientation. I''lle find you if I


    need anything," I ordered.


    "Yes, Princess," Ixia curtsied. I found that acting like royalty wasn''t too hard. I just had to keep a poised


    and graceful air about me. The master nodded before leading me to the main hall. The other students


    were already waiting as they faced the stage. The master who led me to my room, went to stand by the


    headmaster on the stage.


    "Now that you know where you''ll live for the next thousand or so years, it''s time to ssify you all,"


    headmaster exined.

 Chapter 12

    Chapter 12


    Headmaster exined that even though we all had potential, we needed to find our niche. There were


    several categories: greenery, healing, warrior, weather, and politics. Greenery types would be sent to


    the Floral Immortal Master to learn how to grow herbs and medicines. Healing types would be sent to


    the Physician Immortal Master to learn how to use internal energy to heal different ailments on other


    immortals. Warrior types would be sent to the Heavenly General for battle training. Weather types


    would be sent to Thunder Immortal Master to get a better grasp on controlling certain weather


    conditions for the Mortal Realm. And Politic types would be sent to the Prime Minister to study court


    affairs. The way to test the types was to just try it, and if a student didn''t fit into any of the tested


    categories, they would be sent to the Prime Minister.


    My first test was with a Floral Immortal. It was fairly simple. We had to grow a nt. I focused my


    energy into the pot of water and a lotus flower quickly emerged. Other students were still trying as I


    finished. The Floral Immortal saw my flower before nodding in approval.


    "Do you have any connection to the lotus flower?" She asked in passing. I only panicked internally for a


    split second before smiling easily. Luckily, Yong already prepared for this.


    "My original form is a white lotus flower," I answered easily. She smiled happily before I was sent to the


    next station. Normally, after a student passed a station, they would stay with that master, but with my


    overwhelming potential, Headmaster wanted to see what all I could do. I moved to the healing station


    next. The test was to cut our hand then heal it. If a student couldn''t heal it, the Master would take care


    of it before sending them to the next station. I used the knife to split my skin. As I was about to focus


    my energy into healing it, it closed up on its on. I almost forgot. Yong said my body would heal itself. I


    had no way of testing my healing ability on myself.


    "Physician Immortal," I called. He nodded an acknowledgment.


    "What''s wrong Princess? Need me to heal the cut?" He asked. I shook my head as I held out my


    healed hand.


    "I have no way of testing my healing ability on myself as I heal quickly. May I use another student''s


    hand?" I asked. Physician Immortal picked up the knife before cutting his own hand.


    "Whenever you''re ready," he said, offering his hand to me. I focused on turning my internal energy into


    the calm breeze Yong demonstrated before. I pushed that calm energy into Physician Immortal''s


    wound. The wound closed over, leaving a trace amount of blood behind that Physician Immortal wiped


    clean with a handkerchief.


    "Very good," he praised before I was sent to the next station. Weather was too easy. I concentrated on


    bringing the clouds closer and they obeyed willingly. Thunder and lightening were even seen. Finally I


    was into thest station. For the warrior test, we had to go through a simted battle. I''d never held a


    sword in my life, but I simply treated it as an extension of my own body. Even my internal energy flowed


    through to the sharp tip of the de. I easily got through the simtion even while not having much


    physical strength. After going through all of the tests, the Headmaster pulled me out of the hall. I


    curtsied respectfully.


    "You called for me headmaster?" I asked.


    "In all my years, I''ve never seen anyone pass tests for all of the factions. You are a true one in a million


    prodigy, Princess. I would hate to see your talents wasted in one area, so you will be our first ever


    multi-faction student. What to do with your talents after graduating will be up to you, but you''ll be


    prepared for anything. I''ll work out your ss scheduling, but for now, just know that you are the only all


    around student this school has ever seen," headmaster exined.


    "You praise me too much, headmaster," I said humbly. He dismissed me before I went to join the other.


    As night fell, we were having a wee party. Our seniors even joined in. As soon as the seniors


    came to mingle with the new students, they already knew about me, the prodigy goddaughter to the


    Second Prince. It didn''t take long for the whispering to start around me. It was part of the reason I had


    Ixia stay behind in the Courtyard. No one else was allowed to bring their personal maids or room


    separately. I knew I was getting special treatment, and I didn''t want to create too much animosity on my


    first day.


    "You must be the prodigy student everyone keeps talking about. I''m Alexander, son of the Water


    Immortal," a man introduced himself to me with a bow. He was quite handsome. His long brown hair


    was pinned back casually and he was dressed in white robes. He seemed nice enough. I curtsied


    politely.


    "I''m Avi, goddaughter to the Second Prince," I introduced myself.


    "Just the daughter to a defeated general that the Second Prince took pity on. What''s so good about


    that?" An irritated voice chimed in. The voice belonged to a girl. Her brown hair was up in an intricate


    hairstyle with many jeweled hairpins. Her round face did nothing for her small, beady eyes. Her dress


    and robe were bright red, as if she were about to attend her own wedding. It was actuallyughable.


    Ixia told me how the custom of Heaven was to marry in red as it was a festive color.


    "Hana! There''s no need to be rude. Princess Aivi is our esteemed junior," Alexander said to her sternly.


    Hana only scoffed.


    "If she didn''te with a rmendation from the Crown Prince, would she even be standing here?"


    Hana retorted. I smiled gracefully ready to get back at her but someone beat me to it.


    "The Princess reflected a god of gods potential in the orb and passed every faction test. She even


    healed Physician Immortal for his test. The Princess will be the first ever all faction student of Heavenly


    Cloud. She passed through her own abilities. If you didn''t see her today, it''s best not to make wild


    "And who are you?" Hana asked.


    "I''m the Fire Immortal''s daughter, Ayana," she introduced herself.


    "Careful to spread yourself too thin. Being a general''s daughter, I bet the Princess was raised


    barbarically," Hana continued her disapproval.


    "Care to bet?" I asked calmly. That peaked her interest.


    "On what?" She asked.

 Chapter 13

    Chapter 13


    "One of the four arts, zither, chess, calligraphy, or dance. If I''m as barbaric as you think, I wouldn''t have


    the grace or ss to challenge you in one of these. How about this: I''ll let you pick the category and


    we''llpete here and now. The students will be our judge. If you win, I''ll let you have Longevity


    Courtyard. If I win, you apologize to me publicly and never let my name pass out of your mouth


    negatively again," I challenged her. She smirked before turning to look at the tform in the middle of


    the floor.


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    "You clearly don''t know who you challenged. I''ve won best dancer of the three realms five years in a


    row," she bragged before gliding on to the tform. "Listen up! The Princess has challenged me to


    dance. The winner will be decided by all of you," she announced. She got into her starting pose as the


    musicians changed the song. She danced cockily. I admit, she was a good dancer, but she relied


    heavily on muscle memory. There was no feeling or grace behind her actions. It almost seemed like a


    puppet being controlled. After she finished, there was a good amount of apuse. She huffed at me as


    I made my way to the tform. She stood amongst the crowd as I started on my knees. I moved my


    arms fluidly as I danced. As I spun gentle circles, I even used a little trick Tase taught me and made


    flower petals rain down over me. I caught a petal gently in my palm and blew it away before finishing


    my dance. The result was thunderous apuse. Alexander volunteered toe to the stage with


    Hana.


    "All in favor of Hana?" He asked. There was a polite apuse from the students, but I could feel the


    suspense of them waiting for my name to be called.


    "All in favor of Princess Aivi?" Alexander asked. The apuse was deafening. I curtsied to the crowd


    politely before I turned to face Hana. The crowd quieted as they waited.


    "I believe you owe me an apology," I said calmly. Hana was enraged, and I could tell. She summoned


    her sword before surprise attacking me. I wasn''t prepared, and could have easily been hurt, but before


    I could react, a light shown from around me, encasing me in a protective barrier of a dragon''s wings.


    Hana was thrown back onto her bottom as her sword fell out of her hand and disappeared. I looked


    around me in confusion. I still didn''t understand what happened, but Alexander was looking at me in


    awe.


    "The Crown Prince''s protective spell," Alexander breathed. The students quickly dropped to their knees


    and put their heads to the ground in a deep bow of respect.


    "Impossible," Hana breathed as she stared wide eyed at the protectionyer before it receded.


    Alexander snapped out of it as Hana stood. He red before pping her across the cheek.


    "You were supposed to apologize, but instead you decided to attack the Second Prince''s


    goddaughter?! You could be killed for that thought alone. Kneel!" Alexander ranted before pushed her


    shoulder down, sending her to her knees. She hesitated before lowering her head to the ground.


    "I apologize, Princess. I guess I''m a sore loser. I pulled my sword without thinking," she said frantically.


    It was actually kind of funny how scared she was. I smiled gently as I took a step forward.


    "Was that so hard? All I asked for was an apology. I had a lot more on the line than you did. If I''d lost


    today, I would have conceded quietly. Why go through all the extra trouble?" I asked. A gust of wind


    blew through the banquet hall suddenly. I felt a hand on my arm from behind.


    "Who was the one that dared to have malicious intent towards the Princess," a voice said angrily from


    behind me. I froze in shock. How was he here?


    "Crown Prince!" The Heavenly General said in shock as he dropped to his knees in greeting as he


    entered the hall. I didn''t know what to do. He wasn''t supposed to be here right now. How did he know


    toe?


    "Rise," Yong said, calming down slightly.


    "May I ask what brought you to our humble academy?" The General asked hesitantly.


    "Second Prince only dropped off his goddaughter earlier today. You can imagine my surprise when my


    Dragon charm was activated because someone tried to harm the Princess," Yong exined in irritation.


    "Crown Prince, this is a misunderstanding. My senior challenged me to apetition. I agreed, but


    forgot to take the charm off first," I lied. I couldn''t have Yong swoop in and save the day. That would


    give me a bad reputation from day one, and I wanted to be sessful from my own abilities.


    "The charm read that your senior''s intent was to murder you," Yong argued. I gave him a brief pointed


    look. Even though I couldn''t say it out loud, I could only hope he would read my expression clearly. He


    was ruining things for me. I had everything under control.


    "We just got overexcited. We didn''t mean to rm you, Crown Prince," I said calmly. He gave me a


    look that said he wasn''t buying it, but whether he bought it or not, I needed him to leave it to me, or I


    would never be able to stand on my own two feet.


    "If you say it was an ident, I''ll believe you for now. I''ll inform the Second Prince of this incident as


    well. I hope the masters of the school will do a thorough investigation and punish the appropriate party


    ordingly," Yong said before disappearing in another gust of wind. As soon as he left, Hana crawled


    to me with tears streaming down her face.


    "I''m so sorry! I acted irrationally. Thank you! Thank you for saving my life," Hana cried. I took a breath


    and held her arms gently and brought her off the ground to a standing position.


    "Quickly, rise. I never wanted your life, I just wanted you to treat me with the same respect everyone is


    supposed to have when meeting new people," I exined.


    "You saved my life. Thank you," Hana continued crying.


    "Student Hana, did you intend to kill the Princess earlier?" Heavenly General asked Hana frantically.


    She shook her head quickly.


    "I didn''t mean it! I just got so angry, I acted without thinking," she tried to exin. I put a hand on her


    arm before taking a step forward.


    "Heavenly General, it''s clear that Hana has learned her lesson, and she''s already been publicly


    humiliated by myself and the Crown Prince. I think we should let this matter go. If you exin to my


    godfather in this way, I''m sure he''ll agree with me. After all, Senior Hana is still just a student," I


    defended her. I wasn''t actually angry at her actions tonight. A little annoyed, yes, but it wasn''t worthy of


    her life in exchange. Heavenly General sighed before slouching slightly.


    "Forget it. If the Princess is personally pardoning you, I''ll pass the word along. Student Hana, you''re


    lucky that the Princess is such a graceful and magnanimous person. You''re also lucky no harm came to


    the Princess. I''ll tell the headmaster of tonight''s events and let the Second Prince make the final


    decision. You''ll be grounded to your dorm until a decision has been made. Servants! Take Student


    Hana back to her dorm and keep an eye on her," Heavenly General ordered. Two of his own soldiers


    retrieved Hana before taking her out.


    "Let''s end the festivities here. We can''t afford to offend anyone else," the general half muttered to


    himself as he left. The students began filing out of the hall as Alexander turned to me.


    "That was gracious of you to pardon Hana. She''s not a bad person, she''s just been spoiled since


    childhood," Alexander said to me. I sighed as I began walking out of the banquet hall. Alexander


    followed.


    "I have no grudge with her. She set her sights on me first, I merely defended myself," I talked easily.


    "But you have the Crown Prince''s protection charm. You must be more important to the Royal family


    than we realize," he replied. I reached up and touched the hairpin Yong gave me gently. Now it made


    sense why he insisted on giving it to me. It was his own personal ''danger'' rm. I would have to


    remember to take it off for the remainder of my time here. I couldn''t have him show up on a whim every


    time I was in a little bit of danger.


    "The Second Prince is my godfather. The Crown Prince is his closest brother. My godfather simply


    asked the Crown Prince for the charm in order to protect me. Being that it''s the Crown Prince''s charm,


    it makes sense that he would show up right away when rmed. If it really is an emergency, he


    wouldn''t have the time to tell my godfather first," I lied. Some of it was true, but I couldn''t have people


    knowing about my rtionship with Yong.


    I sighed as I finally made it back to Longevity Courtyard. I quickly took the hairpin out and ced it by


    itself in a jewelry box. Regardless of the dangers I would face in Heavenly Cloud, I would face them


    myself. I knew Yong was concerned about me, but I needed to be stronger on my own, I couldn''t


    risk Yong running to me every time there was a little bit of danger. I would never get stronger that way.


    "Princess, you''re back. How was your day?" Ixia asked.


    "Did you know that the hairpin the Crown Prince gave me was a protection charm?" I asked


    immediately. Ixia hesitated before she nodded.


    "He asked me not to inform you of its purpose, but how did you find out about it? It''s just a regr


    hairpin until-"


    "Until I''m approached with malicious intent or danger," I finished for her as I held up the small wooden


    box.


    "Keep this is a safe ce," I said as I handed the box to her.


    "But Princess, the Crown Prince only wants to protect you," Ixia said hesitantly.


    "If he insists on protecting me at every turn, I''ll never be taken seriously here. Even worse, I''ll never


    be stronger," I answered her.


    "Help me dress for bed after putting that away. It''s been a long day," I sighed. She curtsied before


    doing as I asked. I was more than ready to sleep after the day I had.

 Chapter 14

    Chapter 14


    The next day, after getting my ss schedule from Headmaster, I headed to my first ss. The n


    was for me to spend a few years in each faction. I opted to start with Politics first. Even though this


    faction wasn''t physically demanding, it would help me better understand the Heavenly Realm and all


    the rules. I also secretly wanted to understand Yong''s position and influence so I would be better


    prepared. The ss was like one big story time. We would read cases and examples while studying the


    history books and poetry. The books were also unexpectedly helping solidify my false origin story. It


    described all the territories of all the realms. I now knew what a coarse and cold environment the


    Northern Territory was. Even though politics didn''t require much spiritual energy, I still made it a point to


    cultivate as much as possible. My internal energy was growing immensely by the day. The Lotus Heart


    was more powerful than I initially thought and I wanted to keep it under control.


    I also made some friends. Ayana, the Fire Immortal''s daughter who stuck up for me at the wee


    banquet, was in politics with me. She became a fast friend. Alexander, the Water Immortal''s son, also


    became a friend. He was in the Warrior Faction, but after sses he would show me what he learned


    and I would often train with him. There were a few more friends made, but I noticed that everyone else


    seemed scared of me. They would tread lightly around me, especially Hana. Tase didn''t take action


    against her after hearing what happened due to my words, but after being personally punished by


    Headmaster, she steered clear of me. I made sure to keep Yong''s charm in a safe ce with Ixia. Ixia


    had be somewhat like my sister. During my sses, she would rx or doundry while I was


    away. She still talked with me often, updating me on the happenings in the Pce and customs I


    needed to know.


    I was also taught how to send letters with internal energy. It was almost like email. I would write the


    letter in the air and then think about the person I wanted to send it to. I wrote with Tase and Yong often.


    With Tase, I kept him updated on my progress and he told me what was happening with Yong and


    himself. Over time, Tase really started to feel like a godfather. He looked out for me and always had my


    best interest at heart. Yong''s letters were a lot more romantic. He never wrote anything to make me


    worry, but always expressed how much he missed me. Tase was the one I had to rely on to tell me how


    Yong was really doing. Tase told me that he officially imed me as his goddaughter in front of the


    Heavenly Emperor. He said it was a rough start because Tase was not yet married, but eventually his


    Royal Father warmed up to the idea. Tase and Yong had to go to battle with demons while I was at the


    academy. I couldn''t write them as often during that time, and I worried every day, but I believed in them.


    Like that, years passed. I switched to the warrior faction next. I wanted to quickly learn how to defend


    and protect myself. This faction was different. While most other sses were indoors, this ss was


    held in an arena. Heavenly General obviously had other important duties and couldn''t teach us all the


    time, so when he wasn''t there, his deputy general was in charge of our sses. Our first lesson was to


    conjure up our own magical weapon. Alexander already told me about this lesson. I sat on the floor and


    focused my energy into the space between my hands. Slowly a sword started to form. It was a


    lightweight double edged sword with an intricate gold design on the white grip ending past the pommel


    in two sharp points. The guards curved in the direction of the sword in points as well.


    "Exquisite," the DeputyGeneralplimented me as I grabbed the grip. I stood and tried it on for size. I


    put some internal energy into the sword and gave a few swings. My internal energy shot out of the


    sword easily and into the air. I froze and looked around hesitantly. I didn''t mean to do that, and


    someone could''ve gotten hurt. My powers were increasing past what I could control these days. I had


    to learn how to contain and control it.


    "Careful, while you''re still getting used to the feel of your sword, only put the internal energy in the grip.


    You''ve created a beautiful and powerful weapon. You already have a god of gods internal energy. It''s


    best to take your time getting started," the Deputy General instructed before he went to check on the


    other students. Alexander walked over, looking at my sword.


    "Whoa," he breathed. "A double edged sword on top of that. You sure know the meaning of irony," he


    joked.


    "What do you mean?" I asked as I touched the fuller with my index and middle finger.


    "Your beauty is like a double edged sword. Beautiful and dangerous," he exined. I took my eyes off


    of my sword to look at him.


    "Dangerous?" I questioned.


    "Getting close to you brings two dangers. Your Royal status is one, and your internal power potential is


    the other," he borated. I put my sword at my side with a breath.


    "You''re one of my closest friends. Are you afraid of me like the others? Have I hurt you?" I asked. He


    shook his head with a small smile.


    "No, but we''re in a controlled environment. It''s clear the Second Prince and Crown Prince are very


    protective of you. After leaving Heavenly Cloud, I don''t know if we''ll still be able to be friends. My family


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    is just a weather faction family. To be honest, I¡¯ll be one of the first warriors toe out of my n. It


    will be hard for the Second Prince to find someone worthy enough to marry you when the timees,"


    he admitted honestly. I frowned slightly. He was right. Changing my status meant the ss of people I


    associated with would change as well. I was doing my best to prove that I was worthy of Yong, but I


    would lose some friends as a result if I wasn''t careful.

 Chapter 15 (Yong)

    Chapter 15 (Yong)


    *Yong''s POV*


    I felt empty without Aivi by my side. I was worried about her after my charm was set off the first day.


    After that, I suspected she took the hairpin off. I knew she was stubborn enough to do it. She wrote


    often but if she was in any trouble, she never told me. I knew she didn''t want to worry me, but I knew


    she wasn''t telling me everything. I had to admit, I felt slightly jealous of Tase. He''d gotten closer to Aivi,


    taking his role as her godfather seriously. As soon as our Royal Father heard the rumors of Aivi, both


    Tase and I were summoned into the Royal Hall. I bowed with Tase as we stood under the throne.


    "Greetings, Royal Father... Royal Mother," we greeted our parents. Our father, the Emperor, grumbled


    an acknowledgment before looking to Tase directly.


    "There have been rumors recently. They say that Second Prince''s goddaughter who enrolled at


    Heavenly Cloud is a one in a million talent with god of gods potential. Son... when did you adopt a


    daughter?" He asked. I got nervous for a moment but I kept my emotions hidden.


    "Replying to Royal Father, on my way back from the Mortal Realm, I found a seedling left alive from the


    war with demons at the Northern Territory. It turned out to be the deceased Northern General''s


    daughter. Her human form was taken from her during the battle. I took pity on her and cultivated her


    into a fairy. Being as she was the daughter of the decorated war hero, adopting her seemed like a


    suitable choice to honor the deceased. I found her so likable and talented, I wanted to cultivate her in a


    proper setting. I took her to enroll at the Academy soon after she took her human form. She''s enrolled


    as the only ever all-faction student," Tase exined.


    "You have quite the eye for talent if that''s the case. I''ve never heard of a student having a god of gods


    potential, let alone study all factions. When she graduates, bring her to me and we''ll confer her the


    official title of Royal Daughter of the Second Prince. But you can''t have a daughter before a wife.


    You''ve been arranged to marry the daughter of the Western Sea Lord for a while now. I think it''s time to


    begin nning for that. Servants! Have someone send the betrothal gifts," our Royal Father instructed.


    I knew how Tase felt about the arranged marriage. He didn''t like it but he didn''t dislike it either. It was


    something to be expected with our status. The Western Sea Princess wasn''t bad at all. She was


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    graceful, magnanimous, and beautiful. A very timid immortal. Tase bowed, epting his fate.


    "Thank you, Royal Father," he bowed.


    "On to other matters, the demons have been causing trouble at the River of Forgetfulness. A few have


    dared to even cross the boarder. While your wedding is being prepared for you, I want you and the


    Crown Prince to take half of the Imperial Troops and take control of the situation," the Emperor


    instructed.


    "Royal Husband, we need to prepare a quick but grand wedding for Second Prince. Are you sure you


    want to send him away whilst also preparing his wedding?" Royal Mother asked. As innocent as the


    question sounded, I knew her true intentions. She wanted me to get the aplishment myself to


    solidify my title as Crown Prince. I was the youngest son with two older brothers, but when I was born,


    there was an auspicious sign in the sky and my true form was the Golden Dragon, effectively making


    me the Crown Prince, but it was still anyone''s game. My First Brother, As, was currently taking over


    the war efforts in the Northern Territory. I wasn''t as close with him as I was with Tase, but he had his


    own achievements and mostly kept to himself.


    "It''ll be fine. You''ll be doing the nning anyway," my father dismissed my mother. I was my mother''s


    only biological son. As and Tase came from my father''s consorts in the Harem, but my Royal Mother


    held the title of Empress. Her title was only solidified when I became the Crown Prince. Ever since


    then, she had been greedy for more.


    "I''ll abide, Royal Father," I said, cutting off any more talk from my mother.


    "Dismissed," my father waved us off. We bowed before leaving the Royal Hall. Outside of the hall Tase


    sighed heavily.


    "Sorry, I didn''t know these events would lead to pushing your wedding up," I apologized to him. Tase


    only smiled easily.


    "Don''t be sorry. I treat Aivi like my real goddaughter. I''m fond of her and I want to protect her too. If


    getting married is all I have to do to keep Aivi safe, I''ll do it," he replied. I felt grateful for his help, but I


    also felt something else.


    "I''m a little jealous at how much she relies on you. Why won''t she rely on me the same way?" I


    admitted my true thoughts.


    "She understands your status here. She''s trying her best to stand on her own so she can be a better


    match for you in the future. She doesn''t want anyone to question her worth if she stands next to you.


    She relies on me now, to be fully yours in the future. Don''t take it to heart. She treats me as her real


    godfather just as I treat her as my goddaughter. I have no other intentions other than to dote on our


    Little Flower," he exined.


    "Thank you... for helping me take care of her," I said with relief. Tase put a hand on my shoulder as we


    continued walking.


    "You love her and I love you, so of course I''ll help you," Tase promised. I felt relieved having a brother I


    could rely on with a situation like this.

 Chapter 16

    Chapter 16


    *Aivi''s POV*


    One thousand years. I spent one thousand years cultivating and training at Heavenly Cloud. Even


    though I breezed through my sses with ease, I stayed longer to get stronger and perfect myself. I


    even went through my heavenly trail of five lightning strikes and ascended to an High Immortal status


    while there. Finally, I''d graduated and was finally ready to go back. I knew that this was only the start of


    my trials though. Ixia finished packing our things with a smile as I ced the hairpin charm back in my


    hair.


    "Princess, are you ready?" Ixia asked. I smiled lightly as I nodded. Over these years, I''d perfected my


    grace under pressure. The real tests to what I learned wereing soon. Ixia and I walked to the


    entrance of the school where our masters were waiting to send everyone off.


    "Princess!" Alexander yelled from behind me. I turned and smiled slightly as he caught up to me.


    "Princess, don''t forget to write me," he reminded me.


    "Where are you going from here?" I asked.


    "Imperial Guard. I''ll be under Heavenly General to continue my training. Where are you going?" He


    asked.


    "Goddaughter!" I heard Tase call me. I smiled as I turned to see hime to stand beside me.


    "Godfather!" I said happily. It was good to see him again. He took my hands in his before petting my


    head gently.


    "You''ve grown up a lot since I saw youst, Little Flower. You''re a High Immortal already," he said as he


    looked me over. I chuckled before moving his hand gently.


    "Godfather, this is Alexander, the son of the Water Immortal," I introduced the two. Alexander bowed to


    Tase in respect.


    "Alexander pays respect to Second Prince of Heaven," he said.


    "And he is..?" Tase quirked an eyebrow in confusion. I saw the overprotectiveness beginning.


    "Alexander is my friend. When I was in the Warrior faction, we often trained together. He''s headed for


    the Imperial Guard," I exined.


    "If ''you-know-who'' ever found out about this," Tase started.


    "We won''t mention this. An immortal as old as he is and he''s still got the jealousy of a teenage boy," I


    joked. Tase smirked before agreeing with me.


    "Bye Princess," Ayana said as she came to join our little circle. Her eyes widened when she notices


    Tase. She curtsied hurriedly.


    "Greetings, Second Prince," she said quickly.


    "Forgo the formalities," he waved her off.


    "Where are you going Ayana?" I asked. She smiled sweetly.


    "Home, my father has a marriage prepared for me," she replied.


    "Speaking of marriages, do you know who you''re arranged to marry yet, Princess?" Alexander asked.


    ¡®This boy is asking for a beating from Yong,¡¯ Tase contacted me through thoughts.


    "My godfather will be the one to arrange my marriage. I have no thoughts on the matter myself," I said


    to get off of the topic.


    "I already have someone in mind," Tase said sternly before looking back to me.


    "Let''s go," he said. I said goodbye to my friends and masters before traveling back to Eternity Pce


    through the air with Tase.


    "Things have changed around here since you left a thousand years ago," Tase warned as he walked


    me inside. A beautiful woman in a pale blue robe and dress stood in the front garden waiting for us.


    "Greetings to Husband... goddaughter," the petite woman smiled softly. I looked at Tase in confusion.


    "You were married while I was away?" I asked. He nodded once in confirmation.


    "Meet the Western Sea Princess, Zinnia, my wife and you''re godmother. When I told the Heavenly


    Emperor about adopting you, he insisted having a motherly figure in your life as well. It was


    inappropriate for an unmarried man to adopt on his own," Tase exined.


    "You must be tired from the journey. I prepared snacks in the main hall and your room has been


    prepared," Zinnia said sweetly. She seemed like a kind woman. Ixia went to put my things away before


    I followed Zinnia and Tase back to the main hall.


    "I''m Aivi. It''s so nice to meet you," I said to Zinnia as she poured tea for us.


    "Tase''s ''Little Flower''. I''ve heard so much about you. If you don''t mind, from now on, I am also your


    godmother. I''ll work with Tase to take care of you," she said softly. Her voice was melodic and sweet.


    Her smile was warm and sincere. I stood and curtsied deeply to her.


    "Thank you, godmother," I said out of respect. She stood as well and held my arms to get me to stand


    up straight.


    "That''s not necessary. As I am now married to the Second Prince, it''s only right that I help share his


    burden and take care of things he cares about. Plus, you can help me be a better mother for


    when the timees," she said cheerfully. I smiled at her as I held her arm as well.


    "You would be the first motherly figure I''ve ever had," I admitted. She touched my cheek gently as Tase


    chuckled.


    "I worried for nothing. It looks like you two will get along just fine," Tase joked.


    "After we''re done here, there''s someone you need to visit before hees here to cause a scene,"


    Tase added. I smiled knowing exactly who he was referring to. We finished the snacks before Tase took


    me to Serenity Pce. The fairies we''re bustling around when we entered, but I didn''t see Yong


    anywhere. I walked ahead of Tase and to Yong''s study. As soon as I entered, an energy lifted me off


    the ground. I quickly broke it with my own energy before pulling my sword from inside my body. I knew


    that it was just Yong wanting to y. He came from around the corner with his own sword and pressed


    it against mine. I smiled before making my sword disappear. Yong put his away before pulling me into a


    hug.


    "It''s been too long without you," he said softly as he held my head against his chest. As I tried to pull


    away, Yong pulled me into a kiss. I pushed against him but he wasn''t letting go. With Tase standing


    right behind me, I was embarrassed.


    "Yong, the door is open," I said when he finally let me breath. Yong cradled me in his arms with


    determination.


    "I don''t care," he said seriously. I zapped him with a little of my internal energy and ced myself back


    on my feet. He held his chest as a look of pain crossed his face. My smile fell as I rushed to his side.


    "Yong, don''t scare me. I didn''t use that much energy," I said as I guided him to the edge of the spare


    bed in his study.


    "I''ll go get the imperial physician," Tase said before he left the room. I sat next to him and prepared to


    use my energy for a body hunt to see where he was hurt when I was flipped on to my back. I gasped at


    the sudden movement and looked up to see Yong smirking as he hovered over me.


    "I''ve missed you... so much," he said softly before bringing his lips to mine gently. My hands touched


    his face gently as I kissed him back. After he calmed down, he pulled away to smile at me.


    "This is inappropriate. We''re not married," I said as a blush crept into my cheeks.


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    "Who told you to leave me for a thousand years," he countered.

 Chapter 17

    Chapter 17


    Yong didn''t want to let me go so weid next to each other as I told him about my time at the academy.


    After a moment, Tase came back with a satisfied smile on his face. I sat up quickly and fixed my hair.


    There was no physician in sight.


    "You were in on it? You yed along and left your only unmarried daughter to this hungry dragon?" I


    asked in disbelief. Tase onlyughed.


    "Yong knows his limits here. Plus, you two needed time along to catch up or Yong would go insane.


    Would you have rather I tell him that your closer with a schoolmate?" Tase teased me. I blushed as I


    looked to Yong quickly. It wasn''t that I was closer to Alexander. I just saw him in apletely different,


    nonthreatening way. Yong quirked an eyebrow at me.


    "Is that so?" He asked.


    "It''s only natural to make friends at a school," I defended myself. Tase sighed as he shook his head.


    "Alright, alright. We need to go back to prepare going into the pce. Royal Father wants to meet his


    great-goddaughter," Tase said. Yong ced a gentle kiss on my head before we went back to Eternity


    Pce. I bathed in flower petals and had Ixia help me wash my hair before dressing in an extravagant


    and expensive, but simple, white and pink dress with matching belt and robe. After Zinnia, Tase and I


    were dressed, we entered the pce. The Royal Main Hall was like nothing I expected. It was huge


    and grand with an open roof and giant thrones where the Emperor and Empress sat. When we reached


    the bottom of the steps leading to the thrones, we stopped and got on our knees to bow.


    "Greetings, Heavenly Emperor.... Empress," we greeted them.


    "Forgo the formalities. Come, let me see my sessful great-goddaughter," the Heavenly Emperor


    said with a satisfied smile. I stood with Tase and Zinnia before ncing at them curiously. It didn''t seem


    appropriate to approach the Emperor''s throne.


    "Go," Tase whispered to me. I kept my head down and my hands in front of me as I slowly went to


    kneel directly in front of the Emperor''s throne.


    "Quite beautiful," the Empressmented. The Emperor used his internal energy to check over my


    energy levels.


    "She''s quite talented as well. Only a Heavenly Trial away from Goddess status and not even 15,000


    years old. You really are a true prodigy. Is there anything else you have talents in?" The Emperor asked


    excitedly.


    "Responding to Heavenly Emperor, Godfather Second Prince also had a master teach me in the four


    arts," I responded. Technically it was Yong''s doing but I couldn''t say that to the Emperor.


    "Call me great-godfather," he smiled excitedly. I could easily tell that the Heavenly Emperor was one


    who was easily impressed by talents and status. I was the talk of the Heavenly Realm right now, which


    meant I was bringing him great honor. He was satisfied with the prestige.


    "You can go back now," he said with satisfaction.


    "Wait," the Empress said. She reach out and touched the hairpin Yong gave me.


    "Second Prince, care to exin what the Crown Prince''s charm is doing in this girl''s hair?" She asked. I


    stayed quiet and controlled my facial expression.


    "Replying to Royal Mother, before Princess Aivi went to Heavenly Cloud, I was anxious for her safety. I


    asked the Crown Prince for this charm just in case. It did go off once," Tase lied easily.


    "It''s good that you''re okay," the Emperor chuckled.


    "Thank you great-godfather," I bowed again before descending the stairs to stand next to Tase again.


    "This is the first time the Princess is meeting Second Prince''s new wife. Why don''t we let them go back


    and get acquainted," the Empress said. The Emperor nodded before waving us off. We bowed before


    leaving the Royal Main Hall. I felt myself sigh as the tension left my shoulders when we were finally out


    of the Royal Pce. The Emperor clearly liked me, but the Empress did not like the fact I existed and I


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    couldn''t figure out why.


    "That could''ve gone worse," Tase said lightheartedly as we made it back to Eternity Pce.


    "The Empress..." I said hesitantly.


    "She had nothing against you, she just doesn''t like me in general. Anything I do will annoy her. She''s


    not my biological mother, but she is Yong''s. Naturally, she''s guarded against me because she doesn''t


    want her son to lose his title. Now I''ve brought a heavenly prodigy into the Royal family under my care


    and generating great prestige. She''s not happy about it," Tase exined. That made sense. But if she


    was Yong''s mother, I would eventually have to get along with her if I wanted to stay with Yong.


    "Aivi, would you like to help me prepare dinner?" Zinnia asked. I smiled gently before nodding. I


    followed Zinnia and took my outer robe off before putting the apron on.


    "Do you cook often?" Zinnia asked. I smiled softly remembering my mortal life.


    "Yong normally took over cooking. I guess you could say I''ve been spoiled," I said without thinking. My


    smile fell as I looked to Zinnia quickly. She only chuckled as she began cutting vegetables.


    "Second Prince already told me about the fate between you and the Crown Prince. If I didn''t know the


    truth, how could I protect your secret?" She winked at me. I smiled before helping by using my internal


    energy to start the fire. Although she knew about Yong and I, I didn¡¯t think she knew the whole truth


    about my Lotus Heart. Zinnia and I bustled around the kitchen before we finished with a roasted duck


    and at least five side dishes. After we finished ting the food, we took it to the main hall and ced it


    on the dinner table. I froze briefly when I saw the extra guest.


    "You appear everywhere," I chuckled.


    "I wanted to check on you after visiting the Royal Pce and meeting with the Emperor. Also I just got


    you back, it''s understandable that I want to see you. Tase told me you were cooking with your


    godmother, so I opted for staying for dinner. I was always the one who cooked before, so this was a


    nice change," Yong said. I set the rest of the food down before taking off my apron and sitting down.


    "Let''s eat," Zinnia smiled.

 Chapter 18

    Chapter 18


    As much as I liked spending my time with my godparents and Yong, I felt bored only cultivating in my


    room every day and never leaving the walls of Eternity and Serenity Pce. The culture here was that


    women barely left the house. They stayed behind to take care of the house and raise the kids as wives.


    As daughters, they cultivated and practiced being good wives. It was unbing of ady to show her


    face in public too often, but I was getting restless. I had all this power and no outlet. I knew that staying


    inside was the best option for me considering what was powering me, but if I only stayed inside all the


    time, it would be a waste of a life.


    "Little Flower! Are you ready?" Tase called for me. Ixia finished by putting Yong''s charm in my hair.


    "All done," Ixia smiled. I was dressed in a darker pink dress and robe today. We were going to the


    Heavenly Pce for the Summer Solstice Banquet. All of the higher ranking Immortals were going to


    be there. It was also serving as a sort of introduction to society for me. It was the first time Tase was


    taking me out to officially introduce me to everyone as his goddaughter. I stood from in front of the


    vanity and left my room. Ixia followed behind as Zinnia, Tase and I made our way to the Main Hall in the


    Heavenly Pce by carriage. I stopped short at the gate when I recognized a familiar face.


    "Alexander?" I asked. He was posted in protective armor at the entrance.


    "Little Flower, the guards aren''t allowed to talk out of turn while posted. You''re going to get him in


    trouble," Tase informed me. Thest thing I wanted to do was get Alexander in trouble, but at the


    moment, I was just happy to see a familiar face. I nodded to him before walking inside. The floor was


    wide open while seats and tables were set up beyond the pirs.


    "Fire Immortal, meet my goddaughter, High Immortal Aivi," Tase began introducing me to the other


    immortals present. Apparently, my name had been widely known due to my god of gods potiential and


    all-faction student status at Heavenly Cloud. The atmosphere was lively, and I felt more at ease finally


    being out in society again.


    "The Royal Family arrives!" A servant announced. We all faced the tables set up where the thrones


    were as we curtsied or bowed respectively.


    "Greeting, Heavenly Emperor," we said almost simultaneously. The Emperor and Empress sat in their


    thrones while Yong sat off to a table a little further down but still at the head of the Hall. There was also


    another prince beside him I hadn''t met yet. Tase offered an arm to Zinnia before we went to take our


    seats on the other side of the Heavenly Emperor. I sat one table off of my godparents.


    "Please everyone, take a seat. As we are celebrating the Summer Solstice today, please enjoy


    yourselves," the Emperor started the feast.


    "Princess, how have you beentely?" The Emperor asked me as the chatter in the Hall picked up


    again. I was slightly caught off guard. I put my wine cup down before standing to curtsy.


    "Replying to great-godfather, I''m well, but honestly... restless," I admitted. Heughed heartily before


    finally calming down.


    "Restless? I guess it''s not wise to put a talent like you in seclusion for long," he agreed. "Just say the


    word, I''ll ce you wherever you like," he promised. I smiled softly.


    "Thank you, great-godfather. But the time I spend at home did give me time to perfect the dance I


    prepared for you today," I segwayed into my present for the Emperor today. The dance was Tase''s


    idea. We would eventually have to warm up the Emperor and Empress to the idea of marrying me to


    Yong.


    "You''re a filial child. Okay. Let''s see this dance," the Emperor agreed. I made my way down to the


    center of the floor and curtsied. The musicians didn''t y anything as a stood there.


    "What''s the problem?" The Emperor asked in irritation.


    "Replying to Heavenly Emperor, we''re too inferior to y music that would match a dance from the


    High Immortal Princess," the musician replied. This, of course, was all a part of our n.


    "Let me," Yong offered as he stood. He went to the instrument and began plucking the stings of the


    zither. I moved easily, letting my hands flow slowly along with my dance. I kept to speed with Yong''s


    tempo. Slowing when he slowed, and speeding up with him. At the end, I used my internal energy to


    float while spinning. Once I was high enough in the air, I pushed my energy into fireworks through the


    gap in the roof and into the sky while simultaneously raining down flower petals. I spun down gracefully


    and finished the dance. My finish was met with thunderous apuse.


    "Good! Very good!" The Emperor pped. I curtsied before turning to curtsy to Yong.


    "Thank you for your assistance, once again, Crown Prince," I thanked him.


    "Princess, your dance deserves only the best music," he smiled easily. I gave a gentle smile back


    before turning to go back to my seat. The festival continued merrily. Everyone was in high spirits as we


    ate and drank. It was better than staying inside all day. Everyone present was even gifted a flower with


    one year of spiritual energy. The Emperor and Empress retired early leaving the rest of us to continue.


    Yong waved me over discreetly. I walked over and curtsied in front of his table.


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    "Princess Aivi greets the Crown Prince," I said. He rolled his eyes discreetly before motioning to the


    other prince.


    "You''ve yet to meet First Prince As. First Brother, this is Second Brother''s goddaughter. She''s the


    one who was all-faction at Heavenly Cloud," Yong introduced me. The First Prince nodded once to me


    before setting his cup of wine down. His stoic face was hard to read.


    "I''ve heard a lot about you. You''re even more beautiful in person," he noted before picking his wine cup


    back up and drinking it dry.


    "Crown Prince, you''re mother sent me to serve and talk with you," a girl said from behind me. I turned


    to see a beautiful woman with a tall slender frame in a purple dress. Her hair was adorned with crystals


    and hairpins. Her high cheekbones and wide, doe-like eyes were prominent on her small face.


    "Fox Immortal Enya, it''s been a while," Yong replied to her.

 Chapter 19

    Chapter 19


    The girl, Enya, looked like someone who would want the Crown Princess title associated with Yong.


    And the fact that his mother sent her over told me everything I needed to know. The Empress wanted


    Yong to find favor in this girl.


    "Enya, I haven''t seen you in a couple hundred years," Yong said. Enya curtsied.


    "I cultivated in seclusion for a while. As soon as I got back, I caught up with your Royal Mother before


    her.


    "Serving me isn''t necessary. High Immortal Princess Aivi, you promised to tell me more stories from


    Heavenly Cloud," Yong said, turning his attention to me. I hesitated at suddenly being put on the spot


    before I knelt beside Yong and poured another ss of wine for him.


    "I''ll visit you at Serenity Pce another time," Enya said gracefully before leaving. I sighed as I nced


    at Yong. It was too dangerous to talk out loud here.


    ¡®She''s the woman your mother wants you to marry. And you call her by her name so sweetly.¡± I said to


    him through his thoughts.


    We should wait until the banquet is over to talk of this subject, Yong stopped me.


    "Royal Mother is still pushing Fox Immortal Enya into yourp?" First Prince asked. Yong sighed in


    irritation.


    "It appears so, and she''s serious this time," Yong confirmed. His brother gave a ghost of a smile as I


    poured wine in the extra cup and drank it all.


    "Slowly," Yong said, taking notice of me. I gave him a small re before setting the sk of wine back


    down. Yong chuckled before pouring wine into my cup.


    "Fine. Fine. Fine... I was wrong," he gave in as he pat the seat next to him. I smiled lightly before sitting


    next to him. He toasted his ss to me before we drank the wine together.


    "What do you think about working under the Army Physician for a while?" Yong asked.


    "What makes you ask so suddenly?" I asked before eating a grape.


    "The demons from the Demon Realm have started to get out of control. If you work under the Army


    Physician for a while, maybe you''ll be out posted to a battle area. You''ll be able to get out of the house


    a while, and I''m sure I''ll be joining the Army for the suppression efforts as well," he exined with a sly


    smile. I hid my own smile in my cup.


    "You seem full of ns," I muttered quietly. He brought his lips closer to my ear with a smirk.


    "My biggest n is to elope with you first, then ask for forgivenesster," he said. I froze before my


    eyes went to his. I could only hope he was joking.


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    "Naughty," I muttered before leaning away from him.


    "Water Immortal greets Crown Prince and High Immortal Princess," an older man came to the table to


    greet us. Yong leaned away from me as he nodded to the Water Immortal.


    "Eh? You''re Alexander''s father," I smiled. The Water Immortal put his hands back at his sides as he


    smiled gently.


    "I am. Alexander has been talking about you nonstop since graduating Heavenly Cloud. You left quite


    the impression on my son," Water Immortal confirmed. Yong only quirked an eyebrow at me.


    "He''s a good friend to me. I appreciated his help and guidance while in school. I wish the best for him,"


    I replied.


    "You truly are as beautiful as my son said," Water Immortal said as he looked closer.


    "It seems the Water Immortal''s son speaks highly of you often. I may need to move up my ns," Yong


    said. He didn''t say it outright but I knew what n he was talking about.


    Naughty, I said through his thoughts. Yong chuckled before taking a sip of his wine. He seemed rxed


    now that his parents were gone.


    "Little Flower, careful not to drink too much," Tase said as he came to Yong''s table.


    "You do dote on this Little Flower a lot," Yong said lightheartedly.


    "She is my daughter," Tase said. I stood and curtsied to Yong with a smug smile before going back to


    Tase''s side.


    "Father!" I said jokingly as I held on to Tase''s arm. Tase smiled as he pet my hand gently.


    "It''s time for us to go home," he said to me. I smiled and nodded before following him out with Zinnia.


    "You have to be more careful with how you interact with Yong in public. You two were putting on a


    sweet scene together in the Main Hall," Tase said as we entered Eternity Pce. I sighed before letting


    go of his arm.


    "I admit I got carried away after the Fox Immortal Enya came to his table. But if you think I was


    unrestrained, you should''ve heard what Yong was saying. He said he nned to elope with me first


    then ask for forgivenesster," I countered.


    "It would be messy, but it''s actually not a bad idea. Losing your purity here is the same as admitting to


    marriage. I know the Emperor would be happy, but the Empress..." Tase trailed off.


    "She''d rather he marry that Fox Immortal," I finished.


    "Enya has been sucking up to the Empress for tens of thousands of years. As children, Enya and Yong


    grew up together. Enya also has a strong backing with the Fox n as their heir. The Empress wants


    to solidify Yong''s backer through marriage," Tase exined.


    "Yong did have a good point tonight though. I should start working in a faction," I said as I sat in the


    main hall.


    "What faction are you thinking of joining?" Zinnia asked as she handed me a cup of tea. I took a sip


    before setting it on the small table near me.


    "Yong wanted me to join as an Army Physician, but I would still be sitting around most of the time," I


    pondered. Tase sat close to me before using his energy to soul search me. He sighed before dropping


    his hand.


    "It''s time to reenforce your concealment if you n on going out by yourself for a while," Tase sighed. I


    searched by own body and saw it weakening. The overwhelming power of the Lotus Heart was pushing


    against the concealment. Maybe I could use the Lotus Heart itself to strengthen it, but that would show


    traces of it on the outside of the concealment. I sighed. It was really troubling.


    "I''ll go see Yong tomorrow," I promised.

 Chapter 20

    Chapter 20


    Yong sighed as he dropped his hands from my back. He''s just finished strengthening my concealment


    as we sat on his bed. After talking with Tase and Zinniast night, I came to see Yong first thing. At


    first, I worried about Zinnia knowing about the Lotus Heart, but Tase assured me that she was bound


    by a life exchange oath. If you even began to mutter the words ¡®Lotus Heart¡¯ she would die a horrible


    death, never to be reborn.


    "It''s getting more powerful," Yong said as he turned me to face him. I searched my body myself before


    opening my eyes. I smiled slightly.


    "We expected this," I reminded him.


    "Tase tells me that your nning on joining a faction. Can I assume that I''ll be seeing you as an Army


    Physician?" He asked. I shook my head as I stood.


    "I want to join the Imperial Army," I answered.


    "It''s dangerous," Yong objected. I chuckled slightly before using the scissors on his desk to cut my


    hand. I held it up for Yong to see as it healed quickly. You would never know I even opened the skin.


    "Just because it heals doesn''t mean it won''t hurt, and you¡¯re not totally invincible," he reminded me. I


    sighed before sitting next to him again.


    "Well it''s better than your grand n to simply impregnate me," I teased. He pushed me on to my back


    and pinned my wrists against the bed. I could''ve fought back but I didn''t feel it was necessary. He


    smirked before bringing his lips to mine gently.


    "It may not work the first time," he teased as he released my wrists and went for my waist. I pushed


    against his chest gently to free my lips.


    "Wait, Yong. We''re not married yet," I saidmely.


    "In my mind, we already are. I won''t marry anyone else in my life. You''re mine," he said softly.


    "It''s broad daylight," I tried again as I looked towards the door. His lips went to my neck as he


    continued to kiss me. In truth, I didn''t have the willpower to refuse him. He stopped before touching my


    cheek gently.


    "Aivi, ever since we entered this realm, I feel like I''ve only seen your back. We haven''t been able to be


    together or even stay in the same pce. You''ve been trying so hard to prove yourself that I barely see


    you. Had I known it would be like this, I would''ve insisted on keeping you here as a fairy. Then you


    would never leave my side," he said honestly. I caught myself smiling gently as I brought my hand to


    his cheek. He leaned into my hand and closed his eyes briefly.


    "Let''s try both of our ns at the same time," I gave in. His eyes opened as he smiled at me. I


    hesitantly brought my hand to the cor of his robe. I slid the silky material off of his shoulders. He


    brought his lips back to mine as he undid the tie of my dress. Before I knew it, both of our clothes were


    off and we were covered in a nket. This time was different than the on the mortal realm. It was more


    euphoric. It didn''t even matter that it was daylight when we started. It was well into nighttime when


    Yong finally wrapped his arms around me from behind. He kissed my bare shoulder as he adjusted his


    arms around me.


    "In this life... you''re not allowed to sacrifice yourself for me. You¡¯re not allowed to get hurt.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Understood?" He said softly out of the blue.


    "If you''re ever in trouble, I wouldn''t even think before trying to save you. I know you''d do the same for


    me," I replied. Yong sat up to look at me.


    "I''m serious, Aivi. If it everes down to you or me, let it be me. Don''t jump in the way. If anything


    ever happened to you, I would toss myself into the River of Forgetfulness and perish," he said


    seriously. I touched his cheek gently.


    "Okay... I promise," I gave in after seeing how serious he was. He suddenly smiled as his hand went to


    my stomach.


    "Plus, if I have my way, I''ll need you to stay behind to raise our children," he joked. I moved his hand


    from my stomach and turned into his chest.


    "Naughty," I muttered as he chuckled. He wrapped his arm back around me and ced a kiss on my


    forehead.


    "I should head home soon," I said with a sigh. Yong tightened his grip on me.


    "Stay with me tonight. I barely get to see you. I appreciate my brother taking care of you, but now that


    you have a family, you don''t think about me anymore," he pouted.


    "Alright. Alright," I gave in as I wrapped my arms around him. As old as he was, Yong still acted like a


    child sometimes. I couldn¡¯t deny that it was a bit endearing though.


    "Are you still going to the Imperial Army?" He asked quietly after turning out the lights with his internal


    energy. I hesitated before I nodded.


    "We agreed to try both of our ns. I want to make aplishments over time, whilst you just wanted


    to make a baby," I said pushing on his chest gently. He only chuckled.


    "My n is a lot more fun," he joked.


    "I n to go report tomorrow," I admitted.


    "I''ll make sure you have suitable clothing. You should rest for the assessment tomorrow," he went along


    with me. He ced another kiss on my head before I let my eyes close. Thanks to Yong, I was beyond


    exhausted.

 Chapter 21

    Chapter 21


    The next morning, Yong had someone fetch me clothes. The clothes were dark blue in color and


    different than the dresses and gowns I''d worn up until this point. The outfit was a pair of loose fitting


    pants paired with a cross-tied, shorter dress that was thicker with leather pads sown to the shoulders.


    The sleeves were fitted like a long sleeved tshirt with leather cuffs that stopped at my wrist and


    protected half of my forearms. The belt that was tied on top was also made of leather. I swung my arm


    around and twisted in the clothing after the maid fairies dressed me. They didn''t say anything, but I saw


    the questions in their face. Yong came back and looked over the outfit.


    "Looks good," he smiled. I dropped my arms as I looked at him.


    "I''ve been meaning to ask. Technology in the Mortal Realm is so advanced these days, for example:


    pants. Why do we have to go around like we''re in the ancient era and wear dresses and gowns every


    day?" I asked. Yong scoffed as he straightened the belt on me.


    "Did you forget? We live for hundreds of thousands of years. Things made on the Mortal Realm are


    mostly temporary or need constant recement. It''s easily to go with what works. As for clothes, same


    thing. We can fly to our destination if we want. Do you really think denim rubbing together every time


    you take a step can withstand a couple thousand years?" He answered my question with a question. It


    made sense. He held my shoulders gently as he sighed.


    "Alright, be careful on your way," he said before cing a kiss on my head. When I got to the Imperial


    Army ground, Heavenly General was waiting for me. He bowed when he saw me.


    "Princess, what can I do for you?" He asked.


    "I''vee to join the ranks," I replied. His eyes widened as he looked at me.


    "Princess, I''m aware of your talents, but do you think this is appropriate?" He asked hesitantly.


    "I''ve already gotten my great-godfather''s permission to go to whatever faction I choose. I figured my


    energy would be best served here," I exined.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "But we''re due to go to battle in the Northern Territory with the First Prince soon," he said, like I only


    came for fun.


    "Perfect. I''m not asking for special treatment. I just want to help with the efforts against the Demon


    Realm. You said yourself at Heavenly Cloud: I could easily be the most destructive and


    unpredictable weapon," I reminded him. He hesitated again before opening the gate for me. I saw


    quickly why he hesitated. With all of the soldiers training, I didn''t see a single woman.


    "For now, we''ll put you in the general''s tent since you''re the only woman," he said, leading me to the


    tent. I walked inside before nodding to him.


    "I''ll go join training," I said before walking out to the training field. Most of the soldiers weren''t using


    much internal energy as they practiced. I watched for a moment and quickly saw the problem.


    "Heavenly General, why does their training feel so...zy?" I asked. He sighed in defeat.


    "They value their lives, but forget it can be easily taken. Most of the soldiers here are descendants of


    noble immortals. It''s hard to get them to take it seriously until the battle is right in front of them," he


    admitted.


    "Want me to give you a hand?" I smirked at him. He nodded. I covered my face with a handkerchief


    before flying into the middle of their practice while pulling my sword. I knocked a few of the soldiers off


    their feet before they finally realized the threat. They came at me with their swords but I was faster. I


    teased them by hitting a few of their helmets with my hand and pushing others. Soon, everyone''s


    attention was on me. They chased and swung, but they couldn''t keep up with me. I flew over them,


    under them, and teased them the whole time. They finally actually started working hard to catch me.


    After a few minutes, I ced my feet on the ground and recalled my sword as untied the handkerchief


    with my free hand. They all stopped before lowering their swords. I couldn''t help it, I was angry.


    "Heavenly General spends him time and effort training you all to fight demons to protect Heaven, and


    this is how you repay him?! Yourckluster efforts will get you killed! Do you expect others to save you


    out there? You couldn''t even touch me just now. Even though you all had weapons in your hands, you


    couldn''t react in time to attack. Start taking this seriously, or the next time you draw your sword will be


    yourst," I said loudly so they could all hear me.


    "Are we really going to take orders from this girl?" A guy said as he eyed me. I scoffed as I rolled my


    eyes.


    "You''ll most likely be the first killed," I responded on instinct. A soldier rushed forward and bowed to


    me. I recognized the face immediately.


    "High Immortal Princess," he acknowledged me. The other soldiers started muttering amongst


    themselves as Heavenly General came to stand next to me.


    "Let me formally introduce someone. This is High Immortal, Princess Aivi. The goddaughter of the


    Second Prince. The only all-faction student with god of gods internal energy. As of today, I''m conferring


    her the title of Weapons Trainer," Heavenly General introduced me. Hesitantly, the other soldiers


    recalled their swords and bowed.


    "Greetings, Princess," they greeted me. I looked to the soldier who mouthed off earlier.


    "What''s your name?" I asked him.


    "Levean, son of the Eastern Sea Lord," he answered. I stepped closer to him as I crossed my arms.


    "Levean, let''s spar. Prove to me that you won''t get yourself killed," I said as I called my sword back out.


    The other soldiers made room as Levean''s eyes widened. I knew my reputation proceeded me, but


    watching the fear in his face gave me so much joy.

 Chapter 22

    Chapter 22


    I went straight to my tent after training ended. I was thoroughly surprised to see Ixia waiting for me with


    the bath ready. She curtsied.


    "Princess," she smiled.


    "Ixia, what are you doing here?" I asked as she came to help undress me. She hung my clothes up on


    the partition.


    "Crown Prince came by Eternity Pce and asked me to continue serving you here. I saw you on the


    training field when I arrived so I asked to wait here for you," she exined. I stepped into the bath


    before Ixia started up doing my hair. After it was out of the high bun I had it in, Ixiabed my curtain


    of hair as I rxed in the warm water.


    "Crown Prince is worried about you. He says it''s hard for a woman to adjust being with a bunch of


    soldiers all day," Ixia added. I knew he was worried, but there was nothing he could do. I was


    determined to put my own merits under my belt.


    After my bath, Ixia ced a silky robe over my shoulders and set my hair on top of the fabric. I sighed


    as I tied the ends together to close it. I felt a familiar presence hiding in the room as I finish.


    "You can leave now," I said to Ixia. She curtsied before leaving my tent. Shortly after, Yong''s slightly


    intimidating figure dressed in ck robes emerged. I knew it was him. I smiled slightly at the sight of


    him before remembering where I was.


    "Are you trying to make it obvious that we''re eloping?" I asked sarcastically. He only smiled as he


    wrapped his arms around my waist.


    "Don''t worry. I snuck in; no one saw me," he said cheekily before he moved a strand of my damp hair


    away from my face and kissed my head. I wrapped my arms around him hesitantly before resting my


    head against his chest with a sigh.


    "Have you ever thought about what would happen if your n didn''t work?" I asked before lifting my


    head. He gave a puzzled look before I let go of him.


    "What if I''m still punished even if you manage to get me pregnant? You are aware that the Empress


    doesn''t like me. She doesn''t like anything that has to do with your Second Brother. She has her own


    n for you and won''t let anything get in her way so easily," I exined as I walked away from him. He


    wrapped his arms around me from behind in a back hug.


    "Between my Royal Father and me, what can my Royal Mother say?" He asked rhetorically. He slid the


    silk robe off of my shoulder before cing a kiss on my neck.


    "You''re a little too carefree for the Crown Prince of Heaven," I said in passing. His arm tightened


    around my waist as he sighed near my ear.


    "I promised you I would do whatever it takes to protect you. Even without your own efforts, I will shield


    you by my side. I didn''te up with this n without contingencies," he said before his hands rested


    on my shoulders. He started slipping my robe off further but I stopped him.


    "First in broad daylight, now in the Imperial Army camp? It''s like you want everyone to know of our


    consummation," I questioned him. He moved his arms to wrap around my waist again. Only this time,


    his hands rested on my stomach.


    "We must always be diligent. Plus, I get filled with excitement at the thought of a future with your belly


    protruding with our child," he admitted honestly. My hands rested over his as I rxed against him.


    "A child won''t solve everything," I reminded him.


    "But it does make me happy," he said anyway. I chuckled slightly before turning in his arms. I moved


    his hands away from my waist before going to stand in front of my bed. I untied my robe and slid it all


    the way off.


    "I did promise that we would try both of our ns simultaneously," I gave in. Yong wrapped his arms


    around me as he brought his lips to mine. Heid me down before disrobing himself. He was gentle


    and careful as to allow us to be quieter. After we both reached our Nirvana, Yong wanted to stay, but


    staying would put us at a greater chance of getting caught. I eventually convinced him not to push our


    luck.


    The next day, I hosted training like everything was normal. In fact, we continued this routine for months.


    It was a wonder we hadn''t been caught yet.


    "Princess," Heavenly General greeted me during practice.


    "Any news?" I asked as I called my sword back.


    "Yes, Princess. The Heavenly Emperor called the elites from Imperial Army to join the battle in the


    north under First Prince As. You qualify as an elite," Heavenly General exined. I took a deep


    breath before nodding.


    "When do we set off?" I asked.


    "Tonight. The First Prince already took the first wave of soldiers with him," he exined. I went back to


    my tent to pack. Ixia watched me in confusion.


    "Princess, are you going somewhere?" She asked.


    "We set off to the north tonight... to help First Prince battle the demons. I know Yong wille looking


    for me tonight. Do me a favor: don''t tell him where I am. If he knows, he''ll try toe rescue me, and


    that''s thest thing we need in front of the First Prince. If he asks, just tell him I went to explore the


    Mortal Realm on orders," I said quickly after packing a few clothes.


    "Princess, I don''t think it''s appropriate," Ixia said hesitantly.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Trust me. Yong showing up will only bring trouble," I assured her.


    "If Godfather Tase asks, you are to tell him where I''m really going, then exactly what you tell the Crown


    Prince," I added. I knew that if Yong knew the truth, he would anxiouslye to find me. For now, it


    was best to fly under the radar when it came to my rtionship with Yong. We couldn''t start his n if I


    wasn''t pregnant yet.

 Chapter 23

    Chapter 23


    The battle with demons in the North was brutal. The demons were emboldened and ruthless, but


    thankfully, we were better. Lucky for us, it wasn''t a very organized n on the demons'' part. I sighed


    and sat in the First Prince''s tent to await debriefing after another long day of fighting. We''d been


    fighting for a month''s time already, but the demons kepting. I was one of the best warriors out


    there, but still, ying demons all day was tiresome. The other generals sat as well as we waited for


    First Prince. It wasn''t very long before he walked in and set his sword on the table.


    "Good job today, but we need to quickly think of a strategy to end this for good. Our supplies are


    dwindling and we can''t stay here fighting the whole time," First Prince said in frustration. I stood and


    looked at battle map.


    "Here; right where thend stretches before the mountains. We can use internal energy bombs to


    create a long, deep trench. One that will simultaneouslybust the oing demons. Demons can''t


    use much energy outside of their realm. They won''t be able to fly or jump. If we make the trench deep


    enough, they''ll be stuck down there long enough for us to create an energy barrier at the edge of the


    trench, keeping the stuck on the other side. The downside would be that we would have to be willing to


    give up that small stretch ofnd," I offered. The First Prince thought for a moment before nodding.


    "That could work, but I don''t have the authority to give up thend. I''ll send a letter to my Royal Father


    to ask permission," First Prince As agreed.


    "Everyone is dismissed. Princess General, I need you to stay back," he said. Everyone left leaving First


    Prince As and I alone.


    "Do you need something from me, First Prince?" I asked. He sighed beforeing to stand in front of


    me.


    "I noticed you getting more tired recently. You''re easily fatigued. Even though you''re still one of the best


    out there, your condition makes me uneasy. You should let me do a scan to make sure you didn''t get


    hit with any demons'' poison unknowingly," he offered. I nodded before sitting. First Prince gathered his


    internal energy before pointing his index and middle fingers at me. I closed my eyes patiently as his


    energy searched through me. He stopped and I opened my eyes to be met with his shocked face.


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    "There is something inside of you, but it is not at all what I was expecting. Did you elope with


    someone?" He asked. My eyes widened slightly before I did an internal search of my own body. After


    finding what he found, my eyes opened as my hand flew to my stomach. I knew this was part of the


    n, but how could Yong''s n take effect right now; in the middle of the climax of the battle.


    "I-I..." I stuttered.


    "But you''re unmarried. You haven''t even been promised to anyone as far as I know. The only person


    I''ve seen you be close with was the Crown Prince. Are you pregnant with my brother''s child?" The First


    Prince asked. I didn''t know how to respond.


    "This changes nothing. I''ll still fight at my best, First Prince. You have nothing to worry about," I said


    quickly.


    "That''s not my concern. My concern is your well-being. If you are indeed carrying the Crown Prince''s


    child, I can''t let you go fight anymore. You need to focus on protecting the Royal bloodline," he


    exined. I stood quickly and bowed on my knees. I wasn''t beyond begging.


    "My godfather and Yong worked together for the sake of Yong and I. The Crown Prince and I have


    been in love for a long time, but I had no merit to my name. The god of gods internal energy, all-faction


    student, and Princess titles are only titles. I have nothing to show yet for my capabilities. How can I


    expect the Emperor and Empress to ept my rtionship with the Crown Prince, with such shallow


    titles? First Prince, please do not send me away. I need my own achievements as well. Please don''t tell


    anyone about this," I begged. He sighed, conflicted. I knew the Royal bloodline was precious, but I had


    my own n as well. And I needed it even more so now.


    "How about this: when I write my Royal Father, I''ll make sure he knows that this n is yours. You have


    to stay in camp for the fighting. If your n is indeed epted, you''re to join on horseback and stay in


    the rear. I''ll tell everyone that you''re overseeing the n since it''s your idea and I''ll be joining the


    frontlines for moral. I''ll hang two soldiers back with you to protect you just in case anything goes wrong.


    I''ll leave informing others about your condition to you," he thought out loud.


    "Thank you, First Prince," I said gratefully. His hand touched my elbows gently.


    "Stand up. You''re royalty, and now pregnant as well. There''s no need for you to kneel that deeply to


    me," he said awkwardly. I smiled gently as I curtsied to him.


    "I''ll go rest for the night. Please keep me updated," I asked. He nodded once before I left the tent to go


    back to my own. I sighed as I undid my armor and took off my boots to prepare for bed. Laying down,


    my hand subconsciously went to my stomach. Yong had his wish fulfilled. I was pregnant, but at the


    worse possible time.


    "Oh baby, you''re about to turn everything in the pce on its head. I''ll protect you the best I can, but I


    might just end up losing my own life. Still, I''ll try my best not to lose you... or Yong," I muttered out loud.


    I was half expecting not to see results after only a year. Even though I was extremely nervous and


    slightly scared, I was also happy. Being able to carry the child of the man I loved was a blessing to me.


    Plus, Yong talked about it so often, I had gotten used to the idea. If it was just Yong and I, and he


    wasn''t in such a high position, I wouldn''t be so stressed out, but Yong was the Crown Prince of


    Heaven.

 Chapter 24

    Chapter 24


    The next day, First Prince As took the troops to the battle site to continue fighting and covertly


    assessing the situation to see if my n would have any effect. I was instructed to stay behind with the


    sick and wounded in the camp grounds. I drank my water to really just pass the time before going to


    attend to the wounded. With my energy and cultivation levels, healing them was easy, but after the 20th


    soldier, I needed to sit and take a break. I''d been at it for hours with the most severely wounded to help


    out the physicians. I went back to my tent andid down to rest. I found myself curled up on my side as


    sleep called my name. First Prince noticed what even I couldn''t, and he was right. I wasn''t an energetic


    as I was at the beginning and my stamina was very low. I hated feeling so weak and lethargic. I closed


    my eyes briefly before hearing my tent p open. I sat up and looked to the entrance to see the one


    person I''d been trying to avoid. I knew he would be worried and upset seeing me on the battlefield once


    he knew.


    "Aivi," Yong said as he rushed to my side. He looked me over briefly before cing his hand on my


    cheek.


    "I can''t believe you''ve been here the whole time. Why didn''t you tell me you were helping my First


    Brother battle the demons?" He asked. I smiled lightly before pulling him into a hug.


    "I knew you''d worry and rush here to try and protect me," I admitted. "How did you know I was here?" I


    asked as I pulled out of the hug. Yong sat next to me on the bed as he held my hand in his gently.


    "My First Brother sent me a letter along with the one he sent to our Royal Father. He told me that you


    were here and I needed toe urgently. What happened? We''re you hurt?" He asked. I shook my


    head before my eyes and hand went to my stomach.


    "No, but First Prince As noticed something wrong with me. I wasn''t my usual self thesest few


    weeks, and it kept getting worse, so he scanned me using internal energy," I exined. Yong waited


    patiently as he caressed my hand. I took a deep breath and prepared to tell him the news when Tase


    walked in. I looked up and smiled at seeing his face. I stood and met him halfway before he wrapped


    me in a hug.


    "Aivi, thank goodness you''re okay," Tase said in relief.


    "You got a letter from the First Prince too?" I asked, half knowing  the answer already. Tase nodded as


    he pulled away.


    "Sit down, let me scan you," Tase said still slightly worried.


    "What did my First Brother find?" Yong asked impatiently as I sat back down. I closed my eyes as Tase


    sent his energy in to scan my body. I felt his energy hesitate at my stomach before he withdrew.


    "You''re pregnant?" Tase asked as I opened my eyes again. I nodded. Yong stood quickly before he


    searched himself. After he found what he was looking for, he stood me up to pull me into a hug.


    "You''re really pregnant," he breathed happily as he picked me up in a spin. I chuckled as Yong set my


    feet back on the ground.


    "First Prince was worried because I''d be more lethargic, so he ordered me to stay back. I guess


    he secretly sent you each a letter as well. He''s aware that I''m carrying the Crown Prince''s child," I


    exined.


    "We should go back home and get you away from the fighting," Tase said immediately. I took a step


    back as I shook my head.


    "I finally thought of a n to finish this battle. I want to see it out until the end," I argued.


    "Little Flower, you''ve done more than enough, and after talking with my First Brother, I''m sure he''ll


    credit your idea. You¡¯ve been out here for several months already. I know you''re searching for merits


    and achievements, but not to the point of recklessness. You have more than just your own life to thinkN?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    about now," Tase tried to talk sense into me. I knew he was right, but I felt uneasy leaving this war


    unfinished.


    "But-" I tried.


    "No buts," Yong was quick to cut me off. He sighed before cing a hand on my cheek again. "Aivi,


    you''re already extraordinary. Even my First Brother is impressed. We''ll wait for Altas toe back from


    the battlefield and talk about it with all four of us," Yong promised. I sighed before hanging my head


    slightly. In this instance, I was the one who was wrong and stubborn. I''d already achieved a lot out


    here. Any more would be selfish.


    "Fine, I''ll wait for First Prince to get back. Right now, all I really want to do is sleep," I admitted. I was


    beyond exhausted. Even though I''d basically spent the day wondering around camp, I was worn out. I


    could feel my internal energy redirecting itself to my stomach and I knew it was probably the reason I


    felt deted. Yong assisted me toy down, even though it was unnecessary, beforeying  the nket


    over me. He ced a kiss on my head before touching my stomach gently.


    "I''ll be sure to wake you when my First Brother gets back," he promised. Knowing and seeing that Yong


    was here put me at ease. Even though I initially wanted to aplish this without his help, I missed


    him. I missed Tase as well. My father figure and lover with me in this deste ce helped my heart


    rest enough to fall asleep quickly and soundly. I was at peace.

 Chapter 25

    Chapter 25


    After Yong woke me, I went to First Prince''s tent for the debriefing. My n had been epted by the


    Emperor, so we used the debrief time to go over strategies and positions. Tase and Yong''s arrival didn''t


    go unnoticed my the other generals, but they kept their questions to themselves. As the duties for the


    n I created were being divvied, I also got curious nces when I wasn''t assigned anything. After


    First Prince dismissed the generals, Yong, Tase, and I hung back to talk to As.


    "So you know?" As asked his brothers. They both nodded. First Prince As'' attention turned to


    Yong.


    "How could you do that to your Second Brother''s goddaughter. You should have married her properly


    first and then procreated. Doing this backwards is only going to send feelings of resentment towards


    the Princess," As chastised Yong.


    "You know how our Royal Mother is. Having a heir only solidifies Aivi by my side. If I''d waited to do


    things in their proper order, it would give our Royal Mother and Father a chance to say no. Now, they


    won''t have a choice." Yong was quick to defend himself.


    "They could still choose to make the Princess just a consort in your harem," As tried to reason with


    Yong. That was something I hadn''t thought about yet. As was right. Even if they allowed me to marry


    into Yong''s harem, there was no guarantee that I would get to be Yong''s rightful wife.


    "Our Royal Father would never let his famous great-goddaughter be just a consort," Tase tried to


    help Yong.


    "But still, Crown Prince''s legal wife is a bit of a steep reach. I''m not trying to rain on your parade, I just


    wanted you to think of all the possible oues. At worse, the Princess will be sent to her death. At


    best, she''s allowed to be the rightful wife to the Crown Prince, but there are so many other


    oues in the middle. I hope you get what you want... truly. Until you decide to disclose the news, I''ll


    keep my mouth shut, but I just wanted you to be careful. Princess, you should leave tonight and head


    back to your pce. You heard that debriefing earlier, so I''m sure your aware that we have enough


    hands here and we''ll be able to manage just fine while you''re home resting. I already credited your idea


    in the letter I sent to my Royal Father. I can''t take responsibility if anything happens to any of you out


    there. Second and Crown Prince brother, no one can know you were even here. I''ll make sure the


    generals keep their mouths shut, and I won''t disclose your departure. Stay home for now and I''ll send a


    letter when I''ve returned to the Heavenly Pce. At that time, Princess, you''ll go with me to debrief the


    Emperor and Empress as if you never left," First Prince said.


    "Thank you, First Brother," Yong said sincerely before holding my hand in his. Tase nodded to the First


    Prince as well before we left in the dead of night. We flew back and snuck back into the Heavenly


    Pce before Tase and Yong took me straight to the Serenity Pce. The fairy maids didn''t even catch


    us as Yong led us to his room.


    "What are we doing here?" I asked.


    "Even without actually talking it through, I think Yong and I came to the same conclusion. No one can


    know that you''re back yet. Staying at Eternity Pce would be a dead give away. I''ll bring Ixia back


    there while you stay here with Yong. He''s a little less busy these days and it''s the perfect ce to hide


    until our First Brotheres back," Tase exined.


    "So I''ll hide here?" I asked for confirmation. Yong held my hands in his as he faced me.


    "Things are going to get more hectic before they calm down. Until the battle with the demons is


    and Father. Just rx here with me for now, hm?" Yong said softly. It''s not like I really had a choice. I


    nodded before looking to Tase.


    "What about Godmother?" I asked. He smiled gently.


    "She''ll be fine. I won''t tell her about the child yet either just to be on the safe side, but for now, you


    should spend time with Yong," Tase agreed. Tase held my hand in his gently before leaving. It was just


    Yong and me. Yong wrapped his arms around my waist in a hug. I was quick to wrap my arms around


    him as well.


    "What are you thinking?" Yong asked with his head on my shoulder.


    "I''m scared," I admitted honestly. I was scared for what was toe. I was scared of the Empress


    finding out about Yong''s child. I was scared for my life. I was scared that Yong''s n would backfire.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    When he initially suggested the n, I figured we would have more time. I didn''t expect to get pregnant


    so quickly and easily. Yong pulled away to look at me as his hand held my cheek gently.


    "I''m right here. I won''t let anything happen to you," he promised. "For now, we should sleep. It''ste


    and you''re probably tired from the travel," he changed the subject. I nodded wordlessly as I took off my


    outer robe before getting in Yong''s bed. Yong stayed at his desk for a while, but I was too tired to wait


    for him before falling asleep.

 Chapter 26

    Chapter 26


    First Prince''s letter came only dayster. My n had worked and the demons were effectively sealed


    off. Most of them died in the explosion, but those who survived couldn''t cross over to the Heavenly


    Realm even if they wanted to. First Prince was back in the Heavenly Pce, awaiting the debrief to the


    Emperor that I would also have to attend. It was soon. I got dressed in my armor before sighing. Yong


    watched me wordlessly for a while.


    "You''re going with First Prince?" He asked. I nodded.


    "He should be here to fetch me soon," I replied. Yong stood before cing his protective hairpin at the


    base of my ponytail.


    "I shouldn''t need that," I tried to stop him. He sucked his teeth at me before finishing.


    "Just in case. I''ll be able to see what''s going on with this. How are your symptoms today?" He asked.


    Lately, I''d been nauseous and tired all the time.


    "I''m still tired, but I can suck it up for one meeting," I tried to brush it off. A fairy maid came and


    announced First Prince''s arrival. I said goodbye to Yong before going out to meet the First Prince. He


    smiled gently at me.


    "Princess, are you prepared?" He asked. I nodded as I took a deep breath. We set out and arrived at


    the main hall shortly after. The Emperor and Empress were both seated on their thrones as we bowed


    to greet them.


    "Good. Good. Good job out there with the demons. First Prince, I know I can always count on you


    when ites to war, but great-goddaughter... you were a weed surprise. Who knew you would


    also have the brains to back up the talent. You''ve made me proud today," the Emperor smiled in


    excitement.


    "Thank you great-godfather," I bowed.


    "Royal Husband, Princess Aivi has almost cultivated to a Goddess status. I think it''s time to start


    thinking about her marriage. What do you think?" The Empress said cordially. I knew she was just


    trying to get rid of me as soon as possible. In the Heavenly Realm culture, the women followed their


    fathers until marriage, then they followed their husbands. If I married, I would be part of the royal family


    in name alone. My husband¡¯s n would be the family I would serve daily.


    "The Princess is such a renowned figure in our realm, we can''t just chose randomly when ites to


    her marriage," the Emperor said. I felt nervous. This was exactly the kind of discussion we didn''t want


    to have. I bowed quickly.


    "With all due respect Heavenly Emperor, I''d like to contribute more the the Heavenly Realm and my


    godfather before my marriage discussions start. I¡¯m not even 20,000 years old yet. I wanted to learn


    from the physician faction next and help immortals before then moving on to help the Floral Goddess


    with nts and herbs for medicines and remedies," I gave the excuse.


    "The physician faction doesn''t do much unless there''s a war ongoing. Being that you were just in the


    Northern Territory, you probably already did more there than physicians ever do here. How about going


    straight to the Floral Goddess? You''ll be able to learn more about medicines there under her guidance,"


    the Emperor agreed, quickly forgetting about my marriage talks.


    "Yes, great-godfather," I agreed quickly. He dismissed us after that. I sighed in relief as we stood


    outside of the main hall. I put a hand to my stomach and stopped as it turned ufortably. I was


    nauseous again. First Prince stopped beforeing back to my side.


    "Are you alright, Princess?" He asked, worried.


    "Just nausea," I tried to breath through it.


    "Maybe the Floral Goddess will have a remedy for it. She''s know for being sweet-natured and caring


    but stern and independent. If you told her, I''m sure she would keep your secret. She''s a high goddess


    that all immortals hold a high respect for. Even the Empress wouldn''t question her," First Prince


    informed me quietly. I nodded and gained control over myself before As took me back to Eternity


    Pce. Tase was waiting for me at the doors. He smiled gently when he saw me before taking my


    hand in his.


    "You''re finally back. Zinnia has been waiting for you. Why don''t you head inside and change into


    something morefortable," he said happily. I nodded with a light smile before saying goodbye to


    First Prince As. Back in my room, Ixia was waiting for me. She looked at me in relief.


    "Princess, I''ve been worried. Did everything go okay?" She asked. I sighed as she began taking my


    armor off for me.


    "I''m pregnant with Yong''s child," I admitted outright. She hesitated before taking the rest of my clothing


    off. I got in the bath she''d prepared and closed my eyes as she undid my hair.


    "Do you have a n?" She asked anxiously. I chuckled humorlessly as she began washing my hair.


    "I''m going to hide on Floral Ind and wait," I answered.


    "The Crown Prince..." she started. I knew what her worry was. Floral Ind was run strictly. Me going


    was only at the instructions of the Emperor. Men weren''t allowed to stay on the ind. From the fruit


    fairies to the High Goddess, everyone was a woman. Men of a high status could stay during the day,


    but staying for a few days was prohibited. It would already be an exception for me to train there. I was


    also considered an outsider.


    "It was the only thing I could think of to keep the Empress from arranging my marriage today," I


    exined. Ixia sighed and began scrubbing my body gently.


    "He''s going to think you''re trying to run away from him again. Every time you two finally get some


    quality time, you run off to do something else. Are you really running from him, or are you trying to


    avoid the problems you know wille?" She asked. She had a point. It did seem like I was running.


    "It''s just... I''m not ready to face the consequences of the Empress finding out. I want to try and prolong


    it as long as possible. I want our child to be safe," I admitted. After I finished bathing, I couldn''t help


    staring down at my stomach through the silk robe. I had the strong urge to protect this child, but the


    problems kept adding up without even thinking about my Lotus Heart.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.

 Chapter 27 (Yong)

    Chapter 27 (Yong)


    *Yong''s POV*


    Aivi was leaving me again. I wanted toin and argue with her for her choice to study in the Floral


    Realm, but the look on her face stopped me. She tried her best to put on a brave, nonchnt face, but


    I saw what she was trying to hide. Aivi was anxious and scared. Being pregnant made her protective


    and highly cautious. I could respect and understand that. She was worried for our child. We stood at


    the boarder of Floral Ind as she faced me. She wouldn''t be bringing Ixia this time either so I had no


    way of checking how she was really doing other than visiting. I held her hands in mine gently as I held


    my tongue. I wanted to ask her not to go, but I knew that wasn''t an option for her. Once Aivi made up


    her mind, there was no changing it.


    "Don''t forget to write me as much as possible. I''m going to be lonely without you. How long do you n


    to stay?" I asked instead.


    "I''m not sure," she answered honestly.


    "A thorough knowledge of nts and herbs takes at least a thousand years, but I''m sure it wouldn''t


    take the prodigy Princess nearly as long," the Floral Goddess Peony said,ing from beyond the


    barrier nked by two other immortals.


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    "Aivi''s spirit is a white lotus naturally, so I''m sure she''ll fit right in," I said longingly. I didn''t want to part


    from her. Tase let me take her myself to give us some alone time.


    "Lily, will you show our new student to her living quarters," Floral Goddess Peony said to the immortal


    on her right. Lily smiled and curtsied before taking Aivi away. I could only watch her back until it


    disappeared beyond the barrier.


    "First name basis... you seem close with the Princess," Floral Goddess noted. I sighed and finally took


    my eyes off of the ce Aivi disappeared to look at Goddess Peony.


    "We are... very close. I need to ask of your help with something," I started.


    "Let me hear it first," Peony said wisely. I sighed before I caught myself ncing at the barrier again.


    "I''d like to visit often, to check on Aivi. In truth, she''s pregnant with my child. Only my brothers know. I


    think she''s using the Floral Ind as excuse to run away from the conflict that will arise once people


    find out, but I don''t have the heart to tell her no. I''d appreciate your help looking after her and our child,


    if you wouldn''t mind," I admitted. Peony sighed before sping her hands in front of her.


    "I''ve watched you grow up. You''ve always done things by the book except that one time. You must


    really love her to be willing to do something this risky," she responded.


    "Aivi is the reincarnation of Zyanya," I admitted. Floral Goddess chuckled lightly.


    "Well that exins everything," she said as she crossed her arms. Floral Goddess Peony was one of


    the few people who knew about my story with Zyanya. She was the one who suggested I go down to


    the Mortal Realm.


    "Have you told the Princess about her past life?" She asked. I shook my head.


    "I didn''t feel it was important," I saidmely. She clicked her tongue at me.


    "You should''ve told her before letting her carry your child. You don''t know how she''ll take itter," Floral


    Goddess advised me. I knew she was right, but all that mattered to me was that she was Aivi and I


    loved her.


    "All I know is that I love her. Her resemnce to Zyanya is what initially caught my attention, but I love


    Aivi for being exactly who she is, and I don''t want to lose her this time," I tried exining.


    "You know I''ve always tried to help you where I could. I feel as though this is also one of those ces.


    I''ll keep an eye on the Princess and your child for you, but you should be ready to take responsibility,"


    she finally agreed.


    "Thank you, and I''m ready. I just know that Aivi isn''t ready yet," I responded. I didn''t want to be home


    alone, and the onlypany I wanted was Aivi''s, but she was gone now. I had already decided to let


    Aivi handle this how she wanted to ease her tensions. All I could do now was be her silent protection


    and support.


    "And one more piece of advice: don''t push her too hard. She''s only around 20,000 years old. She''s still


    fairly new to our realm, no matter how high her cultivation status is," Peony advised me. I thanked her


    and nced at the ce where Aivi disappeared onest time before going back to the Heavenly


    Pce. I felt a little better as I made my way to Tase''s Eternity Pce. I didn''t want to be in my Pce


    alone right now. I sighed as I sat in the main hall with Tase and his wife. I rested my head against the


    table dejectedly.


    "She loves you dearly; she''s just scared," Zinnia tried to assure me. I was briefly reminded of


    something Floral Goddess Peony said to me.


    "How do you think Aivi would react to hearing about her past life?" I asked them curiously. Tase shook


    his head.


    "No memories of a reincarnation can be troublesome for someone who wasn''t initially raised with the


    idea. She remembers her mortal life, but it''spletely different to learn of a lifepletely


    unremembered as a fairy bud. It''ll be even scarier for her to know she knew you... and loved you... in


    her past life, too," Tase said.


    "If I were her, I would be suspicious of your original intentions for approaching me. I would wonder if


    you actually loved me or if you were just trying to chase a ghost and recreate those memories with the


    current me," Zinnia added. I sighed and covered my face with my hands.


    "It''s not like that though. I love Aivi for who she is," I argued.


    "But she won''t see it that way initially. Don''t tell her just yet. There''s enough going on already without


    adding Zyanya into the picture," Tase advised. I knew he was right. It wasn''t the time.

 Chapter 28

    Chapter 28


    *Aivi''s POV*


    It''d been one hundred years on Floral Ind. I''d gotten used to life there quickly. The ind had a


    greenhouse effect that made itfortably warm all the time. The clothes of the Floral Ind were


    morefortable as well. Because it was an ind full of women, the dresses were lighter and


    sometimes sleeveless and sheer. The material didn''t feel as heavy and there weren''t as manyyers as


    the clothing in the Heavenly Realm. I wasn''t surprised that Yong asked the Floral Goddess to look after


    me, but I was surprised that she was so nice and caring with me. I pulled my weight, of course, but


    Floral Goddess Peony helped show me how to make a tonic to help my nausea and lethargy. Yong


    tried to visit at least twice a week. I could see in his eyes how much he wanted to just stay with me, but


    I was starting to show. I had a little baby bump growing and it was feeling more real. I was pregnant.


    My stomach wouldn''t let me deny it anymore.


    I kneeled near the buds that were just starting to grow. I nted and cared for them myself after


    Goddess Peony showed me how. My cultivation levels continued to rise as well.


    "Aivi, you''re heavenly trial to goddess will be tonight. It''s not safe to go through it while pregnant


    though," Peony said as she nced at my nts. The rules were also morex here on the ind. We


    called each other by first name often and the strict rules of the Heavenly Realm weren''t as enforced. I


    liked it here. Even though I was hiding, I felt rxed.


    "I can use my internal energy to protect the womb and take the strikes to my body only," I suggested. I


    knew my trial to goddess was nearing because of my continual cultivation, but I never thought about


    doing the trial while pregnant. Peony shook her head.


    "It''s not that simple. The trial of 20 lightning strikes goes to your very core. It''s harsher than your


    previous trials," she stopped me. Of course, she didn''t know about my lotus heart, but I still didn''t know


    if that protection extended to the child in my stomach. I stood and ced a hand on my lower stomach.


    I''d gotten in the habit of holding my stomach since the bump appeared.


    "But I don''t want you to worry. I''m sure Yong has a n. He refuses to watch you suffer, and I know he


    won''t let harme to either of you," Peony said as she held my arm gently. Honestly, I was worried.


    Yong seemed to be wearing himself thintely. Even with the minor battles and duties as the Crown


    Prince of Heaven, he always tried to make time to visit me. The dark circles under his eyes were


    getting more and more obvious.


    "I don''t want Yong harmed either. I''m sure I can handle my trial on my own, and still keep my child safe.


    Do me a favor and don''t open the barrier for him," I said confidently. I had faith in my Lotus Heart. It


    was stronger than ever before. I finished tending to my nts, and grabbed something quick to eat


    before meeting Peony at the edge of Fruitful Lake. The sky was darkening as cloud rolled quickly


    above us.


    "It''s time. Are you sure about this?" Peony asked hesitantly. I nodded before concentrating on moving a


    force field of internal energy around my womb. The thunder shook the ground before the first strike


    zapped through my body. I wasn''t going to lie, it was painful, but I focused on keeping the shield


    around my child. A loud sound came from the ground before another sh of lightning charged towards


    me. Before it could run through my body, someone wrapped me in a hug and grunted as the charge hit


    them. This feeing...


    "Yong, stop! I can handle it!" I yelled at him in worry as the next strike hit him again. He groaned, but


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    kept his hold on me.


    "The seal... can¡¯t be broken. I won''t let you get hurt," he breathed before the lightning striked him again


    and again. I tried to push him off as tears streaked down my face.


    "Stop it! Let go!" I repeated continually as the strikes kepting. Yong''s grip only tightened around


    me. I was counting each sh of light. Thick, wet blood oozed from Yong''s mouth onto my shoulder as


    thest strike finally receded. Yong''s body went limp before he crumbled. Tears were still pouring down


    my face as I caught his body to keep him from hitting the ground. Peony helped me move his body to


    my living quarters. I couldn''t stop the tears as I did a body search on him. His pridominal spirit was


    damaged to the core. He was weaker than I imagined. Whatever he''d been doingtely took a toll on


    him even before he took my trial. I tried to stop my tears and focus as I began to pass energy to him. I


    forced as much as I could into him before a hand on my shoulder stopped me.


    "Aivi! If you keep going like this, you''ll both die," she warned me as she set therge bowl of water and


    rag next to me. After I stopped, she calmed down a bit.


    "If his spirit core is damaged, he''ll need a remedy to fix the cracks before you start just pushing energy


    into him. If you do it rashly like that, your energy will only serve to run amuck in his body, causing him


    to worsen, and you to weaken," she exin.


    "Clean off the blood and make himfortable, I''ll go make the medicine," Peony offered


    sympathetically. I took a breath to try and calm down as I soaked the rag in the water and rung it out. I


    cleaned up around Yong''s mouth and undid his robes before covering him with the nket. I rinsed the


    rag off before carefully wiping the sweat from his body. The amount of pain he went through must have


    been intense, for him to still look so pained in his sleep. I set the rag aside before holding his hand in


    both of mine gently.


    "You''re an idiot, Yong. You know I could''ve taken my trail just fine. Why did you jump in and get hurt?" I


    asked his unconscious body sadly.

 Chapter 29

    Chapter 29


    I found myself by his bed, taking care of him without a break, but he was still unconscious and he had


    been for a week now. Even though I''d sessfully ascended to Goddess, I was too busy being worried


    to celebrate. Peony finished the elixir before I quickly fed it to him. I had to wait a few more days before


    I began passing a little of my energy to him every day. I slept ufortably by his side every night, my


    hand only left his to spoon him soup or pass him energy. He barely stirred.


    "You''re going to make yourself sick if you wait for him like this," Peomy warned as I held his hand up to


    my mouth, waiting for him to open his eyes.


    "I can''t leave," I answered hoarsely.


    "My child!" A dreaded but familiar voice said before I was pushed out of the way and onto the floor.


    "Aivi!" Peony said in rm before a set of familiar hands helped me up. I looked to see Tase. I almost


    broke down in tears all over again. I buried my head in Tase''s chest as the fat tears rolled down my


    cheeks. Tase pet my head gently before he shushed me.


    "There, there..." he muttered to me.


    "Great-goddaughter, can you tell me exactly what happened?" The Emperor''s voice reached my ears. I


    sniffled and let go of Tase to drop to my knees in front of Emperor.


    "It''s all my fault. I was about to go through my trial to goddess. The Crown Prince freaked out and


    broke through the barrier before taking the strikes for me. He''s been this way ever since. Floral


    Goddess Peony fed him the spirit core remedy and I''ve been slowly feeding him my internal energy to


    wake him," I exined. The Emperor helped my to my feet as he sighed.


    "Nonsense! Why would my son take the trial for you?" The Empress asked from Yong''s bed with tears


    in her eyes. My hand went to my stomach on reflex. Even though the lightweight dress I was wearing


    was loose fitting around my stomach, with my hand there, it wasn''t hard to tell what was going on.


    "Because I''m carrying his child," I answered timidly. "No matter how much I tried to push him off, he


    wouldn''t let go until it was over," I tried to defend myself.


    "You... and my son," the Empress asked with wide eyes. She looked like she would faint at any


    moment. While the Empress and Emperor tried to process the news, Yong stirred on the bed. He


    groaned as his eyes scrunched together. He moved slightly before reaching his hand out, catching


    everyone''s attention. The Empress held his hand tightly in hers as she got hopeful.


    "Yong! My son! Are you awake?" The Empress asked quickly.


    "Aivi," he muttered, still searching for me. The Empress froze before turning to re at me. She stood


    face to face with me before her hand began to glow a bright red.


    "How dare you bewitch a Royal Family Member," she seethed as she raised her glowing hand to me.


    "Aivi! Aivi," Yong mumbled more clearly, causing the Empress to hesitate.


    "Stop it, you don''t know the whole story yet and you''re not in a position to dish out the punishments;


    that''s my job. Act on your own again and I''ll be having a different talk with you, Wife," the Emperor said


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    sternly to the Empress. When Yong called me again, I sat back down next to his bedside and rubbed


    gentle circles in his chest while passing as much Lotus Heart energy as I could as well. He squeezed


    my hand in his before his eyes finally fluttered open.


    "Aivi, are you okay?" He asked hoarsely, oblivious to the others in the room with us. He reached his


    hand up to dry a tear that fell down my cheek.


    "Don''t cry. I''m fine, right? I told you I wouldn''t let anything happen to you," he continued when I didn''t


    respond.


    "So taking the Princess'' trial was your idea?" The Emperor finally chimed in. Yong looked to his father


    before attempting to sit up. I helped him get to a sitting position before the Emperor held a hand up to


    keep Yong from bowing.


    "Royal Father... Mother," Yong greeting them as I stood beside him and looked at my feet.


    "Protecting Aivi has been my purpose since the beginning. Now she''s pregnant with my child. I wasn''t


    going to risk their lives. And it''s not her fault either. I initiated this rtionship. The trial was nothing, but


    I injured myself breaking through the Floral Ind barrier beforehand, which weakened me," Yong


    exined.


    "She''s just ascended to Goddess. She''s your brother''s goddaughter as well, but I already had ns to


    marry you to the Fox n''s Princess Enya," the Empress said. Yong straight out rolled his eyes.


    "Oh please, you''re just trying to secure my position as Crown Prince as well as your own position as


    Empress. I can''t stand Enya. Just like you, she''s obsessed with the title of Crown Princess and


    Empress. I can''t even have a conversation with her because she''s so scared of saying the wrong thing,


    every word from her mouth feels like she''s reciting a book," Yong said outright. I was a bit taken aback.


    I didn''t expect Yong to be so straightforward.


    "The fact still remains that Princess Aivi is pregnant out of wedlock. She must still be punished," the


    Empress tried.


    "Well you must punish me instead then. I pursued Aivi first. In fact, she''s been trying to stop me, but I


    refuse to let Aivi go. I wanted her to have my child. Aivi just indulged me," Yong stepped in.


    "Insolence!" The Empress snapped at Yong.


    "If you wanted the Princess as your wife, why didn''t you just say so? Why did you do things in this


    manner?" The Emperor asked calmly.


    "Because without Aivi carrying my child, I was afraid Royal Mother would try any means to get rid of


    her," Yong said honestly. The Empress''s face grew red in embarrassment and anger.


    "I have every right to get rid of her. She bewitched you!" The Empress yelled. Yong coughed roughly. I


    sat next to him and rubbed his back gently.


    "Enough! For now, we should let Yong recuperate. Aivi, it may be best to stay on Floral Ind with


    Floral Goddess Peony for your own safety until we figure out what to do with the situation. At any rate,


    no harm shoulde to you while you''re carrying a child of Royal bloodline," the Emperor said, being


    the only levelheaded one in the room. He turned his attention to the Empress.


    "As Mother of the Heavenly Realm, you should be benevolent and forgiving. Your ruthlessness is


    unbing of a Heavenly Empress. We''ll talk when we get home," the Emperor said before leaving


    my hut. The Empress red at me once more before leaving also. I released a breath before turning


    my attention to Yong. I held his hands in mind as I looked to him guiltily.


    "It''s all my fault," I said softly. He shook his head at me as his hand went to my cheek weakly.


    "No, it''s not," he tried to assure me.


    "What we''re you thinking, breaking through the barrier?" Tase asked in irritation. He stayed behind


    when the Emperor and Empress left.


    "Even if you were fine from the strikes, it would''ve broken your seal and you would''ve been exposed,"


    Yong exined to me.


    "What seal?" Peony asked. I almost forgot she was still in the room with us.

 Chapter 30

    Chapter 30


    Tase, Yong and I looked at each other,pletely forgetting Peony was still in the room until then. Tase


    came closer to the bed before we all looked to Peony. After a long, awkward silence, Yong finally


    sighed.


    "I trust you, Peony. Mainly because I know you have no interest in legends, but Aivi carries the Lotus


    Heart," Yong admitted. I trusted Peony too. Her temperament wasn''t the type to covet an item to rule


    the three realms. Her eyes widened before she looked at me.


    "It exists?" She asked, dumbfounded. I found myself nodding.


    "But the problem is that it''s Aivi''s life force. If someone takes it from her, she''ll die. We sealed it away


    when she was just a seed, but that trial would''ve demolished the seal and exposed the Lotus Heart


    scent. Everyone would immediately sense it," Yong exined.


    "That''s why you wanted to block the trial for me?" I asked, only realizing the truth myself now. Yong


    nodded.


    "It wouldn''t have just been physical damage for you," he admitted. I ced a hand on my stomach as I


    looked to myp. Yet another thing I didn''t take into ount. The thought didn''t even cross my mind. I


    had only been worried about protecting our child, but I almost made a huge mistake. Tase body


    searched me before sighing.


    "Well she must''ve taken some of the trial because the seal is weak again," Tase said.


    "I took one strike," I informed him.


    "Aivi... everything I do is to protect you. Why won''t you just let me?" Yong asked tiredly. I hung my


    head, ashamed of myself. He was right. Yong had done nothing but protect and love me, meanwhile, I


    was too busy running away.


    "I''m sorry," I apologized sincerely. "I just... your world still scares me," I admitted. Yong struggled to put


    an arm around me before pulling me into a hug.


    "I know, that why I''m letting you do things your way, but some things I can''tpromise on... like your


    safety," Yong brushed it off. I pulled out of his hug before helping himy back down.


    "You should rest. Your spirit is repaired, but you''re still weak," I said before cing a kiss on his head.


    "Aivi, you should be more careful. I''m going to check on the others," Peony excused herself as I stood.


    "We should strengthen the seal," Tase said to me as Yong finally closed his eyes again. I went to sit at


    the table as Tase sat across from me. It must''ve been urgent for Tase to do it. Yong was the only one


    who''d tended to my seal up until this point. After Tase finished, he stood and stretched.


    "I have to go back as it''s gettingte and I''m not allowed to stay. It''s not safe to move Yong right now.


    I''m counting on you to take care of him until he regains his strength," Tase said. I stood quickly.


    "Godfather... I''m sorry," I apologized as I hung my head. I was sorry for a lot of things. I was sorry for


    bringing them trouble. I was sorry for being so hardheaded all the time. I was sorry for running away. I


    was sorry for everything they went through since I arrived. Tase smiled gently before petting my head.


    "Don''t be, Little Flower. I know our world and it''s rules are still overwhelming to you. Take your time,


    hm?" Tase said graciously. I nodded before he left. I went back to sit on the edge of the bed where


    Yong wasying. I brushed a strand of hair out of his face beforeying down next to him. I had been


    cruel to Yongtely. I wanted to stop running away, but I was scared. I wanted so much for Yong to


    wake up and tell me everything would be okay. That he would be with me every step of the way. I


    ced my hand over my stomach gently. I hoped we could end the conflict before our child was born. I


    wanted our child to have a peaceful life at least.


    When I woke up the next morning, the bed was empty. I sat up and looked around frantically. There


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    was no way Yong should''ve been moving around yet. I stood and left the hut to look in the garden, but


    he wasn''t there either. I practically ran the entire way to Floral Goddess Peony. My eyes were wide as I


    finally spotted her. Out of panic, I grabbed her hand desperately.


    "Yong is gone," I said quickly. She chuckled slightly before petting my hands calmly.


    "I took him to Rejuvenation Spring this morning. He''ll gain his energy back quicker that way. I''ll take you


    to him," she replied. I only rxed slightly. Peony smiled knowingly at me before leading me to the


    thicker part of the forest. After walking a while, the trees opened to a clearing with a natural hot spring


    in the middle. Two fruit fairies were standing by while Yong sat soaking in the spring. I sighed in relief


    unknowingly.


    "Yong," I called out to him as I went to the edge of the spring. He looked over to smile gently at me. He


    was looking a lot better. His previous pale, sicklyplexion was rosy and livelier. I knelt beside the


    water as he turned in the water to face me. My hand touched his cheek gently.


    "How are you feeling?" I asked. His water soaked hands reached up as he stood slightly and wrapped


    his arms around my waist before pulling me into the water slowly. I squealed as the warm water


    surrounded me from the chest down as Yong cradled me in hisp with a smile. He ced a gentle


    kiss on my head as the fruit fairies and Goddess Peony giggled at us.


    "I missed you," he changed the subject. I figured he must''ve been feeling better if he had the strength


    to pull me into the water.


    "Naughty," I muttered before getting off of hisp.

 Chapter 31

    Chapter 31


    Yong got to stay on Floral Ind for weeks with the excuse of recovering. I''m sure he''d recovered


    earlier, but the excuse let us live together peacefully on Floral Ind. It was nice. I would tend to the


    gardens and learn about remedies during the day, and when I would get home, Yong had dinner ready


    for us to eat. Yong was sweet and attentive per usual, but I finally got the chance to enjoy it this time.


    No one bothered us during this time. Even Tase and the Empress kept their distance. Peony helped us


    in more ways than one. Seeing her close rtionship with Yong, I felt relieved to have another friend


    willing to protect us. Yong seemed happy to show his affection towards me freely. There were no prying


    eyes to worry about. Plus, the Emperor already knew of our rtionship, and nothing hade of it


    yet.


    "Did Goddess Peony tell you when you had to go back?" I asked curiously as I cleared the table of our


    dinner. Yong''s arms wrapped around my waist from behind to let his hands rest on my small baby


    bump.


    "I get to leave when you leave," he replied. That was news to me. I didn''t expect Peony to let a man


    stay that long on an ind that forbid them. I put the dishes in a bucket and turned in his arms to face


    him.


    "You''re staying the whole time?" I asked for verification. Yong nodded.


    "Goddess Peony is giving the excuse of recovery to let me spend time with you away from the


    Heavenly Pce. You''re more at ease here. Peony said we could stay until you give birth. And even


    my Royal Father and Mother aren''t allowed to enter without permission. We''re safe here," Yong


    exined.


    "What about your duties as Crown Prince?" I asked.


    "My First Brother, As, is temporarily taking over the duties. I honestly couldn''t care less for the title


    myself. If giving up the title of Crown Prince means I get to stay with the woman I love, I would dly


    give it up," he answered. I smiled lightly before kissing him gently. The kiss didn''t stay gentle for long.


    Yong deepened the kiss before moving me to the bed. Heid beside me as he kissed me, careful of


    the bump in between us. His kiss slowed before he settled for just holding me to his side.


    "How nice would it be if this was our life," I said as I looked up to the ceiling of the hut. My living


    quarters weren''t as big as they were in the Heavenly Pce, but still... having Yong here in this small


    house felt right and homey. To raise our child in this carefree setting would be an unrealistic dream.


    "If that''s what you want, I''ll do my best to make it a reality," Yong answered.


    "How did you be such good friends with Goddess Peony?" I asked out of curiosity. Yong smiled


    before kissing my head.


    "Are you jealous?" He asked. I hit his chest gently as I frowned.


    "I''m not jealous. It''s just after knowing her for some time, I realized a few things. Goddess Peony is a


    warm-hearted goddess who takes in women with potiential, or those she pities. She almost exclusively


    hates all men, especially those from the Heavenly Realm. How did you be her friend?" I asked.


    "When I was a child, I was already the Crown Prince. My Royal Mother took me to tour the Realms I


    would eventually rule. When we visited the Floral Ind, I fell in love with the greenery and colors.


    When my mother wasn''t looking, I ran off and got lost, but I wasn''t scared. I was happy being


    surrounded by the colors. Goddess Peony found me in her garden talking to the flowers. She was


    already in charge of the ind by then, and has a nose for a person''s intention and temperament. She


    said I was a pure one. Instead of taking me back to my mother right away, she stayed and yed with


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    me until dark. Ever since then, I visited her often when I had time and she became a close confidant.


    My rtionship with her is the only reason I trust her with the secret of your heart," he exined. I


    could actually see that happening. Yong was sweet and pure by nature. If Goddess Peony picked up


    on that, she would have no reason to hate him. I sighed and adjusted my position slightly as I wrapped


    an arm around Yong.


    "I wish we could stay like this... here," I said longingly.


    "If that''s what you want, you know I''ll do my best to give it to you. I know you''ve been stressed since


    you woke up in the Heavenly Realm. Being thrown into that kind of life can be tiresome. I selfishly just


    wanted to keep you by my side, but I didn''t thoroughly think about how all of this would make you feel. I


    just wanted to love you. I never meant for you to feel inadequate or unworthy. That''s why I initially tried


    to hide my title from you, but it didn''t work for long. I never wanted you to have this many worries," he


    said in regret. I sat up as I looked at him.


    "You can''t help who you are, Yong. And I don''t me you for who you are. I''m just... having trouble


    adjusting. There are so many rules and plots behind the scenes. The women never say exactly what


    they mean. I have to be cautious of every step I take and act with a poise I don''t naturally possess. It''s


    tiresome. I thought if I umted some merit, I wouldn''t have to try so hard to mind my every move,


    but my n only backfired. Because of my notoriety, more eyes were on me," I rambled. Yong sat up


    as well and held my hands in his.


    "From now on, you don''t have to please anyone but yourself. The second you''re not happy, tell me


    immediately. I''ll do what I can to make you happy," he promised. I smiled gently before hugging him.


    "Thank you," I said softly as I closed my eyes.

 Chapter 32

    Chapter 32


    One hundred years. We spent one hundred years on Floral Ind like that. Our peaceful little life was


    protected under the watchful eye of Goddess Peony. She kept the unwanted visitors away and let us


    rx in peace. I''d be a pro at gardening and making remedies. I even found that I had a knack for


    growing rare nts with my spiritual energy. I was living up to my name as a prodigy. Yong seemed


    more rxed too. He''s long been healedpletely, and his spiritual energy was even boosted from


    being around such spiritual nts all the time.


    I was in the garden, tending to my rare nts when I felt it. Something popped in my stomach before a


    rush of liquid fell between my legs. A painful cramping began between my hips as I tried to stand. I


    groaned as I held my stomach gently.


    "Aivi! Aivi, what''s wrong?" Peony asked as she rushed to my side. The pressure eased up before


    push as I yelled out and squeezed Peony''s hand in mine.


    "What happened?" Yong asked as he rushed over.


    "The baby ising. Help me get her to the birthing room," Peony said quickly. Yong cradled me


    before flying us to the birthing room Peony built next to the main hall for me. Afterying me on the


    plush bed, Peony called some fairies over for assistance.


    "Yong, get out," she said sternly.


    "But-"


    "Yong, I''ll be fine," I breathed heavily before another contraction had me yelling out for a different


    reason. I squeezed the nearest fairy''s hand for dear life as I went with my instinct and pushed. Yong


    hesitated before leaving the room. Peony lifted my dress over my hips before pushing on my stomach


    gently. I groaned and yelled as my body morphed in a way I wasn''t used to in order to push the child


    out. After about an hour of cringing, withering in pain, and pushing, the pressure finally let up slightly as


    a crying baby caught my attention. I panted with relief as I let go of the fairy''s hand. Peony sighed as


    she held the baby for me to see.


    "It''s a boy," she smiled. After clipping the umbilical cord, she cradled him. She was about to hand him


    to me when I felt the pressure build again.


    "Something''s wrong," I said before I felt like pushing again. Peony handed the child over before going


    back to her position at my hips.


    "There''s another one. The head is alreadying," Peony said. I didn''t have time to be surprised as I


    was pushing again. After another 15 minutes and pushing and screaming, the second child was out


    too. Peony clipped the cord before wrapping the second child in a nket.


    "It''s a girl," Peony informed me. The pressure finally disappearedpletely and I was able to truly


    breath again.


    "Got any more in there?" Peony joked as the first child was finally handed to me. Yong was allowed to


    little bundle. Peony handed our daughter to him before he came to my side. A look of confusion


    crossed his face when he saw the bundle in my arms. Peony only chuckled before patting his shoulder.


    "Aivi had twins. A boy and a girl," she told him. He looked less confused and more surprised.


    "Twins?" He asked. I could only nod. It surprised me too.


    "What should we name them?" I asked him. The boy in my arms cried and iled as he tried to get


    closer to my chest. I chuckled before letting my dress down to breastfeed him. Once he was


    sessfullytched, he calmed down and opened his eyes for me to see. I was taken aback by his


    "Floral Goddess! Multicolored birds, auspicious clouds and a rainbow are all circling the ind," a fairy


    rushed in to inform us.


    "The twins are blessed to be met with such good birth signs," Peony said easily.


    "Her eyes are a light purple," Yong said in shock.


    "His are as well," I said. "What about Tyrian and Amethyst. The name matches their eyes," I suggested.


    Both of them had heads full of jet ck hair as well.


    "I love those names," Yong said as he lovingly rocked Amethyst. Yong scanned them both before


    looking at me in shock.


    ¡°They both have a lotus petal,¡± he noted. My eyes widened as well. I wasn¡¯t aware that the Lotus Heart


    could transfer that way. If they both had just a petal, did that mean my life force weakened? But I didn¡¯t


    feel any different. Yong was quick to ce seals in them both. Peony spaced out before looking back to


    us.


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    "Daisy, Lc, Marigold, get Princess Aivi and the children bathed and changed. We have visitors,"


    Peony said before vanishing into thin air. I could only guess who followed the auspicious signs to the


    ind. Yong went with the children while one fairy stayed behind to help me. I was helped to the


    Rejuvenation Spring and seeped in the water. I felt the healing begin as my hips reset and my soreness


    went away. After wrapping in a lightweight dress and leaving my hair down, the fairy led me to my hut


    where Yong was already waiting with Tyrian and Amethyst. They were wrapped and swaddled in soft


    white nkets. Iid down on the bed in exhaustion as a fairy handed a crying Amethyst to me. I rolled


    to my side andid her beside me as I fed her. When she finished, Tyrian wasid beside her as well


    on the bed. I put an arm over both of them as I pat Tyrian gently. They were quickly falling asleep. A


    short timeter, Peony came back with the Emperor, Empress, Tase, and Zinnia in tow. They saw the


    children sleeping and quieted themselves.


    "I saw the auspicious signs over Floral Ind and had a feeling you gave birth, so I brought Royal


    Father and Mother. Twins?" Tase whispered as he came closer. I smiled down at the sleeping children


    as I nodded.


    "One boy, Tyrian, and one girl, Amethyst," Yong answered.


    "A little prince and princess," Zinnia cooed.


    "What unusual names. What made you chose those names?" The Empress asked Yong. Yong didn''t


    take it to heart as he smiled lovingly at us.


    "They''re unique children. After seeing their eyes, the names just fit. Both have purple irises," Yong


    exined. All four of our visitors eyes widened in shock. I knew there was a lot I still didn''t know about


    the Heavenly Realm, but I thought different colored eyes were normal. I guess purple eyes was unseen


    of here, too.


    "Purple?" The Emperor asked. Yong nodded.


    "They just went down for a nap, but when they wake up, you''ll see them clearly," Yong replied.


    "Which child was the auspicious sign for?" Tase asked.


    "Both, I assume," I answered.


    "Which was born first?" The Emperor asked.


    "Our little Prince, Tyrian," I smiled at my children. It felt surreal that I was a mother to two children now.


    Even staring at them like I was now, it still felt like a dream.


    "The auspicious sign was greater than anything I''ve ever witnessed before. Even the Crown Prince''s


    sign wasn''t that grand. It alsosted for quite some time," the Emperor admitted.


    "Any child from Aivi will be special. They may even have the same god of gods spiritual energy that Aivi


    has," Tase smiled proudly. Although it helped with Emperor and Empress, I didn''t care. I just wanted my


    children to be happy and healthy.

 Chapter 33

    Chapter 33


    With the children born, we had to go back to the Heavenly Realm and back to reality after I recovered. I


    wasn''t looking forward to dealing with the judgement on my rtionship with Yong. We agreed that I


    would live in Yong''s Serenity Pce. After getting settled, Ixia came to me in the children''s room. They


    each had a small basket dedicated to them. They were curious babies. As theyid in their beds, their


    curious purple eyes looked around they''re new setting. Ixia smiled down at the babies.


    "I''m so d you are all alright," Ixia said as she faced me.


    "Ixia, I only trust you for this task. I want you to nanny the babies," I said. She agreed quickly.


    "Of course! It would be my honor, Goddess Princess Aivi," She curtsied. I rolled my eyes as Ixia


    giggled.


    "I''ll go see what Yong is doing. Let me know if they get hungry. I don''t want to use a wet nurse. I''d


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    rather feed my children myself," I informed her. Ixia nodded before I left their room. With the Empress


    as silent as she was recently, I didn''t want to entrust my children to anyone expect Ixia. Ixia had been


    with me since the beginning and I trusted her with my children. However, I did not trust that the


    Empress simply let go of this matter. I walked to the main hall to see Yong standing with a guest. I


    couldn''t say I was surprised to see Enya. It had been too quiettely and this would be the Empress''s


    marry Yong as the main wife. I kept my grace and poise as I went to Yong''s side.


    "I asked Ixia to be the nanny for the twins. I think they''ll go down for a nap soon," I said to Yong with a


    light smile.


    "I didn''t realize you hadpany," Enya said, referring to me.


    "I think that''s my line. I live here. You''re the guest in this situation," I said calmly.


    "I guess I am the guest. You have children now Princess?" Enya tried to use the conversation to pry. I


    smiled lightly.


    "I had twins recently. A boy and a girl," I answered easily. I could sense the question she wanted to ask.


    She wanted to know who the father was.


    "Yong even got to take a little vacation to watch his children born," I answered for her. Yong smiled


    lightly as he wrapped an arm around my waist.


    "We''ll be nning a wedding soon too. Only Aivi can be my Crown Princess," Yong added before


    cing a kiss on my forehead.


    "I thought the Princess was bing your concubine," Enya blurted. I could see that she was slowly


    losing herposure.


    "One, it''s Goddess Princess now. And two, why would you think that?" I asked, keeping my cool as


    much as possible.


    "You literally came out of nowhere. You have no connections and the Empress doesn''t even like you.


    You''d rather y with the Army than brush up ondylike etiquette. You wouldn''t know the first thing


    about being a Crown Princess," she finally came untethered. I chuckled and nodded as I stepped out of


    Yong''s hold as I took a step closer to her.


    "You''repletely right. To you, I came out of nowhere, but Yong brought me back himself. The only


    connection I have is that Yong''s closest and favorite brother is my godfather. The Empress doesn''t like


    me, but the Emperor adores me. And I''d rather help the Army and earn my own merit rather than rely


    on my n," I answered.


    "But Little Flower, you forgot the most important part," Yong said as he wrapped an arm around my


    waist again. I looked to him curiously. I wasn''t expecting him to interfere. "I love you regardless of what


    you do. After all, you''ve already had my children. I don''t know what other concrete proof you need," he


    smiled before kissing my cheek. Enya looked dumbfounded.


    "But we grew up together. I''ve loved you since we were kids, and you were always nice to me," Enya


    said on the brink of tears. Yong scoffed.


    "I was nice to you because my Royal Mother would punish me if I were mean to you, but I''ve never


    loved you," he corrected her. Enya tripped over her words for a moment before she decided to just


    curtsy.


    "I''ll take my leave," she muttered before walking away quickly. I sighed before looking to Yong.


    "I didn''t expect you to help," I admitted.


    "Best to not let her harbor any hope," Yong responded. In a way, he was right.


    "I''ll have the fairies start dinner," I said before leaving the main hall.  After going to the kitchen, I went


    back to the twins room. Almost as soon as I walked in, their little cries kickstarted.


    "Oh, Goddess Princess, perfect timing. They just woke up and I believe they''re hungry," Ixia said when


    she saw me. I sat in a rocking chair before adjusting my dress. Ixia handed them to me and I cradled


    one on either side. It didn''t take them long before they ate hungrily. Their small suckling noises filled my


    heart with joy. I was so content, I almost fell asleep in the chair myself. After they were done, Ixia


    burped Amethyst while I burped Tyrian. Afterpleting that task, I left the children with Ixia and went


    to find Yong for dinner. He was in his study, hovering over a pile of paperwork.


    "Trying to catch up?" I asked. He nodded without looking up from his work.


    "As handled most of it, but my Royal Father set some aside specifically for me," Yong answered. I


    walked behind him and rested my hands on his shoulders gently.


    "Need my help?" I asked. Before he could respond, Sky Mail from the Heavenly Pce arrived.


    Opening the letter made from spiritual energy, Yong and I both read it before sighing. Yong set his


    writing brush down before looking at me.


    "I''ll go bathe and change quickly," I said. The letter was the Emperor asking us to join them for dinner.


    With Ixia serving as the full-time nanny, Willow was now servicing me. She helped me bathe and


    change before my hair was put up in an intricate updo. We kind of expected to be summoned, but not


    this soon aftering back.

 Chapter 34

    Chapter 34


    Sitting down at the table with the Emperor and Empress, I could practically feel the daggersing


    from the Empress''s eyes behind her stered smile. The table gave us a good amount of distance


    between each other, but I could almost physically feel the heat from the Empress''s anger. Enya must


    have run to report to the Empress our conversation immediately after leaving Yong¡¯s Serenity Pce.


    The Emperor was still none the wiser.


    "My great-goddaughter. How are you settling into the Crown Prince''s Pce? Are the little prince and


    princess doing okay aftering to the Heavenly Realm?" The Emperor asked. He honestly just


    seemed happy to be a grandfather. I smiled softly and nodded.


    "Serenity Pce feels like home already. Tyrian and Amethyst are doing great. They''re eating well and


    taking in their surroundings," I answered.


    "Have you gotten a nanny for them yet? What about a wet nurse? How are they eating right now? What


    are you feeding them?" The Empress asked. I had to work hard to keep my pleasant smile.


    "We have gotten a nanny for them, and we decided not to use a wet nurse. I''m feeding them myself. I


    know my own body and want them to grow up with the best I can offer," I exined.


    "You''re a nobledy. Breastfeeding your own child is for those in a lower ss," the Empress stuck her


    nose up at me.


    "That may be true, but I trust my product and the food I insert in my body more than choosing and


    forcing a random woman to feed my two children," I replied easily.


    "Wife, enough. Tyrian and Amethyst are Goddess Princess Aivi''s children, not your. Although it''s


    important for Aivi to be filial, that doesn''t grant you the right to determine how she chooses to raise their


    children," the Emperor stopped the Empress. I took a delicate bite of the food in front of me. It was


    actually delicious.


    "Speaking of the children... I wanted to talk about making Goddess Princess Aivi the Crown Prince''s


    concubine," the Empress said before taking a bite of the vegetables.


    "Absolutely not. Aivi deserves better than that. She''s distinguished among immortals, and her


    aplishments speak for themselves. She''s wise, smart and caring, but strict with her beliefs. Even if


    you want to ignore Aivi''s good points, the children she birthed for me had a grand auspicious sign and


    unique features. They''re destined for greatness. It would only be right to follow tradition and make the


    mother of my firstborn heir, and the next Crown Prince, my legal wife," Yong argued immediately.


    "You are right, son. Aivi has done a lot for our realm. Her entire n was wiped out as well. It would


    only be right to honor her deceased family, reward her merit, and follow tradition. I''m allowing Aivi to


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    marry you as your legal wife and the Crown Princess," the Emperor agreed. I almost forgot that the


    origin story Tase and Yong made up included me being the only living family member of the Northern


    Territory General. The Empress stood quickly as she red at me.


    "Over my dead body!" She snapped. We all froze as we looked to her. It seemed she couldn''t bottle up


    her anger anymore. She''d finally exploded at the thought of me.


    "You can dismiss yourself," the Emperor said to her sternly. She realized her slip up toote before


    curtsying to the Emperor and leaving reluctantly while ring at me still. The Emperor turned his


    attention back to us.


    "I''ll have the Love Immortal start nning your wedding as soon as possible," he promised. Yong


    smiled as he stood to bow to the Emperor.


    "Thank you, Royal Father," Yong thanked him. The Emperor bellyughed before waving Yong off. His


    attention turned to me.


    "Soon you''ll have to start calling me Royal Father too," the Emperor said, lightening the mood. I smiled


    as my cheeks heated in embarrassment.


    "Great-godfather, regardless of the oue, I should still apologize to you. The Crown Prince and I


    went behind your back in order to be together, and it wasn''t right to do. I know that marriages in the


    Royal Heavenly Pce are mostly political, but I promise to make up for my shorings of power


    with knowledge and kindness," I apologized. The Emperor waved me off.


    "In all honesty, I already knew you two were close. Even before you went to the Heavenly Cloud


    Academy, I assumed you would be. My second son is Yong''s favorite brother. They''re practically stuck


    at the hip. With you as the Second Prince''s goddaughter, I knew you two would run into each other


    often. It was really only a matter of time. And don''t worry about the Empress. I won''t let her cancel your


    wedding," he promised. We continued eating our dinner before we began leaving the Main Pce.


    Back at home, I fed Tyrian and Amethyst before putting them to sleep for the night. It would be the first


    time I was officially and openly sleeping in Yong''s room without any guilt. After weid down, Yong


    wrapped his arms around me.


    "Do you feel a little better now?" He asked. I nodded as I ced my head on his chest. Yong pushed


    me onto my back quickly before hovering over me.


    "Want to make another baby?" He smirked teasingly. I hit his chest yfully as I frowned.


    "You can''t even wait until we''re married first?" I asked. Yong only chuckled beforeying down again.


    "I''m joking. I just love seeing you blush," he admitted. I shook my head at him before rxing against


    him.


    "Sleep. You have work to catch up on tomorrow and I need to start nning our wedding," I said


    happily.

 Chapter 35

    Chapter 35


    The next morning, I went straight to the twins¡¯ room. Ixia was sitting in a rocking chair dozing off when I


    entered. I giggled before taking the twins out, one at a time, to feed them. By the time I finished feeding


    them, Ixia had woken up to help me burp them.


    "Goddess Princess, the children''s spiritual centers have awakened already. It happenedtest night,"


    Ixia informed me. I searched them both beforeing to the same conclusion.


    "It''s pretty powerful to start with," I muttered to myself before passing some of my own spiritual energy


    to both of them. I smiled at them before looking back to Ixia.


    "With their spirits awakened, they probably don''t need the milk from me anymore. Let''s switch them to


    honey mixtures, lotus soup, and spiritual energy. Either myself or Yong will take care of thatst one," I


    instructed. Ixia nodded before going back to tending to the twins. I made my way to Yong''s study where


    he had been even before I woke up this morning. Going over to him, I wrapped my arms around him


    from behind with a light smile.


    "Have you even eaten yet?" I asked in worry. Yong set his brush down before holding my hand in his


    gently.


    "I haven''t, but I will soon. I promise," he replied. I sighed before walking around to sit on the edge of his


    desk.


    "Tyrian and Amethyst have their spiritual cores awakened. They don''t need my body to feed them


    anymore, which gives me more time to work on other things. I instructed Ixia to feed them honeys and


    lotus soup. We''ll have to pass on our spiritual energy to them ourselves while also making sure the


    petals are sealed," I exined.


    "Are you nning to go into the Royal Heavenly Pce today?" He asked. I nodded.


    "The Emperor set up a meeting with the Love Immortal to prepare nning for our wedding. I have a


    feeling I won''t contribute much, but I can''t turn down the Emperor''s kindness. That would be rude," I


    responded. Yong grabbed my hips before cing me in hisp. He held his empty hand out before his


    hairpin charm flew into it. He made me stay still as he ced it between the braids of my bun.


    "You''re going into the pce along today. I don''t have the privilege of going with you, or I would, but I


    still have too much paperwork. I know you don''t like when I use this on you. But seeing as I can''t be


    there, I would appreciate it if you just left this in your hair. If nothing else, it makes me feel better," he


    begged. I hesitated before finally agreeing. It''s not like I would have to use it anyway. I would just think


    of it as another essory.


    "If it''s that big of a deal to you, I''ll agree. But I''m going inside the inner pce, what dangers could be


    lurking there? Plus, my skills are far more superior. If it makes you happy, I''ll wear it though. You''re


    lucky it matches my outfit," I teased him. He kissed me gently before hugging me.


    "I just want you safe," he said sincerely. I knew that was his intention, that''s why I allowed it.


    After freshening up my makeup, I made my way to the Royal Heavenly Pce. I was a bit nervous to


    be meeting the Love Immortal for the first time to start nning my wedding to Yong. I had no idea how


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    traditional weddings were held here, however, I felt like I could finally exhale and rx. My secret


    rtionship with Yong was finally exposed with not much conflict, and my life here was finally settling


    down. I went to the tea room and sat as I waited. The Love Immortal wasn''t there yet. I made myself


    some tea and even prepared an extra cup for the Immortal. When the doors finally opened, I was


    shocked to see the Empress enter. Her stoic face was hard to read. I stood and curtsied to her anyway.


    "Heavenly Empress," I greeted her.


    "I won''t lie and say I didn''t like you at first, but now you''re marrying my son. It wouldn''t be right if I didn''t


    n his wedding due to personal grudges. You have a lot of time ahead to curry my favor and attempt


    to show me why my son loves you so much, but for now, we should talk wedding details. Come take a


    walk with me," she said. I was confused by the Empress''s sudden change of mood, but it seemed like


    she was attempting to get along with me for Yong''s sake. I agreed before following the Empress out to


    a garden made of clouds and ice.


    "The wedding will have to be grand, of course. It''s the Crown Prince''s wedding. The legal wife should


    have to go through the standard rites and ceremonies. Also, the position of Crown Princess isn''t just


    handed out. Proper etiquette of an Empress will also be taught," the Empress began exining. I


    listened intently while following her along the path. Finally we stopped at an end where the walkway


    abruptly ended in a drop off. The darkness in the drop swirled angrily as thinder clouds pped loudly


    over the abyss.


    "Finally, you need to know what this is," the Empress said, motioning to the abyss.


    "What is this, Heavenly Empress?" I asked curiously.


    "The Abyss of Lost Souls. If you look closer you''ll see some spirits floating around. It''s simr to the


    River of Forgetfulness in that it''ll suck in your soul and never let you go," the Empress exined. I


    stepped forward to take a closer look to try and spot the souls.


    "It also has another name... your fate," the Empress said with hostility before I felt myself being shoved


    into the abyss. I tried to fly out but the suction force of the hole was too strong. I was sucked into the


    darkness. I could feel Yong''s charm trying to help, but even it was powerless to the gravitational force


    inside. It felt like my body was being ripped open, and I couldn''t even scream because I was dragged


    inside some type of liquid that was suffocating me. I fought and fought but it was no use. All I could


    think about was the fact that I would be disappearing without an exnation. Yong would be worried


    and heartbroken. Tyrian and Amethyst would never know who I am. Tase and Zinnia would be sad.


    Peony would be disappointed. My life literally reyed quickly through my head before I felt the energy


    draining from me. Thest thing I saw was a sh of pink light before everything went dark.

 Chapter 36 (Yong)

    Chapter 36 (Yong)


    *Yong''s POV*


    Something happened to Aivi.


    Everything seemed to be fine before Aivi left this morning. The twins were advancing and growing


    quick. I was finally catching up on my duties, and Aivi was going to start nning our wedding. What


    went wrong?


    I was finishing up my paperwork went I felt the chill go through my body. My charm went off but I felt it


    fail. Aivi was in danger, or already hurt. I transported where my charm wasst sensed in the blink of an


    eye. I arrived at the Abyss of Lost Souls just in time to see a woman walking away, but Aivi was gone.


    The woman was my only witness. I caught up to her and grabbed her by the arm before spinning her to


    face me.


    "Insolence!" My Royal Mother said as she yanked her arm out of my hold. I looked at her surprised but


    then usingly. It didn''t take a genius to figure out what happened. My mother wanted Aivi out of the


    way for a long time, and it looked like she finally found her chance. If my guess was correct, my mother


    pushed Aivi into the Abyss herself. I felt my eyes water on their own before I grabbed my mother''s


    shoulders roughly. I was past being her filial son.


    "Mother, what did you do?" I asked in a tone barely above a whisper. She only scoffed.


    "What have you been doing?! Ever since that girl appeared, you lost your head. You''ve been under her


    spell. I''m the one who helped you, son. I got rid of her so you could get back on the right path," she


    admitted. I felt my knees go weak. I couldn''t stand anymore. I copsed to me knees as my hands


    released my mother. Aivi was gone? I promised to protect her, but in the end, I couldn¡¯t. I didn''t keep


    my promise.


    "What''s wrong with you? Why couldn''t you just let me be happy? Why did you kill her?" I asked weakly.


    "Do you hate me so much that you want me to be as miserable as you? What about our children? How


    pitiful they''ll be growing up without a mother. Did you think about anyone else but yourself when you


    decided to kill the only woman I''ve ever loved?" I asked. I saw no regret in my Mother¡¯s face. No


    sympathy. No remorse. No guilt. My mother was sincerely proud of herself for seeding in her n.


    The fat tears rolled down my face as I couldn''t hold them in anymore. I found myself on all fours as I


    heaved with sobs that forced their way out.


    "Oh son, don''t worry. You''ll get over it soon. And who says the kids won''t have a mother? Of course


    your Crown Princess with adopt the children as her own,¡± my Mother said reassuringly. I was anything


    but reassured. My sadness was quickly reced with rage.


    "What''s going on here?" My father''s voice reached my ears when he saw us. I didn''t even bother


    paying attention to him. The devil I wanted to annihte, was standing right in front of me. I got up


    slowly on shaky legs before grabbing the front cloth of my mother''s dress and pulled her closer.


    "Listen, and listen well. I will never marry anyone else. I vowed to love Aivi for the rest of my life, and I


    will," I seethed before pushing her away from me.


    "Impudence! How dare you threaten your mother like that. That''s not the way of a filial son," she tried to


    reprimand me. I scoffed and rolled my teary eyes at her.


    "I have been tolerating and putting up with you and your greedy ways for far to long. You would do


    anything to hold onto the precious tiny strand of power you got through me. Since you took what I


    loved, I''ll take what you love. I will never marry anyone other than Aivi. I''m disowning you as my


    mother, and I rebuke the Crown Prince title. From here on out, I''m just the Third Prince. Good luck


    keeping your Empress title with no backing," I said with conviction as the tears began to roll faster. I


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    took a breath before falling back to my knees with a shaky breath. I felt like someone was digging out


    my heart with a dull knife. The feeling made me hold my chest in pain.


    "Son, what happened to make you this upset?" My Royal Father asked when he reached us. I''m sure


    he heard my final response to my Royal Mother. I tried to calm my breathing as I pointed to my Royal


    Mother.


    "That monster killed Aivi," I answered, not taking my eyes off of my mother''s confused face.


    "I only did what needed to be done. You will all thank meter," she waved it off like it was nothing. My


    Royal Father looked at both of us shocked for a moment


    "My great-goddaughter... she''s...?" My father asked hesitantly. I could only nod. I was done talking.


    "Guards! Lock up the Empress in the Tower of Monsters. No one is allowed to visit her without my


    approval. I''ll lead the investigation myself," my Father said before my mother was handcuffed and


    taken away. My Royal Father pat my back gently before leaving to follow his new prisoner. As they left,


    I felt alone again. It was all my fault. The only thing keeping me from jumping in the Abyss after her


    were the children I now had to raise on behalf of Aivi. I''d already failed her, I couldn''t fail Tyrian


    Amethyst. The twins were the only thing I had left to remember Aivi by. I couldn''t let Aivi down again by


    not raising our children up properly and safely. But first, I needed a period of grieving. I needed time to


    feel like I wasn''t falling apart. In truth, I was already shattered. But I doubted I would ever feel whole


    again. The pain in my chest got to be too much. I yelled out before the sobs took over my body again. I


    put my forehead to the ground and just cried. I failed Aivi. I couldn''t protect her.

 Chapter 37

    Chapter 37


    *Aivi''s POV*


    I was cold. It was dark. It took me a while to realize that I was surrounded by water. Instinctively, I


    swam up. Surfacing, I saw a bank nearby and dragged my body to thend. I was tired, but examining


    myself, I wasn''t injured anywhere. I was soaked but clothed in a long dress and robe. The fabric and


    pattern looked intricate, but how did I get here? Where was here? Where did Ie from? Who was I?


    I couldn''t even tell how much time had passed since I''dst been conscious.


    "Excuse me, miss? Are you okay?" Someone called out to me.


    "I don''t know," I responded. The elderly man in overalls and a tshirt came closer and offered me a


    towel.


    "Are you lost? What''s your name?" He asked. I looked around confused. The grassy area where we


    were wasn''t familiar, but then again, I didn''t know my name either.


    "I don''t know," I answered.


    "Amnesia, huh? Let''s get you into some dry clothes," he offered. I followed him back to a ranch house


    where an elderly woman was cooking.


    "Ronald! Dinner is almost ready!" The woman yelled with her back turned to us.


    "Margeret, we have a guest," Ronald said. The plump woman turned and smiled at me.


    "Hello sweetie! What''s your name?" She asked.


    "The girl has amnesia," Ronald informed her.


    "Well why don''t we call you Sara for now," Margaret suggested. I nodded. Anything was fine with me. I


    had a name now. Margaret came to stand in front of me as she held my hands in hers.


    "Don''t worry dear. We''ll help you find your family. For now just stay here and help around the farm


    every now and then. We¡¯ll take you in until you remember who you are," Margaret said. I nodded before


    she took me back to a room.


    "Our daughter left for college recently. You should be able to fit her clothes," Margaret said as she


    pulled out dry clothes from a drawer.


    "Thank you," I said timidly before she left me to change. While changing, I noticed that my breasts were


    tender and full of milk. Did I have children somewhere I wasn''t aware of? Who was I? The question


    was driving me insane and I had no answer. I changed into the dry clothes before going back out to the


    dining room where Ronald and Margaret were cing food on the table.


    "Come sit. Eat dinner," Ronald said. I sat and looked at the food before us. It looked delicious. I couldn''t


    remember what thest meal I ate was. We ate quietly butfortably. I was actually appreciative for


    it. I wouldn''t know how to answer questions if they asked about me.


    "That hairpin is lovely. And your hair is so long," Margaret said after dinner as I helped her take the


    dishes to the sink. After setting the tes down, I reached up to touch the back of my head. Pulling the


    hairpin out, I examined it thoroughly. It looked expensive and valuable.


    "I think... it''s important to me," I said hesitantly. I didn''t know for sure, but it was just a feeling I had.


    "Keep it on you. It might help you to realize your identity," Margaret said as began washing the dishes. I


    carefully put it back into my hair.


    "Can I help?" I asked. She smiled before nodding.


    "You can help me dry the dishes," she agreed. We washed and dried the dishes together before


    Margaret showed me to my room.


    "Rest early, dear. You can go with Ronald out to the farm tomorrow to help him. We''re getting old. It''s


    nice to have some young blood around here," she joked.


    The next morning, I was dressed in worn clothes to help Ronald. Apparently, Ronald and Margaret


    made a living harvesting apples and oranges. There were a few other helpers around the farm, but no


    more than ten.


    "This is Sara. She''ll be helping around the farm," Ronald introduced me to everyone. My body


    automatically curtsied to them. They looked confused, but no one mentioned it. Did they not curtesy


    and bow to greet each other here? If so, where did I get that habit? I was supplied with gloves and a


    basket before we went out to the the field of trees. We picked the apples off of the trees one by one


    and put them in our baskets. I opted out of using the gloves because my hands were too small to fit.


    "You can''t take that one. It''s rotten," one of the workers informed me, pointing to the apple in my hand. I


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    examined the apple. It wasn''t that bad, just had a few insect bites on it. As I was examining the apple, it


    transformed into a ripe, bright red color, and the insect bites disappeared. I stared at it confused. What


    just happened? Did I do that? How did I do it? I put the apple in my basket before grabbing another


    spoiled apple from the tree. I thought about perfecting the apple again and it obeyed. The same as the


    first one, it was ripe and perfect. So it was me. We harvested the apples before taking them to the


    storage ce. This life that was now mine seemed pretty rxed.


    After a year, I got pretty used to being with Ronald and Margaret. Even though I couldn''t remember


    who I was still, and weird things kept happening to me, I was just content with something to do every


    day. I still couldn''t figure out who my family was. I was worried that I had at least one child out there


    who thought I was was dead. Did I have a loved one waiting for me? I couldn''t help but feel that I was


    forgetting something important. I was absent minded while climbing up thedder in the barn. I slipped


    and fell and I was heading straight towards a pile of shovels and rakes. Before I could even think of


    how to save myself, I stopped. I was floating, surrounded by an invisible golden force. The force


    carefully ced me on my feet. I looked around in confusion and took a step back, tripping over a


    nearby rake. Before I could fall again, an arm held me close. Looking up, I saw a beautiful man holding


    me. His hair was long like mine, and he was rugged. I froze.


    "Aivi," he breathed as his eyes grew red with tears. He pulled me into a tight hug as he took a shaky


    breath.


    "I thought I lost you for good. It''s been 800 years," he said. I didn''t know this man, but his embrace felt


    warm and familiar. All I could do was stare at him when he finally let me go.


    "800 years? Isn''t a human''s life span only one hundred years maximum? Who are you? How did you


    get here?" I asked.


    "You must''ve lost your memory when you were stuck in the Abyss. I''m your betrothed, and the father to


    our children, Yong," he exined. So I did have kids after all.

 Chapter 38

    Chapter 38


    "As for how I got here, the charm you wear in your hair was given to you by me for your protection.


    Whenever it activates, I''m notified immediately. I''d almost given up hope of finding you when it alerted


    me. I hoped it was you, but I was ready to be disappointed," he exined.


    "Did you call me Aivi, is that my name?" I asked. He smiled softly as he wiped the tears from his cheek


    as he sniffled.


    "Yes. You are Aivi, and we have two beautiful children: Tyrian and Amethyst," he said. He looked


    around beforeing closer to me.


    "Here, take a seat. I''ll try and see if I can restore your memories," he said as he sat me on the floor of


    the barn. He made weird motions with his hand before pointing his index and middle fingers at me. A


    rush of calm energy flowed through me. I found myself closing my eyes and a movie about me yed


    on my eyelids. The more I remembered, the more emotional I got. After the reel finished, I opened my


    watery eyes and looked at the man I loved.


    "Yong?" I said in realization. He was my forever. Everything we went through, every happy moment.


    How could I have forgotten. I stood before jumping into his arms. He held me close to him with a sigh of


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    relief.


    "How are the twins? What happened while I was gone? Wait... you said I''ve been missing for 800


    years? I''ve only been here a year in mortal time," I rambled.


    "The twins are fine. When they started walking and talking, I sent them to live and be trained by Floral


    Goddess Peony. I didn''t want to fail them like I failed you," he admitted as he hung his head. I ced a


    hand on his cheek gently.


    "It wasn''t your fault. Your mother caught me off guard. And your charm wasn''t stronger than the Abyss.


    But you shouldn''t me yourself," I assured him. I heard Ronald go into the house before I looked back


    to Yong.


    "Come with me," I said as I held his hand in mine. I led him to the house and went inside.


    "Margaret, Ronald..." I called. They came to me only to look at Yong.


    "Sara, who is this?" Margaret asked.


    "My husband, Yong. He found me. And I found out that my name is actually Aivi. I got my memories


    back," I exined. Margaret smiled as her eyes got watery.


    "I guess that means you''ll be going home soon," she said. I could tell she was happy but also a bit sad.


    "I have children I need to look after," I answered.


    "Because you were both so kind as to take in my wife and provide her shelter and food, I''ll be sure to


    repay you to show my gratitude. In this lifetime, you''ll never have to want for anything. If you so chose


    to stop farming, you''ll be properly taken care of. And when you pass from this life, you''ll be reborn as


    immortals, to live out your days in the Heavenly Realm with ease," Yong said to them. They were


    confused by his words but it was to be expected. The realms weren''tmon knowledge to everyone.


    He pulled something out of his robe and handed it to them. It was a nk check.


    "No amount is too high. Write in whatever you see fit for your needs," Yong exined.


    "We couldn''t... Aivi was a joy to have around, we appreciated thepany, and it''s not like she stayed


    for free. Aivi always picked the freshest and best looking apples. She was a great help to us," Ronald


    refused.


    "I''m notcking money. I want to do this to show my appreciation," Yong replied.


    "We''ll take it, but there''s no guarantee that we''ll use it," Margaret intervened as she epted the


    check.


    "Whether to use it or not will be your choice. There''s no expiration date for it, and you can even deposit


    it for a billion dors if you want," Yong said.


    "Oh right, the clothes I arrived in?" I asked. Margaret handed the check to Ronald before taking me


    arm.


    "I''ll go get it for you," Margaret offered as she led me to my room. Margaret reached to the top of the


    closet before pulling down my gown and robe.


    "I''m d you found your family, Aivi. Who would''ve guessed that youe from royalty. I guess you


    casually wearing this expensive-looking dress should''ve been our biggest clue," she joked as she


    handed my clothes to me. She had no idea how much she hit the nail on the head with her joke.


    "Margaret... I''m grateful to you for taking me in. I know you''re hesitant to use the check, but please


    keep it in a safe ce to use when you need it. Like Yong said, we''re notcking money, and he really


    is royalty. You''lle to know it when you''re reborn, but until then, I''ll be sure to visit you. I''ll even bring


    my children toe y and meet you guys," I smiled softly at her.


    "Oh right! You got all your memories back. Can you tell me about your children?" She asked. I took a


    breath as I began to change clothes.


    "Last time I saw them, they were just born. I had twins. One boy, Tyrian, and one girl, Amethyst. I was


    away for a long time because of my ident. They probably look eight years old now," I talked. I pulled


    my robe on over my dress and went to the vanity to fix my hair.


    "Do you remember how your ident happened?" Margaret asked as she came over to help meb


    through my long hair.


    "Yong''s mother didn''t approve of us. We were nning our wedding, when she tried to kill me. I woke


    up on yournd," I answered honestly.


    "I''m sorry to hear that. You seem like a bright and well mannered youngdy. I would love to have you


    as a daughter-inw," Margaret said with pity.


    "I may not be your daughter-inw but we''re still family," I assured her. After my hair was fixed and my


    clothes straightened, we went back to the living room where Yong and Ronald were talking amicably.


    "Yong, I want to bring the kids to meet Ronald and Margaretter," I said.


    "After we settle our things, I''ll be sure to bring them back," Yong promised. He came to my side and


    took my hand in his.


    "Ready to go home?" He asked. I smiled lightly and nodded.


    "Margaret... Ronald... thank you for everything," I said before we left to fly back to the Heavenly


    Realm.

 Chapter 39

    Chapter 39


    It felt good to be back, but I was also cautious. Yong never did tell me what happened with his mother.


    We went to the Floral Ind first. I was worried the twins wouldn''t recognize me, but they ran up to me


    as soon as I was in sight.


    "Mother!" They yelled. They were so big now. Tyrian was lean and tall, standing at my chest. Amethyst


    was a beautiful little girl. Her hair was a light brown and she was almost as tall and thin as Tyrian. I


    hugged them tightly when they reached me.


    "My babies," I said in relief.


    "They''re good children," Peony said as she walked up to me. "It''s good you''re okay," she said as she


    held my hands in hers. I pulled her into a hug.


    "It''s good to see you," I breathed. Peony chuckled as she pat my back.


    "Mother, father said you woulde back," Amethyst smiled at me. I looked to Yong curiously.


    "They have a portrait of you in their room. I told them everything. I wasn''t going to let our children forget


    you. Plus, I always had hope you would return," Yong exined. I smiled and turned my attention back


    to the kids.


    "I''ve missed you," I smiled at them. They showed me around and showed me their garden before we


    went back to the main hall.


    "Peony, thank you for taking care of them," I said gratefully.


    "I watched them born. They''re family. It was no hassle at all. They also share your talent for gardening,"


    she replied. I touched the twins'' cheeks gently.


    "I''ll be here for you two from now on. Mother¡¯s not going anywhere," I promised them. I sat in a chair as


    tea was served.


    "What about Godfather?" I asked Yong.


    "He doesn''t know you''re still alive yet. He took the news almost as hard as I did. He still mourns you,"


    Yong exined. I set the tea down before facing the twins.


    "Mother has to go see your uncle quickly, but when Ie back, I''ll show you where Mother stayed


    while she was away," I promised. I stood as a Yong nodded to me. We flew to Tase''s Eternity Pce


    before going inside. I immediately went to the main hall where Tase and Zinnia were having snacks.


    "Godfather," I said hesitantly. Tase looked at me in shock as he dropped his cake. His eyes water


    before approaching me unsurely. I smiled sadly before taking his hands in mine.


    "Godfather, it''s me. It''s Aivi. I''m alive," I assured him. His shaky hand touched my cheek before his


    tears fell down his cheeks. He pulled me into a hug as he cried.


    "I thought you were gone for good," he cried. I hugged him back as I shook my head. My own tears


    were spilling over as well. He pulled away and held my cheeks again.


    "Aivi... where have you been?" He asked.


    "I floated through the Abyss for a long time before waking up in the Mortal Realm with no memories. I


    stayed on a farm there with a lovely couple who took me in. When my charm activated, Yong found me,


    and gave my memories back to me," I exined. Zinnia was next to hug me.


    "We were grief stricken when we were told that the former Empress pushed you into the void. No one


    has ever survived it," Zinnia exined.


    "Former Empress?" I asked. Yong nodded.


    "I gave my Royal Father an ultimatum. Either punish my mother, or Id give up my Crown Prince title. I


    was ready to lose my title, but my father opted to punish my mother instead. He took away all of her


    cultivation and exiled her to the Demon Realm, where she''ll suffer for the rest of her lengthened


    existence," Yong exined. It made me breathe a sigh of relief that I didn''t have to worry about her


    anymore. I turned my attention back to Tase and Zinnia.


    "I''m fine, and I''m back now," I assured them. After catching up with them about everything that


    happened while I was away, we went back to Floral Ind. Tyrian and Amethyst were eating dinner


    when we arrived. It was nice to have my family back. To be honest, when my memories were returned,


    I was worried that Yong had moved on and everyone forgot me. I was happy to see that that wasn''t the


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    case. After dinner, we prepared for bed. The twins tucked in their room while Yong and I went to my old


    hut.


    "We''ve still yet to hold a wedding. Everything is ready. I was just waiting on you," Yong said as we


    dressed for bed. After my silk slip was on I stood in front of him.


    "Yong, I''ve missed you... so much. From now on, I promise to stop running from you. I don''t want to


    leave your side ever again. And I''m sorry for making you wait 800 years for me," I said. He smiled


    before pulling me into a hug.


    "I don''t me you, Aivi. I me myself for not protecting you well. I promise to never let harme to


    you again. I wouldn''t be able to continue living without you and the children," he replied gently. I leaned


    forward and brought my lips to his in a kiss. Yong was quick toy my back on the bed. He hovered


    over me as our kiss got more intense. His lips trailed down my neck before he was taking his clothes


    off. I was pulled out of my slip as Yong pulled the nket over us. I didn''t care if we weren''t formally


    married yet anymore. I lost Yong once, and I hated the feeling. I wouldn''t waste time with him anymore.


    I would give into my feelings and truly be Yong''s. The alternative was too painful for me to


    stomach.

 Chapter 40

    Chapter 40


    "Greetings, great-godfather," I greeted the Emperor with Yong. It had been a week since I came back. I


    spent all my time with the twins on Floral Ind, but it was time to make my existence known to the


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    Emperor.


    "Aivi? You''re alive?" The Emperor said in shock as he stood. He descended the stairs that led to his


    throne before standing in front of me. He touched my arm gently.


    "It''s really you. You''re not a ghost. But how did you survive the Abyss? Dying there is unavoidable," he


    asked. Yong and I had agreed to tell the Emperor everything.


    "There''s something we''ve been hiding from you. It''s also the reason I survived unharmed," I started


    nervously. "I possess the Lotus Heart. Yong sealed its scent to avoid unnecessary attention, so I''ve


    been hiding it," I admitted.


    "The Lotus Heart? It resurfaced?" The Emperor asked in disbelief. I nodded.


    "It''s my life force, so it it''s taken from me, my soul will really disappear," I exined. The Emperor did a


    internal search of me before smiling.


    "That''s even more of a reason for you to marry my son as soon as possible. In a way, he has captured


    the Lotus Heart, and he will rule the tree realms. This couldn''t have worked out more perfectly," the


    Emperor said excitedly. Yong chuckled before taking my hand in his.


    "Let''s hold our wedding tomorrow. I''ve been over 800 years and want to make you my legal wife as


    soon as possible," Yong said.


    "I''ll tell the fairies to start preparing," the Emperor agreed. I smiled gently as I looked to Yong. I didn''t


    want to jinx anything by talking out loud, but I was finally felt happy and safe.


    ~


    The next morning, I was surrounded by fairies at Eternity Pce as they dressed and prepped me. I


    was dressed in an exquisite gold ball gown with crystal detailing and a red robe. My hair was done in a


    before a solid red veil was draped over my head and face. I couldn''t see anything but my feet as I was


    led out to the carriage. Tase and Zinnia met me at the gates. I pulled my veil back and smiled sadly at


    him.


    "I guess I''ll have to call you Second Brother from now on," I said sadly. Zinnia was tearing up a bit as


    Tase hugged me gently.


    "I''m happy for you, Aivi, and I¡¯ll always be your godfather," he assured me. I nodded once to him before


    I was helped into the carriage. Yong led the convoy of fairies and music on a horse as we traveled to


    the Royal Heavenly Pce''s Main Hall. Even though I couldn''t see, I could here the chatter of people


    as I was helped down from the carriage. The fairy''s help was reced by a familiar hand.


    "Are you ready?" Yong asked. I nodded before following his lead inside. We stepped over the fire


    before stopping at the steps. We went through the tradition of bowing to the parents, heaven, and each


    other before we faced each other. Yong removed my veil, finally allowing me to see our surroundings,


    but my eyes were locked on Yong. He looked so happy as he wore garments that matched mine. We


    drank the martial wine before facing the sitting crowd.


    "Yong and his legal wife: Goddess Princess Aivi, the Crown Princess," the Emperor announced to the


    hall before everyone stood.


    "Congrattions Crown Prince and Princess," everyone bowed before we were released to talk with


    everyone. I was cordial as I went around thanking everyone foring. Even the twins walked around


    with us as we formally introduced them to the Heavenly Realm. After I disappeared, Yong kept their


    existence a secret from the masses, but it felt nice to finally get everything out in the open. First Prince


    As smiled as he pat Yong''s shoulder.


    "I see your wish finally came true. You finally got the girl," Altas joked. Yong smiled shamelessly as he


    held my hand.


    "And I''m not letting her go this time," he swore before kissing my hand. I blushed shyly as I looked


    away.


    "I''m happy for you," As said sincerely before we were finally left alone.


    "Tase is taking the twins to his pce tonight, and I sent all the fairies away from our pce. We''ll truly


    be alone tonight," he said suggestively. I chuckled and touched his cheek gently.


    "I''m yours whenever you want me. All you have to do is say the word," I replied softly. He ced a


    lingering kiss on my forehead before smiling at me.


    "Let''s get out of here," he said before rushing us out of the hall. When we got to Serenity Pce, Yong


    barely waited for the gates to close behind us before he was kissing me passionately. I stopped him


    with a chuckle.


    "We have all the time in the world," I reminded him with a smile.


    "That we do," Yong agreed as he slowed down.


    "I''ll love you forever, Yong," I promised. Yong pulled into a hug.


    "I''ll love you forever, Aivi," he reciprocated. Finally, everything was in ce. I had my children, Yong,


    and a calm eternal life ahead of me. I couldn''t think of anything better.

 Chapter 41

    Chapter 41


    With everything calmed down, we finally took some time to take Tyrian and Amethyst to visit Ronald


    and Margaret. The time in the Heavenly Realm wasn''t parallel to the Mortal Realm. So when we finally


    went down, Ronald and Margaret had aged significantly. They''re hair was gray, and wrinkles etched


    their faces. I smiled as we walked up to the farmhouse. Ronald and Margaret were sitting on the porch


    swing outside. Margaret stood when she saw me.


    "Aivi? Is that you?" She asked as she carefully walked closer to me. I nodded before hugging her


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    gently.


    "It''s me. I brought my kids to meet you," I exined. Tyrian and Amethyst bowed and curtsied to them


    as Ronald walked over slowly with a cane.


    "Tyrian, Amethyst, meet Margaret and Ronald," I introduced them as Yong stood beside me. They


    quickly took a liking to Margaret and Ronald. Yong and I took the time to take a stroll on thend.


    "Aivi, there''s something I haven''t told you," Yong said hesitantly as he held my hand.


    "Seeing you at the coffee shop, wasn''t the first time I met you. Your previous life, you were named


    Zyanya. You were a mortal then too. It was a very long time ago. Thousands of years before I met you


    again. Zyanya and I loved each other too. We never took it further than confessing our feelings before


    she got stabbed trying to protect me. She didn''t know what I was either, but a demon escaped to the


    Mortal Realm and tried to diminish my soul with the soul-shattering spear. It could''ve harmed me, and


    even killed me. She sacrificed herself to save me. But she was you. When I first saw you, I was


    intrigued by you because you looked like her. Only after talking to you did I realize that you and Zyanya


    were the same person," Yong exined.


    "My previous life?" I asked confused. Yong knew me before?


    "So you only approached me because I looked like your first love?" I asked. Yong shook his head.


    "No. I saved you because I was feeling generous at the time, but I stayed because I honestly feel in


    love with you... the current you," he exined. I didn''t know how to feel about it.


    "So you were interested because I looked like your past love?" I asked for rification. He shook his


    head.


    "Not exactly. I wasn''t sure at first, but after resetting your shoulder, I knew you were the same person.


    Your life source only solidified my guess. But it doesn''t change the fact that you are the one I love. You


    are the one I have always loved. Are you mad?" He asked hesitantly. I thought to myself for a moment


    before shaking my head.


    "I don''t expect you to dissect my previous rtionships, so I won''t dissect yours. Whatever happened


    before, I don''t know about it. All that matters is now. We''re married, we have two beautiful children


    together, and I love you. To me, that''s all that matters," I answered. Yong smiled as we stopped walking


    and turned to me.


    "I promised to love and protect you for the rest of my life, and I''ll keep that promise," Yong said. I found


    myself smiling with him. I let go of his hand to touch his cheek gently. Yong didn''t hesitate to lean into


    my touch.


    "You''re too good to me," I said out loud. Yong only chuckled before bringing his lips to mine in a gentle


    kiss as his arms wrapped around my waist. I was overwhelmed with the feeling of happiness that this


    was our life. I loved Yong, and I was happy I got to marry him, have his kids, and support him from his


    side. When he pulled away to look at me, tears of happiness were streaked down my cheeks. Yong


    chuckled as he gently wiped my cheeks dry.


    "Why are you crying, love?" He asked. I shook my head before pulling him into a hug.


    "It''s just... I''m happy. I''m happy that I get to love you," I answered while hiding my face in his chest. He


    chuckled and kissed the top of my head as he hugged me back.


    "I love you too, Little Flower. Always."


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