The Tale of the Lotus Heart

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 Palace 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 explained. I stepped into the bath before Ixia started up doing my hair. After it was out of the high bun I had it in, Ixia combed my curtain of hair as I relaxed 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 placed 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 black 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.

moved a strand of my damp hair away from my face and kissed my head. I wrapped my

I asked before lifting my head. He gave a puzzled look before I

Empress doesn't like me. She doesn't like anything that has to do with your Second Brother. She has her own plan for you and won't let anything get in her way so easily," I explained as I walked away from him. He wrapped his arms around me from behind in a back

He asked rhetorically. He slid the

Prince of Heaven," I said in passing. His arm tightened around my waist as he sighed near my

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't come up with this plan without contingencies," he said before his hands rested on my shoulders. He started slipping my

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.

Plus, I get filled with excitement at the thought of a future with your belly

won't solve everything," I

I chuckled slightly before turning in his arms. I moved his hands away from my

to mine. He laid 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

training like everything was normal. In fact, we continued this routine for months. It was a wonder we

General greeted

news?" I asked as I called