What the hells is going on?! The entire committee yells at each other over the blaring sound, as the body completely locks up its controls with almost mechanical precision.
Zai just gave us a side hug! One of the thought processes barks out. Current bodily contact area: 322 square inches!
Yeah, maybe life was pretty good.
“Oh young love is so wondrous.” The middle aged woman blushes slightly. “I’ll leave you two to your date~”
“Thank you Tae. Oh, and make sure to tell me if you have any more of those seaweed wraps next time I’m in.”
“Of course Jin.” She waves.
Sophia Elise just feels the firmness of flesh, of even a few ribs as she presses against the body of her husband.
Don’t sniff him. Her internal monologue warns her. Don’t you dare sniff this…
From just inches away Sophia could taste the small earthy notes of sandalwood on his clothing; that smooth, creamy, and milky scent wafting to her nostrils like a kitchen oven baking bread.
“Are you alright?” Zai asks as he adjusts his footing, the weight of this young woman already starting to push him off balance.
“W-what?” Sophia keeps her eyes wide open.
He was still holding her… or more so she was still holding onto him.
An unconscious reaction; this Fourth Princess gripping his arm like her life depended on it, quickly letting go as she realizes this utterly humiliating act.
“I-I apologise…”
“It’s alright.” Zai dismisses with a small, curt smile.
That DAMNED smile.
Sophia could feel her usually pale cheeks run flush with blood, and even worse she could now hear her heartbeat inside her skull. A sharp, calming breath before she returns the cold scowl to her expression. “I’m hungry, we shall get something to eat.”
Quick, quick what sort of foods are here?!
Sophia’s training was beginning to pay off; the geometric alphabet of Tiancin wasn’t as alien as before as her brain already sounds out the strung together letters into functional words.
Crafts…
Lanterns…
Jianbing?
Tanghulu?
Ok maybe she was still a little ways off of actual language mastery.
“Let’s go get some Jianbing.” Zai offers, already taking a step towards the respective stall.
And so Sophia follows, keeping note of her strides as she reverses herself from that moment of embarrassment: a walk composed—Imperial—wishing the lingering warmth on her face gone.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
But she is the Fourth Princess of the Imperium.
So she is calm, she is grace, and…
Then the sensory assault hits her; the sound of sizzling batter, the scent of fragrant scallions, and the unmistakable browning char of sauce caramelizing over an open flame eats her attention in an instant.
The old vendor, a man who seemed older than even the Dominion itself, gives the couple a toothy grin. “Ah, Jin! And his dashing lady as well. A fine evening for Jianbing, yes?”
Zai Tianci smiles at the offer. “Three, please. And make them extra crispy.”
Batter spread paper-thin over the hot griddle, an egg cracked on top broken into a marbling pattern like spilled blood. Scallions haphazardly thrown on, followed by a dollop of dark, glossy sauce and a dusting of chili flakes; finalized as a crisp sheet of fried dough is placed in the center.
Old boney hands still retaining a certain youthful sharpness, the whole thing folded into a neat parcel and given to the two.
Four brass pennies clink onto the counter; utter pocket change but still enough that the old man gives a thankful smile to this rich youngster. “Thank you.”
The scent alone has Sophia’s stomach tightening, making a low growl as she holds onto one of these small… crepes (that’s what they would probably be called if they were in Ensolia).
That sound from her body is audible enough for Zai to make his next words count as he speaks to thin air. “Mori, if you can…”
The food in his left hand disappears in a flash, Zai’s Guardswoman practically coming into existence next to him. Without a single word the entire thing is taken into her mouth, chewed, and swallowed. A smile, a contented sigh as she gives her analysis of the possible poisons contained within. “Hmmmm, maybe we gotta buy a few more? Just to make sure…”
The Prince of the Dominion gives his guard a stern expression, trying to hide a small smile. “Mori…”
“Enjoy your date~”
They were larger than they looked, requiring both her hands to hold effectively.
Well, you’re hungry anyways so like…
Sophia Elise takes a careful bite, a flavor exploding on her tongue—crispy, chewy, savory, with just the right balance of heat and sweet. This gremlin lets out a small, completely unintentional hum of appreciation before silencing herself.
An expression returned back into cold neutrality, chewing with deliberate slowness. “It’s... sufficient.”
Zai gives his wife a small glance from the side of his eye, a flicker of amusement dancing at the edges of his lips. “You did say you enjoyed Tiancin food. I’m glad to hear that my authentic homeland still meets your high standards.”
Sophia scowls between bites, continuing to eat this quite delicious treat.
There’s a coldness to her voice, warmed significantly as nutrition hits her brain. “When is the main event happening?”
“What, the whole fish thing?” Zai ever so casually dismisses. “They’ll turn off the lights for that I believe, before it starts.”
Turn off the lights…
The fact that her entire brain hangs on that specific series of words is perhaps the most damning thing about this whole situation; the entire Central Consciousness Committee staring at another in awkward silence waiting for the others to say it first.
Many bad things happen in the dark. Many awful things. One informs the rest.
Many bad things when no-one sees, yes. Another agrees.
They all nod proudly at this agreement, at the implication.
Ok if we’re implying that when all the lights are turned off and everyone’s crowded to watch a fish migration that we’re gonna have a chance to do something with this side of beef then we are all out of our minds.
Murmurs, before a thought process makes its proposal. Not even like a small little physical thing? I dunno, maybe we gently grab his arm. If we really wanted to maybe brush the back of our hand against his cheek or… something? It’s dark so it’s not not like…
“Syliva.” Her husband calls out her cover name in this crowded public space, a funnel of townspeople already beginning to make their way towards the docks. “Are you alright? You’re… very tense.”
Sophia tries to say something, but instead her air-devoid lungs just cough out nothing.
Breathe girl, BREATHE!
The Fourth Princess takes a cold breath of warm, seaside air. A response tightly woven, her scowl remaining alongside those dead blue eyes of hers. “I am alright.”
She’s defenseless for just a millisecond and Zai takes the chance, gently taking her right arm. “Stay close, it’ll be a little crowded.”
CROWDED?!
Will Sophia die tonight
