"You still insist you did nothing wrong?" His Majesty the Celestial Emperor asked her.
"I just spoke the truth, what's so wrong with that!" Her eyes reddened. "The tenth article of the Divine Guard Code forbids lying! I was honest about my feelings—how is that wrong?"
His Majesty the Celestial Emperor looked utterly disappointed and said, "Go back to the palace! If you can't figure out what you did wrong, then don't bother coming back."
"Father!" Princess Quinn Xiao glared at him.
"Return to the Celestial Palace!"
"You're always so biased!" Princess Quinn Xiao wiped her tears with her sleeve, then shot a fierce glare at Sean Shaw and Lucia Lu before running off.
Lucia Lu could understand why she'd glare at her.
But she also shot a glare at Sean Shaw.
Lucia Lu thought he looked completely innocent.
Sean Shaw probably felt just as innocent himself, but his whole aura seemed even colder than usual.
As if sensing Lucia Lu's gaze, Sean Shaw suddenly looked up at her.
Lucia Lu gave him an apologetic little smile.
He looked away, but that icy pressure around him slowly dissipated.
Later that day, after returning to their residence, Henry Xiao came to find her.
"Fourth Highness, is there something you need?" Lucia Lu asked.
"I've already spoken to the Celestial Empress and asked her to properly discipline Princess Quinn Xiao," Henry Xiao said. "She sent me to offer you her formal apology."
"The Celestial Empress is far too kind!" Lucia Lu replied quickly. "I really don't deserve it."
"Princess Quinn Xiao is the youngest daughter in our family, and we've definitely spoiled her too much over the years. That's why she's so arrogant and willful! I hope you won't take it to heart," Henry Xiao said. "Mother also said she won't let Quinn come back for now, unless she can genuinely admit her mistakes!"
Lucia Lu actually felt a little guilty: "The princess has really been wronged."
"She brought it on herself," Henry Xiao replied warmly. "Sister Lucia, do you have any plans for the next rest day?"
Lucia Lu said, "No plans at the moment."
Henry Xiao's eyes lit up as he produced four Peony Passes. "These are from the Celestial Empress—admission tokens for the once-a-century Hundred Blossoms Festival in Hundred Blossoms Paradise. She said, as an apology, I should take you and your siblings to enjoy it together. Would you do me the honor, Sister Lucia?"
"Hundred Blossoms Paradise?" Lucia Lu echoed.
She'd heard of the place.
But she'd never actually been.
Rumor had it that Hundred Blossoms Paradise was home to countless Flower Fairies, with flowers blooming everywhere and scenery so beautiful it was unmatched in the mortal world.
Every hundred years, Hundred Blossoms Paradise held a grand festival where the Flower Fairies would compete for the title of Flower Queen and host all sorts of fun events.
But not just any immortal could get in.
They said even the gods of the Divine Realm struggled to get their hands on a festival pass.
Some opportunists even drove the price of Peony Passes sky-high...
...
"Exactly! The Hundred Blossoms Festival only happens once every hundred years—it's a rare chance. Let's go together, shall we?"
Lucia Lu nodded in agreement.
Henry Xiao's face lit up with joy. "Wonderful! Then, when the time comes, I'll pick you all up from the Guardian Drake Lord's Manor!"
Lucia Lu nodded again.
After Henry Xiao left, Lucia Lu contacted Ryan Lu and Luna Lu using her Messenger Charm and told them about it.
They were interested too, and both agreed to go.
She had just hung up the Messenger Charm when someone knocked on the door.
Lucia Lu went to open the door and found Sean Shaw standing there.
As soon as she saw him, Lucia Lu remembered the way Princess Quinn Xiao had glared at him earlier—and for some reason, she suddenly felt like laughing.
"What's so funny?" Sean Shaw asked, looking a little uncomfortable.
"Sorry about today!" Lucia Lu said. "You got dragged into things for no reason."