Wants You to Take Her Home for the New Year

"Going home for the holiday."

"Home? Where's home? The Vermilion Kingdom?"

"Mm-hmm."

"So... are you going alone?"

I'm going with Lydia Zane and Emmy.

Will he take her with him?

To meet his parents...

Grace smoothed her hair, straightened her clothes, and pursed her lips. "Anyone else?"

"Lu Xin is coming with me too."

"Just you guys?"

Mm-hmm.

Grace stopped fussing with her hair, bit her lip, and said, "Honestly, I think spending New Year's at home is kind of boring. It's always the same—reunion dinner, staying up late. Nothing special."

"So how do you want to spend it?"

"I don't know." Grace felt a twinge of annoyance, her lips drooping and her voice muffled.

Sensing her sudden unhappiness, Evan Xiao frowned.

"I'm heading back! See ya!" Grace spurred her horse and rode off.

"Wait!" Evan called out.

"What?" Grace turned back to look at him.

Is he finally going to invite her along?

"What did your mother say about Master Sage Dao?"

"My mother and Master Huiyuan are close friends, kindred spirits despite their age difference," Grace said.

"And about her past? Can she remember anything at all?"

"No. She still can't remember anything."

Evan Xiao nodded.

"Is this all you wanted to say when you stopped me?" Grace asked.

"Mm-hmm."

"Then I'll head off now!" Grace turned and left.

Evan Xiao kept watching her retreating figure, not moving.

Lu Xin sighed, "Your Highness, haven't you noticed? She just wants you to take her home for the New Year."

"I noticed."

"If only we could find the Divine Maiden soon. Then we wouldn't have to keep hiding things from her!" Lu Xin looked a little guilty.

Evan Xiao said nothing.

...

Two days passed, and with the New Year approaching, the court finally closed for the holiday.

They packed up and got ready to head home.

Before leaving, Evan Xiao asked Lu Xin to send word for Grace to come to the General's Manor.

Grace went.

She headed straight to Cold Moon Pavilion and found Evan Xiao, Lydia Zane, and Emmy all there.

Evan Xiao was inside, while Lydia Zane, Emmy, and Lu Xin were outside in the courtyard, chatting together.

"Why are you all here?" Grace asked.

"We're here to see the General and get ready to head home for New Year's!" Emmy said with a bright smile.

"Oh... When do you think you'll be back?"

"Probably after the Lantern Festival," Emmy replied. "I've got a few things to handle back home this time."

Not until after the Lantern Festival...

She'd hoped that even if she couldn't spend New Year's with Evan Xiao, maybe they could at least celebrate the Lantern Festival together...

"You look a little sad. Can't bear to see us go?" Emmy teased.

"Yeah, I'll miss you," Grace replied. "Where do you live in the Vermilion Kingdom? How far is it from the Blue Moon Kingdom?"

Ugh, asking that question again...

Emmy rolled her eyes and shot a pleading glance at Evan Xiao inside the house.

"Grace, come in," Evan Xiao called.

Grace walked in and asked, "Why did you call me here?"

Evan Xiao said, "To say goodbye."

"Oh..."

Just then, Emmy's voice drifted in from outside: "General, we'll wait for you outside."

Evan Xiao: "Mm-hmm."

With that, the group bustled out of the room.

Grace sat down across from Evan Xiao, silent.

Evan Xiao reached out to her. "Come here."

But Grace just sat there, unmoving.

"Last time, I left before my injury was healed. My mother wrote and insisted I come home for New Year's," Evan Xiao said. "If I don't go back, she'll worry about me."