I Will Wait and See

The sword energy was so sharp and chilling that Grace Lawrence didn't even dare nod too hard, looking stiff and twitchy.

Evan Xiao raised his hand and, in a dashing move, sheathed his sword. "Alright! For Prime Minister Zhu's sake, I won't kill you. Go on, then."

Grace Lawrence touched her neck, then her forehead, but didn't leave.

"What, is there something else?"

"I... I still want to ask you something." Her voice grew smaller and smaller. "Are you... done with me...?"

Evan Xiao looked down at her from above. "What do you think?"

With a sword at her neck, the answer was pretty obvious...

But Grace Lawrence still wanted to fight for herself. She gathered her courage and said, "Evan Xiao, I used to be obsessed with Emperor Henry, but that was just childishness. The person I like now is you..."

"So what, Imperial Noble Consort?"

"I'm not entering the Royal Palace!" Grace Lawrence blurted out. "I'll do whatever it takes, at any cost, to change the imperial decree!"

Evan Xiao said nothing.

"Evan Xiao, if I don't go into the palace, will you... still want me?" she asked nervously, looking at him.

But he didn't answer. His eyes held not a ripple of emotion or warmth.

Grace Lawrence's eyes reddened.

Alright then, he really doesn't want her anymore...

She stepped back sadly, head lowered. "I understand! Sorry to bother you. Anyway, it was you who gave me my Spirit Root back, and I'm truly grateful... Goodbye."

With that, she turned and walked out, looking utterly dejected.

"I'll be watching." Just as she was about to leave the garden, a voice sounded behind her.

Grace suddenly stopped and turned to look at him.

Evan Xiao was still staring at her, his expression cold as ever.

"What does 'I'll be watching' mean?" Grace Lawrence ran back, eyes shining. "Does it mean that if I really don't enter the Royal Palace, you'll still want me?"

"Go home!" Evan Xiao turned away. "I have things to do."

He'd been waiting for someone all day. It wouldn't be good if Grace Lawrence bumped into them.

"Evan Xiao..." Grace Lawrence said.

"Go."

Grace bit her lip, not quite sure what he meant by all this.

What did he mean by 'I'll be watching'?

He never explains anything. Seriously, what the heck?

Grace Lawrence walked out, a little annoyed.

As Grace Lawrence walked, she muttered, What does that even mean? What's his problem? What's he really thinking?

Just as she was muttering and turning the corner, she ran right into a guard leading someone toward her.

And that person was...

Their eyes met. Grace's eyes widened, feeling like ten bolts of lightning struck her head at once—her mind went totally blank.

"Grace?" The newcomer called out in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"Huh? Uh... Dad, you're back so soon?" The person was her actual father. "What brings you here?"

"That's what I should be asking you! Why are you here?" Zhuo Minghan eyed her clothes suspiciously.

"I... I..."

"Prime Minister." A deep voice sounded from behind Grace.

She turned and saw Evan Xiao had appeared out of nowhere.

"Miss Xi came to ask me about your schedule. She said she was worried about your safety," Evan Xiao said calmly.

Grace Lawrence glanced at Evan Xiao and nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes! Prime Minister! The young lady heard you killed the Crown Prince of Windspire Kingdom and was worried you might be attacked on the way back, so she sent me to ask when the General would return!"

Wow, that came out so smoothly! Ha!

Zhuo Minghan's gaze softened. "Then wait here for me, and we'll go home together in a bit."

"Okay!" Grace replied.