Sean, Your Woman Is Not Very Bright

He looked like he hadn’t fully woken up yet. When he saw her, he gave a faint nod and headed off to make tea.

“Skye, don’t bother! I’ll just say a few words and leave,” Lucia called out. “Go... go back to sleep.”

Skye glanced at her, nodded, then slipped into Sean’s bedroom and closed the door.

Lucia looked at Sean. “Why is he here? Aren’t Divine Attendants not allowed inside?”

Sean didn’t explain why, only said, “He’ll leave first thing in the morning.”

“Oh...” Lucia felt something was off, but couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

“Speak.” Sean’s tone and expression were both a little cold.

“Uh, well...” Lucia started, “Today, we went somewhere with Fourth Highness Henry—”

“Are you here to explain?” Sean suddenly cut her off.

“Huh?” Lucia blinked, totally confused. “Explain what?”

Sean turned his head away, then after a long pause said, “It’s nothing. Go on.”

“Did I wake you up? Were you already asleep?” Lucia wondered aloud. This guy was seriously grumpy when woken, and honestly, his brain seemed a little foggy. “Sorry for disturbing you.”

Sean didn’t reply.

“Well, since you’re up, you might as well listen, right?” Lucia teased him with a grin. “May I, Fifth Highness?”

Sean’s breathing grew a little uneven, and he avoided her gaze. He just grunted in agreement.

“So, we went into the Hundred Blossoms Paradise...” Lucia recounted everything to him. “Looking back now, I think that woman was asking us for help! But we can’t go back to check. You can’t just waltz into the Hundred Blossoms Paradise whenever you want.”

Sean: “So?”

“Could you ask your fish to help us get in and take a look?” Lucia asked. “Whether it’s real or not, if we check, Ryan can finally get some sleep.”

Sean: “Right now?”

Lucia nodded.

“The fish can send people in,” Sean said. “But... I’ll only take you. I don’t want more people knowing about the Eternal Wishfish.”

“That’s fine! Thanks for the trouble!” Lucia replied. “I’ll go tell Ryan, wait for me!”

She turned and started to leave.

“Wait!” Sean suddenly called out.

“What is it?”

Sean looked at her, silent for a moment, then said, “When you get back, tie up your hair.”

“Huh?”

Sean pointed at her hair, which was loose from sleep.

This look really isn’t for others to see.

Lucia flicked her long hair and laughed, “Fifth Highness is surprisingly attentive!”

She turned and left.

Sean stood there for a long time, unmoving, his mind replaying the way she flicked her hair and smiled at him.

...

Lucia went back, calmed Ryan down, tied up her hair, and then met Sean at the entrance to Hundred Blossoms Paradise.

He took out the painting and made his request to the fish.

The fish asked, “In the middle of the night, what are you doing in Hundred Blossoms Paradise? You’re not ‘flower-picking,’ are you?”

“What I do is none of your business!” Sean snapped. “Hurry up! If you keep stalling, it’ll be morning soon.”

The fish rolled its eyes, looked at Sean, then at Lucia, and said, “You two, get closer.”

“We’re right in front of you!” Lucia crouched before the fish. “How much closer do you want?”

“I don’t mean get closer to me. I mean you—two—get closer to each other! Good grief! Sean, your woman’s not too bright!”

“Shut up! Just cast the spell!” Sean said.