CHAPTER 4

*A week later…*

The palace was calm, with the distant hum of the courtyard fountains blending into the rustle of silk curtains. Sisou sat on her bed, half-dressed in her indoor robe, her hair loosely tied, fingers idly trailing across the embroidery of her pillow. Her mind had drifted yet again—to the forest, to the humiliation, to *him*.

She sighed.

That was when the door creaked open.

Duri and Nimaj stepped in carefully, their faces lit with giddy smiles. They bowed together, beaming.

“Greetings to Her Royal Majesty!” they chorused.

Sisou sat up, narrowing her eyes. “What brings such suspicious grins to your faces? Any good news?”

Duri practically bounced where she stood. “Yes, my princess! A *very* good one!”

Sisou’s ears twitched as she leaned forward. “Speak, before I lose my patience.”

Nimaj giggled, nudging Duri. “You tell her. You’re better at this kind of news.”

"I'm all ears!"She snapped at them, her ears agitated

"We've some royal visitors at the palace and..."Duri halted now, just to fathom Sisou's mood

Sisou was already frowning,"Royal visitors? What for?"

   "They're actually awaiting your arrival!"

"Is that the good news?"She snapped, fuming in anger already.

  The maids stood rather frenzied and sheepish. They knew her mood would end up like this- Too moody!

"Mtttcheww!"Sisou hissed, drifting her glance at the window, wondering why she had to be ruled at some points by her parents.

"My princess, you need to get dressed up!"

Sisou said nothing but slipped off the bed, lazily. She was really wondering why the royal visitors would need her at the palace hall,"I hope it's not what I'm thinking?"She thought aloud, scrambling the set of beautiful gowns in the wardrobe,while the maids was getting a bath water ready in the tub

As Sisou picked through her gowns—silks in emerald, sapphire, and royal crimson—her thoughts spiraled.

“Royal visitors… Awaiting *me*… Don’t tell me Father’s trying *that* trick again,” she muttered.

Duri, setting scented oils by the bath, tilted her head. “That *trick*, my princess?”

Sisou gave her a sharp look. “Marriage.”

Nimaj’s eyes widened. “Oh. Ohhh…”

“Exactly,” Sisou grumbled. “Just last week he was barking about how I should grow up and marry. And now—sudden visitors from royalty? Don’t insult my intelligence.”

Duri giggled under her breath. “But what if the prince is *handsome*?”

“I’ll still shoot him if he talks too much,” Sisou snapped, tossing a gown aside.

“Alright,” Nimaj said, biting her lip. “But… what if he’s *the* one?”

Sisou froze.

She turned slowly. “*What* one?”

“The forest trespasser,” Nimaj whispered dramatically.

Sisou narrowed her eyes. “If it *is* him, this palace won’t survive what I’ll do.”

She grabbed a deep violet gown, shimmering with golden threads. “Fine. Let’s play their royal game.”

She stepped toward the tub.

“But I swear,” she muttered, “if anyone so much as *mentions* marriage…”

The maids smiled nervously.

Sisou’s war wasn’t only with strangers now—it was with expectations.

****************

  Sisou descended down the stairs to the palace , her mind filled with evil intentions. She elegantly walked towards her parents who are both sitted on the throne, and some set of strange figures at the trestle table staring attentively at her.

Queen Momo smiled gently and gestured for Sisou to sit beside her. “Come, my daughter,” she said, her voice warm but laced with a knowing tone.

Sisou obeyed, her amber gown flowing like silk flames behind her. Her gaze flicked toward the guests—four in total. Two guards, a maid, and seated between them… a young man in a deep navy robe embroidered with golden dragons. His long hair was tied back with a jade clasp. He looked relaxed, but his eyes were sharp—watchful.

He met Sisou’s gaze.

She quickly looked away, jaw tightening."I don't think it's that trespasser. He looks naive... but still weird!"

King Chen continued, “Princess Sisou, this is Prince Xei of Duhei State. He’s come for diplomatic reasons—and for something more personal.”

Sisou’s nostrils flared.

Prince Xei stood, bowed with a graceful ease. “It’s a great honor, Princess Sisou. Your reputation as a Shaolin warrior is known across the regions.”

.Sisou stared at him speechless.

Only her silence could tell how unready she was, for the so-called diplomatic reasons and something personal.

Sisou accosted her mother,"Mother,why are they here?"

  "You'll soon know why, peanut. I'm so happy for you!"Her mother smiled.

"Happy for me?"Sisou wondered deeply.

    She glanced at the visitors and saw that they were really royal."Why are they really here?"she brooded.

     The king of Duhei cleared his throat, standing on his feet,"Today is another memorable day,as it happened to be that my family and I are gladly here.."

   King Chen and Queen Momo were both looking full of beans;so happy. Sisou had all her all her attention at King Teh of Duhei , her eyes suddenly sped past two images sitted beside King Teh; a female and and a male.

"That's the Queen... and the prince of Duhei?" She threw a sharp glance at the youthful figure again,"He just looks crazy in that pantaloons and white tux. He doesn't even have a sense of fashion, wonders!" Sisou whispered.

Queen Momo chuckled softly at Sisou’s muttered sarcasm and leaned in to whisper, “You might want to keep those thoughts to yourself, peanut. That ‘crazy’ boy is royalty.”

“Royal or not,” Sisou mumbled, “he looks like he just jumped out of a scroll painting halfway done.”

Just then, King Teh of Duhei continued, his voice loud and proud, “And the purpose of our visit today is one that ties both our great states together.”

Sisou felt her stomach turn. *Here it comes.*

King Teh gestured to his son. “This is my only son and heir, Prince Xei of Duhei.”

Prince Xei stood again and bowed politely. His eyes never left Sisou.

King Chen beamed. “And we are honored to announce that an agreement has been reached between Fangyi and Duhei.”

*No... don’t say it…*

“A royal union,” King Teh said.

Sisou’s jaw dropped slightly.

“A marriage,” Queen Momo added cheerfully, holding Sisou’s hand. “Between you, our beloved daughter… and Prince Xei of Duhei.”

There was a ringing silence in Sisou’s ears.

Prince Xei took one slow step forward and said with a smile, “It would be an honor, Princess… to be your husband.”

Sisou stared at him.

Her mind screamed: *The trespasser…? The forest freak?*

And now… her fiancé?

Her breath hitched.

*No!*

*Sisou do something! You can't let this happen!*

King Chen cleared his throat,"Well, there's no problem with that. We just have to get the marriage plans ready. Though, I've been waiting for this day to come."

Sisou widened her eyes in dismay, like" Father don't tell me you're selling me to this cargo!" Then a brainstorm suddenly came up in her." I got this!", She smiled and glanced at the visitors.

She walked and stood at the center of the palace," It's a good thing that prince Xei want to get married, but I don't think he's actually going to get married to me. I'm not ready for this! It's useless, afterwards. Yes!"

The visitors dropped their jaws before her, in dismay. Queen Momo tried pulling her away, but she was too obdurate.

"Sisou you want to bring shame to this royal hood."Sisou's mother whispered at her.

"Sisou glanced at her mother,"No mother. I'm old enough to decide what I want. I have rights to do so! Allow me, mother"Sisou snapped at her mother and glanced back at the visitors,"Well, anyone who wants to get married to a princess like me, he must defeat me with Martial arts such as Shaolin!"She said, really thinking that Jinhai was weak.Well, his looks showed how lazy he must be.

" What!" Sisou's father yelled,"What has gone over you, Sisou? Do you realize you are saying stupid things before the royal visitors? Have you suddenly lost home training you earned from your parents?"

Before Sisou could reply, Xei confidently stood"I'll do whatever you want, my princess! "

Sisou widened her eyes in surprise,"Hope he isn't a Martial arts guy? Does he thinks I'm weak, pfft."she whispered, then looked up at the visitors,"Okay, since he's agreed to my decision. If I defeat him, the marriage will be cancelled. But,if he defeats me... "

"We'll be husband and wife!"Xei snapped, in repartee, like a child who had been coaxing for sweets.

Sisou looked menacingly at him for few seconds and looked away. She nodded," Only sure that the wish of being husband and wife will end up in your nightmare!"

Both the parents of Sisou and Xei were in total confusion.

Sisou smiled in satisfaction,"Just prays he's a weakling. I can't wait for the day to pieces his skull in the battlefield!"

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