The Other Side of the Mask

I eat dinner happily with my parents.

"My, YingYue, you know etiquette pretty well!" mother comments.

I flinch a bit. The incident with Yue Kingdom. If they find out I'm the lost princess, then mom and dad will be in danger!

"Uh, mom, dad, can I use makeup to disguise my face from now on?"

"Sure, but why?" father asks.

"W-well… I guess there are some people I don't want to meet…"

"Honey, don't worry, tell us when you're ready," mother smiles.

I brighten up a bit. I'm so lucky to have such amazing parents. I finish the rest of the savoury steak and go on to a sweet dessert.

Motivated by my parents' kindness, I sit at my rustic study and learn more about the kingdom.

"Ri Kingdom on the west of Yue Kingdom, The ocean at the south…"

I remember the bandits outside the capital.

"Ji," I call out to my maid, "Do you know why there are bandits around the capital?"

"Oh, yes, the bandits? They're around the capital because the capital is the richest city."

"So they want money…"I ponder as I sit up at my study.

"I heard most of them are from the villages in the south."

Why would they steal from the capital though… their industry should be fishing and trade… they shouldn't lack money. I put down the book and rub my eyes.

"Good night, your highness," Ji, Zhe, and Qu say in unison as they leave my room.

The next morning, I tell Zhe to dress me lightly.

"Uh, I'd like to wear black pants and a comfy shirt."

"No, your majesty! You must wear a dress!"

She pulls out an extra poofy, laced dress, "Like this one!"

I stare in disgust, "nO, wAy!"

She starts to chase me with the extra poofy, laced dress as I run away, in my nightgown.

"You two, stop it,"Ji comes in, "and your highness, at the very least, you should wear a skirt."

"FiNe!" I say as we come to an agreement.

I wear a knee-length plain skirt with a comfy short and jacket.

Qu brings me an elegant hat, "If you're going out, your majesty, you should wear this. It's sunny today."

"Thank you!" I take the hat and head down to breakfast.

"QiLing, why are you wearing that?" my mother looks at me in shock, "Are you going somewhere?"

"Yes! I'm going to the southern area and traveling around for the day."

The King laughs, "Very well, I will have a unit escort you."

"Oh, no I only need a small group, after all I'm going in disguise."

"Hoho, ok, I will send a squad that will follow you in the shadows. By the way, you look like your mother when I first met her."

"My, I remember that time!"

The Queen and King flirt around as I sort of um cringe…

They give me warm smiles. I smile back delighted. It is like the hole in my heart is mended. I head back to my room and bring a couple of things.

"Also, Ji, can you come with me?"I ask her as she carries my stuff.

"Huh? Ok…" she responds.

We ride the carriage as I study more about the south. Something's off about it. I mean, they should be very adept and have a lot of money from their natural resources, yet many become bandits because they need money?

Suddenly, the carriage stops.

"Uh, your highness, bandits are blocking the way." The horseman sweats as he speaks.

I make eye contact with the secret unit and shake my head. I'll take care of it.