2. Not A Good Start

The poor slave sat in the carriage with fear and anxiety.

Act like you are my youngest son, make them believe it or I will tell them you killed their prince as well as killing your dear sister...

How could he pretend to be a prince? How could he make the North royalty believe he was a prince while he was a mere slave? How could he look them in the eye, hiding the fact their prince died because of the wine he served?

The slave fidgeted restlessly with building anxiety. As if it wasn't enough, sitting in a small wooden box for two days made him nauseous as well as dizzy. Pressing a hand over his mouth, he rested his head, which was heavy with the jewelries, on the backside of the carriage.

Unfortunately, when the carriage arrived in front of the North palace, the slave had already drifted off to a restless sleep.

"The Prince of the East!" The announcement was made, but there was no movement.

"What kind of joke is it?!" Han Xin snorted, looking at the carriage with angry eyes. As if it wasn't enough that he was forced to welcome the prince, the bastard wasn't even in the carriage!

The king raised his hand and shushed his annoyed son. Then turning his face to the servants, he asked "where is the prince?"

"I-Inside..." one brave soul uttered and the royalty of the North gaped.

"Han Xin, go check," the king commanded and Han Xin went to the carriage reluctantly. Pulling the red curtain aside, he saw there was really a figure inside. Unwittingly, his eyes stuck on the sleeping figure as he looked kind of cute with that messed hair and slightly opened mouth.

When he noticed what he was thinking, he shook his head vigorously to dismiss the abject idea. Then with an evil smile, he shouted "WAKE UP!"

As he expected, the sleeping man jumped out of his skin, looking around groggily. When his eyes met Han Xin's intimidating ones, he lowered his head hastily and rubbed his hands in front of him, seeking mercy as he was used to doing in the East.

"I am so sorry... I am so sorry..." he repeated with utmost fear as he waited for his punishment.

Seeing a royalty begging like a servant, Han Xin was taken aback. With widened eyes, he looked at the man and murmured "i-it is okay."

The slave couldn't believe what he heard, so he kept his position for a second until the intimidating figure took a step back, dropping the curtain. Only then, he raised his head and with clumsy fingers tried to fix his hair and his heavy clothes. Taking a deep breath, he pulled the curtain and took a step out of the carriage. However, as he was stiff from sitting for a very long time, his jelly legs gave out and fell forward, his head crashing on Han Xin's hard chest.

Instinctively, Han Xin grabbed the fallen figure and the second awkward moment of the day happened.

"I am so sorry..." the slave murmured the same mantra as he pulled himself away from the rock-like man.

"Welcome to the North, prince..." the king stopped abruptly as he realised he didn't know the prince's name.

The slave continued to look down as he didn't understand that he was expected to say his name.

"The king asks your name," Han Xin snorted as the man was more of a goldfish rather than a prince.

My name? The slave almost had a panic attack as he had difficulty remembering his own name. It had been many years since someone called him by his name. Slave, hsst, you, bastard... he was used to hearing those.

"M-Meng... Huo," he uttered after a pause, the name leaving a strange feeling in his mouth as if it wasn't his.

The king nodded while Han Xin rolled his eyes, earning a nudge from his father.

"Welcome to our kingdom, Prince Meng Huo," the king repeated with full courtesy as if he wasn't aware that the prince was a bit awkward.

"T-Thank you for... having me," Meng Huo replied, but as soon as he finished he realised the expression was wrong. Luckily, the king seemed not to notice it, but the intimidating man was frowning with a cold expression.

After the weird greeting, Meng Huo was directed inside the palace and shown a big room on the north wing. Once the servants brought 'his' chests with unknown stuff in them, Meng Huo thanked them with a deep bow, shocking all of them.

When the door closed, the slave slumped on the soft mattress, thinking how to survive until it was time for him to leave. Poor creature, how could he know he was sent as a bride and never to leave the North again? Well at least alive...

While Meng Huo was immersed in his thoughts, Han Xin was busy expressing his suspicions.

"He can't be a prince, father!" the prince yelled as soon as he was alone with his father in his study, "didn't you see how he acts?!"

The king rubbed his chin, "he is indeed a bit strange, but in a good way. He seems polite and good-natured unlike most of the East royalty."

"That's exactly why he can't be from the East royalty!" Han Xin reasoned, slamming his hands on the wooden table.

"Do you have proof?" the king challenged his son, "if you can find proof, we can cancel the wedding, but if you can't, the wedding will take place next month."

"One month is enough to make him talk," Han Xin retaliated with a smirk.

"Just be careful not to hurt him."

"Deal." One month to make a goldfish confess, it is light work for me...