Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“I am the Mountain Mistress. . .in. . .training. . .”
Chen opened his mouth to retort but no words came out.
Hu parted his lips in shock.
Duck snickered on the side.
Well. . .I said it. I’ve decided to take the job.
A bit nervous, I turned my gaze to Lei. He simply watched me with a neutral expression. And I desperately wished that I knew what was going on in his head.
Chen, however, actually. . .calmed down. “You are the what?”
I lowered my voice. “I’m. . .the. . .Mountain-Mistress-In-Training. We can say. . .M.M.I.T for short.”
Duck chuckled.
I glared at him.
He stopped and cleared his throat.
Chen shook his head. “Mountain-Mistress-In-Training is not a thing.”
“It is now.” Tension gathered in my shoulders. “I’ve decided that I’m going to live in the East and. . .I’m going to be the Mountain Mistress. . .one day, so I need to figure this all out. Which means that I need a training period, and it started today.”
Chen's face hardened. “Mountain Mistress isn't something you just try on like a hat and decide, ‘Oh. So pretty. I’ll wear this today.”
“I know that—”
“It’s not a game.”
“Do I look like I'm playing?”
His eyes narrowed, and his gaze burned into mine as though he was trying to read my intentions.
Duck spoke, “We would need to vote on that, Monique. That’s not something you can just step into—”
“I was already appointed to be Mountain Mistress by the Grand Mountain Master.” I turned to Duck. “Ask him.”
“I’m not asking Uncle Leo anything.” Duck raised his hands in surrender. “If you say it, then I believe you.”
I put my view back on Chen. “The Grand Mountain Master’s appointment is worth five votes.”
Chen frowned. “I’m sure Uncle Leo told you that on your little ride to the gate—”
“He did.”
“What else did he say?”
“None of your business.”
“He had you as a hostage.”
“He did.”
“And now you two are best friends?”
“After today. . .I understand him.”
In that moment, my skin prickled under the intensity of Lei's stare, as if his gaze were physically touching me.
I turned to Lei.
His face was still unreadable.
Fuck. What are you thinking? Are you mad that I’m cool with your father now? Or are you nervous? What is it? And even more. . .how are you going to react when I tell you about the tea ceremony tomorrow?
Chen grabbed my attention. “No disrespect.”
I rolled my eyes and turned back to him, knowing that he was about to say all of the disrespect. “What, Chen?”
“Uncle Leo killed your father, and you don’t even care. Is having power, money, and getting in the palace more important than your loyalty to your own father?”
I flinched. “Fuck you. That’s not what’s going on—”
“Doesn’t matter. Once the East knows about Uncle Leo killing your father, questions like that will get thrown at you all the time—”
“But, I expect better from you, Chen, because you were there when I was ready to jump off that roof because of my father’s death.” I jabbed the air. “So don’t give me that—”
“I will give you whatever you want, Friend of the—”
“I’m the M.M.I.T!”
Duck attempted to cover the bottom half of his face to hide his chuckling, but was doing a horrible job.
Then, finally. . .Lei spoke, “What made you change your mind from yesterday?”
I swallowed. “It’s a long story.”
“We have the time.” Lei studied my face. “But, regardless of my father’s power vote, your reasoning for this big change must be discussed, and unfortunately in front of my main counsel. Because in the end, I can always veto my father’s vote.”
You better not.
I almost retorted that yesterday he was in bed damn near begging me to be his Mountain Mistress and live in his Palace.
But, I knew that it wouldn’t matter.
Plus. . .he surely was curious about what had happened between his father and me to quickly change my mind.
How do I explain it to them? It’s so damn much.
Chen bobbed his head. “I agree with Lei. We need an explanation.”
“Well then. . .let’s begin with my father’s cologne.” I let out a long breath. “That’s where it starts.”
Lei widened his eyes. “Your father’s cologne?”
“When I was a kid, my father had these two bottles of cologne that I was never allowed to touch. He kept them on the top shelf in his bathroom cabinet, like prized possessions.” I placed my hands in my lap. “One was a clear glass bottle with this warm amber liquid inside, labeled with elegant script. The other was a dark, black bottle with sharp edges and. . .its label was barely visible in the dim light. . .like it was a secret or something.”
Chen twisted his face in confusion. “What does two bottles have to do with—”
“Be quiet and let her talk.” Lei watched me. “Go ahead, Moni.”
“I loved Dad’s first cologne. It was fresh citrus and sandalwood with hints of lavender.” In that moment, I could actually smell the scent. “When he hugged me before going to work, that scent would get on me and. . .”