THE LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN LOTUS (COMPLETE)

CHAPTER 7

It's been a few days and Valery kept watch over the golden lotus that she sealed Xavier in. The night she saved both of their lives by using the powers of the lotus affected him in a way that he would never see except for her. If he didn't get stabilized then he will surely die but there was no way she would tell him that. By letting him take the seed and seal him inside would make him connect to the lotus and save his life. There would be consequences of doing what she was doing but all that mattered now was to save his life.

The Left Guardian suddenly came to the pond and she turned towards him.

'Did you find it?' she asked him.

'Yes, I did,' he replied.

'That's good then. In a moment I will unseal the plant, make sure you give the azure plant to the physician. Let him make the medicine with it. He will know what to do,' she instructed.

'I will go and do that now. Do you need more people here?'

'I will be fine on my own,' she said and the man left.

The golden lotus was important to her, in such a crazy way it protects her life. Her life seemed to be connected to it and yet she just had no idea what impact it really leaves in her life. At some other time, someone broke into the mountain, died into the holy pond and tried to uproot the lotus but the person died in the process. No one could easily get closer to it no matter how skilled one was. There was a shield surrounding it. The lotus just floated in the water. It had no roots and that was mysterious. She heard from her mother that the lotus was there when she started her sect back in the days; though at that time it was white as snow. At times she always thought her curse was related to the plant but with time she just saw that there were two separate things.

Her curse of being an immortal allowed her not to die or get hurt easily like others and at the same time all the people around her age dies and she remains behind alone. The feeling of being alone haunted her like a ghost.

Falling for Xavier wasn't something she planned but it just happened. At first she saw him like her own child since he was very young. He was a child she could never have in her life. He relied on her and she did on him too later. When he was hurt, her heart ached for him. She didn't want anyone to harm him at all. She was overprotective of him and she thought it was normal. Her mother did the same thing to her too but the day she saw him smiling at her female disciples and saw the look in those girls' eyes her heart ached. She didn't know what was happening to her but it bothered her.

She had never had time to court or fall for anyone. She had a reputation that discourages the men from approaching her. Who would want such a woman like her? They called her evil behind her back and yet she didn't retaliate. If she could do that then she would wipe everyone out and she will be the only one remaining behind.

Nora happened to notice her symptoms and she confirmed what she feared the most that she was in love with Xavier. At that time Xavier was just eighteen and so for two years she carried a torch for him. She taught him how to be strong and to be independent. She wanted the best for him and being with her wouldn't be that good. He was born a royal, he would do something good for the people when given the chance which is why she finally agreed on going to the capital to set things right. She also wanted to get rid of people who were plotting against her behind her back. She hated surprises and instead of being attacked first she would rather do it first.

Using Xavier as bait she wiped those that were against her and installed fear into that Emperor who had been having a hard head lately. He thought that she was a fool and it was time to show him that she was still the woman he fought back then and lost to her. She serves no one and especially no man.

She unsealed the lotus and brought Xavier out, whose eyes were shut closed. She called the guards who carried him back to her hall. She watched as he lay on her bed and it reminded her of when he was young. He would have this terrible nightmares and she would have to sleep with him so that he would sleep well. She touched his face with her fingers and smiled. She couldn't believe that he was all grown up and he confessed his love for her.

He was going to face a lot of danger in the future. Her enemies would try to attack her using him and things would surely be nasty when it happens. She never wanted him to suffer because of her and yet she was happy to recall that he wanted to be with her no matter what. It felt good knowing that someone out there just loves her for who she was.

Nora brought in the bowl full of warm water and gave it to her. Valery scooped the towel out of the bowl and used it to wipe Xavier's face.

'The medicine will be here shortly,' Nora informed her.

'Okay and my bath?'

'I have it prepared already,' she replied.

'Okay, look after him and give him his medicine when it comes,' Valery said standing up.

'I will make sure he drinks it all,' Nora smiled at her.

Valery left her room for the bathroom to have her bath. Xavier hated medicine ever since he was young, it would be a huge fight to make him take it.

She entered the bathroom and removed her clothes before stepping into the bathtub. She was tired especially after guarding Xavier for three days and three nights. She didn't trust anyone around that flower and especially when Xavier was inside. Now she could sit tight and enjoy her bath. She could have a good sleep after that since Xavier was out of danger than before. She just hoped that he will be able to protect himself more now that the magic of the golden lotus was in him.

She closed her eyes and let the maids do their job. She was very relaxed when she felt very familiar hands massaging her shoulders. She must be dreaming since she was feeling that way. Missing someone so dearly was just a bad thing to make one have such lustful thoughts during the day. She opened her eyes and she saw those hands on her shoulders. The maids were no longer there. She held the hand and turned her hand and smiled.

'You are awake?' she asked him.

'Yes, I am. Thanks to you,' he said massaging her shoulders.

'You are not mad I did that to you?'

'How can I ever be mad at you? I know you did it for my good,' Xavier said smiling at her.

He had suspected that something was definitely wrong with him the second Valery's face changed that day. She wouldn't let anyone close to that lotus unless it was crucial. He was afraid of asking the real reason why she did it but it seems as if she read his mind.

'You were dying and I had to stop it,' she told him.

'What does that mean?' Xavier asked as he stopped massaging her.

'That night when I took you out of the inn, you were affected by the lotus's magic. I only realized it after you came back. I had to stabilize you and let you get used to the magic or else I was going to lose you. I can't stand that fact,' she confessed to him and he was touched.

She really cared for him even though she doesn't say it first. She wasn't good with words but at least he was good at figuring her out in his own way. He hugged her from behind and kissed the top of her head.

'I promised you that I will never leave you and I meant it. Thank you for saving my life every time,' he said.

'You are welcome. Did you take your medicine?' she asked him and he laughed.

'I did take it all, don't worry. Nora didn't leave until I finished the whole bowl,' he told her.

'Good because if you don't take it then I'm afraid that you may blow up into fireworks without any notice,' she told him and he choked. Was she just playing around with him?

'That can't be possibly be true!'

'How about you stop taking it and see? If you blow into fireworks I'm afraid I won't be able to retrieve you anymore. I will find your soul and trap it into the darkest place ever,' she threatened him and he smiled.

Now he knew that she was being playful. It was her way of making him to take his medicine and be serious with his life. He respected her for that.

'I will take the medicine on time and listen to you. Whatever you say I will do it,' he promised her that.

'How about you start by scrubbing my back since you sent all my maids away?'

'Are you sure you want me to do that? I am a man after all.'

'Then go and call back my maids. You go and rest, that is an order,' she said and he smiled.

'I will be waiting for you when you are done,' he said standing up.

He looked at her once more and smiled. Xavier left the bathroom and ordered the maids to get back inside and finish what they were doing.

It's not that he minded scrubbing her but he wanted her to maintain her purity and not bring shame to her. He wasn't going to be a shrewd man but he was going to propose to her first, marry her and then make her his. She deserved better and he was going to make sure she was treated like that.

He returned to his room and instructed his maids to draw water for his bath. He took his time scrubbing himself. He hasn't taken a bath in a couple of days. When he finished, he changed into new robes and got ready to visit Valery. He was about to leave when he decided to write a letter to his mother and father.

He sat down, took a piece of paper, an ink stone and a brush. His personal maid was grinding the ink while he carefully wrote the letter to his parents. He was telling them that he had decided to propose to Valery and that he wanted to marry her. They might oppose but he wasn't going to live his life without her. He was asking for their blessing and for them to let him go.

He sealed the letter sand put his seal on it. He called for a messenger and personally handed the letter to him.

'Make sure you give it directly to the Emperor or his attendant yourself. Don't let anyone else get it,' he told him.

'I will obey your order,' the messenger said and left his hall.

He had a lot of things to prepare and one person in particular would be of great help to him. He left his hall to go and look for her.

Valery couldn't stop smiling when the maids were helping her to change. To know that he respected her well enough to not take advantage of her was something she really admired. She wanted to have that kind of love her parents had before she knew them and even after that. Would it be so bad for someone like her to pursue her own happiness?

She put on her nail armors, the necklace that Xavier bought for her back in the capital city and a few hairpins on her head.

'You look lovely Mistress,' Nora said as she entered the room.

'Thank you. Where have you been?' she asked her.

'I was in the kitchen. Since you are done here, how about we go to the pavilion by the garden?' she asked her and Valery looked at her. What was Nora plotting again?

'The weather is nice, I can watch the sunset. Let's go,' she agreed wanting to know exactly what was happening. There was something Nora wasn't telling her.

She got into the palanquin and the men carried her to the pavilion which Nora had suggested. She got off the palanquin and entered the pavilion and sat on the comfortable chair with a cushion on it. The table was set and the pot of tea was steaming on the coal stove. There were some nice snacks there. She wondered what occasion it was. She picked up a biscuit and bites it. It was soft and very chewy. She could still taste the fresh ingredients used in the baking.

Nora poured the tea made with morning dew from the flowers in to the cup and passed it to her. She took in the fresh scent before she took a sip. Something was amiss she could sense it. As she was seated enjoying the sunset she heard the sound of a zither, it was near. She looked around and saw the player. She smiled and realized what these people had been up to. They had set all this up so that she could have a nice and romantic evening. Xavier was seated playing the green jade seven string zither she gifted him a year ago. He was playing her favorite tune. It was a tune her mother used to play and she taught it to her.

It was a tune that displayed a great love between a hero and a beautiful maiden. The hero was travelling around the world when he met a maiden. She was very beautiful that her beauty shook the world. The beauty happened to be kidnapped by the mountain bandits. The hero saved the beauty by fighting all the bandits and claimed her from them. As a way to thank the hero for his good deeds, the beauty danced under the moonlight for the hero. The hero fell in love with the beauty and so did she. He took her away from the town and the two lived away from the world and lived a secluded life.

It was a legendary story that everyone knew but she knew the story well since her mother used to tell it to her everyday and it also happens that the people in the story were her great grandparents. She wondered what made her mother to enter into the pugilistic world especially when her ancestors had left the wars behind them.

Xavier was happy seeing how Valery was enjoying the tune he was playing. He only knew the story behind the tune and that Valery liked it more than any other tunes. To keep her in a good mood was his responsibility. He was going to come up with as many tricks as he could to maintain that. He stopped playing and went to the pavilion where Valery was seated enjoying her tea.

He joined her and sat next to her. Nora poured him a cup of tea. He sipped it and nodded his head.

'It's really good,' he said.

'It is and since you just finished my tea, I'm afraid you should find me more,' Valery told him and he smiled at her.

'I will do that. You look very lovely,' he told her.

'Thank you. And you have improved greatly. I love the tune,' she complimented him.

'I'm glad you did. Next time I will listen to you while you play,' he said looking at her.

'I won't play for free,' she said smiling at him.

'I can use anything to pay. What do you want?' he asked.

'I will have to think about it first before I tell you,' she said.

Xavier wrapped his arm around Valery and all the maids looked away. Valery looked at him.

'I want you in my arms as we both enjoy this lovely scene,' he said and she leaned her head against his shoulder.

It felt good to be just there witnessing as the sun set while they were in each other's arms. He just hoped their lives will remain as sweet as it was that moment.

The sun finally set and they both returned to the palace. Dinner was served in Valery's hall. There were plenty of dishes since they were two. He served her plate and gave it to her. She took it with a smile on her face and the two of them had their dinner comfortably. It always brought joy to him to watch her eating healthy like that.

The next day he woke up with a smile on his face. He felt so happy he couldn't contain it. After freshening up he had his breakfast and went straight to do his business. As the young lord of the palace he has duties he had to attend to and since he had been away for a long time it was time for him to check up on those. He would see Valery later because if he sees her now then he won't be able to go anywhere.

He was in charge of overseeing the tailor department since he has a huge interest in that area. He really loved making clothes for Valery, seeing her wearing clothes that he made brought him great joy. Winter was coming and he had to make sure that they were making enough clothes for everyone. He went there first and met the manager.

'It's good to have you back young lord,' he said looking happy.

'It's good to be back too. I'm here to check up on the clothes,' he told the manager.

'It's good that you are here. There is something I have to show you,' he said and began to walk towards the storage, and Xavier followed him.

They entered the storage where they kept the fabric, the storage was filled with the smell of both old and new fabrics; it was the smell he had missed when he was away. He looked at the fabrics for a long time and noticed what was happening.

'How did this happen?' he asked pointing at the huge pile of fabric that had been eaten by rats.

'I don't know what happened but a few days ago we realized that there was a rat hole. We exterminated the rats but the fabrics had already become like that. These fabrics are used for the mistress's clothes. I couldn't report it since she had been busy and asked not to be disturbed,' he explained.

'You did a good thing. Reporting such a matter to her will only make her angry. Salvage every fabric that is like that and make a list of it. I will see what can be done with it,' he told the manager.

'I will do that.'

'But in the mean time, I want to know how many gowns you have made for winter for the mistress?'

'The normal fabric could only make two complete gowns. We are still to make the coats and the other gowns,' he informed him.

'Okay, I will go into the city and purchase the necessary fabrics needed for the clothes. What about the disciples' clothes?'

'They are in the process but we still need more fabric for the senior disciples,' the manager told him.

'Okay. Let me see all the damaged fabrics now,' he said.

All the damaged fabric was put on the table and he checked it over and over again, separating the better from the worst.

'Use the better fabric to make the clothes for the senior disciples and stock the rest of the fabric. I will see what to do with it when everything has settled,' Xavier told the manager.

'Thank you. Now I can have a peace of mind that you are back. Do I need to send some maids with you?'

'No, we need all hands at deck now. I will take my leave,' he said and left the department.

His next stop was to go to the Left Guardian, he was in charge of the palace's finances.

'Young lord, I wasn't expecting you here,' he said as he stood from his chair.

'I have some business to take care of here. I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time,' he said as he took his seat.

'No, I was just going through some books. So how can I be of help? Is the mistress alright?'

'She is fine. I came here to collect some money for fabrics,' he told him.

'Winter is coming already. How much do you want?'

Xavier told the left guardian exactly how much he would want and saw is face change.

'All of the mistress's fabric had been eaten by rats which is bad. If we delay then she won't be having any winter clothes. I wouldn't want her wrath on me. You know how much she hates being cold,' Xavier explained and saw the man's face loosening up.

'You make a great point. I will give you the notes,' he said and took out a book where he recorded everything down.

The left guardian was a meticulous person. He did everything by the book and Valery trusted him a lot. He received his bank notes and left the treasury department. He went to the transport department where he got himself a carriage and prepared to leave the mountain. He had a lot of things to do and him purchasing the fabric personally was good since he knew exactly what Valery was fond of and not.