Park Numni could not stop showing some of her frustrations with Uncle Kim. After hearing about the invitation from the Crown Prince, and seeing the tokens that arrived the following day, the Headmaster blew hot and cold. He made it clear he relished the status of even a tenuous royal connection but he was equally worried about a potential scandal.

He was even more flustered hearing about the second flash bomb, asking, "What is wrong with that boy? I thought he would learn after getting tangled up with the Psyonan heir. Look where that landed him." Numni put her hands over her ears and walked away as the man continued to rant.

She knew her grandmother would be staying with her friend at the palace for another day or two so decided to make her own arrangements to visit her younger brother at the forge. This made the invitation from Lady Chen most welcome, even if her uncle complained about foreign associates.

"Why is the Qin Ambassador's wife interested in you? I don't know why she would be entertaining after her husband left for court without her. You would think she would be embarrassed." He said looking down his noise.

"She has always been a generous friend. We won't have much of a chance to visit once she moved back to her country estates so don't expect me for dinner," Numni said and left without a backward glance.

When Numni told her hostess that she hoped to fit in a visit at the forge, Lady Chen insisted on going with her. She then took over the arrangements by sending a messenger ahead and having her staff prepare baskets of food.

"If you are inviting yourself near a mealtime, you should be prepared to feed the whole crew," Lady Chen explained as she watched a cart being loaded.

"Surely, this is excessive." Numni waived her hand at the baskets being stacked up.

"Have you seen how much the boys can eat? I'm surprised Knight-Master Lei hasn't had to declare bankruptcy by now." Lady Chen hid her laugh behind a fan.

The women were stopped by the city guards but Manager Doak was on hand to settle the situation. He expressed his regret at having to leave but Lady Chen consoled him with her usual flattery. It was enough to make the stoic ex-soldier blush and have his charges pestering him for more information rest of the day.

Knight-Master Lei was no less flustered by Lady Chen's attention and generosity. He had to apologize their time might get cut short by a palace representative arriving but gave no further details. They settled around some low tables in the courtyard with Junseo sitting between his sister and In-Yeon. Numni teased the young boy out of his shyness with tales of Junseo's clumsy moments and the amount of time he spent playing horse for his nephew.

"It's too bad you don't have time for making toys the way you used to," Numni sounded wistful.

"If you have any time, I would love some of your papers flower that blooms so magically. My friends keep begging me to tell them where to buy one so they would make perfect gifts." Lady Chen said.

"I doubt they would work here in Leuso since crystals don't react the same." Junseo said and seeing Song-hee and In-Yeon's puzzled looks he quickly explained the basic design.

"We might have an application for just such a design." Knight-Master Lei said from the end of the table. "If it works out, we can repay your hospitality."

"No need for that between friends and I do hope you let me host any of your team members on their way to your Gonlong estates. I already mentioned it to Manager Doak. It would be much more convenient than the Inn at Shandong."

"It would be a blessing not to feed the bedbugs." Scout Jia said before his partner could decline. Then he mimed swatting and scratching and got the whole table chuckling with his antics. The visit was interrupted by a palace messenger coming with Rainbow-Maker Mein's workspace requirements.

Junseo asked Numni to come to the dorm to fetch a package to take home. He showed her his competition prizes then gave her a package of herbs to settle her stomach while she travelled. He put his hand on her lower back and she leaned into the warm energy.

"Oh. I didn't know I was holding an ache." She said with a sigh.

"You and Granny Min need to head back soon but take it easy along the way. Your little bean sprout will have stronger roots at home." Junseo smiled gently.

"How did?" Numni started but stopped as her brother chuckled.

"I take it you haven't told anyone yet otherwise they wouldn't have let you come." He gave her a one-armed hug.

"I wasn't quite sure, and well, it may not be happy news for everyone." She quickly wiped back a tear.

"But it is good, so be gentle on yourself," Junseo said.

"When did you grow up on me?" She asked, mostly to herself.

"Don't worry. I still have growing and learning to do but these are good people to do it with."

His calm certainty erased any doubts she might have had from the incidents at the tournament. When they parted at the gate, they both said, "Stay safe," at the same time.

Hearing this, Lady Chen and Knight-Master Lei exchanged smiles marking unspoken promises.

As the boys got busy re-setting the work room, they replayed different moments from when they caught Lady Chen's attention. Chenhui quizzed In-Yeon about what Junseo had been discussing with the ambassador's wife.

"I don't know for sure. My Shen isn't that good. Something about his friend's little sister," In-Yeon shrugged.

"Maybe a girlfriend from back home?" Song-hee speculated but Junseo overheard this comment.

"Whose girlfriend?"

The boy's looked guilty but none of them wanted to admit to eavesdropping. Chenhui stepped forward and said, "Mine. I just don't know how long before I can get back for a visit and whether she will wait for me."

"Are you worth waiting for?" One of the new boys said. Song-hee clenched his fists, ready to launch himself at Scout Jia's recruit.

Junseo put his hand on his friends arm to stop the potential brawl saying, "Not now. We have palace guests arriving and these guys are still being assessed."

"Yeah. We need to get back to it. Let's leave the children to their fantasies about the Qin Ambassador's concubine," the other boy said.

"What?" Junseo spun into a ready position but Scout Jia already had the young man by the ear.

"No need for you to continue this afternoon. Thank you for your time." Scout Jia pointed to the gate. Both potential candidates looked stunned.

"That was unfortunate," San Jin said.

"Not great for our contract but far better to know now than after they have been assigned to a guard detail." Scout Jia shrugged, then asked. "I don't suppose have any former students you could recommend?"

"I'll think on it." San Jin promised and went back to sorting out the workshop and once he was sure there were no outsiders listening asked Junseo, "Not that their rudeness was justified, but how is it you are so cozy with Lady Chen?"

"I was first introduced to her as an ally. As you saw, she and my sister became close friends. There was some awkwardness when I first came to the capital but that doesn't erase my debt to her." Junseo quietly explained what had happened to his friend Bon Wie and Lili's perilous escape.

"That's just awful." Song-hee said.

"When I think about it, I get so angry I could burst. I would go after them all with my bare hands but then I remember I need to help Lili and I can't do that if I'm locked up like her brother."

"I know what you mean. If fighting the Four-star gang back home would get my brother clear of them, I would have my armor on and be out the door before you knew it." Song-hee admitted.

"I'd go after the card sharks and bookies, except there are just too many of them and my Dad would just find some other way to gamble." Chenhui said. Song-hee nodded and put out a fist to bump. San Jin and In-Yeon looked at each other and nodded.

"Sometimes there are no easy targets so it's a good thing we can rely on each other when things are hard," San Jin said. He cleared his throat before asking. "Now, what's the idea with the paper flowers?"