"THE TEMPLE WAS not what I expected," Ryan offered to start the conversation as the two of them left the compound. Chunyi and Ryan's manservant followed behind them.

  "I apologise if I gave the wrong impression of it," Myrina said coolly. "It is a truly wonderful place in my mind, one that holds many excellent memories."

  "Yes, I can tell. Abbess Yuexian is very fond of you."

  "I was an acolyte here very shortly after her rise to the position of Head Abbess of Sai. I also happened to be the most obedient, who caused no trouble for her. Thus, I like to think I left a good impression."

  "Yes, I thought it would be something along those lines," Ryan murmured. "I... I apologise if I startled you a few days ago."

  "It is alright," Myrina replied, all the courage she'd mustered immediately leaving her body. "You were not in your right mind, I think. A bit tipsy."

  "Yes. I was. But, uh, just know that if you ever change your mind... If I must have a political marriage, I think you would be the best choice for it. You already know all the ropes, and we've known each other for long enough to know how the other thinks and works, even if we do not necessarily like that."

  "I need to think about it," Myrina murmured quietly. "I... I just don't know if I can do it again."

  "That is perfectly understandable." Ryan winced. "And I'll try to be less difficult, I think, about you all searching for a bride for me. I do know that you all mean it from a good place, it just gets very annoying sometimes."

  "It is alright, Ryan."

  They were quiet as they stepped out of the gates. Myrina turned to take another glance of the temple, and then they continued walking.

  "You really like this place, don't you?"

  "I do," Myrina agreed, "but I do not know if it feels like home any longer. It's been too long. I feel like a visitor here now, not a member of them."

  "If you could, would you have become a priestess?"

  "If you asked me when I was here? Yes. But now? No, I don't think that would have been the best choice for me. But that is in hindsight. Who knows where we'd be in life now, if I hadn't left?"

  "Well," Ryan said humorlessly, "I'd be dead."

  Myrina flexed her jaw. "Someone would have saved you then, one way or another."

  "Well, either way," Ryan murmured, clearly not in the mood to argue, "I'm thankful either way."

  "You've already expressed your gratitude regarding that. I was just doing my duty."

  "Am I scaring you with my attitude, Lady Mai?"

  "Slightly, yes, Your Highness." But there was a small smile on her face that she couldn't hide.

  "Do I amuse you, Lady Mai?"

  "Always, Your Highness."

  "I do believe that is the nicest thing you've ever said about me," he chuckled. "I'm starting to understand you a bit more, Myrina Mai. Oh, I like how the Abbess called you by your Saian name."

  "No one has for a long time. I am always either Myrina or Lady Mai now."

  "Only time I'm Ruge is when I'm in trouble. I'm always either His Highness or Ryan otherwise too. Interesting, isn't it?"

  "How we're on Saian land and are yet referred to by our Arecian names, yes."

  Ryan shrugged. "Always made no sense to me."

  "Shows the influence of the Arecian language, eh?"

  "Not something to be very proud of, I think."

  The two of them shared a look. Arecia's influence was something Myrina would never understand, but she was sure that Sai could eventually rival it someday. It wasn't the most important thing at the moment, though.

  Arecia was an ally for now, and would be for the next few generations, especially with Irina there. Their main problem was still Melique, and Myrina hoped that it would be tied up within the next one or two years. She had no interest in dealing with it after a decade.

  They were nearly back to the inn, since it was not very far away. Myrina offered a quick curtsy before heading back towards her room. Chunju had already completely unpacked what she needed for the short stay.

  Myrina offered a smile of gratitude before asking for a bath to be prepared for her. Dinner would be served in an hour, Chunju told her, and that was more or less enough time.

  They all gathered downstairs for dinner. Myrina sat next to Asteria, who regarded her curiously. Myrina sat uncomfortably for a while before she finally turned to her friend. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

  "I heard you went to the Luo Yun Temple today," Asteria murmured, "and Ryan followed."

  "He spoke to the Abbess and was granted a tour."

  "How did it go?"

  "Well. Better than expected."

  "Your relationship has improved a lot."

  "I like to think so, yes," Myrina said quietly. "After all, an advisor and her superior cannot despise each other. They must get along, one way or another. It is her job."

  "That is a very prudent way of seeing it. Very rational, Myrina."

  "It may come as surprising, but I can be just as rational as any of you. When I feel the need to be."

  Asteria let out a light laugh. "I've always known that. The others may not, but I always have."

  "Yes. You have."

  She kept on eating. They would be here for one more day and leave the morning after tomorrow. And after that, they made way towards her estate.

  She hoped Ryan was ready. And that her relatives were not.

  The day passed quickly. She brought out a small group of interested lords and ladies, leading them around the town to the little shops and then finally to the Luo Yun Temple. Ryan did not follow.

  She spent some time with the other priestesses who'd been alerted of her presence, laughing over tea and sharing gossip. It was a quick afternoon, and then they returned and the next morning they continued on their trip.

  Back into the carriages again. Back to speaking politely with the Viscount of Guangping and Lady Ru while Ryan now attempted his best at conversation, though his mind was still clearly not in it.

  Every once in a while she glanced out of the carriage, at the roads that should have been familiar to her but were not. A reminder of how she'd failed her duty. Of how she'd tried to escape again and again.

  They were nearing Li Han. Her land. Near the estate was a series of small towns, and an hour's carriage ride away was a fairly large city. Nowhere as mighty as Hong Cheng, but still fairly impressive. Li Han thrived on agriculture, but it also served as the main trade city to the furthest north of the country.

  It was one of the reasons why her family had climbed to such a high position. This city and the patches of land that surrounded it. The bountiful soil, the perfect climate for less water-intensive crops.

  Most of the food from Li Han was brought down the trail they'd come from, towards Hong Cheng and then the rest of the country. It had brought plenty of wealth to her family's coffers.

  "How far are we?" Ryan asked, opening one eye from his half-nap and glancing towards her.

  Myrina froze for a moment. How far were they? She was more familiar with Hong Cheng than this area. She hadn't been back here for years. It had been so long.

  She recovered quickly, swallowing and rightening herself. Her memory still served, and she had a recollection of these valleys. "An hour and a half, I think. If I am correct. I... I haven't been here for a long time."

  Ryan nodded and did not push it. He knew what she meant. When was the last time she left the Scarlet Palace? When she went to Arecia with Irina. And after she'd returned she hadn't even stepped out of Hong Cheng once. The city she claimed to hate also became her only safe haven in the world, or at least a safer one.

  The journey was quiet. Eventually, though, they arrived at an area Myrina started to properly recognise, and she announced so. "Ten minutes now," she murmured. The estate was in a decently sized town where the courtyard house was the main feature. It was almost like a smaller version of Hong Cheng. There were around two hundred families living in the surrounding town, all of whom were technically under her jurisdiction. Though she had failed at her duty for the past few years.

  No longer that.

  The long string of carriages soon garnered attention in the fields they passed by, where some farmers were about with their crops and animals. There were some cries, and Myrina briefly revealed her face, offering a smile to the villagers staring gobsmacked.

  She was recognised, of course.

  "Lady Mai!" she heard someone cry, though she allowed the curtain to fall back down after tha glimpse. "Lady Mai has returned!"

  She heard the mumblings of a younger child, most likely asking who that was. Myrina shook her head quietly. She had been away so long that some people did not even recognise her anymore. That would never happen again, as long as Ryan was able to wrestle control over the estate back into Myrina's hands. All her properties, all her responsibilities and privileges. Where it belonged.

  Ten minutes, and they arrived outside the estate. It was a massive park-style estate, laid out and spacious, with sections for each family or person. Myrina's chambers ought to be in the main courtyard now, but she had a feeling it would already be occupied.

  That was where she'd start with the clearing out.

  Myrina was the first to get off the carriage. Technically speaking, she was the host. She immediately spotted her uncles:

  Big Uncle, Mai Fang, who was large and intimidating with a serious face and cold eyes. Second Uncle Mai Qiu, who was the son of a concubine and thus in status lower than the rest, and Uncle Fang's favourite dog. Third Uncle Mai Xu, who was sensible and had a sense of shame, but often let his greed and cowardliness overtake his better judgement.

  None of them bowed or greeted her. So neither did Myrina, who pointedly ignored them and turned back to the carriage, watching as the Viscount of Guangping and Lady Ru got out. To them, her uncles bowed.

  Myrina let out a quiet snort.

  Finally, Ryan came out, in all his princely glory. His features had regained that sense of superiority he so often had back in the Scarlet Palace, that he had recently lost. His eyes glossed over her uncles and he ignored them, instead turning to Myrina.

  "Where are we to be settled?"

  It was then her uncles all fumbled over, all falling to their knees in obedient greetings. "Your Highness!"

  Ryan ignored them. "Where are we to be settled, Lady Mai?"

  "Do not look at me, Your Highness," Myrina said smoothly. "I have been away for so long that all the arrangements for our stay in the Mai Estate have been settled by my uncles, who I am certain have done an excellent job. Is that not right?"

  Since Ryan had given no orders for her uncles to stand, they remained kneeling. Uncle Fang turned to her, eyes narrowed. "The notification for such a stay was very rushed, niece. We were not given enough time to prepare as we would have wished to, but we have done the best we could."

  Myrina opened her mouth to argue, but Ryan raised a hand. "She is not just your niece, she is the Countess of Li Han, and I think it would be good for you to remember that. I personally oversaw the letters and arrangements, and the Lais have done an excellent job of receiving us, despite having the same time to prepare as you do. I do not appreciate excuses."

  Myrina gave a low curtsy. "Your Highness, do not be moved to anger. I am sure my uncles did not mean it."

  Ryan rolled his eyes. "Bring us to our chambers. I am exhausted from the journey and would enjoy some rest."

  The rest of the group and entourage remained silent. Everyone knew that something was at play, that this extended stay at Mai Estate meant something. Some of them would have already figured it out on their own, the others would still be perplexed. Asteria strolled over, offering Myrina a smile, and then the crease of a brow to her uncles on the floor.

  "Stand," Ryan let out a sigh, as if finally remembering. "And lead us to our chambers. I assume Lady Mai will be staying in the main courtyard."

  "That, uh..." Uncle Fang lowered his head.

  "Do not tell me you have occupied it."

  "My niece—Lady Mai has not been in the Mai Estate for so long, and we all have rather large families, so..."

  "That is no excuse," Ryan scolded. "Is this the teaching of the Mais? All these centuries of glory and prestige? Lady Mai is the mistress of the estate, so of course she ought to reside in the main courtyard, even when she is away! And you speak of families. How many?"

  "Me and my two brothers all have children, Your Highness."

  "And you all reside here?" Ryan asked in chagrin.

  "Yes, Your Highness."

  "This is absurdly absurd, Myrina. Do you hear this?"

  He called her Myrina now, to suggest a closeness between the two of them. Giving her his support if she wished to speak up against this injustice.

  Myrina said, her voice soft, "Uncle Fang, you have four sons. You do not mean to tell me that all of my cousins..."

  Asteria let out a snort, "And do not tell me their children too reside in the Mai Estate. Dear heavens, even my estate could not keep so many people."

  Her uncles seemed to finally realise that the young lady besides Myrina was someone of importance too. Uncle Qiu was obviously the one pushed out to ask, "Miss, apologies for the disrespect, but you are...?"

  Asteria's mouth twisted into a full sneer. "I am Lu Junya, Countess of Zi Yan. My father is the Duke of Shui Xiang."

  Uncle Qiu's face paled as his eyes darted to Myrina. Clearly they had not done enough research into the crowds she now walked with in Hong Cheng. She had underestimated her uncles, and by a lot. She'd come here expecting them to be prepared. Yet they had not even been worried by the slightest.

  Myrina just felt slightly insulted. Even if they thought she hadn't changed at all since their last meeting, surely they'd have taken the fact that the Crown Prince was travelling with her a bit more seriously? Were they not afraid of offending her?

  Or did they think she was bluffing?

  Uncle Fang swept into a low bow. He was only the uncle to a countess, and of far lower rank than Asteria, a future duchess. "Countess. I apologise for my brother's rudeness."

  "I think you ought to apologise for your own as well. But no matter, you are Myrina's uncle." She swept her hands in the air. "But honestly, are we not to be led inside? I am tired from the journey and would enjoy some rest. Myrina has spoken much about the excellent hospitality we ought to expect here, and so far we've been greeted with none of it."

  Uncle Fang was staring at her, an indecipherable look on his face. Myrina met his eyes, innocence clouding her features. "Uncle? Do lead us to our rooms, please?"

  His response was cold. "You are the host here, Myrina."

  "Aye, the estate is mine, yet I have not been here for years. It has always been in your hands, and I rather think you've started considering yourself the master long ago."

  "I dare not, niece."

  Myrina simply blinked, playing the idiot. As if she wasn't aware of the words between words, the games everyone standing here played.

  Lady Ru took the time to join in on the fun. "I am exhausted, Lady Mai. Why are we still standing here? Tell your relations to bring us in!"

  The Viscount glanced at his sister, amusement in his eyes. "Ru Eryang, what have I told you about your manners?"

  Lady Ru glared at his brother, before directing her gaze towards the three uncles. "This is outrageous."

  Uncle Fang finally seemed to compose himself. "Apologies for the wait. Please, right this way. Err, niece, I currently occupy the master bedroom, but..."

  "It is alright," Myrina sighed, faking exasperation. "I have been gone for so long, of course the room would be occupied. I will take another room."

  Ryan glanced at her, looking displeased. She knew he thought that the better choice was to kick her uncle out and take the room for herself immediately as a show of strength. Intimidation.

  But that wasn't what Myrina wanted. No matter what, they were her uncles. And relations were something she could never truly rid herself of. Even if—when she took back control of the estate, she'd still have to remain in contact with them. She wanted them to feel guilt. She wanted to be able to manipulate them and ensure that they would never try and wrestle power from her hands ever again.

  And allowing her uncle to sleep in a room that he had been repeatedly told he had no claim to was one step towards that.

  Uncle Fang just lowered his head as he called for the servants to lead them to their allocated houses and bedchambers. The servants were another thing Myrina had to change once she returned. It would be annoying, but she could not trust any of the servants who worked here. She'd have to change them, batch by batch, to people she could fully trust. Who she knew wouldn't betray her in the blink of an eye. People like Chunju and Chunyi, though it would be a waste to leave either of them here.

  Despite the rush, the rooms were appropriately decorated and comfortable. The work of her aunt, most definitely. Uncle Fang had married the capable second daughter of a viscount. All things considered, Myrina did quite like the woman. They did not get along, of course, but Aunt Fang was respectable as an opponent.

  Though it was probably never a good sign to consider your closest relatives an opponent.

  Myrina's room was quite close to the centre house, the one her uncle was currently occupying. She shared the same house as Asteria and Lady Ru. Myrina occupied the main part of the house, and the other two ladies the side rooms, the erfangs.

  Ryan was installed in another house, along with the Viscount of Guangping and Malcolm Man, who had remained uncharacteristically silent throughout this entire trip. He'd barely made a sound, and if he had, Myrina hadn't noticed. Which was rare, because he could be quite loud most of the time. He liked to blame it on his status as a member of the navy, a fighter, but the same applied for Justine, who was far more civilised and calm.

  Ryan came by to visit soon afterwards, one brow raised as he regarded the courtyard. "Will we be overheard here?"

  Myrina said, wryly, "I don't think my uncles have installed agents in their own house. In the grand scheme of things, they are very unused to anything past some petty household drama. No one will overhear us, Your Highness."

  "You should have taken the main house, you know."

  "Yes, and he knows that too. Which is why he will be sleeping in fear of me ousting him from the comforts of his warm bed at any hour of the night for as long as I remain during the visit. Of course I do wish to kick him out eventually, but I do not think it is the time yet. Asteria?"

  The countess shrugged. "I must say, I rather agree. And it would seem extremely disrespectful to directly kick him out. By taking this small step backwards, you have more ground in the future."

  Ryan's eyes narrowed. "I still think it would have been smarter to just take the room."

  Mildly, Myrina said, "I don't think I'd get a good night's sleep either, sleeping in a room he so recently occupied."

  "He seems like an unpleasant man," Asteria commented.

  Ryan rolled his eyes. "That's the whole reason we're here, Asteria."

  Myrina mustered a smile. "Thank you. Extremely useful, my friends. I will bring some of you to the nearby villages tomorrow, and I think I'll bring some of my uncles along."

  "The last one," Asteria murmured, "the shortest, he has not spoken yet."

  "You mean Uncle Xu? He is actually a rather nice person. At least, he was the only one who ever showed any care for me. Still, he is a greedy man, but that means he is easily placated by money. He is the one we'll find the least trouble with. Uncle Qiu, meanwhile, is the son of a concubine and believes his only source of power stems from pleasing Uncle Fang. He is brainless and a coward. Uncle Fang is the only one with half a brain."

  "I have deduced that," Ryan murmured. "He's visited court before, a long, long time ago. While your father was still alive. I did not have an excellent impression of him. And I don't think my parents liked him very much either."

  "He does not bother hiding his ambition," Myrina murmured, "even when my father still lived."

  "My father called him an ass once," Asteria said. "I believe they're of similar ages. I think they studied together in Hong Cheng at one point."

  "An ass," she muttered. "Yes, that sounds like an accurate way of describing Uncle Fang. He shares rather old-fashioned values. He'd prefer if he were the one holding the title, of course, but if he was not he still believes my brother should be the earl, rather than me."

  "Ah, sexism."

  "You'd be surprised," Myrina said, "at the amount of people still clinging onto such old-fashioned beliefs."

  "I would not be surprised," Ryan murmured. Asteria chortled her agreements as well.