"What—you're leaving already?" HuanHuan whined, for the nth time, her voice dripping with the faux-despair of someone who secretly relishes the drama. Well, yes, obviously! No way in hell was XiShi sticking around this festering pit of royal shenanigans after the walking, talking ego-trip beside HuanHuan was suddenly deemed a prince. Seriously, who needed that kind of headache?

BaiDi and XueLing, bless their hearts, had been engaged in some hush-hush conversation, probably about the proper way to polish a crown or something equally riveting. Meanwhile, XiShi, undeniably a woman of action (and frankly, impressive escape skills), had gathered her new entourage―two rather attractive male companions―and was ready to ditch the beast capital like a bad habit.

BaiDi, bless his royal socks, insisted they stay. Apparently, court intrigue was just too darn exciting to miss. But XiShi, a woman who’d rather wrestle a badger than attend a royal tea party, wasn't having it. No way. She had zero interest in being collateral damage in whatever power struggle was brewing beneath the surface. Besides, she had priorities. Two of them, actually, and both were really breathing, and hopefully, capable of some meaningful connection that didn't involve inheriting a kingdom. Life was, after all, far too short for political posturing. Haha, very funny.

HuanHuan, bless her naive little heart, was thrilled that XiShi had taken her advice and snagged a couple of extra males. Though she'd been a little skeptical about the new additions until she'd actually laid eyes on FengXiu and HaoYue. After that, she basically interrogated XueLing to death about XiShi's love life, as was her right as a best friend, I guess? The two of them, XueLing and HuanHuan, were perpetual bickering siblings, constantly sniping at each other. Everyone else had long since accepted it and invested in imaginary earplugs.

"So, we'll be going now," XiShi announced, executing a dramatic hand wave that could only be described as leaving-for-better-things-bye-losers chic. Of course, she indulged HuanHuan with a hug first, because even a woman on the run from royal drama had to have some heart. Poor girl was going to have a lot of trouble if she stayed in the city.  And XiShi,  wasn't planning on spoiling her on any of the fun. Call her a bitch , but she doesn't care. Not at all.

God, she was so excited to get the heck out of there! The air outside seemed cleaner already. Not that they'd be doing anything too serious. Maybe some light exploring, a bit of flirting.

A girl could only handle so much pomp and circumstance before she ran screaming into the wilderness.