25. Maybe...

"Are you okay, my prince?" Zhu Lei asked Meng Huo as he was sitting in the dark, only his silhouette visible.

"Yes, I just forgot to light the candles," he answered softly and heard Zhu Lei sighing as she put something on the table. She moved around the room and before long it was lit with soft candle lights. Then she stood in front of Meng Huo and pointed at the table in an authoritative manner.

Seeing the food tray on the table, Meng Huo shook his head, "I am not hungry, thank you."

Zhu Lei let out another sigh and grabbed his arms, not giving a damn about her status. She almost dragged him towards the table and made him sit down.

"I am so sorry about my indecent behaviour, but I know you won't punish me for it. Although I am just your maid, you are like my older brother, so I can't see you starve yourself," she poured her heart out and pressed a pair of chopsticks into Meng Huo's hand. Then she took a kneeling position for a well-deserved scolding.

"Zhu Lei, aren't you my little sister? Then why are you kneeling?" Meng Huo managed to say after the initial shock.

"Really?!" She raised her head immediately.

"Yes," Meng Huo nodded with a slight smile, it was good to have someone like her beside him.

"Then eat!"

"..."

"Haha, sorry ge," she apologized with her palms pressed together, yet her expression was mischievous, "I always wanted to do it whenever I see you not eating."

"..."

"Seriously though, why are you this sad?" she asked, her mood changed in a blink of an eye, "I thought you started to like it here, you know..."

"I like it here, you are right, but I don't belong here," Meng Huo replied with apparent sadness.

"Why do you say that?" Zhu Lei asked with shock, "the prince would be so resented if he heard you."

"No, he wouldn't..." after everything is over, he will be the one who sends me away.

Zhu Lei shook her head vigorously, "I see how the prince looks at you, so please don't doubt his sincerity."

How much Meng Huo wished her words were true, but they weren't. Unfortunately.

"Zhu Lei, soon I might leave this palace, I would love to take you along, but my future is ambiguous... so it might be better if you stay here with the prince."

"What?! No! I won't leave you!" she exclaimed, and after a brief silence, she continued "but are you sure this is what you want? I know you also like the prince, so why do you want to make both of you miserable?"

"He doesn't like me, stop saying it... please," Meng Huo begged softly as hope was dangerous as well as in vain.

"He does!" Zhu Lei was adamant, "he was the one who told me to bring these specific dishes because he knows these are your favorite! He said you needed some company and asked me to stay by your side until you finished all the dishes! He personally guided your cousin to her room which is next to yours in case you wanted her near! Now tell me ge, do you think he would do any of those if he didn't like you?"

Meng Huo was flabbergasted. Why would Han Xin go that extreme if he didn't feel anything for himself, right? No... no... Han Xin was super nice all the time, so those actions could mean nothing special. Meng Huo couldn't afford to go that path again.

"I see you aren't convinced," Zhu Lei clicked her tongue, "in this case let me warn you beforehand; if you decide to leave I will inform the prince about it so that he can open up to you before it is too late."

"Zhu Lei-"

"No more talking," she cut him off, "eat your dinner ge, the prince is waiting for my report about the empty plates."

Helpless, Meng Huo stopped arguing and raised his chopsticks. Who knew maybe Zhu Lei had a point. Maybe there was a tiny bit of hope lingering between them.

Come on!

A prince-killer slave and a prince?

No way...

He lost his appetite. Again.