As soon as we got out of the wooden house, he threw me over his horse and climbed on behind me. I quickly unknot the remaining rope on my wrists and removed the cloth in my mouth as I angled my head to face him.

“You!” I angrily stare at him as he stares straight into my eyes.

“What’s with that stare? Too angry to say anything?”

“You you you” I repeated, “Who exactly are you?” I asked.

“Miss, I suggest you be quiet”

“Why should I?”

“Because I can ditch you here with my men or take you back into the city” he grabs for the rein as I automatically face forward.

“Why are you helping me?” I ask feeling a bit uncomfortable with the situation.

“I’m not helping anyone. I just want you to remember me” he kicks the horse with both of his legs to make the horse move forward.

“Remember you?” I confusingly ask, “Do we know each other?”

“Yes we did”

    I didn’t even notice the sun setting down and the world becoming dark. The moonlight shined differently like a whole new painting has been drawn. Strangely, I felt safe with this unknown man. Despite meeting only once, it felt like I’ve known him for my entire life. I know that he’s dangerous or at least that’s how he appears to be, but somehow. . . he seems . . . more gentle and genuine. If we really did knew each other, then why didn’t he come find me when I lost my memories? Or was it because of him that made me lost my memories?

    We arrived in the city as he decides to stop at an inn to rest for the night before reaching the palace walls. As soon as we reached the counter to tell the owner that we’re renting two rooms for the night he automatically informs us that only one room is available. I glance up to Yi Chen with a worried expression as he blankly stares at me.

“As wife and husband you two shall be fine in one room right?” the owner said, slightly smiling.

“We’re not wife and husband!” “We’re not husband and wife” we both retort.

The owner’s smile drops as he waited for us to say something else.

“One room will be fine” Yi Chen finally said as the owner cheerfully led the way to the room.

    The owner stopped and opened the door to the bedroom as he gestures us to go inside to see if we like the room. Yi Chen nods, satisfied with the room and spacing as he signals the owner to leave. I glance around at the room making sure I can find a place for me to sleep since there’s only one bed and I ain’t going to fight for it. Yi Chen closes the door which made me extremely nervous.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Closing the door” he states the obvious.

“I know that” I said, “I’ll sleep here” I pointed at the chair that’s leaning against the wall.

“No need. You sleep on the bed. I’ll sleep on the ground” He suggested.

“But-”

“It’s fine. I’m used to it” he grabs the extra pair of blankets and laid it on the ground.

I watched him prepared his place to sleep as I climbed on the bed feeling bad about it. I couldn’t continue watching as I quickly got off the bed and grab his wrist. He glance up at me, his eyes surprised at my action.

“What are you doing?” He asks.

“It’ll be cold if you sleep down here. Sleep on the bed with me”

He stares at me with a ‘what’ face as if I was joking around.

“Don’t think about doing anything to me” I warned him, “I’ll just be nice to you this one time considering that you helped me” I jumped on the bed and laid down as he did the same. I positioned myself to face the wall as he turned the opposite way so that only our back are meeting each other.

“You said we knew each other” I spoke quietly, “Then why weren’t you there when I woke up?”

“You mean when you woke up in Shen Qing’s manor?”

“Yes”

“How can I possibly be there when you were the one who told me to leave?”

“I told you to leave? From where and why?”

“It’s not important anymore. From now on, even if you told me to leave you alone, I won’t”

“How is it that everyone seems to remember what happened, but only me and Crown Prince Yan are the only ones who have forgotten?” I ask, “And why is that everyone is keeping a secret from us?”

“Ah Yun, it’s better if you forget what happened between you and him”

“But you want me to remember you?”
He didn’t respond.

“Nevermind. I’m tired” I said as I closed my fatigue eyes.