Romana walked through the halls towards Jing Yuan's room, carrying a candle carrier with a burning candle inside. After Jingyul's arrival, things had been tense and quiet around the palace, not even Yanqing was his usual self today after such an arrival.  She had spent most of her day with Boothill, Blade and Fina in her room. The group had bid Cordelia farewell when Dan Heng came back to grab her after finishing his mission. Pernita also took her leave, saying that she had to head back to Penacony City or else Sunday might send his family's army to come and retrieve her. "I'm hesitant to run now"Romana sighs, shaking her head. She perked up, noticing white hair just ahead, her eyes widening as she quickly picked up the pace. "Jing Yuan?" Jingyul turned to look at her, a cold look visible on his face. "You're the future empress"Jingyul greets quietly, his fingers curling into a fist.

She stared at him with slightly wide eyes, startled with the burning hatred that was visible in the boys blue orbs. She reached for him but Jingyul slapped her hand away, giving her a sharp angry glare. Silence fell between them, Romana staring at the teenage boy in slight surprise. Now she was curious about him and why he seemed so angry. He must've gone through something that made him like this, something that'd be enough to make him this angry with the people around him. "If you want-" "I don't want to talk to my supposed fathers new woman." Jingyul walked past her, his hair swaying behind him. She turned to watch him go, gripping her nightgown as her concern grew, making her chest hurt. "Romana." A hand gently rested on her shoulder, her head whipping around to see Boothill standing there. "I'll talk to that boy, he's started helping me around the stables"Boothill mutters, giving her a small smile.

A smile of relief spread across her face, giving him a grateful look. "Go get some rest"Boothill insists, patting her back as he chuckles. She waved to him, heading down the hallway. Now that she thought about it, she hasn't talked to Yanqing much aside from seeing the boy here and there. She'd like to have a decent relationship with the ambitious child, kids were her soft spot. Her gaze landed on the doors in front of her, reaching for the door handle only to freeze at the sound of voices. "Where did Jingyul even come from, your majesty?!" Romana perked up, recognizing Fu Xuan's voice almost instantly. "I don't know where he came from, it must've been something that happened a long time ago." "Well, you better remember what it was! It's gonna get out that there's a possible heir to the throne! You won't need Romana anymore!" Silence fell, Romana staring silently in shock, feeling her hands trembling.

The doors suddenly flew open, startling her for a split moment. Jing Yuan stared down at her, his hands gripping the double doors. "Ah, Lady Romana-" "Fu Xuan leave us." Fu Xuan glanced up at him then huffed and walked away. "Fine, I have things to take care of anyway"Fu Xuan huffs, stepping underneath the mans arm and walking away. Romana blinked twice, yelping when Jing Yuan pulled her into the room, shutting the doors behind them. She set the candle carrier down, perking up when arms pulled her into a tight embrace, Jing Yuan burying his face into her shoulder. She sighed and hugged him tight, knowing he must be stressed from the sudden arrival of Jingyul. "Give it till the competition, I know everything will die down"Romana mutters, rubbing his back. The mans arms tightened around her, a quiet sigh following. She rested her cheek on his shoulder, closing her eyes. "It's alright."

A shriek of surprise erupted from her when she was lifted into the air, Jing Yuan smiling as he rested his head on her chest, carrying her to his bed. "Is there anything you wish to tell me about those monsters?" She froze, her hands gripping his shirt nervously. Would he think differently of her if she told him the predicament. He's been supportive so far of everything and hadn't gotten mad at her when he found out her stuttering was all a ploy. "I....can talk to and attract monsters to places I'm at!" She clenched her eyes shut, expecting him to drop her and call her names. Her eyes opened when she felt nothing, looking at the man curiously only to find him smiling at her. "I'm glad you told me..."Jing Yuan mutters, sitting on the edge of the bed with her in his lap. He placed a hand on her stomach, his head resting on her shoulder. "I'll keep your secret and help you raise this child." She stared at him, a small smile spreading across her face. "Thank you."

~~~~~~

The sound of people chattering filled the air, Romana looking at the crowd from the colosseum's balcony area, her hair tied up in low buns. A wide smile spread across her face, a hand resting on her stomach. "Wowie! I have never been up here in this area!"Boothill chuckles, sitting to her right with a wide grin. Romana giggled in amusement, a small smile visible on her face. She turned around when the door to the balcony area opened, Jingyul walking over and taking a seat two down from her, not bothering to hide the annoyance and disgust visible on his face. She stared at him then looked away, having noticed he seemed to be much more distant with everyone. He had even started snapping at Boothill if he ever approached. She tried talking to him again two days before this but he only glared at her and walked away. Maybe it was best to let the teenager come to her.

She perked up, smiling slightly when the participants came out. "Romana!" She looked back at Yanqing, smiling at the boy. She had gotten closer with the young prodigy and invited him out with her a few times, even buying him swords with the money Jing Yuan has been giving her which earned her a scolding from the man when he found out through Blade. Yanqing sat beside her with a wide grin, looking at the entering participants. "Hey General Feixiao is down there too along with Moze!" Romana's eyes widened, staring at the man. Moze looked around before his gaze fell on someone in the crowd, his hand lifting and waving to them. She followed his gaze, spotting a smiling Rina in the crowd, wearing a necklace she's never seen her sister with before. That man really was her sisters secret lover. "Oh my"Romana smiled, happy her sister found someone but worried at the same time since their father couldn't be underestimated.

"There's his majesty!"Fina beamed, her eyes sparkling. Jing Yuan smiled, carrying a guandao and wearing his armor. Her eyes widened, recognizing the handkerchief she gave to him for good luck earlier. It had been embarrassing gifting that to him but she mustered up her courage with the help of Boothill hyping her up and managed to give the handmade item to the emperor before he left. A small giggle came from her, noticing how proud he looked to be wearing the silly little gift. Yanqing leaned forward, smiling widely. Fireworks went off, her eyes sparkling at the sight of them and the different colors. "Your majesty, that's yer cue"Boothill reminds, gesturing to her. She quickly stood up, took a deep breath in and let it out to calm herself. "Thank you everyone for coming to this years competition! Let's begin and release the monsters that have been caught!"

Boothill gently tapped her arm, gently making a gesture for her to sing something. She stared at him startled, feeling a bit flustered but sighed and looked forward. "Will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful?" Jing Yuan's eyes widened, almost dropping his weapon. Feixiao smiled at him, looking amused with the smitten smile on the mans face. "Will you still love me when I got nothing but my aching soul? I know you will, I know you will, I know that you will! Will you still love me when I'm no longer beautiful?"Romana smiled, a hand on her chest with the other gestured out to the crowd. Yanqing stared at her in amazement, his eyes lighting up. Jingyul stared at her in alarm, slowly lowering his hand. A soft smile appeared on Romana's face, looking towards Jing Yuan, "Dear Lord, when I get to Heaven, please let me bring my man! When he comes, tell me that you'll let him in, Father, tell me if you can!"

"All that grace, all that body, all that face makes me wanna party! He's my sun, he makes me shine like diamonds~~"Romana smiled, her eyes sparkling. Jing Yuan smiled at her, taking a small step forward towards the balcony. She smiled down at him, placing her hands on the balcony. She reached down towards him, her eyes widening slightly when he pressed a kiss to her palm. "This win is for you, love"Jing Yuan promised, smiling up at her. She smiled down at him, placing her hand on his cheek. "Good luck." She stepped back and sat down, feeling relief flood through her as the eyes returned to the participants. She looked at Boothill, smiling slightly when she got a thumbs up from the man alongside a proud grin. Her eyes widened as the monsters were brought out, slowly looking at them in alarm. "Help us." "It hurts, help us." "We want to go home." "Free us." "Save us." "Help us."

She stared in shock, noticing how small the monsters were. These were babies being set up for slaughter by the hunters. It was forbidden to bring in baby monsters, only adults were allowed since it'd feel too easy for the participants who would all be seasoned warriors. She shot up, grabbing the rail with wide eyes as the baby monsters were released. "JING YUAN!!!" Boothill grabbed her, a look of alarm on his face when the monsters all looked their way with glowing eyes. Jing Yuan looked up at her in shock, his eyes widening slightly when he noticed the monsters not bothering with any of them. "THEY'RE BABIES!! DON'T HURT THEM, PLEASE!!" He stared in alarm, looking back at the beasts and noticing how small they were. Feixiao swung her weapon, her eyes narrowed. "NO!!" His guandao blocked her, causing a thunderclap sound to follow as both pushed against each other.

"What are you doing"Feixiao demands, startled. "Following my wife's orders"Jing Yuan responds, narrowing his eyes. Romana turned and rushed away, her eyes wide as she hurried to the stairs. She needed to stop them both before someone around them got hurt. "Romana, be careful!" Boothill grabbed her hand, rushing down with her with Yanqing and Jingyul right behind them, Blade following the two boys leaving Fina to overlook everything in their absence. The group rushed down the hallway, Romans spotting guards. "Bring the monsters back inside, those are babies! Release them back into their cages and quickly bring out the adults!"Romana commands, hurrying past them. Yanqing glared at the guards, staying back to make sure they did what they were supposed to. Boothill threw open the door to the arena area, letting go of her hand as she rushed away.

A screeching sound filled the air, Romana covering her ears as Jing Yuan and Feixiao's weapons hit the middle again. She perked up, feeling a golden aura surround her and looked back, noticing a glowing hand behind her. She turned and hurried towards her husband with the lightning lords hand following her, keeping the screeching from reaching her ears. "JING YUAN!" She threw her arms around his abdomen, looking up at him with wide eyes. Jing Yuan looked back then quickly knocked Feixiao and her weapon away from him. "I'm not going to fight you, Feixiao but those monsters were babies and we have rules"Jing Yuan says, Romana peeking out behind him. Feixiao looked at the woman behind him, smirking when Romana vanished from view. "Alright fine, bring out the real guys"Feixiao chuckles, stepping back with an apologetic smile. Romana stepped out, Jing Yuan wrapping an arm around her waist.

He leaned close and gently booped her nose with a teasing smile. "Were you worried about me, my dear? I can handle myself you know." A huff came from her and she crossed her arms, giving him a small glare. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, his hands on her waist. "You did well." Her eyes lifted, a proud smile visible on the mans face. She looked down, feeling a bit flustered. All she did was warn them that the monsters were babies, it wasn't anything notable that she should be praised for. Besides, it'd break her heart seeing even monsters die young because of people. Now she wondered how their mothers felt losing their babies and having to watch them grow up to be slaughtered. "Romana!" She turned and walked over to Boothill, her hair swaying behind her. She looked back, finding Jing Yuan watching her. She smiled and waved, wishing him a silent good luck, glad the competition could actually begin now.