Chapter 60: Welcome to hell eh Xing

Cai was bored while he listened to his teacher. He had learnt the current topic when he had gone to school with Laila and it was hard for him to suppress the urge to yawn. His relief was huge as he heard the familiar pattern of Lan Fan's footsteps on the hallway. He smiled as he thought of his sister-in-law. Lan Fan was different from all the empresses before her. She had learnt from First Lady Llewellyn and embodied a modern, free woman who could think for herself.

He straightened up in his chair as she entered the room. His half-siblings muttered a greeting as she walked over to the desk where the teacher sat. "Teacher, I need Cai and the other children," she said with a hint of annoyance in her voice. "Our Amestrian guests are coming in half an hour…"

"Of course, Empress," the man said. "The lessons are over for today. You are all dismissed."

Cai skipped over to Lan Fan and gently touched her belly before he looked up to her. "Severe case of morning sickness, I guess?" he asked while he admired the fact that she shared her body with another human being right now. It was always a miracle for him.

"Yes," she said with a sigh. "I really wished the nine months were up."

"Did you and brother already decide on a name?" Cai asked while they walked down the hallway.

"He is playing around with many names right now but we will decide once the baby is born."

"That sounds surprisingly reasonable when I consider that Ling is part of this plan…"

Victoria shook Laila roughly to wake her up as their train came closer and closer to Xing's capital Jingbei. "You are such a sloth, Laila!" she hissed as the blond girl woke up. "Did you forget about our meeting with Nick in the train? Well, you overslept!"

"Why didn't you wake me if it so important, Vicky?" the older girl yawned.

"Both Nick and I couldn't make you wake up and we couldn't ask Liv or Ben – for obvious reasons."

"Girls, it's time for us to head towards the doors," Olivier said as she freed herself. She had spent a good deal of the time they had used for their travel leaning against Bendix while she read the additional book of An Eternal Love with him. Her hair was a little bit messy and her clothes had seen better times too but she seemed relaxed and okay with the world and herself.

"Did anything happen while I was asleep?" Laila asked while she straightened her jacket.

"He proposed to her and she said yes."

"What the hell?"

"Just kidding," Victoria grinned. "They read the book and the most interesting thing I heard was that Olivier is a total fan of Laura – you know the cool, sharp-minded and generally awesome mate of Lars while Bendix is a great fan of Lars. Most of the time when they weren't reading, they discussed who would win a fight between Lars and Laura and Bendix claimed that Lars would win because of his awesome ice-magic skills … Olivier said that Laura would win because she had the better aim…"

"So it was just another boring moment that proved their deep friendship," Nick sighed as he checked his black hair in the mirror. "I really hoped that they would hurry up a little bit by now…"

"They can't deny their true feelings forever!" Laila said before she lowered her voice. "I mean, it took our parents years to sort out the mess they called a relationship … but compared to Liv and Ben, they were really fast. Sheska was able to reconstruct their relationship of the past fifteen years … all this time they were in love with each other and yet they were unable to confess!"

Victoria hissed like a snake. "You might want to speak up a little bit," she said. "There could be people in this train who haven't heard you yet … and don't you want to change that fact? The whole world should know what we are plotting – especially Liv because it would be fun to be stabbed…"

Her brother chuckled. "You always see the negative sides of everything, sis," he said.

"Excuse me that I find nothing positive in dying before I got my first kiss!" she huffed.

Ling had wrapped his arm around Lan Fan while they were waiting for the train. Many guards were around them and all his siblings stood in a perfect row to welcome the guests from Amestris. Cai was bouncing up and down while he tried to spot the train. "When do they come?" he asked again and again while Lan Fan grew more and more annoyed. As empress she had the duty to keep an eye on him and most of the time she liked her duty but today, Cai was hyper and it was terrible with him.

"The train from Central City to Jingbei rolls in," was announced by a speaker. "Please step back."

Cai clapped his hands and grinned widely. "They are coming!" he yelled.

Lan Fan ruffled his short hair. "I can see that too, Cai," she said calmly.

Ling grinned. "I told you that you will make a great mother," he laughed. "Ah – don't glare at me."

Finally, the train stopped in front of them and the door opened.

"Laila!" Cai yelled before he ran up to her. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up before he started to spin around, faster and faster with every passing second.

"Olivier," Lan Fan said calmly as she stepped forward. It was maybe a little bit strange but they had become good friends since the Promised Day. They had exchanged many letters because Olivier had lost Buccaneer to the same opponent Lan Fan had lost her arm and her grandfather to.

"Lan Fan," the blonde said as she hugged the younger woman shortly before she looked down at the swollen belly. "I see that the heir is growing," she smiled.

"The baby is already kicking a little bit," Lan Fan muttered, "mostly at night when I want to sleep."

Ling walked over to Bendix and held out his hand to shake the blond man's hand. "I hope your father is fine, Ben," he said while he ignored the gasp of his siblings (minus Mei and Cai who knew how laid-back Ling was – even as an emperor). "I look forward to do more business with Amestris soon…"

"Dad feels great – better than he ever felt since Elizabeth and Jeanne left," the blond man said with a bright smile. "And since mama has him under her supervision the whole day and the whole night, it's safe to assume that his health will improve over the next few years."

"Ah … I miss her…" Ling chuckled. "I bet she would be able to put an end to the spineless bunch which calls himself my family." He glared at his siblings (again, minus Mei and Cai). "This woman has an attitude that can force the strongest of men onto their knees…"

Olivier looked at him. "I believe that you are confusing her with me," she said sweetly.

The palace was awesome.

Laila's jaw dropped and she got a light slap from her younger sister. Victoria was amazed too but she had a better control about it. She nodded slightly and tilted her head to take it in before she walked over to her brother as she felt strange looks on her. Red hair was rare in Amestris – in Xing it was non-existent and Victoria felt observed. Ling who felt her discomfort wrapped on arm around her and glared at his brothers. "Yes, her hair is red," he said. "You all saw it. Could you please focus your attention onto something different?"

"Thank you, Ling," she said while she brushed back a strand of her hair.

"Wait a second," he sighed. "And please don't stare at Laila's, Olivier's or Ben's hair either. Honestly, you have no manners!"

An older brother of Ling walked over to Olivier as they took some welcome-drinks and tapped her shoulder. "Such a pretty lady is travelling alone?" he asked.

Laila watched with glee how Bendix tensed up. They had planned on staging such a scene but fate had obviously decided to be nice. Her uncle put down his glass before he wrapped both his arms around Olivier's waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. "She is hardly travelling alone," he growled.

Behind their backs, Ling and Lan Fan were giving each other a wide grin.

"Oh, Uncle Bendix!" Cai grinned devilishly at the blondes. "We messed up something, so you will have to share a room with Aunty Olivier…"

"We aren't staying in the main palace all the time," Ling said as he met Lan Fan and the children for a little briefing in the garden. "We will move parts of the court to the summer residence because the Queen of my heart had a great idea to make them hurry up a little bit…"

Lan Fan nodded while she oiled her automail. "The summer residence is on the Yao-territory," she said while she kept her eyes on the steel. "The people there are exceptionally loyal to Ling and I am sure that they would cover for us if we would tell our dearest couple some … stories…"

Victoria raised her eyebrow. "You know that it would cause trouble if Olivier would kill Ling?" she asked while she took in her beautiful surroundings. The palace garden was huge and the flowers glowed in thousands of colours. She smiled a little bit as she spotted a strange hint of golden hair. "And I wonder if Mei and Alphonse are invited right now," she added.

Lan Fan sighed deeply. "Mei, Alphonse!" she called out harshly. "What are you doing here?"

Mei bit her lower lip as she came closer. "We were just curious what you were doing here," she said. "We saw you from the window in my room … and decided to check out want you are plotting."

Ling sighed. "I am sorry but since you spied on us, you are in too," he said. "It's too dangerous for us. If you run to Olivier or Bendix, my baby won't have a father … and I can't have that, can I?"

"Perfect!" Mei grinned as she skipped over to them before she hugged Lan Fan. The times when they had tried to kill each other were long gone. "Did anyone of you see the scene when one of our sisters tried to hit on Bendix?" she chuckled as she took a flower to put it behind Laila's ear. "Olivier looked like she was ready to murder her. She is a little bit over-possessive about him…"

"I think that it's cute," Alphonse said as he ruffled Nick's hair. "She may be a soldier and her nickname may be Ice Queen but … she is just human underneath all her shells…"

"…Liv," Bendix sighed while he leaned against the doorframe while she had her back turned on him and ignored him. "What did I do to deserve your cold behaviour?"

She stayed silent and her shoulders stiffened as her knuckles turned white from the force she used to grab her sword which was on her side the whole time.

"That was the last warning," he said before he walked over to her. He placed both hands on her sides and turned her around before he hugged her. "Let me guess, princess mine," he continued while he gently rubbed her back. "It's because of the man who tried to hit on you earlier?"

She huffed angrily while her body started to relax. "No," she muttered. "It's because of my terrible behaviour fourteen minutes ago when this pretty little thing tried to hit on you. I am always getting in the way with your love interests, Benny. I bet that even Jade broke up with you because of me … and she is way smarter than the women you dated before…"

He chuckled. "Jade and I were never a couple so we couldn't break up," he said. "We went out a few times and I really like her but she wasn't the right one for me. She wanted to emancipate a little bit from her little brother and I needed someone to talk to while you were occupied with your ex."

She sighed as she wrapped her arms around him. "Life was easier when we were still children," she said. "We used to be so … carefree and happy back then. We never had to worry about … well … rumours about our relationship. Of course, we were both always very over-protective and jealous when someone dared to speak with the other one … but it was never that bad. I mean … I made the girl cry…" she rested her forehead against his shoulder. "We are messed up, aren't we?" she asked.

"Probably," he admitted, "but not as bad as you think, Liv. You said that we are both too jealous when someone else seems to interfere with our relationship, so we need to find a way to keep them away."

She nodded. "Do you remember the time when I wore your year ring from school?" she asked. "It kept the other boys away from me and since you wore mine, the girls left you alone too…"

"…because they feared that you would murder them," he smirked. "Yes … the good old days…"

"It would probably help if we could pull of something like that again…"

"I will ask Ling about it in the morning," he said. "Don't worry, Liv. I am sure that he can help us."

She sighed. "If there is no way, we have to play the clingy couple once more," she shrugged.

He laughed. "It would be a possibility too," he agreed before he took the sword away from her. "Well, my princess, why don't you go to the bathroom first while I check this room?"

She hesitated a second before she let go of him to take a step back. "So, I am not the only one who is tired," she said with a smug grin. "Of course I will go first. It is a tradition after all…"

He nodded slightly as she passed him. "Hey, Liv," he called. "I still believe that Lars would win…"

She scoffed and left his field of view.

Phil was used to the letters his sister wrote by now and usually he just shared them with Roy because he was one of Jade's closest friends but now the guy had decided to go on his honeymoon, so Phil shared the letters of his precious older sister with his subordinate. She was smart and she knew Jade.

"Bea," he said as she brought a stack of reports. "Jade wrote a new letter."

She smiled at him. "And what did she write?" she asked with a curious smile.

He cleared his throat before he started to read it out.

Dear Phil, dear family, dear friends!
I have news! Phil, you and Roy won't be happy to hear it but Claudio and I are dating now! Before you can tear this letter apart, please read the whole letter. (I know you far too good not to know that your temper wants you to tear it apart.) Still, I am dating him now and I do not want any of you to interfere with my decision. As I stated before – I am old enough to know that I am doing. So, please…
Anyhow, I know that you and Bea got closer over the last few weeks … don't you dare to marry before I come back! I would kill you if you did!
Roy, Riza – and you would be dead too if you forget to tell me that Riza got pregnant while I was gone. I can't stand that, honestly, I can't. You are all hanging around in Amestris while I am so far away…
Well, I need to go – dinner with the King and stuff.
Answer quickly,
Jade

Bea shrugged. "I think that she sounds happy," she stated while she put a bowl with cookies on the desk in front of her. "I am not so happy about the comment she let drop about me but … well … that's how she is. She is walking the thin line between brilliance and insanity."

"Lately she is dangerously close to insanity," Phil said while he sighed. "She will be the death of me."

"That's likely," Bea nodded. "But her insanity makes a good deal of her charm…"

He huffed. "Saying that Jade isn't charming is like saying that Olivier Armstrong and Bendix Llewellyn weren't in love," he stated. "I know that she is charming and adorable and cute … but sometimes, it really annoys me. I love my sister but sometimes I have to fight down the urge to strangle her…"

Ling was already up in the early morning and made his way to the dining room when he met Bendix and Olivier. The both blondes wore elegant yet casual clothes and looked like they had had a calm night. The emperor smirked at his guests. "One of my sisters complained about you, Olivier," he said while he suppressed the urge to chuckle. "She said that you claimed Bendix for yourself…"

Olivier fought back the blush which tried to sneak its way onto her cheeks. "I am like a child with his favourite blanket when it comes to him," she admitted. "I can't stand the idea of someone else in his life – and I never said that, Ling."

The young man nodded. "I understand," he said before he looked at Bendix, "and a brother of mine complained about you for the same reason…"

"Olivier is my best friend since I can remember and I tend to get a little bit over-protective when it comes to her," the blond man said. "And since neither of us want to cause an international incident, we wanted to ask if you could help us to get rid of any people who try to separate us. We had this problem before and back then, we exchanged our year rings," he added.

Olivier nodded before she looked down at her hands while she remembered where the golden ring with the emerald had been some years ago. It had been a beautiful ring and she had worn it for three years without a break – not even when she had been on a vacation with her family.

"You need help?" Ling chuckled. "It sounds like you knew to get out of such a mess before…"

"Yeah … but our year rings are at home," Olivier pointed out.

"I will think of something," Ling said and his eyes shone with unholy glee.

Cai awoke with a bright smile. He had slept between Victoria and Laila while Nick had slept on his sister's other side. The young prince sat up before he stretched. He let his friends sleep as he got ready and made his way to the dining room where his brother, his sister-in-law and the both adults sat.

"I will take the others to the EternalGardens today," he announced while he felt how Olivier tensed up as his older half-sister Qiang entered the room before she sat down next to Bendix. Olivier throw her an icy glare before she leaned over to Bendix to kiss his cheek. Her message was clear: 'Back off, bitch, he is mine – and I will kill you if you continue to hit on him!'