Chapter 2

Shen left Guo's residence with a simple smile. Guo, his wife, and their adopted daughter stood on the front porch in stunned silence. Hua could only replay the words Shen had spoken in her mind.

"Father?"

"Yes, Hua?"

Hua tried not to listen to her mother's soft cries. Guo kept a strong arm wrapped around his wife in silent support.

"What happens now?"

"He said he will return tomorrow…I suggest we prepare for his arrival."

Guo led his wife away from the porch and their peahen daughter. The further they were from Hua the louder Guo's wife cried. Hua continued to stand on the porch watching Shen and his entourage leave their land. It wasn't until they were about to round the last corner that Shen paused in his tracks. He glanced over his shoulder and looked at the snow-white peahen. Again, she did not shrink under his gaze even from afar. Shen felt his desire to own the fine flower grow excessively.

"Hua." He tested the name from his own throat and purred at the sound.

Filling his greed for the time being, Shen continued his way out. Again, he left Hua stunned and confused by his presence and mannerisms. She continued to stand there before hearing the pitter-patter of her little brothers' feet approaching.

"HUA!" The tiger cubs cried for their sister. "WHO WAS THAT GUY?"

Hua grabbed her brothers into a tight hug and hushed their panicked cries.

"That is Lord Shen. And he intends to take me as his wife."

How bluntly she stated the peacock's intentions scared the brothers.

"No! Not Allowed!"

Hua's brothers continued to protest clinging onto their sister helplessly.

"Hush. Please hush." Hua whispered into their ears. "Nothing has been decided yet."

But Hua knew she could not refute Lord Shen. To do so would result in the demise of her family at minimum and the destruction of the village at maximum. Lord Shen was the slayer of the Dragon Warrior. He was not a peacock to toy lightly with. But something did not sit right with Hua. And she wanted some answers to her questions.

"Boys. I need you to inform our parents that I have gone for a walk into town."

"Why?"

"So, I can be prepared for tomorrow."

It was a simple enough answer to satisfy their curiosity for the time being. Hua called a servant for something suitable to wear over her clothes. A simple hooded garment that was modest as it was cheap.

The trip is normally a long one on foot. However, a nice farmer offered Hua a ride when he came across the familiar peahen. Hua had made a name for herself as both a friendly face and a reputable lady. Once in the village square Hua immediately knew that the villagers were aware that Lord Shen was in their village. The normally happy mood was replaced with a dim atmosphere that wasn't palatable.

"Did someone die?"

Hua tried not to giggle at the clueless farmer's question.

"Not yet."

Thanking the farmer for his aid, Hua left the carriage and headed for the most prominent inn in the village. The wolf guards that shadowed Lord Shen lurked in every corner of the establishment. Many of the servers and attendants looked upon them with fear. Hua was no different than them especially when she caught sight of two gorillas patrolling the top floor of the establishment. However, as she noticed them, they noticed her as well. Hua imagined it wouldn't take long before Lord Shen would know she was here.

"Miss Hua?"

Taking her attention from the guards Hua approached the bartender that called out to her.

"I would like some water please."

"Of course." The bartender shook aggressively while pouring the peahen's drink. "What brings you here?"

"Questions."

"For me?"

The bartender squeaked in shock while Hua turned abruptly at the sound of Lord Shen's voice. Again, the two albino feathered patrons stared at each other. Hua would occasionally avert her gaze while Shen stared relentlessly.

"I knew you were bold, but I didn't imagine this. How amusing you are."

"When one looks like us you have to be bold."

Shen narrowed his eyes at her statement. He didn't like to think that it was his albino attributes that got him this far in life. Hua immediately sensed his mood shift.

"And then from that experience, we can build off of it and become even greater."

Shen hummed in thought before a smile of agreement.

"Yes. Only from experience can we become greater than we already are. Can I treat you to a meal?"

"I'm afraid I have preparations to be made for your arrival tomorrow. My visit must be short."

Shen frowned at being denied. But he had to consent he was rude first having visited her adopted family's home unannounced.

"So, I ask, for the little time I have, if you could answer my question?"

Shen smiled again and offered a seat at the nearest table. This time Hua agreed as she didn't want to push her luck.

"What question could you possibly have for me, Miss Hua?"

"Why me? Obviously, you feel some kind of connection over our share of being of both the same race with albinism. But how did you find me? Why seek me out? Why me?"

"Do you remember the play you did not too long ago?" Shen decided to indulge her curiosity.

"The Willow Maid? The story about the hunter who took what he shouldn't have. And because of his greed lost the prize he desperately wanted. That play?"

"That play." Shen hummed. "You are a beautiful singer."

Hua was glad to be covered in feathers at the heat that rose to her cheeks. Shen however had three wives and knew when he got them flustered. Chuckling softly to himself, Shen spoke about that night and how he originally intended to have her be an entertainer at his castle.

Hua wanted to ask what changed from then to now. But something told her it was not her turn to speak yet.

"When we found you. When I saw you there in the garden. I didn't see another peahen that I could simply have. I already have three of those at home. I saw me. A child abandoned for being different and doing what it takes to survive. None of my wives at home could possibly understand that, understand what we have been through."

It was a strategically honest answer from the peacock. Some of Lord Shen's guards looked on in shock. Hua analyzed his words with her gaze down at the table. When she looked at him again, Hua noted how his eyes though cruel appeared determined. Slowly she stood from the table and bowed respectfully to Lord Shen.

"Thank you for your time, Lord Shen." Hua stood and looked at Shen's coy smile. "I will see you tomorrow."

Shen stood and returned Hua's bow. When Hua left, she had more questions than answers. But she remembered being abandoned by her birth mother, called a monster by her birth father, and the street urchins that tried taking Hua into their brothels. Hua remembered when her mother and father found her hiding on a street corner. But most of all she remembered that whether surrounded by love or not she never expected to have a family to call her own. Her brothers could not give her children of her own, her parents were forbidden to officially add her to their family tree, and Hua had a family but did not have a home to raise her family.

Guo and his wife were furious at Hua for leaving the home without permission. But relented their anger remembering that tomorrow was a short ten hours away. For the first time since she was a child, Hua spent the night in her parents' bedroom. When the morning came Hua told her parents her decision.

Lord Shen appeared on a grander palanquin with plenty of room for two. Approaching the front porch Shen smiled a victory smile. Hua wore garments suitable for travel, had two bags by her side, and one of the two servants for the household stood by her side loyally.

Exiting the palanquin, Shen chuckled.

"Shall we go?"

Hua stared down at Shen with a stern eye before speaking.

"I have a request?"

Shen raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Which is?"

"Allow me to officially be added to my father's family tree."

It was an old law that very few provinces enforced. The refusal to allow any child to the family tree if they are of a different species, from another province, or are albino. The albino refusal came from an ancient fear that they were harbingers of misfortune.

"What makes you think I can enforce this?"

"Either you married me and take over this province peacefully or I don't marry you and you take over this province forcefully. You are in charge either way. So please add my name to my father's family tree."

Shen approached Hua and gently took her hand into his. Placing a delicate kiss on her soft downy feathers, Shen felt intoxicated by her scent.

"This will be my gift to you."

Shen allowed Hua to respectfully say her goodbyes. Hua only shed a few tears compared to her family's endless waterfalls. Even Hua's father Guo could not hold back his feelings. And the loyal servant at Hua's side, who promised to always be by Hua's side, would not be leaving with her. She was a married woman with a husband to tend to when not at work. The servant cursed her husband for pursuing her relentlessly. Hua offered her a smile before having the servant pack her luggage on the palanquin. Once well words and wishes were traded between daughter and family it was time for Hua to leave. Shen allowed her to enter the palanquin first with his assistance. Hua did not look back even once when they began their march towards Lord Shen's palace in Gongmen City. Hua knew if she looked back even once then she wouldn't have the strength to continue this new journey.

Shen allowed a respectable distance between himself and Hua. His wives, though eager to give him an heir, also needed time to settle into their new surroundings. To pass the time Shen and Hua traded short stories about each other from time to time. But silence for the moment seemed to be their ally. It left them time to wonder if they had made the right decision in the end.