Fortunately, one plane was still circling the island; they were waiting for Lory and Zhao Li Xin to emerge. When they appeared alive and unharmed, a palpable sense of relief washed over everyone on board. When the cabin door opened, Lory entered, still carried by Zhao Li Xin.
The moment they stepped inside, the King's Men and several Noxcra agents hurried forward to receive them.
"Thank goodness, are you alright, princess?" one of the soldiers asked anxiously.
Lory waved her hand and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine."
The soldier's eyes drifted toward the man carrying her. Recognition flickered across his face. He knew Zhao Li Xin, or rather, the identity he had presented to the world: the renowned painter who had recently earned King Lucas's favor and recognition.
What puzzled the soldier, however, was the intimacy between him and Princess Lorient. As far as anyone knew, the painter already had a wife. The familiarity between them seemed far too close to be dismissed as mere courtesy.
