The Peony sat down in her living room to wait for her motorcade. Rin had ordered most of the Royal Guardians to stand by in the party venue to guard the incoming guests and had entrusted the palace to the armed forces. Only a handful of the guardians shall cooperate with the police force and the paramilitary forces to escort the incoming dignitaries to the venue.

It was decided that Diao Chan and Zheng He are escorted by the paramilitary forces, and other Peonic delegates to be escorted by the police. The rest of the royal guardians were to escort the Peony from her manor to the venue, and thus she waited for her motorcade to be unleashed from the Royal Palace.

Her tea was warm, warm enough to soothe herself in an abnormally cold evening.
“Fall seems to be coming earlier this year,” she thought, as she took another sip.

---

“Da Jie?”
“Yes?”
“How did you make everyone like you?” Asked Yan as she slept in her older sister’s bed that day.

Shizuka wondered what to answer her 10 year old sister that night, and she’s certainly feeling awake even after such a tiring banquet.

“What do you mean, meimei?” Asked Shizuka as she tries to close her eyes once more. Yan then poked her older sister’s cheeks countless of times to ensure that she’s responsive.

“Alright, alright, stop poking me!” Said Shizuka as she turned on the lights.
“I mean, when you were in the party everyone wanted to talk to you. You seem amazingly confident, not to mention graceful too. They all wanted to be your friend, and you are the star of the show… All I did was steal sweets with Rin.”
“That explains your sticky dress.”
“I want to be like you, Da Jie.”

Shizuka pondered on her words a bit, she knew that her position as the Crown Princess and her status as the eldest daughter of the three would invite much people to please her. Licking her hands like the dogs they are, trying to get on her good side. Those young wish for a favourable employment when they’re older, and the elders want an award that would last them until their last breaths. None of them are her true friends, and her position forbid her to complain about it. It isn’t a good place to be, and
she’ll learn it sooner or later. Shizuka decided to respond.

“You could be like me,” said Shizuka, “unfortunately, you aren’t. You’re not me, you’re you, mei mei. So you can never be my best nor my worst, you can however, strive to be the best of who you are.”
“But I don’t like myself, no one likes it.” Said Yan, and it was enough to have Shizuka sit right up and face her sister eye to eye.
“Just because some morons decided to talk to me than to you doesn’t mean anything, meimei. You’re graceful and nice in your own way, not mine, not older brother’s, not father’s, not mother’s, not grandmother’s and not grandfather’s. You are your own person, if people like you, alhamdulilah, if they do not, then screw them.” Reminded Shizuka, “they have no right to change who you are, and you shouldn’t bend your knees so that they’ll like you.”

“But I want to be like you guys!” Shouted Yan, “I don’t want to be left out anymore..”
“No matter what happens Meimei, you must never lose track of who you are.” Responded Shizuka “look to the shadows of those you admire, and walk their paths. It will never be exactly the same, and thus it would leave you to another destination, somewhere where you’ll be the best of you.”
“…..”
“And if there’s anyone that told you you’re never any good, that you won’t amount to anything, remember what I taught you.” Reminded Shizuka.
“Slap them?” Asked Yan.
“That is correct, you can always count on your da jie, meimei” Said Shizuka, “Whatever happens, I’ll always be here for you.”

“…Promise?” Asked Yan.
“I promise.”

---

“You liar!” thought The Peony as she clenched her cup filled with incredibly hot tea. The bad memories of a false promise returned to her. It took a monumental amount of time to make peace with the fact her elder sister abandoned her alone to carry on this duty. It’s quite difficult to be so angry that you wanted to cry your tears out, but couldn’t because of the makeup.

She banged the cup out of frustration when she heard a sound like porcelain breaking on the floor. She checked the underside of her cup, and it wasn’t from there. Noting that she’s alone in the room, she decided to check out the noise.

It came from the garage, a place that The Peony almost never visits. She had noted that this tiny garage used to be filled with motorcycles used by the guardians just in case an urgent escort is needed, or at least getting The Peony into the hospital. The renovations had placed the motorcycle elsewhere, however.

It was quite tricky to wear such a long dress into a place that’s dustier than other parts of the manor, it’s as if she’s wearing a duster. Nevertheless, as she tries to pull up the long parts of her koi-like dress, she walks to find the cracked porcelain. A pussycat had jumped it and cracked the vase, and the Peony locked eyes with him, sitting on a cloth looking as if he is without wrong in the world.

She decided to turn on the lights to assess the damage of the porcelain, instead she unveiled something she promised to never touch again. Underneath the cloth, an amazing piece of engineering lies alone covered in rich silver paint. She remembered where it all started for her mother, that sudden boost of confidence and grace in the violent world of Peonic socialites.


“Look to the shadows of those you admire, and walk their paths.” Recalled The Peony.

---

“Agent Safa’a, report.”
“We are in front of the Niujie Central Mosque, already within the district.” Reported Agent Safa’a, “entering the royal zone in 4 minutes.”
“Thank you, keep us posted.” Responded Rin, it was then that another guardian ran towards her and Rin, unable to contain herself, started to become more alert than usual.
“WHAT!?”
“I’m sorry leader.”

Rin did not hesitate to alert everyone in the area. As sounds of a 4.7 litre turbocharged V12 engine was rushing out of the manor area and into the main road.

“Attention all Guardians, be advised that The Peony has exited the manor area in the Soy and Eggs. Find her and escort her immediately! Over.”

“Copy.” Responded all the Guardians. Agent Safa’a did not hesitate ordering the motorcade to break away from the royal limousine to frantically search for an old silver convertible.

“You morons, utter, utter morons!” Shouted Rin to the guardians in the manor.

---

The Peony drove at amazing speeds in the streets of Lian, comsensible driving is one that’s focused in a somewhat under-crowded place for its size. One of the motorcycles from the motorcade caught up with the car, and alerted the rest.

It took quite some time to get into formation, as The Peony barely slowed down to give her guardians a chance to position themselves. But what was a mere two-one-two formation with motorcycles suddenly became a full motorcade.

Rin then sped her motorcycle and took command of the motorcade, she rode next to The Peony’s car looking quite distressed. The Peony looked at her milk sister and gave a brief smile, like the cat that didn’t have a problem in the world.

Shaking her head, Rin then assumed control of the front of the motorcade and guided the party to the venue. The Peony’s arrival in the foot of the ship certainly turned heads, and camera flashes were all over her.


Exiting the car, she walked unto the massive treasure ship, and walked on the red. Looking right are the press with their cameras, already bombarding everyone with the flash. Between them a thick pane of glass for security reasons.


She waved and posed gracefully before making her way, and after the guardians caught up with her, she signalled them to formation, and moved into the royal hall. Where upon her entry, everyone bowed at their Nuwang.

“I guess it’s my turn now.”