Mama's Princess Is Daddy's Beloved

"Bingo! It wasn't that tough, right?" Li Xue clapped softly, pressing a smile on her lips. Then she picked up her phone and made a few taps on her screen before adding. "Since Li Na has been your confidant for years, I can understand if you don't choose to believe it. So, check your phone, I have sent something that would make you believe in a better way."

Shen Bingling furrowed her brows and just then her phone dinged with a message. Keeping her gaze still at Li Xue, she went to reach out to check that notification of the video message. She checked it down as the video played displaying Li Na on the screen, walking down in the corridor. "This is …"

"That's the video footage of the day when we had the fencing trial. Since the changing rooms had no camera access, I can only find it out through corridor one. On the bottom corner of the video, you can see the date and time to check. And also, if remember the changing room number, you can see Ms. Li Na is entering the room that was allotted to me."

Li Xue explained and as she did, Shen Bingling checked out everything according to it. Now it was no longer suspicious, rather very much sure that in everything that happened that day, Li Na was the person behind it.

Shen Bingling's expression changed. Now there were no longer wrinkles of a furrow on her brows rather an inexplicable rage in her eyes that was ready to burn the person who was responsible for all her miseries. Amidst the fire of rage that her eyes held, there was also the stream of controlled tears at the corners that she was making sure to hide to keep her weakness secured. She would never have thought that behind all her embarrassment it would be the girl whom she had taken as her best friend. But then it was also right –

Betrayal doesn't come from one who you met a few times, but from the people whom you believed for years.

Li Xue understood very well how the girl must be feeling, but she didn't show any sympathy for her. Since she has once suffered this scenario, she knew sympathy is not the thing that a person wants after the betrayal, rather one desires to know the reason that actually brought the betrayal. So, she preferred not to shower the sympathy, instead chose to give her some time and space that she needed.

"Here! Have some water." She said softly before pushing the lidded glass of water to her side.

Shen Bingling didn't question her, instead silently took the glass of water before sipping it to cool herself down. Once she got normal, she looked up at Li Xue. Her arrogance got back on her facial features. "You brought me to know this truth. Your intention couldn't be simple to think. So, tell me what do you want from me?"

Since in the afternoon when she got to know that Li Xue wanted to meet her, she has already guessed the plot of exchange. It was just that she didn't think that it would be based on the incident's truth and in the end, she would be losing her confidence in her own people.

Li Xue quirked her brows before deepening her smile at her words. She never thought to hide her intentions so when she was asked, she said without holding back her reason about fixing this meeting. "It's really simple. I want to ask you to ask your father to mend the relationship that has gone wrong in the palace. After all, after knowing the truth today, you must agree that it's hard to find real friends." She said and her words held the intention that confused Shen Bingling.

The corners of her eyes slightly got narrowed as staring at Li Xue, she asked, a bit skeptical of her own words, "Is the rumor going around in the royal family is right? Are you really getting adopted by His and Her Highness?"

"…" Li Xue didn't intend to answer the question, since she was yet to have a talk about it with the people involved. So, she maintained the silence, creating an air of ambiguity.

"Your silence is only proving the rumors to be right. But I won't believe it just yet. Let me wait and see how the grand meet ends. On that day, everything would be clear." Shen Bingling said. Up until now, she has been the only princess the royal family had. Though she was not the immediate one, still she was the sole one that had the title and value of a princess. With Li Xue becoming one as well, there would come changes that would make insecurity rise in her heart both about the title and importance.

That insecurity would have caused a twist on her nerves if it had been weeks back. But today oddly this thing was no longer affecting her. As if just a few minutes of living in reality has changed her thoughts. Now, she was no longer feeling those superficial titles attractive.

"Fine. Then what do you think about mending damaged relationships of the families? Will it also be possible before that grand meet you are talking about?" Li Xue asked and Shen Bingling laughed out, sensing the slight desperation in the tone.

"Since you were able to get the security video footage of the palace premises, it's not a surprise for me to see your information on the grand meet, Li Xue. But it's a pity you chose the wrong person to ask the help from. Sorry, even after you let me know that truth, I won't be able to help you out with this. Please search for a better person."

Shen Bingling said and was ready to take her purse and leave when the confidence in the voice of Li Xue paused her.

"Princess Shen, how could you underestimate your capabilities? I am sure that I have chosen the right person to seek help from, then how come you are not sure of your own power? Weren't you one of the reasons that caused this damage to the years-built relationship? Then how come now you can't fix it?"

Li Xue said and in return for those words, got a sharp snap from the princess.

"Li Xue, are you purposefully looking down at me now?"