Bai Xing was startled by the sudden embrace and elbowed the sudden visitor in reflex. He then instantly realized who it was from the voice and paled. He hurriedly turned around in panic.

"I-I'm sorry! A-A-Are you alright?"

Grey rubbed his completely fine abdomen, "Ah…I'm hurt. To be rejected in such manner…"

"No, t-that's…" Bai Xing stepped closer.

Grey immediately hugged Bai Xing again, "I think it is appropriate for me to demand compensation, White."

"T-Then…" Bai Xing recalled what Grey said earlier, "I'll…make you something?"

This could also make up for the dinner he didn't get to give Grey previously.

"Hmm…" Grey pressed their forehead together and smirked, "Does that mean you accept me as your husband?"

Bai Xing's cheek burned, "N-No, I mean–"

"No?" Grey raised his eyebrows.

Bai Xing hid down his face and mumbled, "N-Not that…"

Grey's heart clenched from Bai Xing's response. He controlled his smile before letting Bai Xing go, "I will accompany you here."

Bai Xing could finally continue his cooking. While waiting for the pie to bake and watching over the grilling, Bai Xing prepared another menu for Grey.

Once Prince Kalid and the northern prince's food was ready, Grey stopped Bai Xing from delivering them himself. He called a servant to do the job.

"But…"

"The servant will explain it to Prince Kalid." Grey reassured him.

Bai Xing nodded in understanding and continued. Being watched while he was cooking should make him nervous, but he inexplicably felt fine. On the contrary, he felt…excited? No…Something like…anticipation?

It was a strange feeling.

But it wasn't unpleasant.

Bai Xing placed the bowl of chicken soup and a plate of fruit tart in front of Grey. He also has one for himself and sat down.

"It is different from Prince Kalid's?"

"…Because you look…stressed," Bai Xing said hesitantly, "You don't like it…?"

"No, it is the exact opposite." Grey picked up the spoon.

He scooped a spoonful and ate it, "…"

Bai Xing nervously waited for Grey's opinion.

Grey smiled and took another bite, "It is delicious."

Bai Xing's shoulders finally relaxed and started eating too.

"…?"

It tasted like…water.

He ate another mouthful to make sure and it was indeed bland. There was only a strange, sweet taste at the end. He looked at Grey in doubt, but the other was eating it normally.

Did he not stir it evenly? Shouldn't be. It was a liquid dish after all.

He looked back at the place where he cooked in thought. It was then his eyes locked on the 2 exact small porcelain jars put next to each other. Those were where the salt and sugar were contained.

Realizing what could be the problem, Bai Xing tried a bite of the fruit tart. His face scrunched from the saltiness. He forced himself to swallow it before washing his mouth with water.

He mixed up the salt and sugar.

"G-Grey," Bai Xing held Grey's hand from eating another spoonful, "Don't…force yourself. I'll remake another one…"

"Did you not make it taste mild to suit my taste?" Grey moved the spoon to his other hand and held Bai Xing's hand back, "I like this just fine."

Bai Xing, "…"

It's already way past beyond the mild line…

Bai Xing pulled the plate of tart away from Grey, "I'll at least redo–"

Grey held it, "I want to taste it."

Bai Xing didn't waver this time and yanked it out of Grey's hand, "It's bad for your blood pressure."

Grey, "…"

Suddenly being logical like that, he couldn't really refute it…

He watched in regret as Bai Xing threw it to the trash bin, "I really do wish to eat every meal you make for me."

Bai Xing blushed, "S-Sorry…"

He started making a new tart while Grey continued eating the tasteless chicken soup.

"Can I ask you about your warning last night?" Grey asked.

Bai Xing paused his movement and nodded.

"What do you think I should do?"

Bai Xing, "…?"

Grey is asking me? Grey?

Grey finished his meal, "My heart is telling me that I should entrust this matter to you. But I do not wish to put you in danger. That is why I hope you can enlighten me of the action I should take."

Bai Xing was slightly stunned. The only thing he could think of as the cause of Grey's change of attitude was the previous incident with Snow White. It was possible that Grey thought it was his fault that they got into that dangerous situation.

Then, did this mean that Grey has a fragment of his memory? No, maybe just the leftover emotion from his memories. He once heard a quote that even if someone loses their memory, it wouldn't erase their emotions completely.

That was why in every world until now Grey unscientifically…

But it couldn't explain why Grey…likes him the first time they met though.

"Aladdin is…" Bai Xing considered the right word for Grey to understand while he continued making the tart, "A dangerous being in disguise. His lamp is similar to your staff, his power container. What makes it different is the fact that there is a genie inside it and that as long as that lamp exists…He is unkillable"

Bai Xing looked at Grey in worry, "That's why it's best if you don't try to kill him before you get your hands on his lamp. If not…you'll be the one who'll get killed first."

Grey frowned, "A dangerous being?"

"I don't have any right words to name it, but…" Bai Xing cut the fruits and decorated the tart, "We can't let him marry the princess and get the throne. If that happens, this world will meet its end."

Grey tapped his finger thoughtfully, "I am aware of this genie and its power from my brother just now. Apparently, he asked for that prince's assistance but got cheated on afterward."

Brother?

"Your brother…Jaffar…?" Bai Xing put the finished tart into a plate and gave it to Grey.

"Yes, he is the royal advisor," Grey raised his eyebrow, "You know of him?"

"Ah, no…I've…heard of him."

"Hmm…" Grey briefly glanced at the door before looking at the tart, "How envious that you knew of him but not me."

"No…I…"

Grey trapped Bai Xing by the waist and looked up, "I am still upset. Feed me and I might feel better."

"…"

You're really taking every chance you got, don't you?

Despite his thought, Bai Xing picked up the fork and fed Grey a bite. Grey ate it triumphantly.

Behind the door, Prince Kalid watched the scene with deep emotion in his eyes.

At night, Bai Xing looked out at the sky. Would Aladdin invite the princess to ride the magic carpet tonight? If so, Grey or maybe Jaffar would probably make their move too.

"White," Prince Kalid called him, "Do you want to check around the town?"

"…?"

Seeing that Prince Kalid was really waiting for his answer, Bai Xing hesitantly shook his head. He didn't like crowded places.

"…" Prince Kalid swirled the glass of wine in his hand, "Then, we'll leave tomorrow morning."

"!?"

Bai Xing was surprised by Prince Kalid sudden order. The prince said yesterday that he planned to stay in Agrabah at least for a week, longer if he decided he wanted to take it over. What happened? Was his chat with the other princes aren't satisfying? Did someone offend him?

It would be bad if he really must leave tomorrow morning. He needed to stay in Agrabah until the end of the story. Even if he wanted to steal the lamp tonight, he couldn't since Aladdin always kept it with him.

"Your Highness…may I…ask the reason why?"

Prince Kalid glanced at him, "Why? Do you still have something you want to do here?"

Bai Xing didn't know why, but Prince Kalid's eyes made him nervous.

"N-No…But what about making connections…and the princess?"

Prince Kalid sneered. He beckoned Bai Xing to sit down on the couch.

Bai Xing complied although he was starting to feel intimidated by Prince Kalid's strange mood. He sat on the edge, maintaining a safe distance from the prince.

Prince Kalid plucked a piece of grape and played it between his fingers, "We can stay here for another day if you feed me this grape."

Before Bai Xing could react, Prince Kalid moved from his position and blocked his escape. The prince put the grape between Bai Xing's lips.

"Of course, I want a better service than what you give to that sorcerer."

Bai Xing's face paled. His eyes shook in panic when the prince moved his face closer. He dropped the grape and immediately shoved the prince away with all his might. The prince caught him back when Bai Xing tried to run away.

"You are mine. You belong to this prince, White. Your heart and body. I will never tolerate anyone taking my things away from me."