Huang Lixian stepped inside with effortless grace, robes flowing lightly behind him. His presence was calm, yet carried the quiet authority of nobility.
A faint, mischievous smile curved on his lips as his gaze swept across the room before settling on the man at the desk.
"I heard… our great Crown Prince is finally marrying a princess."
The words hung in the air, light—almost teasing.
Wang Lin immediately straightened, eyes lighting up.
"Yes! From the Yu Empire!"
Hao Lin folded his arms calmly, watching the exchange with quiet amusement.
"Quiet an unexpected development," he added.
Huang Lixian stepped closer, his tone still playful.
"And here I thought Your Highness had no interest in such matters."
A brief silence followed.
Lin Yechen did not immediately respond.
He remained seated, gaze lowered slightly, fingers resting still against the table.
"I don't know what she is thinking," he said at last, his voice calm, unreadable.
"I have never met."
The room quieted.
Even Wang Lin stopped fidgeting,
Wang Lin blinked, clearly confused.
Then suddenly—
"Wait."
He stepped forward slightly, frowning in deep thought.
"Your Highness… you said 'perhaps' when I asked if she was beautiful…"
Hao Lin glanced at him, already sensing where this was going. He was annoyed by his constant asking about beauty.
Wang Lin pointed slightly, as if he had just discovered something shocking.
"But you just said you've never met her!"
A pause
"…So how do you know she's pretty?"
Silence
Huang Lixian pressed his lips together, clearly holding back a smile.
Hao Lin simply looked away, amused.
Lin Yechen slowly lifted his gaze.
For a brief moment –
Wang Lin felt like he had made a terrible mistake.
"…I said perhaps," Lin Yechen replied calmly.
Wang Lin froze.
"…That's true."
A small pause
"But that still means you thought about it!"
Huang Lixian let out a quiet laugh this time.
"An excellent observation.",
Hao Lin added smoothly,
"It seems even His Highness is not entirely uninterested."
Lin Yechen's expression remained unchanged.
"…If she were not presentable," he said coolly, " the Yu Empire would not dare send her."
Wang Lin nodded slowly.
"…That makes sense."
Then paused again
"…So she is pretty."
Silence
Lin Yechen looked at him.
Wang Lin immediately stepped back.
"I said nothing!"
Huang Lixian finally laughed openly.
Even Hao Lin's lips curved slightly.
Lin Yechen said nothing more.
But for a brief moment—
A faint, almost invisible smile touched his lips.
A faint pause
"But now that she has agreed to marry me…"
For a brief moment—
Something shifted
Subtle
Dark
"…I find myself looking forward to this marriage."
Silence
Wang Lin blinked again
"…She agreed?!"
Hao Lin's eyes narrowed slightly, interest flickering.
"The Yu Empire's Crown Princess… accepted willingly?"
A brief silence lingered after his words.
Then –
Wang Lin leaned slightly towards Hao Lin, lowering his voice… though not nearly enough.
"…She agreed to marry him?"
Hao Lin raised a brow, glancing at Lin Yechen before replying calmly,
"Perhaps the Yu Empire has different definition of courage."
Wang Lin nodded seriously
"Or maybe she doesn't know yet."
Huang Lixian let out a soft laugh, clearly entertained.
"It does raise an important question."
He looked directly at Lin Yechen, that familiar teasing smile returning.
"How does a princess agree to marry a man known for being ruthless… and completely emotionless?"
Wang Lin immediately added, unable to hold back—
"Exactly! Your Highness, even the soldiers are afraid to breathe too loudly near you!"
Hao Lin crossed his arms, lips curving slightly.
"And yet… she accepted without hesitation?"
A pause
"How interesting."
For a moment
No response.
Lin Yechen simply looked at them.
Not sharply
Not angrily
But just enough—
For Wang Lin to instantly straighten.
"I-I was just saying facts!" he added quickly.
Huang Lixian chuckled again
"Facts, indeed."
He tilted his head slightly, observing Yechen more closely.
"Still… I am curious."
"What kind of princess would willingly step into a place like this…"
"…and marry a man like you?"
Silence fell once more.
Lin Yechen's gaze lowered slightly, thoughtful.
"…One who is either foolish," he said calmly.
A pause
"…or dangerous."
Lin Yechen slowly lifted his gaze
Calm
Cold
Unreadable
"To agree so easily…" he murmured softly, almost to himself.
The room stilled.
Even Wang Lin didn't joke this time.
A faint, almost unreadable smile touched Yechen's lips—gone in an instant.
He stood.
He turned, robes shifted like shadows.
Let her come.
His thoughts were quiet,
Dangerous
Let her enter my world…
His gaze darkened slightly.
…and we shall see if she survives.
To be continued...