‘wife‘.]
[Some say I fall in love too quickly. The truth is, you are just too easy to love.]
Next, of course, were gifts. I scoured the land for rare flowers and exotic treasures. I even had my grandfather find me a pure white foal to send to him. I named her “Yearning,” and tied a small plaque around her neck that read:
“My mistress says she’s very fond of you!”
There was no response from Kaelen.
But I told myself, at least he wasn’t rejecting my gifts. And no rejection meant…
He wanted more!
My personal treasury was nearly empty. I even had to go to my father and request a “husband–chasing fund.” Eager to ally himself with the Azu- re Empire, my father gritted his teeth and approved it.
But as time went on, even the live comments began to lose hope, advising me to give up. My own enthusiasm started to wane.
One day, I was slumped by the window, listlessly poking at a peony in a vase.
“Do you think,” I asked my handmaiden, “that he finds me… too forward?”
“Or perhaps… he prefers the company of men?”
Before she could answer, news arrived:
The old emperor of the Azure Empire was dead.
After a period of turmoil and political struggle, Kaelen officially ascended the throne.
My courage evaporated.
Flirting with a prince for his good looks was one thing.
But flirting with the ruler of the Azure Empire… that was a death wish.
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09:02
09.02
Chapter 1
To save my own skin, I immediately ceased all my ridiculous antics. No more love letters, no more treasure hunting. The sudden stop felt stra- nge. But my treasury was empty anyway.
It was the perfect time for a stroll out of the palace to inspect the businesses under my name. If I couldn’t have a man, I could at least have a
career.
My shops were all located in the most prosperous districts of the capital, selling clothing, jewelry, and cosmetics for women. The storefronts were lavish, but the shops themselves were usually empty.
The live comments immediately started offering advice.
[Princess, do a live stream! Sell your products!]
You’re the most beautiful woman in the world! Your face is the best advertisement!]
[Host parties! Invite all the rich nobles with money to burn!]
With their suggestions buzzing in my head, I got to work. I hosted flower–viewing parties and garden tours, sending out invitations to all the nobles, ladies, and their daughters. I made sure to only wear items from my own shops, while my handmaidens acted as saleswomen on the
spot.
When you’re shameless, the money just rolls in. I offered discounts and exclusive VIP tokens. At the suggestion of the comments, I also host- ed special events for the wives of officials and noblewomen. They had money and time to spare.
Sure enough, I was soon rolling in cash. I was so busy, I completely forgot about Kaelen.
4
One day, tired from inspecting my shops, I went to the capital’s largest restaurant, The Azure Dragon’s Hearth, for dinner. The restaurant specia- lized in cuisine from the Azure Empire, which I adored. Most importantly, not only did they have beautiful women to pour wine, but they also
had handsome male companions.
I ordered five at once.
One to dance, one to sing, two to give me a massage, and the most handsome one of all to pour my wine and serve my food. Perfect.
The handsome companion picked up a piece of fish, carefully removing the bones. Just as he was about to feed it to me, I overheard a hushed conversation from the private room next door. The accent was from the Azure Empire.
“Since our new Emperor took the throne, he’s cut taxes and funded water projects. He’s even settled the refugees on the border.”
“Compared to this Kingdom of Emberfall…” The man lowered his voice. “On our way here, we saw starving people everywhere. Only the capital
still maintains a facade of peace.”
Another man sighed. “His Majesty is a brilliant ruler, but… my brother is an official at court, and he says every day is like walking on thin ice.”
“Lately, the Emperor’s temper has been unpredictable. The tension in the court is suffocating…”
“Tsk, my brother’s lost half his hair in the last two weeks.”
My hand, holding my wine cup, froze.
Kaelen…
I had been deliberately avoiding news about him, even ignoring the live comments. I hadn’t expected to hear about him here. Why was his temper so bad? He had tolerated all my shameless flirting without a problem.
As I was lost in thought, the restaurant manager respectfully escorted a dignified, middle–aged man into my room. They both paused for a moment when they saw the scene before them, but quickly recovered, acting as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
“Princess,” the middle–aged man said, bowing deeply. His posture was exceptionally deferential. “My name is Valerius. I am the owner of this establishment. I have long heard of your beauty, and to finally meet you today is… a fortune of three lifetimes.”
He placed a box, which seemed to emanate a faint chill, on the table. In the corner of the lid was a small but distinct insignia of a coiled drag-
- on.
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09:02
Chapter 1
I recognized it. It was the mark of the Azure Empire’s royal household. Only Kaelen could use it.
“This is a rare fruit from the Southern Ridge that our establishment has recently acquired. It is called a ‘Lychee‘.”
“If you would deign to accept it, Princess, please consider it a small novelty to try.”
His expression was perfectly natural.
But my heart skipped a beat.
09.02
In one of my “love letters” to Kaelen, I had once mentioned offhandedly: [I hear there is a fruit in the Southern Ridge called a ‘lychee‘, sweet as nectar. I wonder if I will ever have the chance to taste it in my lifetime?]
It was just a whim. I had almost forgotten about it myself.
But Kaelen had remembered.
I glanced at the handsome companions still preening around me, and a wave of embarrassment washed over me.
Valerius lowered his voice, a hint of conspiracy in his tone. “If the Princess should require anything in the future, you need only come to the restaurant and find me.”
He paused, his voice taking on a meaningful tone. “And if the Princess has any letters that need to be delivered to the Azure Empire, you may
entrust them to me.”
With that, they quietly excused themselves, taking the handsome companions with them.
A warmth spread through my chest. Was he… asking for more “love letters” on Kaelen’s behalf?
After so long, my one–sided infatuation had finally gotten a response.
The sweet scent of the lychees filled the air, and my “husband–chasing” spirit was rekindled.
The live comments were even more excited than I was.
[Hahaha, the ‘chasing his wife through the crematorium‘ arc is about to begin! He’s so in love!]
[This Valerius guy did that on purpose, right? The future empress ordered a bunch of boy toys, hahaha, he couldn’t take it anymore!!]
[Little princess, please pay attention to the male lead! He’s so pitiful. His dad just died, and yesterday his mom died too. He has no one left in the world who truly loves him.]
[It’s true! I just switched over from the male lead’s perspective!]
[Little princess, please, go to the border and see him! He promised his mother he would bury her ashes in her hometown of Cloudhaven. He’s on his way there now, holding her urn…]
[His dead parents and his broken heart… this is when he needs you the most!]
I shot to my feet.
A wave of sympathy, heartbreak, and guilt washed over me. I claimed to like him, but while I was sulking over a little silence, this is what he was going through? His father’s death, the fight for the throne with his brothers, his mother’s passing…
“Okay,” I whispered to the comments. “I’ll go to him.”
On the way back to the palace, the number of comments suddenly exploded. They were no longer the sparse, friendly messages I was used to. The tone was different, too, filled with malice and ridicule.
The most prominent messages were all variations of:
[Kaelen went to Cloudhaven with his childhood sweetheart. Don’t go and be the other woman!]
