“Royal Father, this is the gift inventory presented by Venus,” Cody knelt on one knee before the King, his expression filled with genuine filial devotion.
Even as the God of War of Onassis, he remained a son. When he had urgently needed reinforcements on the battlefield, it was his father who had dispatched support solely based on his message, allowing him to secure total victory.
Having conquered kingdom after kingdom, the King of Onassis was long accustomed to lavish gold and precious jewels. Only one item on the registry truly caught his attention—the princess sent for political alliance.
Princess Elina’s beauty was legendary across the land. The King stroked her name on the parchment and looked down, asking, “I wonder just how breathtaking this flower of Venus truly is. Cody, what do you think of making her your royal consort? The fairest flower paired with our most heroic God of War—a perfect match, wouldn’t you say?”
“Royal Father, I have never met her,” Cody raised his gaze, meeting the King’s eyes directly. “Furthermore, I already have someone I love.”
“You already have someone you love?” The King was utterly taken aback. Disregarding the inventory entirely, he leaned over his scepter, his posture betraying a rare touch of curiosity. “Who is it? As long as you desire them, I will grant you leave to marry immediately, along with jewels and silk as your reward for this campaign.”
“Cody desires neither jewels nor fine silks. I desire only one person,” Cody recalled those brilliant, captivating eyes and let out a faint smile. “Will Royal Father swear to grant my wish?”
“By the divine above, a King’s word is an absolute oath,” the King raised his hand in pledge, letting out a booming laugh. “Out with it, you rascal.”
“I want Yao—Yao of the Sanctuary,” Cody declared in a deep, resolute voice.
The moment the words left his mouth, a suffocating silence fell over the grand hall. It became so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
After a long pause, the King spoke again, his voice raspy and severe: “Say that again. Think carefully before you speak.”
He was no longer jesting. Yet Cody did not back down in the slightest. Looking directly into his father’s eyes, he stated, “Royal Father, I love Yao. I can forgo everything else, but I must have him.”
“That is sacrilege against the divine!”
The scroll was hurled down, striking Cody squarely on the shoulder.
Yet Cody didn’t even flinch. A subtle flicker of disdain touched his eyes. “Royal Father, have you ever truly believed in the gods? Gods, such baseless fairy tales have never served any purpose. Was that not proven with Mother?”
His mother had suffered and died of a severe illness. No matter how many sacred rituals were performed or how many sacrifices were offered, she had still departed this world in agonizing pain. From the moment her hand slipped lifelessly from his cheek, Cody had ceased to believe in the existence of gods.
It was merely a lie spun by rulers—a truth they both understood all too well.
Stymied by his son’s blunt words, the King stood momentarily speechless. Letting out a heavy sigh, he murmured, “Even if you do not believe in the divine, taking a priest as your lover makes you a demon who desecrates the Sanctuary! I could protect your life, but you would lose all your prestige among the people! Furthermore, among my three sons, you know you are my favored heir. Priest Yao is extraordinarily capable, but he cannot bear you an heir. Do you understand?”
“I do not care,” Cody replied firmly.
Onassis stood on the precipice of unifying the entire realm. As its ultimate sovereign, they could establish entirely new rules. He had no need for divine mandates to command absolute authority.
“Well, I care! Do not be so quick to speak!” The King glared at him, ultimately choosing a compromise. “You want Yao? Fine. Onassis can spare one priest when we have countless others. But if you wish to make him yours, it must be done in secret—no one can know. As for your royal consort, I believe Elina would be a fine choice. Once you meet her, if you are still unsatisfied, you may select a talented beauty from our own royal capital. The women of Onassis are by no means inferior to those of Venus.”
Such a proposal was perhaps the ideal compromise for a royal heir. Yet Cody understood his little priest’s unyielding temperament—he was a person who would break before he bent. If Cody married another woman, there would never again be a possibility between them.
Besides, there was no woman in this world whose mere memory could set his heart ablaze—no woman could ever compare to him.
“Royal Father, I will have no one but him,” Cody stated plainly.
The King fell silent, his fingers tightening around his scepter. “Then, you must forfeit your right to the throne for his sake.”
“Without me, there is still Second Brother and Third Brother,” Cody’s smile remained unbothered, as though relinquishing his status as crown prince was of zero concern to him.
“Very well,” the King’s brow twitched. “If you insist, then he is yours. However, I suggest you leave yourself a retreat. Love is a fragile thing that rarely withstands the test of time. I do not wish to see you regret today’s choice.”
“Understood. My deepest gratitude, Royal Father.”
Upon his return, Lin Yao had retired directly to the Sanctuary. The vast, immaculate white halls felt so pristine that the floor reflected figures like a mirror, yet it held an icy atmosphere that made one hesitate to step inside—especially when encountering someone he had no desire to see.
A pair of emerald eyes looked at him with their usual gentle warmth. As Kathy walked over, Lin Yao instinctively took a step back. Yet Kathy paid his coldness no mind. Reaching out casually, he caught a strand of Lin Yao’s dark hair and pressed a soft kiss to it. “High Priest, good day. It has been far too long; I have missed you dearly.”
Lin Yao raised a hand to pull his hair from Kathy’s grip, his entire aura radiating icy detachment. “Does Your Highness have business with me?”
“Of course,” Kathy leaned against a nearby pillar, unbothered by the rejection. The curve of his lips felt as cold as ice. “I merely wished to inquire about the battle at the border city of Venus. How severe were my eldest brother’s injuries?
Rumor has it he was struck by an arrow and came within an inch of meeting the gods—until our High Priest tended to him for three days and three nights without rest, snatching him back from the divine realm.”
“What Your Highness heard is the simple truth,” Lin Yao replied coldly. “Since you already know, there is no need to ask me.”
“Heh. That is merely what I know publicly. What about the things I don’t know?” Kathy straightened up and took several deliberate steps forward. The sharp glint in his eyes forced Lin Yao to retreat until his back pressed against the cold wall. Trapping him with an arm braced against the stone, Kathy leaned in, his emerald eyes close as his gentle voice carried an underlying threat. “For instance, after his recovery, the High Priest shared meals and quarters with Prince Cody, even traveling back in the very same carriage. Strange sounds were heard from within that carriage from time to time, not to mention those marks on your skin that you can barely conceal.”
His hand casually pulled open Lin Yao’s collar, exposing traces of red scattered across jade-white skin. His pupils contracted for a split second before a smooth smile resurfaced on his face. “Exquisite. Do not worry—I shall keep your secret.”
“You!” Lin Yao pulled his collar tight, attempting to duck beneath Kathy’s arm, only for his path to be blocked by another hand.
Kathy chuckled. “Do not panic. What is there to fear? Given Elder Brother’s status, he certainly won’t let you suffer any grievance.”
“Indeed. So, Kathy, can you unhand him now?” A long, powerful hand reached out, pulling the Second Prince away from Lin Yao’s side. Caught completely unprepared, the prince—who had practiced martial arts since childhood—tripped over his own feet and stumbled back a few steps before regaining his balance.
Despite looking so ungraceful, the smile on Kathy’s face never faded. Upon spotting Cody, a strange glint flashed across his eyes. “Elder Brother, what brings you here?”
He appeared genuinely surprised, yet Cody simply wrapped an arm around Lin Yao’s waist, pulling the youth firmly into his chest. Tilting Lin Yao’s chin up, Cody inspected him carefully, checking as if to see whether a piece of precious jade had been scratched by rough hands. Satisfied, he looked up at Kathy and declared: “I came for him, of course. In the past, Yao was merely a priest of the Sanctuary. Now, he is your future royal sister-in-law. Do not address or touch him with such disrespect ever again. Understood?”
“Elder Brother, he is a priest. Do not make such jokes,” Kathy replied, though his eyes held no trace of worry.
“I am not joking. I spoke with Royal Father and formally relinquished my claim to the throne,” Cody replied, his expression entirely devoid of regret. When he looked down at the youth in his arms, his eyes carried a rare, profound gentleness. “Third Brother prefers trade and traveling the world. Royal Father’s expectations will naturally fall entirely on your shoulders. If I continue focusing my heart on Yao, Royal Father will be displeased.”
Kathy froze visibly before a surge of delight broke across his eyes. “Is that true?”
Cody chuckled, clapping him on the shoulder. “When have I ever lied to you?”
“I merely came to share a light jest with my royal sister-in-law today. I certainly meant no offense,” Kathy stepped before Lin Yao and offered a deep, formal bow. “Please accept my sincere apologies, Sister-in-Law.”
He appeared full of genuine intent, forcing Lin Yao to accept his apology. Watching Kathy depart without a second thought, Lin Yao pulled anxiously at the fabric of Cody’s tunic. “Your Highness, did you truly forfeit your right to the throne? It is all my fault.”
Seeing the young priest filled with dismay and guilt, Cody lifted him in his arms, carried him inside the chamber, and pulled him into a deep, breathless embrace. Once the youth lay soft and flushed in his arms, incapable of overthinking, Cody chuckled softly: “Yao, the things I desire do not require others to bestow upon me. Whatever I set my sights on, no one can steal from me. Do you understand?”
Resting against his chest, Lin Yao tried to catch his breath and gave a gentle nod.
“Now then, shouldn’t you be happy?” Cody tilted his chin up, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “I have been looking forward to this moment for a very long time.”
“Mm?” Lin Yao blinked, looking bewildered.
“By Royal Father’s decree, as of today, you no longer belong to the Sanctuary—you belong to me. I shall marry you openly and honorably. Is such news not worthy of your joy?” Cody asked with a warm smile.
“It is,” Lin Yao smiled, his eyes curving like delicate crescent moons.
On the seventh day following the return of Onassis’s troops, the tribute from Venus entered the royal palace under the curious gazes of the capital’s populace.
The crowds paid little mind to the wagons laden with jewels; instead, their eyes were drawn to the grand carriage draped in silk curtains, exhaling a delicate fragrance into the breeze.
Hazy and ethereal, a subtle gust lifted the crimson veil within, revealing skin as white as fallen snow and eyes as clear as shimmering water.
The “fairest flower of Venus” truly lived up to her legendary name.
Hearing the news, Lin Yao idly toyed with a chess piece in his hand. Every player had moved into their designated position on the board. From this moment on, he was merely an observer enjoying the show.