“The story ended with the princess dying before the emperor. The princess lost the one she loved, and the emperor lost his daughter.”
Diane’s voice rang out. As the creator of this script, she regretted its bad ending more than anyone else. In the end, however, she merely let out a sigh and said nothing more.
Though there was a trace of regret in Diane’s tone, Shuen heard her words clearly. The two of them stood at the side of the stage, hidden from the light. Shadows covered most of the white-haired young man’s face. His features were sharply defined, but no one knew what he was thinking, nor did he offer any comment on Diane’s words.
The two who had not gone on stage remained at the side and watched the entire performance. The view from there was poor, yet he watched it all the same.
Even he himself had not realized that, throughout the performance, his gaze had repeatedly settled on the white-haired girl.
He was being drawn to someone.
The white-haired girl had poured her passion into the performance. Light sparkled in her eyes like brilliant gemstones reflecting a dazzling glow. Wuli had immersed herself completely in the role. Her expressions were more vivid than usual. When she was happy, she was genuinely happy. When she was sad, she was genuinely sad. Even the way she looked at the person she loved felt utterly real.
Yet it gave Shuen a strange sense of unfamiliarity.
His younger sister had always been rather dull…
No, that wasn’t quite accurate. His sister possessed the most moderate emotional system imaginable, as though every emotion she displayed had been carefully calculated, existing in a state where nothing could ever go wrong.
So he had never imagined that his sister could perform something like this.
It had all started after that fall into the water.
The white-haired young man lowered his eyes. Standing within the shadows while the person on stage stood beneath the light, he watched as the performance came to its conclusion.
After taking her bow, Wuli headed offstage and immediately spotted the white-haired young man standing upright in the shadows. His posture was straight and impeccable, but his expression could not be seen.
For no apparent reason, Wuli felt a surge of pressure. Sweat began to gather in her palms.
“Everyone performed wonderfully! We were absolutely perfect!” Diane was the first to rush forward, cheering excitedly.
“Most of all, it’s because the script was so well written. If Diane writes another one in the future, we’ll perform it again.”
Everyone burst into laughter.
Wuli did not join in. Instead, she quietly headed to the dressing room to change her clothes.
Once she removed the heavy gown, she felt much lighter. Only then did she get a proper look at her ankle. Because the injury had not been treated in time and she had continued performing on stage for so long, the bruising had spread even further. The purple-blue discoloration looked shockingly severe.
Wuli sucked in a sharp breath and quickly changed her clothes. The moment she stepped out of the dressing room, she saw the white-haired young man waiting for her.
“Brother.”
Wuli called out to him seriously.
The white-haired young man turned around. His gaze was dark, and his mood clearly did not seem very good. Wuli’s heart skipped a beat.
At that moment, Shuen felt especially unfamiliar to her.
The white-haired young man beckoned her over. After Wuli obediently walked over, he firmly pressed her down into a chair and examined her ankle.
Wuli had not expected Shuen to still be concerned about her injury. She froze in surprise. Before she could react, the white-haired young man had already seated her by force.
After giving her a glance, he lowered himself onto one knee. His well-defined fingers touched the girl’s ankle.
A faint ticklish sensation spread from her ankle, making her unconsciously swallow.
The injury no longer hurt that much, but it still looked terrible.
In an indifferent tone, Shuen said, “Get your things together. We’re going to see a physician first.”
Wuli was startled and instinctively refused.
“It’s fine. I don’t need to…”
Before she could finish speaking, Shuen applied pressure with his hand and deliberately pressed down on the injury.
The sudden pain was especially intense.
The white-haired girl knitted her brows and hissed through her teeth.
“Ah…”
Just as she was about to complain to the man holding her ankle, she met the gaze of the white-haired young man.
Expressionless, he looked straight at her with those deep blue eyes.
“And you’re still saying you don’t need to go?”
“…”
The hiss she had let slip a moment ago had become the perfect weapon for Shuen to use against her.
Calmly, Shuen rose to his feet.
“So, Miss Wuli.”
“Should I carry you there by force, or will you behave and let me help you there?”
The white-haired girl was so startled by those words that she paused for two full seconds without answering.
The moment Glenn stepped out of the dressing room, this was the scene that greeted him.
The white-haired girl sat on a chair, her slender, bruised ankle held in Shuen’s hand.
The two of them exuded a strange intimacy.
The sight stabbed sharply at Glenn’s eyes.
What soured his mood even further was the bite mark he suddenly remembered on Shuen’s neck.
It was obvious at a glance who had left it there.
Even though the mark on the white-haired young man’s neck had already faded, Glenn still felt deeply displeased.
He had clearly said that he and Wuli were done.
Glenn strode forward in two quick steps, a smile appearing in his cold crimson eyes.
Wuli felt a weight settle onto her shoulder. Turning her head, she found herself facing half of the black-haired young man’s face.
A showdown.
The indispensable showdown of every otome game.
It was here again.
Again and again and again.
Wuli felt completely numb.
The corners of Glenn’s lips were curled into a smile, but his crimson eyes were dark and heavy, just like the hand resting on her shoulder.
The silent war between Shuen and Glenn flared up once more.
“Isn’t this a bit strange?”
With a teasing tone, Glenn spoke leisurely.
“You two siblings have never gotten along, have you?”
“And if I remember correctly, Wuli is my fiancée.”
From where Wuli sat, she watched Shuen slowly rise to his feet and meet the black-haired young man’s gaze.
The tension between them grew thicker and thicker.
Lifting his deep blue eyes, Shuen replied with a faint smile of his own.
“Your fiancée? If I recall correctly, Wuli personally returned the token of betrothal to you.”
“Speaking of which, I’d like to ask something. How much longer does Your Highness Glenn intend to drag out the matter of dissolving the engagement?”
“My little sister is quite popular, after all.”
Listening to the two of them, Wuli felt her head starting to spin.
A conflict between two male leads.
Anyone foolish enough to get involved deserved what they got.
Remaining seated, she treated herself as nothing more than a background character.
Shuen’s provocation had clearly achieved its desired effect. Glenn lowered his gaze slightly, and even his voice carried a chilling edge.
“Whether the engagement is dissolved or not is a matter between her and me. What does it have to do with you?”
Most people had already left, and there were only a few people remaining nearby.
But even with so few witnesses, the spectacle of two male leads confronting each other was simply too bizarre. It still drew curious glances from those passing by.
“But Wuli very much wants to end the engagement, doesn’t she?” Shuen said with a flawless smile. “Surely the First Prince doesn’t intend to force someone against her will? That would hardly be the conduct expected of a prince.”
Glenn’s gaze turned toward Wuli.
Shuen’s gaze turned toward Wuli as well.
Wuli: “…”
The white-haired girl stiffened.
One of the most fundamental skills of an actor was analyzing a character’s emotions.
First, she absolutely could not laugh. This was a very serious situation, and laughing would obviously anger both male leads.
Second, she could not cry. The reason was simple: that wasn’t the persona she had established in front of the First Prince.
Nor could she appear sad. There was no reason for it.
As for anger…
Before Wuli could even decide how to express anger, a voice suddenly rang out from the doorway.
“Miss Sinclair!”
The moment Wuli heard that familiar voice, she could barely maintain her expression.
If the subtle atmosphere created by two male leads was called a showdown…
Then the atmosphere created by three male leads could only be called a slaughterhouse.
Fion’s arrival was so sudden and unexpected that the white-haired girl desperately wished she could become invisible.
If nobody could see her, then when the male leads started fighting, she could continue playing the role of an invisible person and quietly slip away.
Instead of being trapped here like she was now, forced to endure the overwhelming pressure of this showdown.
The blond young man wore casual clothes. He was far less formal than when he taught classes, and there was none of the sacred aura he carried while offering prayers at the church.
His mismatched gold-and-black eyes held a gentle, harmless smile.
Even after noticing that both Shuen and Glenn were present, he still felt that their presence was completely unimportant.
In his hands was a bouquet of flowers.
Combined with Fion’s sudden appearance and greeting, it was obvious who those flowers were meant for.
Having to deal with Shuen alone was already troublesome enough. Now Fion had decided to join the fray as well.
The expression on the black-haired young man’s face instantly darkened. His crimson eyes swept over the newcomer with unmistakable ill intent.
Compared to Glenn’s hostility, Shuen felt more surprise than anything else.
He had known that Wuli had inevitably become entangled with Glenn.
What he had not expected was that she had somehow become involved with the Saint as well.
Shuen’s blue eyes landed on Wuli with an unreadable look.
Sure enough.
All those words about ‘my heart only has my brother’ had been lies.
A liar indeed.
The blond young man greeted them openly and without reservation. The flawless smile of the Saint remained on his face, yet it somehow made both male leads clench their jaws at the same time.
“I didn’t expect Young Master Sinclair and Prince Glenn to be here as well.”
Wuli closed her eyes in despair.
It was embarrassing to admit, but when she used to play otome games, the thing she loved most was watching the showdown scenes.
Now, however, there was only one thing she wanted to say.
Could the otome game showdown scenes please leave her alone?!!
After saying those words, the blond young man’s smiling eyes settled on Wuli.
Seizing the opportunity, Wuli slipped free of Glenn’s hand from her shoulder and avoided Shuen’s gaze. Rising to her feet, she called out to him.
“Saint.”
Compared to the other two male leads, Fion was far more relaxed and composed.
He extended the bouquet in his hands and placed it before her.
“Congratulations on a wonderful performance.”
“This is…”
Fion opened his mouth, paused for a moment, and let his gaze sweep casually across the two young men before smoothly changing his wording.
“A young friend happened to know I was coming here and asked me to bring these flowers to you.”
Wuli laughed awkwardly.
Looking at the bouquet, she felt as though it was burning her hands.
Even though Fion claimed he was merely delivering it on someone else’s behalf, Wuli still found the situation terrifying.
After all, the other two male leads were staring at her like tigers watching their prey.
Forcing herself to remain calm, Wuli thanked him.
“There’s one more thing.”
There’s more?!
“You seemed quite interested in space-time travel. As it happens, the Church library has several books related to the subject.”
Wuli’s eyes immediately lit up.
Fion noticed the change and a smile appeared in his eyes.
“However,” he continued, changing the subject slightly, “the Church library does not lend books to outsiders. If you need them, you may come to the Church and find me. I can take you there personally.”
The moment those words were spoken, the remaining two male leads lost their composure as well.
‘So he really is targeting my sister.’
Shuen stepped forward, intending to shield Wuli behind him.
Meanwhile, expressionless, Glenn reached over and took the bouquet from Wuli’s hands.
“Do you not know that I’m her fiancé?” he said coldly. “Trying to steal someone else’s fiancée is practically asking for trouble.”
Fortunately, Wuli herself was no longer calm either.
‘Don’t think I can’t see through you just because you’re smiling so kindly. You’re the one who wants to offer me up as a sacrifice to a god!!!’
Shuen’s attention, however, was not focused on Fion himself.
Instead, it lingered on the words Fion had just spoken.
‘Space-time travel?’
Shuen narrowed his eyes.
After hurriedly thanking Fion, Wuli decided to settle this showdown once and for all in one decisive move.
Frowning, she steadied herself against the chair and lowered her gaze to her bruised ankle.
“Hiss…”
“Does the injury hurt?” Shuen was the first to move forward and support her.
“Let’s go, then,” Wuli said aloud while thinking to herself, ‘Wasn’t there talk about taking me to see a physician?’
“Wait.”
Both Wuli and Shuen turned around to look at the man who still had something to say.
“I’ve already called a private physician. He’ll be here shortly.”
Glenn’s gaze swept over her injured ankle.
“Wuli’s ankle is still hurting. Why not let him examine it first?”
Wuli: “…”