“They’ve returned.”
The servants were the first to go forward to greet them. Wuli dismounted from her horse, but her face was so pale that everyone immediately sensed something was wrong.
Glenn said nothing either. He handed his horse over to a servant and had tea brought over.
There had been no interaction between them at all. It was supposed to be an activity that brought people closer together, but it clearly hadn’t achieved that effect for the two of them.
“Wuli, are you feeling unwell?” Shuen narrowed his eyes.
Wuli waved her hand. “I’m fine.”
Only after drinking quite a bit of water did the nauseous feeling finally settle down.
“Uh… Brother, I need to talk to you.” Seeing the situation, the black-haired princess pulled Glenn aside.
“What happened? Why does Wuli look so terrible?”
Then, the black-haired princess heard something she never would have imagined hearing in her entire life.
The black-haired young man steadied himself before speaking. “Most likely, she won’t be able to become your sister-in-law after all.”
The black-haired princess blinked.
“????”
Glenn said, “I kissed her.”
Princess: “Then that’s a good thing, isn’t it?!”
Glenn shot her a complicated look. “She threw up.”
Princess: “???”
The smile on the black-haired princess’s face froze solid.
*
This autumn excursion social gathering lasted a total of three days. The second day was designated as free time.
Though it was called free time, in reality, it was an opportunity for young lords and ladies who had grown fond of one another to go on dates freely.
Wuli sat by the window, gazing out at the grassy field beyond. Ever since yesterday afternoon, she had no desire to see Glenn again, nor did she have any interest in continuing to enjoy the trip.
Outside, everything was lush and vibrant. Everyone seemed relaxed and carefree.
Wuli quietly looked out the window. The verdant scenery reflected in her pale blue eyes. At that moment, the white-haired girl herself was enough to become part of the landscape.
“Wuli? Why are you sitting here all by yourself?”
The scenery was disrupted.
After spotting Wuli sitting alone, the black-haired princess didn’t hesitate for a second. She plopped down beside her. Seeing this, a servant promptly brought over tea and pastries.
Hearing someone call her name, the white-haired girl blanked for a moment before returning to her senses. Turning toward the princess, she curved her lips into a polite smile and smiled at the black-haired princess.
The girl’s features were strikingly beautiful, and her smile only made her more captivating. The black-haired princess unconsciously took a sip of tea and shifted her gaze into the distance.
“Did my brother upset you?” The black-haired girl’s voice sounded somewhat dejected.
Wuli had never expected her to bring up this topic. She froze.
“My brother’s always been like that. It’s perfectly understandable if you’re angry with him. Not only should you blame him, I ought to give him a piece of my mind too.”
Hearing her describe him that way, Wuli had to struggle to suppress the corners of her mouth from lifting.
Only the princess would dare speak so bluntly about the male lead.
“However…”
The black-haired princess hadn’t even finished speaking when her spoon lightly scraped against the side of her teacup, producing a soft, delicate chime.
“Still… my brother can be really good sometimes…”
The white-haired girl stared out the window.
She was no longer really listening to what the princess was saying.
Because Shuen had entered her view.
The white-haired young man was dressed only in a white shirt. The hem was neatly tucked into the waistband of his black trousers, outlining his tall, straight figure. His white hair fluttered in the breeze, and his entire bearing radiated youthful vigor. Soft-soled leather shoes stepped across the lush grass.
Through the window, Shuen looked at her.
Their eyes met for a second or two.
Before either of them could look away, the white-haired young man smiled and extended a hand. His long fingers reached forward in an unmistakable gesture of invitation.
Wuli jolted.
Her chair scraped loudly against the floor as she sprang to her feet.
“What happened?” The princess jumped at the sudden noise, staring at Wuli in confusion.
‘She’s really that unwilling to hear anything about my brother?’
The black-haired princess thought so and immediately began cursing her brother in her heart.
‘What on earth did Glenn do?!?!’
Shuen was still looking at her.
The white-haired girl slapped a hand against her forehead.
“I… I think my brother is calling for me.”
“I’ll be going now, Your Highness.”
“Eh?!”
The princess rose to stop her, but Wuli was faster.
She hurried out and made her way to the lawn behind the estate.
The weather was overcast rather than sunny. Gray clouds hung overhead, and the wind made Wuli feel a little cold.
Shuen strode toward Wuli.
“Wuli.”
“Hm?”
Shuen took hold of her hand.
Something brushed across her palm. It didn’t hurt, but it left behind a faint ticklish sensation.
Then he released her hand.
A pair of sapphire-blue gemstone earrings now rested in her palm. The soft glow they emitted resembled someone’s eyes.
Startled, Wuli looked up at him.
A meaningful look lingered in his eyes as he said to her, “Wear them properly. Don’t take them off.”
Wuli curled her fingers around them, feeling the coolness of the earrings against her skin.
The faint light reflected from the gemstones shimmered in her eyes.
*
On the final day of the excursion, Wuli received an invitation from the imperial family.
The butler stopped her before she could leave.
“Miss Wuli, His Majesty wishes to invite you to remain at the Imperial Palace for a few more days and spend some time with His Highness the First Prince.”
The butler’s gaze was calm and respectful.
Glenn had not come personally.
The Duke could not tell whether this was a sincere invitation or merely polite formality. If he misunderstood the First Prince’s intentions, that could become troublesome.
The Duchess, however, was delighted.
“Many thanks.”
She could barely conceal the smile on her face.
“In that case, Wuli…”
Wuli didn’t want to speak.
Her teeth hurt just thinking about it.
Shuen smiled. His mood was impossible to read. He looked like someone listening to gossip that had nothing to do with him, casually hearing it out without intending to offer any opinion.
The Duke did not know the details of Wuli’s relationship with the First Prince.
But he could clearly see the troubled expression on his youngest daughter’s face.
‘Surely my little daughter hasn’t gotten into some sort of conflict with His Highness the First Prince?’
The betrothal arrangement wasn’t urgent anyway.
If she accidentally offended the First Prince again, that would be far from ideal.
The Duke immediately spoke up.
“Let’s return to the Residence and make preparations first. We can discuss it again afterward. If, by any chance, His Highness Glenn’s plans happen to change, please don’t feel embarrassed about informing us. Hahaha.”
The butler clearly caught the implication behind the Duke’s words.
The Duke was trying to indirectly gauge the First Prince’s attitude toward Wuli.
But was there even a need to gauge it indirectly?
Wasn’t it already obvious?
The butler maintained a pleasant smile.
“Your Grace is worrying unnecessarily. His Highness the First Prince greatly welcomes Miss Wuli’s visit. If there is anything Miss Wuli needs, the Imperial Palace already has everything prepared. There is no need for Miss Wuli to concern herself with such matters.”
Now the Duke was even more confused.
Judging from the butler’s words, the First Prince seemed to be quite fond of Wuli.
So he changed his approach and turned to Wuli.
“Then, Wuli, what do you think?”
If possible, she would rather not go.
But this route was connected to the Saint’s route.
Neither route was easy to deal with.
Wuli’s expression remained calm.
“Let’s return to the Residence first. If I remember correctly, the Church also sent an invitation.”
The Duke nodded.
“That’s true.”
The Duchess had to struggle for a long time to keep her expression from twisting out of shape.
Her hand gripped Wuli’s arm tightly, using considerable force.
The Duchess locked eyes with her.
The look in her eyes practically screamed ‘Why can’t you live up to expectations?’
Wuli: “…”
Only three days had passed, yet the attitudes of everyone around her had changed dramatically.
Wuli reached up and touched the sapphire-blue earrings at her ears.
The entire group headed to the study to discuss the matter.
As soon as the door closed behind them, the Duchess’s expression visibly darkened.
“Wuli, why are you unwilling to get close to the First Prince?”
The Duke didn’t know.
Perhaps Shuen didn’t know either.
But the Duchess saw the situation perfectly clearly.
If this marriage arrangement ultimately fell apart, her daughter’s attitude would bear a large share of the responsibility.
Wuli: ‘Because I don’t want to die.’
But she couldn’t say that.
In the end, she spoke in a cautious, almost ingratiating tone.
“Do I really have to go?”
Silence fell over the room.
Shuen’s eyes turned cold as he glanced at Wuli.
Wuli failed to notice the look.
“Shuen.” The Duke called out to the white-haired young man, who had remained silent the entire time. “What do you think?”
“I think…”
“…”
“If Wuli doesn’t want to go, then she doesn’t have to.”
In that instant, Wuli could practically hear the Duchess grinding her back teeth into powder.
The Duke let out a sigh.
“Let’s discuss it later. Let’s discuss it later.”
This wasn’t the real crisis yet, and Wuli’s expression did not relax in the slightest.
With Shuen’s final remarks, the discussion came to a temporary end.
However, just as Wuli was returning to her room, Shuen stopped her.
The white-haired young man wore no particular expression. His gaze rested on her, his eyes looking unfathomably deep.
“Can we talk?”
Wuli’s heart instantly sank.
She had a feeling something was finally about to happen.
“Okay.”
Wuli followed Shuen to a private study.
A cold tension seemed to spread between the two of them.
“Brother? What did you want to talk about?”
When Shuen remained silent for so long, Wuli could not help speaking first.
Shuen lifted his eyes.
The real scrutiny had begun.
“Tell me the truth, Wuli.”
“Who exactly are you?”
*
Wuli did not go to the Imperial Palace.
She went to the Church instead.
“Miss Wuli, we’ve been expecting you.”
The moment the Sinclair family’s carriage arrived, a man dressed like a clergyman was the first to step forward and greet her.
This was Wuli’s first visit to the Church, the most mysterious place in the entire world.
Her pale blue eyes calmly swept across her surroundings.
Almost unconsciously, she reached up and touched the earring beside her cheek.
The sapphire gemstone emitted a dazzling blue glow.
The Church where the Saint resided looked no different from any other church, aside from being much larger. The architecture was dominated by black and white tones, cold and austere, giving off an especially solemn atmosphere.
Wuli was helped down from the carriage.
Lowering her gaze, she heard the clergyman beside her say with a smile, “The Saint instructed us from the very beginning that you are an honored guest. You’re one of Kavelia Academy’s outstanding students, and he specifically told us to take good care of you.”
Hearing this, the white-haired girl returned a polite smile.
“Thank you for your trouble.”
Hopefully they meant taking good care of her, not sacrificing her to a god over the slightest disagreement.
Wuli lowered her eyes and silently thought to herself.
After settling her belongings, she changed into a nun’s habit and followed the attendants to meet the Saint.
The golden-haired young man was dressed in a white robe, looking every bit as holy and untouchable as a divine figure.
“Wuli.”
As the white-haired girl approached, he beckoned to her.
“I thought you wouldn’t choose to come to the Church.”
The golden-haired Saint smiled warmly, appearing gentle and serene.
Wuli coughed lightly twice before beginning to spout complete nonsense.
“Coming to the Church has always been a dream of mine. It’s such a rare opportunity that I felt it was well worth the visit. Besides, you and I had an agreement, Saint, didn’t we?”
She was referring to the books and information related to the study of space.
However, the golden-haired young man had clearly focused on the first half of her statement.
His smile remained unchanged.
“When we were in the office, you didn’t seem particularly willing.”
Wuli: “…”
‘As long as you don’t sacrifice me to a god, I’m more than willing.’
Wuli let out two dry laughs.
“Go get some rest first. Starting tomorrow, I’ll have the nuns teach you the work step by step. You’re very talented, so learning it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Alright.”
Wuli agreed readily, but her eyes remained fixed on Fion.
A shadow flickered through her pale blue eyes.
“Saint, do you still remember that you promised to provide me with some reference materials on the study of space?”
Fion’s expression remained as gentle as ever.
“May I ask why Miss Wuli is interested in researching such things?”
“After all, they’re rather detached from reality.”
His suspicion was not without reason.
Wuli felt that her interest had been far too deliberate. Anyone would find it suspicious.
Even so, her expression remained calm as she brought out the explanation she had prepared long ago.
“I have a friend who studies physics. She happens to be researching the nature of space and has recently run into a bottleneck.”
“I wanted to help her.”
Wuli delivered the lie without the slightest change in expression, as though there were nothing unusual about it.
The golden-haired young man’s gaze remained fixed on her.
The longer he looked, the harder Wuli’s heart pounded.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
“Very well.”
Wuli was genuinely surprised that he agreed so easily.
She had spent so long mentally preparing herself for this conversation.
“However, I have one condition.”
Wuli blinked.
“??”
Under her puzzled gaze, he slowly continued.
“When you successfully perform a prayer for the first time, I’ll give you the key to the library.”
“You’ll find plenty of related materials there.”