The moment the chaotic decree approving the union was issued, the Crown Prince hastily held a ceremonial departure, declaring his journey to the northern frontiers.
Caught in the whirlwind, Imelline, Eric, and the Duke found themselves roped into attending the send-off ritual.
The Princess, however, quickly excused herself, wearing a sour expression.
“Damn that Robert…” she muttered under her breath, striding toward her quarters.
From outside, the deep, melancholic sound of a conch horn echoed—a traditional signal of expedition. The thought of Robert putting on airs during such a grandiose send-off twisted her insides anew.
She turned to a servant.
“Send word to the royal physician—tell him I’ll handle his son’s placement myself.”
The court physician’s son was known to suffer from a chronic affliction, making employment difficult. Ella, who had maintained frequent contact with the physician, had long since discovered this weakness and knew just how to wield it.
The attendant handed her the latest edition of the capital’s spirit ink journal. Splashed across the front page was a bold headline—and a striking image of Eric and Imelline.
The Princess’s Beloved.
Every major publication had covered the pair’s unexpected elopement and sudden nuptials. The most talked-about piece, however, compared Imelline’s rise to that of a heroine in a Scarlet tale, with her glass slipper representing a miraculous ascent in cultivation rank and social standing.
Many credited Princess Ella as the fateful helper behind their love.
Of course, thanks to that article, she would undoubtedly be facing her father’s wrath for some time to come…
But perhaps, in the end… this isn’t such a bad outcome.
The fact that Robert had planned to manipulate even the Duke stirred unease. Had he returned from the north bearing military merit, that half-witted fool might’ve dared set his eyes on the throne.
And now the Duke had nearly ceded the
Mermaids’ Grave
to him?
It would’ve been like presenting the royal throne on a gilded platter.
With a tired sigh, Ella pressed her fingertips to her furrowed brow. She reached for the handle to her study’s door.
Ah—right.
“That kid from earlier. The one in the corridor—does he speak?”
The rabbit-like boy she had encountered near the cloistered walkway.
Even with a spiritual pistol aimed directly at him, he hadn’t uttered a word.
Instead of shooting, Ella had instructed a trusted retainer to detain the child. She also asked that he be examined in case he was some sort of spy.
“It’s certain he’s mute, Your Highness. The identity medallion seems legitimate… But Northern Script is notoriously complex. He’s definitely no famed commander or cultivator, though.”
“Obviously not. That rabbit of a boy, a general? Don’t be ridiculous.”
Ella let out a faint snort, remembering the boy trembling head to toe.
“Shall we… eliminate him?”
The attendant asked it plainly. Ella considered the question.
“Hmm…”
It wasn’t mercy that stayed her hand.
It was a gut instinct—this boy might prove useful.
If Robert had indeed siphoned funds from the national treasury for this expedition, then perhaps this mission had another layer to it—something beyond solidifying his claim to succession.
And perhaps, just perhaps, this child could lead her to that answer.
The issue was—he couldn’t speak.
“If he can’t speak, can he write?”
“He writes in the Northern tongue. But, as I said, interpreting it is… troublesome.”
“Bring in a translator. I’ll interrogate him myself tomorrow.”
The Northern script differed so vastly from the kingdom’s standard written language that while spoken phrases sounded like dialects, the written form was like an entirely separate cultivation art. The boy might understand the attendants, but they’d have no hope of understanding his script.
Ella opened her study door, cradling her aching stomach with a hand.
The retainer eyed her with concern as she collapsed onto the couch, drained.
Waving a hand dismissively, she muttered,
“Once the expedition ceremony ends, summon Prince Eric and Lady Imelline here as well. If His Majesty intends to lecture or punish them, tell him to wait until tomorrow—I’m far too unwell today.”
She recalled the subtle, satisfied smile on her father’s face earlier in the audience chamber. Despite his disapproval of the Duke’s marriage to Helena, he would now act incensed that Ella had defied the royal decree’s decorum.
“You dare defy your father’s will?! How many times have I told you to maintain royal dignity?!”
No doubt the usual hollow scolding.
Ella’s eyes fell back to the paper on her desk.
A love that transcends cultivation ranks.
In the photo, Eric was smiling. It was a smile Ella had never seen before.
She furrowed her brows.
“…This… this isn’t a fake smile.”
Ella set the newspaper down and gave a thin, crooked smile of her own. A thought—so wicked that anyone hearing it would call her demonic—flashed across her mind.
The Tomb of the Mermaids.
She wanted it. Badly.
But to claim it, this marriage would have to be real—just like that smile.
She called out to her departing attendant.
“Summon the imperial physician again. Now.”
✵
✵
✵
The princess summoned Eric and me to her cultivation chamber.
By now, I had perfected my pregnant-dan-possessing-young-madam act—I moved slowly up the steps, descended gracefully onto cushions. It was flawless.
But I hadn’t even fully seated myself when the princess said:
“This won’t do. That tomb of mermaids or whatever—it must be mine. Bring it to me.”
I immediately dropped all pretense of my pregnant persona and flopped down like a limp spirit beast.
Eric gave me a shocked look, then one of regret—like he was silently asking
"What am I even doing?"
What do you mean,
what
? You’re deep into the role too, buddy.
He composed himself and spoke evenly.
“First, we’d have to recover the fragmented ownership seals… even then, it would take a full year to consolidate. The problem is…”
“Money? If it’s money, I have more than I can throw at the problem! Thanks to Lady Margaret Beaufort’s gift—”
Eric sighed.
“The problem isn’t money, Your Highness. It’s that Lady Imelline and I won’t be able to maintain this fake dual cultivation bond for an entire year.”
“Why not?! You can change your mind and become lifelong Dao partners! Imelline is a wise and stunning woman! Frankly, she’s too good for a stiff like you! Start heating up your furnace and get to it!”
The princess barked as she looked back and forth between us.
She’s not wrong about me being too good for him…
But something was different—gone was the relaxed air she had the other night.
All this over a sunken spiritual tomb…
Please, Your Highness, find your clarity again.
I looked at her with imploring eyes and gently touched my belly.
She blinked, then slapped her forehead and let out a long sigh.
Right.
Now that we were in the imperial palace and had announced the "pregnancy," the countdown to “birth” had officially begun.
Roughly ten months left—enough time to either manifest an actual child or uncover the duke’s secrets and annul the bond.
Ella poured me some spiritual tea with a serious expression.
“…Have you considered actually becoming pregnant?”
What the hell…?
I just stared blankly at her.
Eric turned away, face buried in his palm, like he couldn’t bear to witness this scene.
I slowly took the teacup she handed me.
“That was a joke, right? Funny one.”
“…No… not a joke…”
“I’m sorry, but pregnancy is… off the table.”
How was I supposed to get pregnant?! That’s not even a rational suggestion.
The princess leaned back in her seat, visibly deflated.
Don’t go throwing out insane plans and then genuinely get depressed when they fail.
I spoke hesitantly.
“How about… we try convincing the southern moneylenders instead?”
“What?”
“I mean, once we accept the inheritance, we’re stuck for a year, right? So instead of inheriting it ourselves, why not persuade the moneylenders—who own the fragmented seals—to pass the land directly to you, Your Highness?”
“You want me to have
them
hand their spirit lands over to
me
?”
Eric sounded like he’d just been slapped with a broken jade tablet.
“The number of creditors holding that land as collateral is at least six, isn’t it? It’s only natural the Duke would catch wind of it during negotiations. And once he knows—do you think he’ll simply stand aside?”
Ella spoke with the weariness of one who had fought many battles.
“He’ll make the first move… which means there’s only one answer.”
“Please don’t say it’s pregnancy.”
I waved my hands as if warding off a curse. Ella raised a brow, her voice dripping with mockery.
“Oh? You’re talking back again. How refreshing.”
Not even surprising at this point...
“Why are you so opposed to bearing a child? From what I see, both you and His Highness are healthy young cultivators with potent spiritual essence, Miss Imelline.”
Spiritual essence!? Is that how she’s talking about fertility!?
Even Eric looked like he was being internally scorched as he took a desperate sip of his tea, throat parched from the tension.
Ella narrowed her eyes and studied me.
“Don’t tell me... is there another man involved?”
“What!?”
“If that’s the case, I don’t mind. As long as the child serves the cause, it doesn’t much matter—”
I do mind! I mind very much, you rogue of a princess!
‘But still...’
My gaze fell to the teacup before me, crimson liquid swirling within.
Why did the world feel like it was spinning? Had I truly deluded myself into thinking I was pregnant?
The surface of the tea rippled as though disturbed by a spiritual quake.
Was it a tremor? I lifted my head and scanned the surroundings.
“...Why is everything spinning...”
Just as I turned my head toward Eric, he furrowed his brows.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m just... dizzy. Could this actually be... morning sickness...? That can’t be right... right?”
My muttering earned a chuckle from the princess.
Why is she laughing...?
But that thought dissipated beneath the weight pulling at my limbs. I tried to look at the princess, but the strength drained from me, and I could only blink slowly.
In my hazy vision, I saw Eric lift his cup, his expression twisting into a scowl.
He turned toward Ella and said coldly, “You put something in this tea.”
She what...?
This damned princess...?!
Even in my swirling confusion, I turned my face toward her and barely managed to whisper,
“...You poisoned a pregnant woman...”
What am I saying? Stop getting too into this role, Imelline Wedgwood!
Then Ella smiled gently, as if soothing a child.
“I told you, didn’t I? I want the Mermaids’ Grave. No matter what.”
And what does knocking me out have to do with that?!
Wait—Eric drank this too, didn’t he...?
I looked to the side. Eric had his hand pressed against his temple now.
“You drugged mine as well.”
“I did. I added extra just for you.”
“...”
Ella smiled sweetly, as if expecting a thank-you. Then, she turned her gaze toward me and crossed one leg over the other.
“Miss Imelline. Have you ever heard what happens to a princess who doesn’t ascend the throne?”
My body collapsed against the cushions. The world spun too violently now for me to remain upright.
A princess who doesn’t ascend...?
Isn’t that the sort of thing that comes up in fairytales?
I mumbled, nauseated.
“...She marries the prince of a neighboring nation and lives happily ever after?”
Most fairytale princesses never become queens, right?
Ella gave a mirthless smile.
“Yes, exactly. They marry foreign princes. But me...”
Her voice trailed off—fading into a distant echo as everything went dark.
“I will become king… and if that means enduring others’ misfortune, so be it… Binding two young cultivators with mutual affection is hardly a great sin…”
The rest of the words were muffled.
Eric rose from his seat, as if ready to resist—but just then, the doors to Ella’s cultivation chamber burst open, and masked assailants rushed in, quickly subduing him.
“Oops, the young lord’s qi reserves are mine now… oh, what splendid aura…”
Blathering nonsense.
Eric dropped to one knee, then collapsed beside me. I used the last of my spiritual energy to reach for his hand.
Hey. Get up, you bastard. You said you’d protect me.
I felt his hand squeeze mine faintly. But that was the last thing I felt.
After that…
It was like a deep meditation state.
Yes, deep meditation. I completely blacked out.
Chapter 36