Charlotte straightened his clothes again.
“So, why are you here? Are you trying to discuss how I should compensate you? Or do you want me to publicly adm—”
Floleen looked a little unhappy.
She leaned in closer to Charlotte, her slender jade-like fingers stopping just at his lips, her voice soft and low:
“Is that really what you think of me, Charlotte? That I only agreed to our engagement for profit and compromise…?”
Floleen stared into Charlotte’s eyes, a mixture of resentment and pain swirling there, as if Charlotte had no idea what she had sacrificed.
Charlotte, as expressionless as ever, replied blandly, “I’m only respecting you from a noble’s standpoint, nothing more, Floleen.”
Seeing Charlotte’s coldness, Floleen felt a sharp pang in her heart—Charlotte hadn’t always been like this…
But Floleen also knew how to deal with this kind of Charlotte.
She declared forcefully,
“Charlotte, I don’t know who made you the way you are now. But let me tell you, don’t even think about getting rid of me. Even if I have to give up my noble status, I’ll still stay with you. My feelings for you are the purest love. I don’t care what anyone else says!”
Charlotte didn’t speak.
He simply put his arm around Floleen’s slender waist, replying softly, “Mm….”
Floleen pouted, a little aggrieved.
“Charlotte, I know you’ve done a lot for Wuyue and the Weiss Family, but I don’t want you to always hold everything in. Do you understand?”
Floleen knew just how much pressure weighed on Charlotte’s shoulders, but she also wanted him to love her a little more.
They had once been inseparable as children, but now they crossed paths like intersecting lines—meeting at a single point, then drifting further and further apart.
Floleen didn’t want it to be this way. She wanted, by her own effort, to get closer to Charlotte…
She took Charlotte’s hand, interlocking their fingers with her right hand.
“I won’t mess up your plans. I just want you, today…at least today, to spend some time with me. I haven’t seen you for so, so long….”
Even Charlotte looked a bit surprised. Today’s Floleen seemed to have lost her old arrogance, replaced by shy softness.
“That’s all? I thought you’d ask for something more.”
Seeing the rare flicker of emotion on Charlotte’s face, Floleen couldn’t help but laugh.
“What, do you want me to turn back into that troublesome Floleen from when we were little?”
“I’d rather not….”
When they were children, Floleen really did like to cling to Charlotte, sometimes even biting him.
Charlotte’s calm demeanor today owed a great deal to Miss Floleen’s pain endurance tests.
Charlotte let go of Floleen’s hand and took a sip of tea to calm himself. Outwardly he was as calm as ever, but inside his emotions were churning.
“So, tell me, where do you want me to take you today? I’ll say it up front—no crowded places. Right now I’m the center of attention in the Empire Capital, and if you’re seen with me, there’ll be endless gossip.”
“I’m not afraid of what people say!” Floleen insisted, then softened her tone,
“But… let’s just have a date at home today…. You’re so busy, just being with you is enough.”
Charlotte nodded and took Floleen to the garden in the mansion’s backyard.
There was a small pavilion there, perfect for the two of them to relax together.
Floleen sat across from Charlotte, resting her chin on her hands as she gazed at his profile.
Charlotte was reading a Magic Book, sunlight making his eyes appear especially bright.
Floleen found herself entranced until she noticed the book in his hands was an advanced Magic Book.
Floleen asked, “Charlotte, have you already mastered fourth-tier magic?”
“No. I’m just preparing thoroughly, working on a new compound magic.”
“I see….” Floleen kept searching for a topic.
“Charlotte, how much longer can the Initial Mist last? Isn’t this plan a bit too rushed…?”
Faced with the question, Charlotte closed the Magic Book.
“It can’t be helped. I already confirmed with Artifact Lord before; if we stop using the Initial Mist, it can last at most half a year. But unfortunately, as long as we act, we have to use the Initial Mist. In reality…we only have about three months.”
“Can you tell me your plan? Or is it a secret?”
“Of course. You’re my woman. Why would I hide it from you?”
“Lady Cecilia left our Mistmoon Family a clue to the Mist God’s Legacy before she passed. It’s with her daughter, Lilia Karen. She gave the Divine Artifact to her daughter. If necessary, our Mistmoon Family can take it back, but in exchange, I have to do her a favor.”
“Or have Lilia Karen personally return the Divine Artifact to me. This time, we don’t have to deal with the lunatics of the Holy Church, so there’s no danger. Don’t worry.”
Charlotte comforted Floleen.
He knew Floleen was worried about his safety.
After explaining, Charlotte added, “Rest assured. I absolutely won’t fall for her.”
Of course, Floleen knew exactly who he meant by “her.”
“Oh? You’re explaining it especially to me?” Though she said this, Floleen was secretly overjoyed.
Charlotte actually cared about her feelings—he’d never done that for any other woman.
The more she thought about it, the higher Floleen’s lips curled.
The two spent the entire afternoon together like that.
In the evening, because Charlotte had given all the maids the night off, he had to cook himself.
He made a simple dinner for Floleen.
Floleen leaned in, nose close to the steaming steak.
“Mm…Charlotte, you’re so good at this. When we’re married, will you be in charge of the cooking?”
“Miss Floleen, cooking is something we can leave to the servants….” Charlotte was a bit helpless.
Floleen didn’t seem to care much about her noble status; what mattered more to her was being Charlotte’s wife.
That was indeed true. Since she was little, Floleen had worked hard to become a good bride for Charlotte.
Whether learning magic or acquiring knowledge, she did everything by Charlotte’s standards.
Though her magical talent wasn’t as strong as his, she was excellent at managing family affairs and doing housework.
After dinner, Charlotte arranged a guest room for Floleen, then shut himself in his own bedroom, lit a Crystal Lamp, and continued reading his Magic Book under the starlit sky.
The summer cicadas’ song made the night even more peaceful.
Just as he was about to extinguish the lamp and go to sleep, there came a knock at the door.
Charlotte wondered what Floleen wanted this time, but before he could get up, the door was already pushed open.
“Cha…Charlotte…”
In the dim Crystal Lamp light, Floleen stood there in a very revealing dress—a silk nightgown thin as cicada wings.
The semi-transparent fabric clung to her skin, her fair flesh faintly revealing the blue veins beneath.
Moonlight crept in from the balcony, falling right on her bare belly, outlining the delicate curve of her waist.
The sheer gown heightened her embarrassment even more, the white lace of her shorts rimmed with a dark wet patch that spread down along her thighs.
She instinctively pressed her knees together, but stubbornly lifted her chin to meet Charlotte’s gaze, her scarlet eyes burning with possessiveness, though her ears were flushed crimson.
“Floleen, do you need a bit of my blood to sleep?”
Just by looking, Charlotte knew what Floleen wanted—his blood.
Floleen threw her arms around Charlotte, hiding her expression from his view.
Muffled, her voice came from within his embrace, “Charlotte… I trust you. I believe what you say. But I’m still afraid…that you’ll…leave me…”
Charlotte smiled gently. “Floleen, aren’t you a little too lacking in self-confidence?”
“No… I don’t trust you! You said you wouldn’t fall for her, but can you control her? If you don’t like her, what if she falls for you? I know as a Mistmoon man you’ll have to have heirs…I don’t mind…it’s just…I want to have your first time… If you marry her later, I can accept it!”
Floleen summoned her courage and said all this, leaving Charlotte stunned.
Normally, Floleen was cunning and a little mischievous, but now she really seemed afraid of losing him, even trembling a little.
“Charlotte, you’re right, I’ve always been a difficult woman…with a very strong possessive streak.”
Floleen’s voice grew smaller and smaller, eventually just a faint whisper.
“I don’t have any special wishes, I just hope you won’t be so cold to me anymore. Can’t you, just for once, show…a little of your possessiveness over me, like when we were little?”
Charlotte was just a man, not made of stone. With a girl being this forward, it would be unreasonable for him not to respond.
“Are you really ready?” Charlotte’s fingers brushed Floleen’s crimson lips.
“Mm…love me, Charlotte!”
Charlotte rather roughly carried Floleen onto the bed.
Their young bodies pressed tightly together, from tentative kisses to burning entanglement, like parched earth meeting spring rain.
Charlotte always worried about hurting her, treating her with a tenderness close to reverence, until she panted softly in his ear, “It’s okay,” allowing him to finally let go of his desires.
After a long while, Charlotte finally regained his senses and climbed off of Floleen. Floleen was completely spent, nestled in Charlotte’s arms, her heart overflowing with sweetness.
In as gentle a tone as possible, Charlotte asked, “Do you believe me now?”
“Mm…I felt it. Charlotte’s own possessiveness…” Floleen caressed her belly as she spoke softly. Content and satisfied, she smiled.
Charlotte breathed in the scent of her platinum hair.
“I do find it curious, though—Bloodfiend blood is actually pink.”
“Dummy! My blood is obviously red! It’s pink because…”
As everyone knows, white and red make pink when mixed together.
Floleen suddenly perked up, but was too shy to finish her sentence, and went limp again in Charlotte’s embrace.
“Floleen…I know you came for the Emperor’s Banquet.” Charlotte’s tone grew exceptionally soft, lacking its usual coolness.
“Mm, so?”
“Can you stay in the Empire Capital a few more days after? Let’s go out together?”
Floleen’s eyes widened; she could hardly believe these words came from Charlotte. For the first time in her life, she’d heard Charlotte make a request to her.
“Charlotte…is this really you?”
“Floleen…don’t say things like that. You make it sound like you’ve misunderstood me.”
Floleen’s eyes filled with tears in an instant. “It’s just been so long since I heard you talk to me like this…”
Charlotte fell silent for a moment, then suddenly pulled her fully into his arms.
His chest was broad and warm, heartbeat steady and powerful, thumping comfortingly through the thin fabric. “Maybe so.”
He lowered his head, chin resting on her hair, and breathed in her sweet scent. “But with you, I don’t want to pretend anymore.”
He stroked her back, movements gentle as if cradling the most fragile treasure.
“Sorry for always making you work so hard, for having to be the one to reach out to me.”
He paused, his voice deep and earnest.
“This time, I want to be the one to reach out to you… You’re so considerate…it makes my heart ache.”
“Liars have to swallow a thousand needles, you know.” Floleen couldn’t hold back anymore and started to cry.
“I won’t lie, not to anyone—especially not you, Floleen…”
With Charlotte’s promise, Floleen finally drifted off to sleep in his arms…
That night, both of them took the most important part of each other.