.
Liu Wei lay quietly on the bed, feeling Wang Zheng clinging to her neck.
Huan Yang had already been informed about the queen's choice of entertainment, and her astonishment was more than obvious.
The young couple moved in a sleepy, lazy rhythm. Would the days always be this peaceful?
They felt more certain than before, their hearts lighter. Yes—there would still be disagreements and difficulties, but they weren't alone, right?
The room carried a faint pineapple-mint fragrance, sweet and mellow.
The queen rested with her head on Liu Wei's chest as a gentle hand combed through her hair. Her eyes were closed, but she wasn't sleepy enough to drift off.
The young princess knew the queen was fighting to stay awake, and in truth, there wasn't much time to rest—the pile of documents still sat waiting on the table.
"Zheng."
Wang Zheng found it amusing to hear Liu Wei call her so informally, though she definitely liked it. "Hey…"
"When we're married, will I have to sleep in a separate room from yours?"
Liu Wei couldn't help but think of marriage, of Wang Zheng, and of how some things in her life seemed doomed to repeat. It wasn't unusual for kings and queens to have separate chambers, only sleeping together occasionally. Often, the queen had her own palace while the king lived alone in another. Arranged marriages made such distance common within royalty.
But a love marriage was different. In a contract marriage, as long as both sides performed their duties, there was no need to force intimacy or affection.
Liu Wei, however, would marry for love—and the most terrifying thought was doing so without enough time to truly fill her heart with certainties. They wouldn't have time for quarrels and reconciliations. No time for trips and shared memories. No time to introduce her girlfriend to her family, to win them over. No time even for regrets.
Marriage would be a bond they could never break.
Hearing her girlfriend's question, Wang Zheng finally sat up properly in bed. "I don't like the idea of us living in separate rooms… I intend for us to share one. If you want your own space, you can have it, but I want to sleep with you."
The queen had learned two things from her father's numerous marriages:
Family is an abstract concept that goes beyond blood ties.And marriages could quickly turn into a heavy burden—so choosing the right partner was more than just a political decision.
She had quickly realized that happiness depended on many factors, but also on effort. She often questioned whether she was truly willing to marry and fight for the happiness of a stranger… She could only fight for the happiness of her country.
Didn't that seem more logical?
But meeting Liu Wei had given new meaning to her beliefs—because fighting for someone you care about was actually a joy.
"Good." Liu Wei smiled. She truly wanted their marriage to work, and knowing Wang Zheng felt the same was deeply rewarding.
The queen touched the young omega's lips. How could someone be so beautiful? That girl was a work of art. "We'll have a lot to sort out before the wedding, but I'm glad it's with you."
Hours passed, and soon it was time for the queen to leave for the theater again. Tonight, it would be Yen Bai's turn to perform.
The queen longed to cancel everything and stay with Liu Wei… but that was out of the question.
Bloody Spring was one of the few times when the king's will was merely a detail.
The event would happen, and the participants would either fulfill their duties—or face elimination.
The queen could not be absent under any circumstances.
Liu Wei wouldn't leave the palace that night. As a high-level omega, she needed at least two days of rest after her estrus peak. Still, she couldn't stay locked away for so long—she wanted to see Li Zhang's performance. One day of rest would have to do.
At that moment, what the young omega needed most was to avoid high exposure to pheromones, so she would stay with Anna and Li Zhang.
Wang Zheng's heart soured at the thought of her omega being alone with someone else… But they had made a promise. All she could do was trust her woman—and she did.
Liu Wei was still in her pajamas when the queen began dressing to go out, watching intently as her girlfriend slipped into a blue gown that hugged her body perfectly. She sighed inwardly… so sexy.
Approaching Wang Zheng as she admired herself in the mirror, Liu Wei pressed a kiss to her exposed glands, feeling the queen's deep breath.
The queen tilted her neck toward the touch, unable to resist. How could she ever avoid Liu Wei? "Weiwei… I need to leave."
"I'm not doing anything." Liu Wei laughed with satisfaction, watching her girlfriend's face flush. So beautiful.
The older omega leaned her chin on the princess's shoulder in the mirror's reflection and smiled. "Can we keep not doing anything when I get back?"
"Of course… Do you want help with the protector?"
"Yeah."
Liu Wei gently placed the barrier protector over Wang Zheng's glands. The faint traces of mint and pineapple still lingered—so tempting.
The young princess was tempted to mark her again. Her teeth ached for it.
The queen gave one last look at her reflection, smiling in satisfaction. The dress really was stunning. Turning, she faced Liu Wei's sweet eyes, wrapped her arms around her neck, and kissed her. That girl was candy on her lips—impossible to let go.
"Weiwei, I'll be back."
Liu Wei smiled. "It's all right."
"As soon as the show ends, I'll come straight home."
"Right."
"If anything happens, ask Anna to tell me or talk to Huan Yang, okay?"
"It's all right."
The queen trusted Anna deeply, but trusted herself even more. She wanted to be the one to care for Liu Wei. Leaving felt like leaving behind something far too important.
She had barely stepped away and already missed her.
Gathering her things, she spotted Liu Wei in her cute teddy bear pajamas. The young princess leaned against the wall near the door, waiting just to say goodbye.
The queen smiled at the sight, dragging her feet to the door, regretting having to leave her behind. She wrapped her arms around the younger girl's waist and leaned close to her face. "I want a kiss…"
"You deserve two."
"Two is too few. I want three."
"Fool."
"I'll be back soon…"
Wang Zheng got her three kisses—and stole a fourth.
They laughed softly, sharing the secret joy between them. When they opened the door, Anna was already waiting for the queen. There was an unspoken agreement between the queen and princess that during estrus, the beta would share some of Huan Yang's duties to keep him away from Liu Wei's chambers.
Liu Wei watched Wang Zheng disappear into the horizon and smiled with satisfaction. That woman was hers.