"Claiming to be my wife and you don't even know my identity…" Lin Zeyan said, pushing the sword closer toward her throat as he stepped forward, forcing her backward into the room.
"Tell me who you really are," he said, pressing her against the wall and placing the sword horizontally, his face leaning dangerously close.
The sword was sharp—but not sharper than his gaze.
The blade touched her neck, yet it was his intense eyes that felt like they were cutting into her.
"Why so angry, my lord?" she asked in a polite, low tone.
"So you really don't want to live," Zeyan said coldly. "I'm asking you for the last time—who sent you? What were you doing in the forest? I'm giving you one chance. If you're a spy sent by another realm—"
"Being killed by you would be a blessing my lord. But I want to live with you," she said softly. "So please… give me a chance to explain. Show some sympathy to your wife."
"STOP IT!" he shouted, striking the sword into the wall beside her. The wall cracked instantly.
"Say what you want to say," Zeyan growled. "This might be your last chance."
"I was searching for you for so long and finally found you in that forest. I fainted because of excitement—I was overloaded with happiness. My body couldn't bear it. And even now, I was coming to—"
"Why were you searching for me?" he interrupted, frustration heavy in his voice.
"Because you are my husband."
"How—!" he shouted again. "We never met, How can I be your—"
"Husband," she completed calmly.
He didn't respond, but the frustration in his eyes was loud enough.
"Don't be angry, my lord," she said gently. "Let me explain. Do you remember last year when you visited the Inter-Realm Fair? That time… we met."
"My lord, you do really visited the Inter-Realm Fair last year!" Minister Lan, still standing outside, shouted excitedly.
"Shut up! Or you will die before her!" Zeyan roared, turning toward him and lowering the sword from Lingxi's neck.
"Don't be angry, my lord," she continued quickly.
His gaze shifted back to her—frustrated, sharp, and cold.
"Let me complete, my lord," she pleaded. Without waiting for his reply, she began to walk slowly around the room, keeping some distance from him.
"At that fair, we were infected by some illusionary love spells. And then… we got married. I don't know who did it or why. My friend witnessed everything and she tried to stop us, but she couldn't. After the spell wore off, we both forgot everything. She was the one who taught me all this. We tried to reach you, but you flew away with your dragon."
Lingxi took a long breath, pausing for a moment. Zeyan was now sitting behind her, leaning his head on the table as she continued pacing and narrating.
"From that day, my lord," she continued putting extra emotions in her voice, "I have been searching for you in every realm. That's why I didn't know your real identity. The only thing I remembered was your handsome face…"
She stopped when she noticed him sitting nearby with his head resting on his arm, eyes closed.
"My lord… did you fall asleep?"
"How can I sleep with such a nasty sound?" he replied annoyingly.
"If you don't like my voice, I will work on it, my lord…"
"Shut up. How much time did it take you to make such a senseless story?"
"Few moments," she snapped.
"Huh?"
"I mean…" she corrected quickly, "a few moments ago I had no idea about you, and now you're standing in front of me… listening to me… looking at me with such a soft gaze, my lord."
"Are you blind?" he asked coldly.
"Yes… in your love."
He grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him at chairs.
She fell slightly forward, her hands landing on his shoulders, her face inches from his.
"Don't push your luck," he warned.
"But I want to…" she whispered. "Give me a chance to serve you."
Her innocent voice and pleading eyes made the air heavier.
He pushed her away and stood up.
"You are not allowed to go out," he said, and then left the room.
"Keep an eye on her," he commanded Minister Lan, who was still standing at the gate.
As soon as Zeyan disappeared, Lingxi took a deep breath and sighed, sitting down on the bed.
"I know he's not convinced… but at least he's confused," she consoled herself.
Zeyan stood by the window, watching the rising sun.
"Who could she be…" he whispered.
"My lord," a voice came from behind.
It was Master Yunhai, one of the very few people Zeyan respected.
"Master, you are showing up early this time," Zeyan said.
"Something happened last night," Master Yunhai replied. "So I came to make sure it didn't interrupt your—"
"No," Zeyan cut in. "But I doubt she saw that."
"What!" Master Yunhai exclaimed. "Then why are you delaying her death?"
"She came here with some special agenda. To know her motive, she must stay alive," Zeyan replied calmly. "If we kill her now, they will send another. Better to play along and reach the mastermind."
On the other side, Lingxi was busy plotting her next move.
"I am in the palace… so there must be a library containing traditions, culture, and methods related to this realm."
She moved toward the door.
"Is that invisible layer still here?" she muttered. Gathering courage, she tried to push her hand through. This time, she succeeded. There was no restriction.
When she stepped outside, the place was empty—no guard, no barrier, nothing to stop her.
"He really didn't leave a single guard… The emperor of the Demon Realm is not only powerful but clever. With his high cultivation, setting a barrier I couldn't cross is easy for him… but he intentionally removed it."
"He's trying to trap me," she whispered. "I have to move with patience. If he's testing me, one wrong step can ruin everything."
Lingxi returned to her room again.
"I have to play along… To save Chan, I have to stay alive."
She spent the entire day inside the room.
"Day has passed… night has come… he still hasn't made a move," Lingxi murmured to herself, sitting on the bed. "He's waiting for me to do something. He wants a clue. Whatever it is… at least I'm still alive."
On the other hand, Zeyan was in the same thought.
"My lord," Minister Lan reported, "I stayed there the whole day waiting for her to go out, but she didn't do anything suspicious."
"She's clever indeed," Zeyan replied. "Anything else? Did she ask for anything?"
"Yes, my lord. She asked for you. She appealed to call you. That's it."
"Then let me make up to her," Zeyan said with a smirk and headed toward her room.
Wearing his black night clothes, Zeyan moved silently toward Lingxi's room—prepared for something she was not.
As Lingxi saw Zeyan entering, her expression shifted. She stood up from the bed.
Zeyan walked in with cold, unreadable eyes.
"How much I've heard… the Emperor of the Demon Realm is known as ruthless and cruel. He doesn't believe in forgiveness…" she whispered nervously.
Zeyan came close to her without a word until they stood almost touching—barely any distance between them.
"What happened, my lord?" she asked cautiously.
"Didn't you want to see me?" he replied, narrowing his eyes, making his gaze even sharper.
Then, without warning, he grabbed her waist and pulled her toward him, eliminating the space between their bodies. Lingxi's hand landed on his shoulder, while his arm wrapped tightly around her waist.
"Wh–What are you doing, my lord?" she stammered.
"What happened?" he replied with a smirk. "Didn't you want to see me? You said you wanted a chance to serve me..… now you have it."
Without waiting a moment, he leaned his face down toward her.