After another dance, Eldest princess came over with a smile.
“Welcome, esteemed guests, to my daughter’s birthday banquet. The purpose of today’s celebration goes beyond Anna’s birthday; there’s something more important.” She cast a glance at Anna.
With a cold expression, Anna stood farther away from He Li, unable to guess what her mother was about to say.
“That is, I will announce at this birthday banquet that Anna is engaged to He Li, the eldest son of the He family.” After the eldest princess finished speaking, the elders from the He family stepped forward, smiling and acknowledging the announcement.
The applause and congratulatory words echoed through the crowd.
“Princess Anna and Master He truly make a talented and beautiful couple.”
“…”
After making the announcement, other guests at the banquet joined the dance floor. However, Anna, now engaged, didn’t linger by her fiance’s side. Instead, she headed straight for Jiang Ling.
Taking advantage of Chu Wenyu being preoccupied outside, she boldly approached Jiang Ling.
She could feel intense stares piercing through her back, but Anna remained fearless.
“Your Majesty?” a nervous noble cautiously inquired, sensing the monarch’s distraction.
“Nothing. Continue,” Chu Wenyu replied, taking a sip from his wine glass, his gaze unwavering like a torch.
Despite some simmering anger, Chu Wenyu could endure it. He could consider it a farewell to Jiang Ling and her unrequited love. After all, she might not be as suitable for intimacy with other Alphas after this.
Jiang Ling waited for Anna’s movements. During this period, he dared not move to avoid arousing Chu Wenyu’s suspicion. He stood obediently within the monarch’s line of sight but not too close. Leaning against the railing, he absentmindedly enjoyed the sea breeze, his golden hair tousled but exuding an effortlessly carefree charm.
When Anna approached, Jiang Ling refocused his attention.
“Congratulations, Princess, on finding your match,” Jiang Ling congratulated, having heard the Elder Princess’s words.
Princess Anna raised her eyes and silently looked at him for a long time, ultimately not saying much. Like Jiang Ling, she leaned against the railing, the sea breeze diluting the scent of alcohol on her.
“Did you know nothing about the engagement tonight?” she unexpectedly spoke.
Jiang Ling looked at her, gesturing for her to continue. Although it was someone else’s family matter and not his concern, he sensed that Anna wanted to tell him something.
“I was unaware. It was arranged by His Majesty,” she said with a wry smile, running her fingers through her hair.
Jiang Ling frowned slightly, not expecting this.
“How did you find out?”
“I guessed. I think your decision to attend my birthday banquet displeased His Majesty. Besides, on the day I was expelled from the palace, he privately mentioned helping me find a suitable match,” she said, showing a keen sense in this regard.
Jiang Ling subconsciously glanced in Chu Wenyu’s direction, finding the monarch staring at them with intense eyes.
He turned away, no longer looking at him, but he believed Anna’s words.
Chu Wenyu was indeed capable of such actions, and he showed no signs of changing.
“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault,” Jiang Ling apologized, bowing his head in deep regret.
“I’ll talk to him. You don’t need to help me today, and don’t involve yourself in my affairs anymore. I’ll figure it out on my own,” Jiang Ling calmly said, intending to approach Chu Wenyu.
But Anna grabbed him.
“I genuinely want to help you. I also want His Majesty to suffer at least once. Besides, there’s no turning back once the arrow is released,” Anna emphasized.
Jiang Ling paused, looking at Anna. At this moment, he still didn’t know Anna’s plan.
However, when he wasn’t paying attention, Anna suddenly leaned in. In a flash, he felt a soft touch on his chin.
Jiang Ling immediately stepped back, frowning as he wiped his chin.
“You’re too tall,” Anna shrugged.
So, she only kissed his chin.
“Princess, you should know…” Jiang Ling began with a serious tone, but Anna interrupted him.
“I know you don’t like me. Can’t we have a farewell kiss? And it’s just on the chin,” Anna appeared carefree.
The key was that she wanted to infuriate the usually dignified monarch at least one more time before Jiang Ling left Burke Star.
‘Crack!’ The sound of a shattered glass echoed through the entire hall, silencing the crowd. The nobles closest to Chu Wenyu took a couple of steps back, frightened, watching their monarch.
“Nothing, just didn’t hold it firmly,” Chu Wenyu’s gaze was icy. After the waiter came with a trash bag and cleared the debris, he casually patted his hands.
“It seems like the cup’s quality isn’t that good…” The noble mumbled, his voice growing quieter.
Jiang Ling, oblivious to the commotion, looked over for a moment and locked eyes with Chu Wenyu.
There was no warmth in his eyes.
“Come over,” Chu Wenyu mouthed the words.
Jiang Ling glanced at Anna, then ignored Chu Wenyu’s request. Without staying by Anna’s side, he turned and headed towards the seaside, seeking some solitude.
Upon seeing Jiang Ling ignoring his command, Chu Wenyu’s expression became even more severe. He first glanced at Anna before turning his gaze to the eldest princess.
“I thought engaged individuals should keep themselves pure,” he remarked, not caring about his royal status. He pushed the wheelchair away from the banquet, displaying a rather huffy attitude.
It took a moment for the eldest princess to realize that Chu Wenyu was referring to her daughter. Unaware of Anna and Jiang Ling’s interactions, she furrowed her brows and approached Anna, intending to find out what her daughter had done to upset the monarch.
Due to the eldest princess’s interference, Anna had no choice but to follow her. However, each time she recalled Chu Wenyu’s gaze, she could anticipate that he wouldn’t let her off easily.
Meanwhile, Jiang Ling squatted at the edge of the beach, absentmindedly tossing whatever he could find in his hands.
The confrontation between Chu Wenyu and Anna seemed a bit tedious to him. Frankly, he felt like the outsider in this situation. Besides, such melodramatic plots were something he had never encountered in the modern world. He had always been laid-back, not accustomed to these scheming games.
Most importantly, Chu Wenyu truly shocked him.
Thus, even if Anna’s actions were inappropriate and likely to displease the villain, he chose not to intervene. After all, Chu Wenyu unilaterally deciding his niece’s marriage was beyond acceptable.
Moreover, it all happened because of him, which was utterly absurd.
His desire to escape Burke Star grew even more intense—loveandpeace.
Not staying long, Jiang Ling sensed movement behind him. He continued tossing things absentmindedly, but when he looked back, he saw Chu Wenyu in the wheelchair.
“Your Majesty.” Jiang Ling still called out, aware that the monarch was about to erupt again.
Seeing Jiang Ling’s apparent lack of remorse, Chu Wenyu’s anger intensified.
“I told you to come over. Why aren’t you coming?” If the previous actions were a display of a minor temper, it should have been reasonable to stop at some point. He was willing to be patient for Jiang Ling’s sake, not wanting to degrade him.
However, when he saw Anna kissing the Alpha, a string inside Chu Wenyu’s heart snapped.
This had gone beyond his tolerance.
“I don’t want to come over, just like how Your Majesty’s questioning is suffocating now.” Jiang Ling said with some emotion. However, right after saying this, he regretted it a bit. Considering it from another perspective, if Chu Wenyu were to get close to someone else, he would feel uneasy too.
“Do you… already hate me so much?” Chu Wenyu felt that he no longer knew what to do with Jiang Ling. This person used to treat him with utmost care, both in words and actions. However, now, he seemed to want to escape suddenly, changing his demeanor entirely.
His voice was broken, and Jiang Ling even heard a sense of despair in it.
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
