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The Ruling Chamber
The moonlight in the Fox Realm was unlike any in the mortal world; it was a liquid silver that shimmered with a faint violet hue, casting long, elegant shadows across the polished obsidian floors of the Ruling Chamber. Prince Justin sat amidst a sea of ancient parchment. He didn't move a muscle, yet the room was alive. One by one, heavy scrolls lifted into the air as if exhaled by the earth itself, unrolling in mid-air and arranging themselves in perfect, disciplined rows across his mahogany desk.
Justin's eyes, sharp and calculating, didn't flicker until a disturbance in the air—a ripple of displaced magic—brushed against his skin. With a fluid, regal motion, he raised his palm. A flash of golden light erupted, tearing through the invisibility spell of the intruder.
The magic peeled back to reveal a man leaning casually against a pillar, clutching the very scrolls Justin had been reading. He was strikingly handsome, with a mischievous glint in his eyes that spoke of centuries of shared trouble.
"Again... Mike?" Justin asked, his voice a low, rhythmic vibration.
Mike stepped forward, the scrolls tucked under his arm. "Your best friend deserves a warmer welcome, don't you think?"
"Why have you arrived so suddenly?" Justin narrowed his eyes, the golden glow in his palm fading but not disappearing. "If you're here to ask for help like last time, the answer is no. Your escapades nearly cost my life....."
Mike let out a mocking laugh and winced as Justin reached out, playfully but firmly tapping him on the head. "Ow! Look, because of my 'escapades,' you found that beautiful heaven-sent girl. Otherwise, no sane woman would dare marry a block of ice like you."
Justin scoffed, returning his attention to the floating scrolls. "And you? Are there a thousand girls lining up for a rogue like you?"
Mike's smile faltered into an awkward grin. He cleared his throat, leaning in closer. "Wait... I heard a rumor. They say you're marrying a mortal girl. Who is she? What about Merin? Everyone thought—"
"I never said I liked Merin," Justin interrupted, his face a mask of cold indifference.
"Love doesn't need to be two-sided, my friend," Mike said, his tone turning unusually serious. "If a beautiful girl loves you with her whole soul, you should honor that."
"I have no time for your blabbering," Justin said, standing abruptly. His presence seemed to fill the room, the temperature dropping a few degrees. He began to walk toward the balcony, but Mike's voice, now devoid of humor, stopped him.
"Wait... why didn't you invite me to the wedding, Justin?"
Justin paused, his back to his friend. A small, enigmatic curve touched his lips. "You're already here, aren't you? Why waste the ink on an invitation for someone who breaks into my palace anyway?"
The Courtyard: Secrets and Softness
As they walked through the palace gardens, Justin suddenly stopped. His breath hitched. A short distance away, framed by the glowing blossoms of the fox-fire trees, stood Jade. She was deep in conversation with her attendant, Daisy.
Justin stood perfectly still, his gaze intense, drinking in the sight of her. Mike watched his friend, then looked at the girl. He let out a low whistle, clapping a hand on Justin's shoulder.
"Is that her? You have good eyes, brother. If you hadn't told me she was mortal, I'd swear she was a celestial princess."
As Mike stepped forward to get a better look, Justin's expression shifted. In a move of lightning speed, he stepped in front of Mike and covered the man's eyes with a firm hand.
"She is your sister-in-law," Justin said, his voice dropping to a dangerous, icy chill. "Control your eyes."
Mike chuckled, prying Justin's hand away. "I know, I know. But... Justin... you told me five years ago about a girl. Love at first sight in the mortal realm. You've kept her jade bangle hidden near your heart all this time. What about her? Have you forgotten her for this new bride?"
Justin looked back at Jade. The coldness in his eyes melted into a profound, aching softness.
"She is her," Justin whispered.
Mike's eyes widened to the size of saucers. "No way... really? The same girl?"
Justin didn't answer with words; he simply smiled—a rare, genuine expression that transformed his face.
The Encounter
Nearby, Jade was fidgeting with her sleeves. "Daisy... tell me the truth. Is it important for people to love each other in a Fox Realm marriage?"
Daisy looked puzzled. "Of course, Princess. Love is the foundation of all things here. Why do you ask this so often? Don't you like Prince Justin?"
Jade's heart skipped a beat. Oh no, she's catching on. She forced a bright, fake smile. "No! I... I love him. A lot."
Just as the words left her lips, Justin and Mike stepped into the clearing. Daisy immediately bowed. Jade's face went pale. Did he hear me? No... he couldn't have. But he's a Fox Prince... he can hear a leaf fall a mile away.
"This is my future Queen," Justin announced, his voice filled with a pride that felt far too real to Jade. He turned to her. "And this is Mike... my best friend."
"You are a lucky woman," Mike said, bowing playfully. "You're getting a very obedient, devoted fox husband."
Justin subtly nudged Mike in the ribs with his knee, silencing him.
Jade felt a wave of panic. She needed to get away. "I... I have many things to purchase for the wedding. Daisy and I must go."
"Wait," Justin said, stepping toward her. "I will accompany you."
"No!" Jade snapped, perhaps too quickly. "I can do it myself. You are a Prince; your duties are more important."
She hurried away, dragging a confused Daisy behind her. Justin watched her go, his brow furrowed. "She doesn't want this marriage," he muttered to Mike. "This morning she was different... why the sudden change?"
Mike shrugged. "Why bother with the 'why'? Just be happy she's saying she loves you."
The Revelation of the Jade
As they reached a secluded path, Jade stopped and caught her breath. She reached into her robes and pulled out the small jade stone she had "stolen" back from Justin earlier. I get it back. The truth-telling jade.
She remembered the moment in the garden—how Justin had caught her by the waist as she slipped, his touch sending a jolt through her. In that moment of closeness, she had snatched the jade back from his hanfu.
"Daisy, stand still," Jade commanded. She pressed the jade to Daisy's forehead. "Tell me... what happens if a person marries without love in this realm?"
Daisy blinked, then started laughing. She took the stone from Jade's hand. "Princess, what is this? This isn't the Truth-Telling Jade. It's just a common decorative stone. It's fake."
Jade felt the world tilt. "Fake? But... when he held it to my head earlier, I felt like I couldn't stop myself from speaking!"
The Midnight Confrontation
That night, Jade sat in her grand chambers, combing her hair with trembling hands. The silence of the palace was broken by a heavy footfall. She turned to see Justin standing in the doorway, his eyes dark and unreadable.
Before she could speak, he crossed the room in three strides. He didn't say a word; he simply lifted her onto his shoulder.
"Justin! Put me down!" she cried, her heart hammering against her ribs.
He laid her gently on the large, silken bed, hovering over her. Jade's breath came in short gasps. She covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes wide with fear. Is this it? Is he going to...
"It's too early," she whispered through her fingers. "You need to have patience."
Justin leaned down, a dark smirk playing on his lips. "But I am an impatient man, Jade."
He moved his hand, tracing a path from her forehead, down her cheek, to the line of her neck. When his fingers reached the silk ties of her dress, Jade grabbed his wrist.
"What are you doing?"she panicked
"Why did you lie today?" Justin asked, his voice a low growl. "You told Daisy you love me. We both know that isn't true."
Jade looked away, her face flushing with shame. Justin sighed, the intensity leaving him as he sat up on the edge of the bed. Jade sat up too, smoothing her robes.
Justin asked softly, " Why don't you want to marry me ? "
"Do you want to tell me the truth?"Jade asked
Jade looked at his profile, wondering why his voice sounded so gentle. "I don't love you, Justin. That's the reason. And... I have other things I must do."
Justin's eyes narrowed. He reached into his pocket, then searched the bed linens. Jade realized he was looking for the "Truth Jade." She secretly pulled the fake stone from her sleeve and tossed it onto the silk covers.
"Oh, here it is," Justin said, picking it up. He pressed it to her forehead. His eyes suddenly glowed a brilliant, piercing yellow.
Under the weight of his gaze and the golden light, the words spilled out of Jade's mouth like a river. "I wanted to find out who killed my family !"
Justin froze. "Your parents... were murdered?"
Jade gasped, shoving his hand away. The yellow light is still coming from his eyes and hand. She looked at the stone on the bed, then back at him.
"The stone is fake," she whispered, her voice trembling with betrayal. "It was never the jade. It was you. You used your own power to force the truth out of me this whole time. Why did you lie to me?"
Justin's eyes wavered, the guilt finally breaking through his royal composure.
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To be Continued.....
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