The moment the princes departed, Madam Hana emerged from the inner room. One glance at Yue Rong's pale face was enough to make her hurry forward.
"Come," she said gently, slipping an arm around her. "Lie down for a while. You stood far too long."
Yue Rong allowed herself to be led back to her room. As soon as she sat on the bed, the strength she had been forcing herself to hold onto finally gave way.
A tear slid down her cheek, followed by another.
Hana frowned.
"Why are you crying?" she asked softly, sitting beside her. "What did the crown prince say to you?"
"It wasn't much," Yue Rong whispered. "He only asked about the pregnancy."
"Then why are you crying?" Hana asked again, her voice filled with concern.
Yue Rong clenched her fingers into the bedding, her shoulders trembling.
"You remember I told you I was drunk the night I became pregnant," she said, her voice breaking.
"I don't know why… but every time I see the second prince, I see him. The man from that night. His presence reminds me of everything I try so hard to forget."
She swallowed, her eyes glossy with unshed tears.
"And the way the crown prince questioned me," she continued quietly, "it felt like he already knew something. Like he was testing me."
Hana froze for a moment, then reached out and firmly took Yue Rong's hand.
"Don't be afraid," she said with conviction.
"The emperor and the crown prince are honorable men. If they suspect anything, they won't use it against you. They will help you , not deceive you."
Yue Rong nodded slowly, though the unease in her heart refused to fade.
------
By the time Prince Rong Yuan and his brother returned to the palace, night had already settled over Yunhai.
Prince Rong Yuan ignored his brother's restless attempts to speak and walked straight into the throne room, only to halt in surprise, as he sighted the visitors sitting with his father.
Prince Lianyi.
Prince Leng Yue.
Princess Yuyan.
And two other men, he has never seen before.
Their expressions were heavy, burdened with something far greater than fatigue.
"Prince Lianyi. Prince Leng Yue," Rong Yuan greeted, stepping forward to embrace them. "What brings you to Yunhai?"
Before anyone could answer, the emperor spoke, his voice low and grave.
"What the eyes have seen, the ears have heard."
Prince Rong Yuan frowned.
"Father… I don't understand."
At that moment, Prince Xian Rong entered the hall, bowing slightly.
"Good," the emperor said. "You're here. Sit. What we must discuss concerns us all."
Once they were seated, the emperor drew a slow breath.
"You both remember the prophecy of the Dark Hours....passed down through generations."
"Yes, Father," both princes replied.
"The hour has come," the emperor said.
"The battle drum has sounded, one the world has never heard before."
"The rise of the forgotten bloodline," Prince Rong Yuan said quietly.
The emperor turned to him, pride flickering briefly in his eyes.
"You are indeed my son."
Prince Xian Rong's face tightened.
"Does that mean… the forgotten bloodline has already risen?"
"Yes," the emperor answered without hesitation. "Ji Woo... of the forgotten bloodline, and her partner have become immortal."
Prince Xian Rong stiffened.
"How is that possible?" He asked, totally shocked.
"They found the dragon egg," the emperor said. "The details are unclear, but the truth is undeniable."
Princess Yuyan finally spoke, her voice calm yet chilling.
"The dragon egg grants immortality when hatched in witch fire," she explained. "That was why the Witch Queen of centuries past hid it with powerful magic, to keep it from falling into the wrong hands. Somehow… Ji Woo found it. And the egg has already hatched."
A heavy silence followed.
"That means," Yuyan continued, "we are no longer fighting witches or vampires alone. We are facing beings that do not die."
"So we must unite the strongest kingdoms," she said firmly. "If Ji Woo wins, the world will be wiped clean. Nothing will remain."
Prince Rong Yuan straightened, his gaze sharp.
"What is the plan?" He asked.
The emperor raised his hand. "You have all studied the prophecy," he said. "You know the figures it foretold."
He gestured slowly.
"This is Princess Yuyan of Lianhua, the Witch Princess in the history. You already know Prince Leng Yue as the the Great Seer. This young man here is her husband. Vampire Prince the prophecy mentioned. And this one…" he paused, "…is the man with the strength of ten."
Prince Rong Yuan had heard the legends all his life, yet seeing them gathered before him made the weight of fate press down on his chest.
Prince Xian Rong, however, sat frozen, shock written plainly across his face.
Prince Leng Yue finally spoke, his voice firm and unyielding.
"Prepare your soldiers. The war ahead will not spare the unready.
-----
After the visitors had settled into the guest chambers, Prince Xian Rong did not return to his own quarters. Instead, he changed direction and went straight to Prince Rong Yuan's library.
He needed to speak to him, now, before his brother retired for the night.
Inside the library, Prince Rong Yuan was gathering the scattered scrolls on his desk, stacking them neatly so he could finally go to bed. When a soft knock sounded at the door, a knowing smile tugged at his lips.
"Come in," he said calmly.
The door opened gently, and Prince Xian Rong stepped inside. His movements were slow, hesitant, as though each step weighed heavily on him.
Prince Rong Yuan glanced up.
"What is it?" he asked, raising a brow. "You look like someone walking toward judgment."
"I want to speak with you, Brother," Xian Rong said quietly.
"And what could possibly be so urgent that it cannot wait until tomorrow?" Rong Yuan asked, turning fully to face him.
Prince Xian Rong's throat tightened.
"Brother… please don't tell Father," he said suddenly.
Rong Yuan's expression sharpened. He walked closer.
"Tell him what exactly?"
Prince Xian Rong swallowed hard, his hands curling into fists at his sides. His voice dropped to a near whisper as he said.
"I slept with Yue Rong."
The words hung in the air like a blade.
"I was drunk," he hurried to add. "I swear I was. I didn't even realize what I was doing."
He lifted his head briefly, panic flashing in his eyes.
"I don't even think the child is mine," he said, his voice breaking. "Please, Brother… don't tell Father."
Unable to hold himself upright any longer, Prince Xian Rong fell to his knees.
"I beg you."
The room fell silent.