Chapter 233
He let out a warm, affectionate chuckle. "Her stitching was always crooked, but every single child in the territory treasured those little toys more than gold."
Wang gently turned the tiny cloth rabbit over in his hands, his thumb brushing over the soft, uneven fabric. The stitching truly was charmingly crooked, and one of the long rabbit ears was noticeably longer than the other.
For the very first time on that long, exhausting day...
A deeply warm, genuine smile appeared across Wang’s handsome face, chasing away all lingering traces of fatigue.
"Keep this safe," Wang said softly, handing the delicate cloth rabbit back to Captain Bren with great care. "If one of the palace attendants or scouts comes looking for it near the border... we will see that it is returned to them."
Wei Xiang looked toward the distant, grand silhouette of the Supreme Citadel once more, a quiet, lingering smile resting on his lips. "She is going to be a truly wonderful mother to those children."
Wang’s golden gaze also drifted toward the high, snow-draped fortress looming against the winter sky, his heart filled with an unshakeable, profound warmth.
"She already is," Wang whispered softly.
Far away... high up inside the grand stone walls of the Supreme Citadel...
Lin Wan suddenly let out a small, unexpected sneeze while sitting comfortably on her soft bed, carefully sorting through a wide woven basket of tiny, freshly washed baby clothes alongside Sister Yun and young Mira.
She gently rubbed her cold nose with the back of her hand, letting out a soft, sweet laugh. "My goodness... I feel as though someone far away is talking about me right now.
Sister Yun looked up from her sewing needle, offering a motherly, knowing smile. "Perhaps someone out there misses you very much, My Lady."
Lin Wan turned her head, looking out the clear crystal window toward the white, snowy horizon stretching into the distance.
For reasons she could not entirely explain or understand...
Her heart suddenly felt a little lighter, filled with a quiet, soothing peace.
The afternoon sun cast a warm, comforting glow over the Supreme Citadel, softening the biting cold of the winter air outside.
Inside the vast palace library, a deep and peaceful silence filled every corner.
Towering rows of ancient wooden shelves stretched up toward the high ceiling, their dark bindings carrying the rich, familiar scent of old parchment, dried herbs, and ink.
Lin Wan stood in one of the quiet aisles alongside Mira. Her hand moved slowly, her fingertips lightly brushing over the worn spines of the leather books.
"I never knew there were so many," she murmured, her voice soft so as not to break the stillness of the room.
Mira smiled warmly, adjusting the folds of her dress as she looked up at the towering shelves. "The royal library has been collecting these volumes for hundreds of years. The elders say there are books in this room gathered from every single realm across the continent."
Lin Wan turned her head, looking at the young woman with genuine surprise. "Every realm?"
"So they say," Mira replied with a gentle nod. "From the high peaks of the northern lands to the deep forests of the south."
Behind them, the quiet sound of soft footsteps echoed on the stone floor.
Sister Yun walked into the aisle, carrying a plush, embroidered cushion under her arm. She paused, looking at Lin Wan with an affectionate but firm expression.
"My Lady," Sister Yun said, her tone full of gentle authority. "You have been standing far too long."
Lin Wan let out a small, helpless sigh, though her eyes held no real anger. "I’ve only been standing for a few minutes, Sister Yun."
"And that is more than enough for someone in your condition," Sister Yun replied immediately, pointing her finger toward a wide, comfortable chair placed near a sunlit window. "Sit down."
Mira covered her mouth with her hand, suppressing a quiet laugh at Lin Wan’s defeat.
Lin Wan looked back and forth between the two women before shaking her head and giving up. "Fine. I will sit."
"A very wise decision," Sister Yun approved, arranging the cushion behind Lin Wan’s back as she settled into the sturdy wooden chair.
Once she was comfortable, Lin Wan rested her hands over the noticeable curve of her stomach. Her gaze naturally drifted toward a massive, leather-bound volume that lay open on a nearby oak table.
The gilded title carved into the dark cover caught her eye right away: Records of the Upper Realm Clans.
Curiosity piqued, she leaned forward slightly and turned the yellowed pages. The opening section detailed the ancient origins and bloodlines of several legendary beast groups.
Beautiful ink illustrations decorated the margins—pictures of winding dragons soaring through clouds, magnificent phoenixes spread across fire-lit skies, swift silver leopards hunting through snowy forests, and fierce manticores guarding ancient mountain peaks.
She turned another page quietly, completely lost in the historical accounts.
Mira walked closer, noticing how intently she was reading. "Does My Lady enjoy reading history?"
Lin Wan kept her eyes on the hand-drawn map in the book, speaking thoughtfully. "I have always been curious."
"About what?" Mira asked gently.
"About different places," Lin Wan said, her fingers lightly running over the painted border of a mountain range. "And different people. For a long time, my world was very small. I am only just beginning to realize how vast it really is."
Sister Yun smiled softly, her eyes kind. "The world is indeed vast, My Lady, but it becomes smaller when you find the people who matter."
Before Lin Wan could answer, the heavy double doors of the library creaked open.
Captain Ronan walked in, his heavy armor clanking softly with every step. He stopped a few feet away and gave a deep, respectful bow.
"My Lady," Ronan reported smoothly. "His Majesty requests your company."
Lin Wan paused, her hand hovering over the book. She slowly closed the heavy cover, letting the dust settle back onto the table. "Now?"
"Yes, My Lady. He is waiting."
She nodded, placing her palms on the arms of the chair to push herself up carefully. "I will come."
A short while later, Lin Wan walked into a secluded garden pavilion on the western side of the palace grounds.
The wooden structure overlooked a quiet courtyard filled with frost-covered pines and smooth river stones.
Cassian was already there, standing near the wooden railing as he looked out over the snowy trees.
A small clay stove sat between two low chairs on a stone table, a pot of hot tea releasing thin plumes of steam into the crisp air.
Hearing her footsteps, Cassian turned around. The sharp, intimidating air he usually carried as ruler of the Citadel seemed softer in the quiet garden.
"You came," he said quietly.
"You asked to see me," Lin Wan replied, walking closer.
Cassian gestured toward the comfortable chair across from his own. "Please, sit."
Lin Wan sat down slowly, taking a moment to adjust her posture as her heavy stomach made quick movements difficult. Inside her, she felt a sudden, familiar flutter as the babies began to move.
Cassian’s sharp eyes caught the subtle way her hand moved to support her waist. "They are active today."
"They have been kicking since early this morning," Lin Wan said, a fond smile gracing her lips despite her tiredness. "I think the cold air makes them restless."
Cassian picked up the heavy clay teapot and poured a stream of fragrant, steaming tea into two small porcelain cups.
He pushed one toward her before taking his own seat.
"I spoke with Alaric earlier today," he mentioned.
Lin Wan looked up from her cup, her interest piqued. "What did the physician say?"
"He says your body is recovering well from the journey," Cassian answered, his tone relieved. "Your pulse is steady, and the children are growing strong."
"I am feeling much better," Lin Wan agreed, taking a gentle sip of the warm tea. "The rest has helped."
"I am glad to hear it."
A comfortable, easy silence settled between them. The mountain wind blew through the open sides of the pavilion, carrying the fresh, clean smell of pine needles and fallen snow.
After several long moments of watching the mist rise from his teacup, Cassian spoke again. "I have been doing a lot of thinking."
Lin Wan set her cup down, a slight, teasing smile appearing on her face. "That sounds like a dangerous activity for a ruler."
A small, quiet chuckle escaped Cassian—a rare sound that surprised even the guards standing far down the path. "I suppose it is."
Lin Wan looked at him closely, her eyes bright with gentle observation. "You have been smiling more lately."
Cassian met her gaze calmly. "So have you."
Lin Wan looked down at her hands, her expression softening. "Maybe I have."
Cassian set his teacup down on the stone table, his posture becoming more serious. "I wanted to ask you something, Lin Wan."
"What is it?"
"When the children are finally born..." Cassian paused, picking his words carefully as he looked at her. "What is it that you truly want?"
She blinked, confused by the sudden depth of the question. "I do not understand what you mean."
"I mean for your future," Cassian explained softly. "If no one forced you to stay... if there was no war waiting outside these walls... if no heavy duties tied you down... what would you choose for yourself?"
Lin Wan did not answer right away.
Instead, she turned her head to look past the carved wooden railings of the pavilion, her gaze drifting toward the high, snow-covered mountains in the distance.
She thought about everything she had survived—the floods, the endless running, the fear of wild beasts, and the heavy burden of being rare and hunted in a harsh world.