Prince Nolan was no weakling, nor a child without the ability to protect himself. Now, he feared neither people nor circumstances—he would never show weakness to anyone.
Emerging from the hidden chamber, Prince Nolan’s blood-red eyes gradually faded back to their usual color. In the darkness, his deep gaze seemed to flicker with a trace of phosphorescence—too swift to be certain.
Standing alone on the empty street, Prince Nolan hesitated for a long time before finally heading toward Feng Manor.
At this moment, he didn’t want to be alone.
Prince Nolan usually preferred not to disturb anyone when visiting at night, but tonight he was in no mood for such restraint. The household guards, the Eighteen Riders, and Zuo An’s master all noticed his presence—yet none dared to stop him.
The chill radiating from Prince Nolan was so intense that anyone with a shred of sense knew better than to cross his path and court death.
He made his way unimpeded to Serena’s courtyard. Having heard the news, Serena was already up, lighting the lamps and just about to put on her outer robe when Prince Nolan walked in.
“Nin—” Serena looked up, barely uttering a syllable before Prince Nolan strode over and pulled her into a fierce embrace. “Don’t move. Let me hold you.”
Prince Nolan’s mood tonight was clearly off, but before Serena could say anything, he had already pulled her close, and with a gust from his movement, the lamp in the room was snuffed out.
Serena didn’t dare move a muscle, letting Prince Nolan hold her tightly, his head buried in her shoulder.
Serena didn’t know how long it had been—her whole side was going numb, yet Prince Nolan still wouldn’t let go. After much hesitation, she finally asked, “Prince Nolan, what’s wrong?” Tonight, he seemed especially fragile.
Prince Nolan released Serena, his voice already steady again. “I’m just a little tired.”
“Is there a lot of state business?” Serena frowned, unsure whether to believe his explanation.
“Northlyn and Chu City have formed an alliance. Chu City is trying to persuade other cities to join forces and attack Eastlyn.” Prince Nolan’s expression was calm, as if that moment of vulnerability had only been Serena’s illusion.
Eastlyn’s reluctance to start a war doesn’t mean others won’t make a move. The Nine Provinces are only so large—anyone with ambition has to look at their neighbors and see what they can bite off.
“Is war about to break out?” Was this what Prince Nolan was worried about?
It didn’t make sense. Eastlyn was fully prepared; if Northlyn and Chu City attacked, they wouldn’t gain much, and might even risk being swallowed up themselves.
“Soon. If Westlyn doesn’t send troops and Eastlyn stands alone, we’ll have to mobilize the entire nation.” Even if Eastlyn won against Northlyn and Chu City, it might not be able to fight again for another ten years.
Ten years... far too long.
“Is there a problem with Titus?” Serena wrapped her arms around Prince Nolan, placing her right hand over his heart.
Thump, thump... The steady, rhythmic heartbeat silently told Serena that Prince Nolan was fine now.
It seemed he truly was troubled by the war.
Serena quietly let out a breath, and for now, pushed aside the matter of Lance.
Prince Nolan already had enough on his plate; she would handle her own affairs herself.
“The Westlyn Emperor is still on the throne,” Prince Nolan remarked offhandedly.
Though the situation was unfavorable for Eastlyn, it wasn’t enough to make Prince Nolan lose control and show weakness before Serena. He’d only exaggerated the severity to distract her.
“Westlyn’s situation should settle soon.” Left Shore wouldn’t let Feng Jin stay there for long.
“Titus isn’t ruthless enough.” As long as the Westlyn Emperor remained in power, Titus would never be in charge—and with his temperament, he’d never force his father to abdicate, let alone commit patricide.
“If Titus were truly ruthless, you wouldn’t trust him.” Anyone who could kill their own father for the throne would hardly honor an agreement with Prince Nolan.
“You’re right. Titus is fine as he is.” Prince Nolan understood—he was asking too much.
Prince Nolan hadn’t come to talk business with Serena. He only brought up official matters to distract her, and once he saw she’d stopped suspecting, he asked, "Did you come looking for me today because something was wrong?"
"No, nothing." Even though she’d been sad earlier, she was feeling much better now. That moment in the afternoon was just a burst of impulse.
"Oh..." Prince Nolan responded, dragging out the word with a long, skeptical tone, making it clear he didn’t believe her.
"Actually, yes—there is something." Too many secrets between them would only cause problems; she didn’t want another fight or cold war with Prince Nolan.
Serena paused to organize her words, then told Prince Nolan everything that had happened today, especially her refusal to accept Lance Quinn’s death.
For the first time, Serena spoke openly to Prince Nolan about Lance Quinn: "I didn’t interact with Lance much, but I truly saw him as a confidant and friend. Even now, I can’t accept that he’s really gone—it just doesn’t feel real."
Hearing Serena talk about his other self—and especially about that self’s death—right in front of him felt truly strange. Even Prince Nolan, usually so calm, was unsettled.
All Prince Nolan could do was hold Serena tightly and offer stiff comfort: "The dead can’t come back. Don’t be sad."
"Sadness doesn’t help. Life, death, illness—I’ve seen too much as a doctor. I just can’t accept it right now, that’s all." This time, Serena buried her head in Prince Nolan’s chest, listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat until her own heart calmed.
After a long while, Serena finally looked up at Prince Nolan, her face serious: "Life is so short, and the afterlife so uncertain. We have to live well—no matter what happens, we can’t give up on life. Even if it’s hard, we have to keep going."
Serena believed she could keep living even without Prince Nolan, but that kind of life would always be incomplete...
"Even like the Ghost King—buried alive, forced to eat corpses—should someone still fight to survive?" For some reason, Prince Nolan suddenly wanted to know how Serena viewed the Ghost King.
Serena didn’t hesitate at all. She nodded firmly: "As long as you can stay alive, that’s enough. If you’re alive, there’s hope."
"You’re right. As long as we stay alive, that’s enough." In the darkness where no one could see, Prince Nolan allowed himself a relieved smile. "Don’t worry. I won’t die easily—and I won’t let you die easily either."
Prince Nolan patted Serena’s back, thinking of the time they’d survived together in the Wolf Tribe’s Forbidden Ground in Northlyn.
If he and Serena had to die, they would die together. If they lived, they would live together.
"But if I die, don’t think you’ll get to live on. I’ve told you before—I won’t let you live alone."
"You’d have to get the chance first. Sometimes death comes so suddenly, we’re not prepared at all. How would you kill me then? You know I’d never commit suicide." Suicide is for cowards; if she has the courage to face death, she certainly has the courage to keep living.
"You’re right... I’ll live well, keeping one last breath just to wait for you." If it really came to that moment, even if he had the chance, he doubted he could bring himself to harm Serena.
Even though he always told Serena he wouldn’t let her live alone, he also couldn’t bear the thought of her dying...