Firelight Bearing the World’s Sin for You

Serena watched Lily Li, who was nearly hysterical, with a calm expression. Only after Lily's emotions had settled a little did Serena speak: "Miss Li, I don't know how much you love Sean, but whether you love him or not has nothing to do with his happiness.

Do you really think that just because you love Sean, his happiness can only be found with you? Don't forget about Ruby Redsleeve, that maid—she claims to love Sean too. The way you two love Sean doesn't seem all that different."

"Ruby? She's nothing! How can you compare me—a noblewoman—to a servant? My love for Sean isn't about his status or position; I love him for who he is." Lily Li stomped her foot in anger, looking utterly insulted.

Serena sneered, mercilessly exposing the truth Lily Li refused to face: "Your birth is indeed higher than Ruby's, but this morning, both you and Ruby did the same thing for Sean. Birth isn't the only measure that matters."

"I just—" Lily Li tried to explain, but Serena interrupted her: "Miss Li, I know you have plenty of reasons. But if you truly loved Sean, you wouldn't have just watched him risk his life this morning. Maybe you say you had to consider your father, or Moonvault Palace Sect, but none of those are reasons to let Sean face danger alone. Did you not realize he could have died at your father's hands?"

Serena was not exaggerating. Even with all their precautions, there was no guarantee the three of them would come out unscathed.

They were all gambling with their lives—if they lost, there would be no coming back. Lily Li knew this, yet she still watched Sean take the risk. That kind of love can't withstand any real storm.

Serena tore away the last layer of pretense, exposing everything Lily Li tried so hard to hide. She refused to keep arguing—Lily's love came with too many conditions. Her feelings for Sean were nothing like the deep devotion she claimed.

Lily Li burst into tears, covering her face with both hands as she slowly crouched down, shouting, "It's easy for you to say, Serena! Have you ever thought about my situation? On one side is the man I love, on the other, my father. What am I supposed to do? You want me to betray my father and my family? If I really did that and brought ruin to my father and Moonvault Palace Sect, I'd never forgive myself. Even if I ended up with Sean, I could never be happy."

"I'm not asking you to betray your family or your father. But between Sean and Moonvault Palace Sect, you can only choose one. Who will it be?" Serena asked, ruthless as ever.

Lily Li's face went deathly pale as she kept shaking her head. "I don't know, I don't know. Please don't force me."

"I'm not forcing you. I'm just telling you: Sean and Moonvault Palace Sect can't coexist. One day you'll have to choose. Rather than suffering later, make your decision now." Right now Sean hadn't fallen for Lily Li, but who could predict the future? To spare Sean future pain, Serena had to be cruel.

"Miss Li, you've investigated me, so you should know about me and Prince Nolan. Back then, I liked Prince Nolan so much I could throw everything away—my life, my reputation, anything. I would've borne the sins of the world for him, because I had no family holding me back. I only needed to live as Serena, just be myself. But you're different."

Serena paused. Seeing Lily Li's confused look, she continued, "There was never a 'right or wrong' between me and Prince Nolan—we weren't enemies. But Moonvault Palace Sect is destined to oppose us. When Moonvault sent people to ambush us, the feud was set. Sean will never side with you and Moonvault against me. If you want to be with Sean, you have to let go of Moonvault, or you'll both suffer in the end."

She was never the kind of woman who would give up career and family for love, so she wouldn't ask Lily Li to betray her clan for Sean. But she also couldn't let Lily use her so-called love for Sean as a way to manipulate him for Moonvault's sake.

"Serena is still so calm and rational." In the shadows, Sean looked up at the dark sky, his eyes stinging.

When Lily Li came to find Serena, Sean and Prince Nolan had already quietly followed, ready to protect Serena up close. They hadn't expected to overhear all this.

"The Li family's eldest young miss is truly infatuated with you." Prince Nolan's face was indifferent, his eyes deep and unreadable as he gazed into the distance. Sean couldn't tell if Nolan meant something deeper or was just making a casual remark, so he didn't answer and changed the subject: "Serena will be fine. Let's take a walk."

Prince Nolan didn't refuse. The two walked side by side, slowly heading toward the deserted edge of the mountain summit—a wide, open space where Prince Damien couldn't follow.

But Prince Damien was never one to give up easily. If he couldn't work in the shadows, he'd act in the open. He turned and went to find Princess Royal Helena.

After an incense stick's time, Princess Royal Helena changed into new clothes and, together with Prince Damien, approached Prince Nolan and Sean. She still wore a floral scent, but it was much lighter than during the day—delicate enough to be intoxicating.

Princess Helena's mood had improved; she felt she'd regained her dignity. Prince Damien nearly rolled his eyes—he thought this woman was utterly boring.

"Prince Nolan, Palace Master Sean, what a coincidence." Princess Helena stepped forward and stood beside them, imitating their posture as she gazed down. "What are you two looking at? Can you tell me, so I can enjoy the beauty of Skyvault Mountain too?"

Prince Nolan didn't respond, not even glancing at her. He simply turned and walked away—Serena had told him not to get entangled with flowers and grass.

"Eastlyn's Ninth—" Princess Helena's face flushed red as she pointed at Prince Nolan's back, her finger trembling. Was this man really so dismissive of others?

Sean stifled a laugh. When Princess Helena turned her gaze to him, he cleared his throat and said seriously, "I won't disturb Your Highness's night view. Farewell."

With that, he turned and left just like Prince Nolan, completely unconcerned by Princess Helena's anger.

"Those two are so rude!" Princess Helena had never been treated so coldly; her face twisted with anger. Prince Damien ignored her and stepped forward, standing where Prince Nolan had been, looking down in the same direction.

"That spot..." Even Prince Damien, usually so composed, was startled for a moment, then laughed. "No wonder I consider him a worthy opponent. Interesting."

"What?" Princess Helena was intrigued by Damien's words and craned her neck to look down, but saw nothing.

Prince Damien had no intention of explaining. He turned away indifferently. "Let's go back."

"Did you discover something?" Princess Helena wasn't stupid—she was actually very shrewd. But in front of someone as twisted as Prince Damien, she had to act a little foolish to get more out of him.

"It's none of your business. Mind your own affairs. Lyndaria won't go to war for the life of a single Princess Royal." Prince Damien's words were a stern warning; Princess Helena felt a chill down her neck and broke out in a cold sweat.

Princess Helena took a deep breath to steady herself, keeping up her regal composure. Before leaving, she glanced once more toward the mountain's base, then thoughtfully withdrew her gaze.

That direction—if she remembered correctly—was where Skyvault Fortress stood. Did something happen at Skyvault Fortress?

Princess Helena's eyes lit up as she looked toward Fortress Lord Ling's tent in the distance. Then she lowered her gaze, concealing her scheming thoughts...