Outside the Celestial Palace, First Prince Brandon Xiao stood gazing at the entire complex, his eyes filled with confusion.
"Your Highness." His devoted Divine Attendant, Eve, looked at him anxiously. "Are you alright?"
"Why is it?" Brandon murmured to himself. "Since childhood, I've always demanded perfection from myself, never making a single misstep! I cultivated diligently, performed good deeds, held myself to strict standards—filial above, kind below—praised throughout the Three Realms and Ten Wilds. Yet in the end, the one chosen to be Crown Prince is Sean Xiao?"
Eve said, "I don't get it either. That Fifth Highness is all rebellious and savage—he can't compare to you at all!"
Brandon said nothing.
"Your Highness, you've been standing here for a whole hour. Let's go back!" Eve urged. "Didn't Her Majesty the Empress ask you to visit Radiant Dawn Palace?"
Radiant Dawn Palace—the Crown Prince's residence.
Brandon nodded and headed to Radiant Dawn Palace.
When he arrived, he saw Lily Bai standing with one hand on her hip, bossing around a few little demons from the Wildlands as they decorated the palace. "Peacock, put that over there—yes, right there! You've got it backwards! The front side should be facing out! Are you trying to drive me crazy?"
"Why don't you do it yourself!" Peacock complained, clearly annoyed.
"I'm the Crown Princess now! Crown Princesses don't do manual labor—obviously, that's your job!" Lily Bai grinned smugly. "Right, Chacha?"
"Of course!" Chacha said. "Peacock, work hard and maybe our Crown Princess will make you chief Divine Attendant of the Celestial Palace!"
Peacock's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Of course! Isn't that right, Your Highness the Crown Princess?"
"That's right! And later we'll bring the Flying General and the others up here—just like in the Demon Emperor's Palace, right, Crown Prince?" Lily Bai called out to Sean Shaw.
Sean was peeling Fairy Fruit, having already filled half a white jade bowl. Hearing her, he walked over, picked out a piece, and fed it to Lily Bai. "Do whatever you want—as long as you're happy."
"What about you? Anything special you want to tell me?" Lily Bai asked, happily munching on the fruit he fed her.
"Me? As long as you're here, that's all I need." Sean flashed a bright, toothy smile.
Lily Bai smiled back at him, picked up a piece of fruit, and fed it to him in return.
"Can you two please stop already!" Peacock Fairy rolled her eyes. "I've been here all day—I'm about to die from all this public affection!"
......
Outside the door, Brandon Xiao's gaze grew unfocused for a moment.
How different Sean was from him!
He had never interacted with his own wife like that.
He'd only married for politics—to secure an alliance and better stabilize Drake Abyss.
Everything about him—wasn't that exactly what a true ruler should possess?
But Sean—he'd die for a woman! Reckless, willful, always putting himself first and the greater good second. Why was he the one chosen as Heaven's son of destiny?
Why him?
......
"Big Brother, why aren't you coming in?" Sean Shaw spotted him.
Brandon Xiao walked in, looked at Sean for a moment, and bowed. "Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"Big Brother!" Sean Shaw hurried to help him up. "You're my elder brother—you mustn't do this."
Brandon Xiao replied, "The rites of ruler and subject cannot be neglected."
"Greetings, Your Highness!" Lily Bai also bowed. "Sorry, the place is still a mess—there isn't even anywhere to sit!"
"No matter. Let's talk outside," Brandon Xiao said.
Sean Shaw nodded, took Lily Bai's hand, and the three of them stepped outside together.
"Big Brother, the Empress sent you to find me, didn't she?" Sean Shaw asked.