I Know What I’m Doing

The Qilin Empress Dowager's expression finally softened as she looked at Soren Lann. "Did you tell her yet?"

"Tell her what?"

"Tell her you like her! Ask her to stay and marry you!"

Soren Lann shook his head.

"Soren!" The Qilin Empress Dowager was a bit annoyed. "Why didn't you say anything? Why didn't you keep her here?

At the Celestial Emperor's birthday, you should've figured it out, right?

The Celestial Empress just wants her to marry Fourth Highness.

And the Celestial Emperor keeps trying to tie her to that Fifth Highness who popped up out of nowhere!

And you're just handing her over to them?

"Didn't I already say?" Soren replied. "Even if it's the Celestial Emperor and Celestial Empress, my master and mistress would never ignore Lucia's wishes and arrange her marriage for her!"

"So basically, it's all up to her own choice, huh? Then you definitely shouldn't let her go! That Palace Guard Barracks is full of young heirs from big clans, all about her age! Aren't you worried they'll catch feelings after spending so much time together?"

Soren said, "They're nothing to worry about. Mother, you really don't have to overthink it!"

"How are they nothing to worry about? The others are fine, but that Fifth Highness... he's way too good-looking. Any girl would be tempted!"

"Don't worry about it!" Soren said. "I've got it handled."

"Handled?" The Qilin Empress Dowager snapped. "I think you're totally clueless when it comes to this! From what I see, she treats that Fifth Highness differently! She might not even care about you as much as she does him!"

"Mother, I really do have it handled," Soren said slowly.

"Handled? Tell me, how exactly?"

Soren said, a bit helplessly, "She only sees me as her junior disciple—always has, always will. If I suddenly confessed, she'd just push me away. If I tried to force her to stay by my side... you know her temperament, it would totally backfire!"

"So what are you going to do then?" asked the Qilin Empress Dowager.

"Mother, just trust me." Soren smiled and comforted her. "One day, I'll make her truly want to marry me, and we'll be the couple everyone envies. We'll stay with you as you grow old, and take care of you together."

The Qilin Empress Dowager's expression softened even more. She held Soren's hand and said earnestly, "Silly child, do you think I'm doing this for myself? I'm doing it for you!

You and I, mother and son, we're politically isolated and have no real backing.

Only the Lu clan can support you!

The Lu clan has held power for hundreds of thousands of years, with deep connections throughout the Lumina Realm. When they speak, everyone listens!

You have to marry Lucia Lu—it's the only way I can rest easy."

Soren replied calmly, "Mother, if I have to rely on a woman to keep my Divine Lord throne, I'd rather not have it! You should have a little more faith in your son!"

The Qilin Empress Dowager looked at him, comforted.

......

After a few days at home, the three little ones had to head back to the Palace Guard Barracks.

Lucia Lu went out to the courtyard to retrieve those two Flower Eggs.

Golden marigolds thrive in warm climates.

During these few days in the Lumina Realm, they've bloomed even more beautifully.

Lucia Lu picked up Sean Shaw's Flower Egg and stared at the carved pattern.

Two or three years had passed.

Some words still echoed in her ears.

"I don't want to ascend as some lofty Divine Lord or Celestial Emperor. I just want to stay with Father, and with you... and all our friends, for a very long time. That's enough for me."

"Lucia Lu, this Flower Egg—you're not allowed to give it to anyone else. Wait for me to come back."

......

But the Sean Shaw Soren described seemed like a completely different person.

"He wants to compete with the eldest prince for the Crown Prince position, so he needs a powerful marriage alliance! And you... you're the best candidate."

......