"What now? Serena, did the Imperial Guards catch you again?"
Dominic Zhai strode over, trailed by a bunch of rowdy soldiers. His crisp military uniform somehow made him look even more like a spoiled young lord. Serena arched her brow—what game was Dominic playing this time?
"Greetings, Young Lord." The Imperial Guards' faces twisted as soon as they saw who it was. Just when it seemed Serena might relent, another troublemaker appeared. The Guards groaned inwardly, but had no choice except to salute him properly.
Dominic waved them off, acting every bit the carefree heir. He ignored Serena's question and wedged himself between her and Felix Fuller.
Whether on purpose or not, Dominic gave his shoulder a little shake and shoved Felix aside. Felix staggered, Dominic’s men used the chance to cut him off, and while Serena didn’t understand, she kept quiet—she trusted Dominic had his reasons.
"Serena, come on—didn’t you promise to treat my brothers to drinks? Perfect timing, I just ran into the Capital Prefecture Court boys. Let’s all go drink together." Dominic didn’t give Serena a chance to protest, half dragging her away and leaving Felix and the Imperial Guards staring at each other.
What was going on? Wasn’t Young Lord here to back Serena up and make trouble for the Guards? Why did it feel like he was helping them out instead?
Either way, Dominic pulled Serena away, clearing the way for the Guards to seize Felix Fuller on the spot and send him straight to the Capital Prefecture Court’s jail. Felix was smart—he knew Serena couldn’t protect him right now, so he didn’t protest. As long as Serena had seen him taken, she’d have to save him later; after all, an unregistered man like him was a huge risk for Prince Nolan.
Serena played along, letting Dominic drag her away. Once they were out of sight of the Guards, she finally shook off his grip: "Dominic, do you know Felix Fuller?"
Honestly, she’d already been suspicious of Felix Fuller, which was why she went with the flow and let Dominic take her away.
There was no way around it—Felix Fuller’s appearance was just too much of a coincidence. Serena wasn’t usually one for conspiracy theories, but there was no way she’d believe this was an accident. The world simply didn’t work that way.
Felix was wanted by the authorities, and he wasn’t stupid. Why would he run straight into a busy street? And of all the people there, why did he crash into her?
"I don’t know him, but William mentioned him. William said Felix is the true master of the Blackcloud Stallion, which is how he met you and helped you save William." Dominic shed his careless act, waved his men away, and walked side by side with Serena.
Their men fell back, leaving a ten-step gap behind them and quietly blocking off the crowd. It made their conversation harder for outsiders to overhear. Summer and the others followed after, smiling wryly.
Their mistress wasn’t tired, but they sure were!
Of course, the street wasn’t the place for a real talk. The two stopped there, spotted a teahouse up ahead, and headed inside. Prince Terrence Valen, who’d been trailing them, flashed past and slipped into the teahouse’s back courtyard first.
Once his men had checked every room and reserved all the private booths, Dominic finally spoke: "Serena, you need to be careful with Felix Fuller. William said he’s definitely not an ordinary person. Even though he tries to hide it, his little gestures give him away—he’s had elite training, the kind you can’t get in a regular family."
Noble bearing and graceful manners aren’t something you’re born with—they’re drilled in over years, with a lot of money. Only someone raised in that world can move so smoothly, look so elegant, even guzzle wine from a big bowl without seeming crude. Felix was clearly one of those people.
"Anyone who owns the Blackcloud Stallion can’t possibly be ordinary." Serena had never thought Felix Fuller was just a commoner, which was why she’d never really trusted him.
"Speaking of the Blackcloud Stallion, I found something odd when I looked into it. After it was stolen, it changed hands a few times before ending up with a minor official, who then gave it to me as a tribute. That’s not so strange, but when I dug deeper, I found every thief and handler had disappeared. In other words, the horse was deliberately sent to me from the start." William had already sent word to Dominic to investigate both the horse and Felix, but came up empty. And sometimes, finding nothing is the most suspicious result of all.
Felix Fuller seemed to appear out of thin air.
"Was he trying to get close to me or Prince Nolan? If that’s the case, why send the horse to you, instead of giving it directly to me or Prince Nolan?" Serena wasn’t surprised—she was just puzzled that Felix chose to go through Dominic.
"Getting the horse to you or Prince Nolan wouldn’t be easy. Without a good excuse, it would look suspicious. Giving it to me, and letting me pass it to you—no one would question it. Later, if anyone asked, it’d seem like a coincidence.
Besides, I’d been searching everywhere for a good horse to gift you. Your riding skills are unmatched—if I got the Blackcloud Stallion, odds are I’d give it to you. And if not you, then Prince Nolan. Honestly, a horse like that is too much for me to keep.
Dominic remembered the way Serena looked at the Bloodsweat Chargers and the Blackcloud Stallion in the Imperial Menagerie. Back then, he’d already decided that if he ever conquered Southlyn and Lyndaria, he’d catch the best horse for her himself. So when he saw Felix’s Blackcloud Stallion, Dominic knew it was fishy, but he took it anyway. With Serena’s riding skills, only a horse like Blackcloud would suit her.
Serena paused, then smiled as if nothing was wrong. "I had no idea you were planning all that. Why go out of your way to find me a horse?"
Dominic was perfectly open, not embarrassed at all. "You’re a master rider. Ordinary horses don’t do you justice. If I’m giving a gift, it has to be a good one—what else would I give?" He really didn’t have any other motives, just genuine admiration for Serena’s riding.
Serena finally relaxed, remembering how Dominic had talked about getting married not long ago. She realized she was overthinking things—maybe she wasn’t quite as irresistible as she thought.
"Great riding doesn’t always need a great horse—and I don’t need one right now, so don’t trouble yourself." Serena gently turned him down, then shifted back to business: "So Felix Fuller’s goal was to get close to me. But why? There’s nothing about me that would be worth plotting for."
Dominic just shrugged. "It’s only a horse. No big deal. As for Felix, William thinks he wanted to use you as a bridge to meet Prince Nolan or someone else. Everyone around you is sharp and hard to approach—except you. If he won your trust, neither Prince Nolan nor William would be on guard against him."
"That does make sense..." Serena thought back to Felix’s behavior at the Prefect’s Manor in Easestream City.
In that kind of danger, he still chose to escape with her—obviously trying to earn her trust. If not for today’s coincidence, she would have eventually put aside her doubts and let Felix get close to her and everyone around her.
Just thinking about Felix’s hidden motives made Serena shiver all over...