William Wang Jinling has resigned from office—cleanly and without a trace, as if not even a cloud was left behind...
At first, some people found it hard to adjust, even regretting that they could no longer witness the Grand Heir’s presence. But as time passed, everyone got used to a court without William Wang Jinling, and to the streets where his figure was no longer seen.
People are forgetful—no one is truly indispensable, and nothing falls apart just because someone leaves. William was indeed capable, said to be worth ten men, but even after his resignation, the six ministries of Eastlyn kept running as usual. Duties and powers once concentrated in his hands were simply divided among a dozen others...
It’s true the Wang Clan relied on William, but even after he stepped down as clan head and his father resumed the position, the Wang family remained Eastlyn’s foremost house. The Wang heirs still walked with heads held high.
Of course, everything seemed unchanged on the surface, but the impact was real. Take General Warren Yu, for example—he was used to glancing at William’s old spot during morning court. Seeing someone else standing there always left him unsettled...
That was William’s place!
The Wang heirs, too, found they were no longer as popular as before; when mingling with other young nobles, they didn’t receive the same universal deference.
The aura William brought to the Wang Clan hadn’t vanished, but without him, it no longer packed the same punch!
Still, everyone had to adapt to life without William. Whether it was General Warren Yu or the Wang heirs, they all knew that once William made up his mind, no one could change it.
“The official world without William is truly lonely.” Felix Fuller, just back from Southlyn, realized the man he saw as his rival had never considered him one at all. William simply abandoned everything Felix had dreamed of and walked away, leaving Felix unsure whether to envy him or resent him.
If he could, Felix Fuller would also abandon everything and enjoy a life of freedom like William. But he couldn’t—ever since he came out, he’s carried the burden of reviving the Fuller Clan and leading them back into the Nine Provinces Realm. He couldn’t just walk away.
Felix wore a gloomy expression; even with the Fuller Clan about to return to the Nine Provinces Realm, he couldn’t feel much joy. After handing over his Southlyn assignments at the palace, he dragged General Warren Yu out to visit William.
He just couldn’t figure out why William would resign when everything was going so well. With the Fuller Clan about to establish itself in the capital as a newly risen noble house, the Wang Clan’s power was no longer something to worry about!
With William gone, Felix was left all alone in the official world—without even a rival to spar with. How lonely was that?
“You could’ve gone by yourself—why drag me along?” General Warren Yu shook off Felix’s hand, visibly annoyed.
Without William’s guidance, he’d been swamped lately—his workload had tripled, and he was about to lose his mind.
"The more, the merrier." Felix stubbornly refused to let go of Warren Yu.
He’d always seen William as his rival. If he didn’t bring someone along, it would be too awkward to go alone—even if he knew William wouldn’t care. But he wasn’t William; he did care.
"William never seemed to enjoy crowds. If you really want to bring someone, don’t drag me—bring Serena. If you take Serena along, William will definitely be happy." Warren Yu had always been blunt with Felix and William, saying whatever came to mind. But Felix wasn’t like him; he immediately looked around nervously, only relaxing when he saw no one was nearby. Then he turned back, face stern, and scolded, "Serena isn’t someone you can just call by name. Address her as Her Majesty the Empress."
"It’s just a title—do you really have to make a fuss? The more you call her Empress, the more distant it feels." Warren Yu was a little upset.
The woman who once drank and laughed with him was now the exalted Empress. Forget sharing a drink—even meeting her was no longer easy.
“Sigh... No wonder William resigned. Just thinking about it stings.” General Warren Yu could relate; he only saw Serena as a friend, but even her new status as Empress made things feel distant—let alone for William.
"Everyone has their own fate—some things aren’t up to us." Felix sighed softly. He thought, if it were possible, Serena would never have entered the palace.
Even as Empress, she had no freedom. The Phoenixfield Clan’s noble heiress would never clip her own wings for a man, yet Serena had done so much for Prince Nolan—so much that it made people jealous...
......
"After all that happened, Serena still forgave him. No wonder Prince Nolan makes other men jealous." Sean Xuan, who came to drink with William, was forced to have tea instead. The two chatted like old friends, and somehow Sean brought up the time on Destiny Cliff when Prince Nolan let Serena go.
Even though Serena was fine now, Sean couldn’t help but ache for her every time he thought about it. "You know, she must’ve been in so much pain. When Serena first woke up, she was like a puppet—sitting there day after day, her face streaked with tears. No matter how much we asked, she wouldn’t talk about it."
"Yeah, Serena must’ve been hurting so much back then." Only now did William realize why Serena refused to forgive Prince Nolan at first, and his heart twisted for her...
Back then, he’d even defended Prince Nolan—he really was hopeless.
After Serena woke up, her health was poor. The Valley Master said she could miscarry at any time and ordered her to rest in bed and keep her spirits up. For the sake of her child, Serena smiled every day and tried to stay cheerful. You have no idea how much it hurt to see her like that..." Sean’s eyes reddened as he spoke. "Why is she so heartbreakingly strong?"
"Because she’s Serena." The Serena who never bowed to fate, who brought light to others.
William looked up, gazing wistfully toward the palace, and let out a barely audible sigh...
The world only saw his peerless brilliance, but didn’t know: without Serena, William was just a blind man with wasted talent. People would only sigh at the pity of it all.
"She’s Serena..." Sean Xuan murmured, clutching a jade pendant in his hand. His eyes dimmed, then he broke into a bright smile. "But as long as Serena is happy, that’s enough. She’s always been clever, knows what she wants, and won’t let herself suffer. Since she chose to forgive Prince Nolan, she’ll make sure she lives well."
"Serena is happy—she’s doing well." No matter how much it hurt, William had to admit that Prince Nolan had given Serena the happiness she wanted. Though both he and Sean Xuan could have given her happiness, it wasn’t what Serena truly desired...
"Prince Nolan wouldn’t dare treat Serena badly." Likewise, no matter how much Sean Xuan disliked Prince Nolan, he had to admit that Nolan loved Serena to his very core.
He and William could live their lives without Serena, but if Prince Nolan lost her, he’d go mad...
He had once seen Prince Nolan in the throes of madness—he was terrifying!