Morgan Shangguan shifted in his embrace, finding a comfortable spot, and asked, "How long did it take you to get out of that place back then?"
Damien Gray raised his eyebrows slightly, understanding immediately where she meant, and couldn't help but ask, "Missing those two little rascals?" His tone carried a hint of jealousy.
Morgan glanced at him and couldn't help but laugh softly, but Damien's next words wiped the smile off her face instantly.
"You'd better not think about them. It takes at least a year or two to get out of there."
Morgan sat up abruptly, narrowed her eyes at him, and said in a low voice, "You did that on purpose!"
Damien rested one hand behind his head, glanced up at her, and reached out to caress her collarbone, where traces of his kisses still lingered, slowly sliding downward. Morgan slapped his hand away, still staring at him with a stern face.
Damien rubbed his hand where she slapped him, looking innocent as he said, "It's for their own good. They have to grow up eventually. We can't protect them forever, and you wouldn't want them to be bullied in the future, would you?"
Ethan Gray and Roxy Shangguan are different from the rest. Even now, few can bully them, but there's always someone stronger. Didn't they just encounter the Blood Wraith? Who can guarantee Ethan and Roxy won't meet someone even harder to handle in the future?
Morgan snorted coldly, "Don't make it sound so noble. Can you really say you don't have any selfish motives?"
Damien still looked innocent, but didn't deny it. Morgan reached out and pinched his neck, scolding coldly, "Such a petty man!" As soon as she finished, she pressed her lips to his fiercely—it didn't really look like she was angry.
Although Damien Gray often drove her up the wall, Morgan could count on one hand the times she was truly angry with him. It was less anger, more helplessness. Faced with Damien's occasional childishness, she was at a loss—yet somehow, she found his boyish side endearing. She must be crazy!
Damien's lips curved up as he gently stroked her back, chuckling, "Isn't it true that my princess likes a petty man?" He wasn't wrong—he was petty, not fond of Morgan focusing on anyone else, and Morgan did like him, didn't she?
Morgan snorted, "Don't push your luck. One day I might just lose patience and kick you out!"
At that, Damien put on a pitiful face, hugged her tightly, and nuzzled against her, whining, "Mo'er, how could you abandon me after leading me on?"
Morgan kept a stern face but couldn't help bursting into laughter. She patted his cheek and said, exasperated, "Are you addicted to acting now?"
Damien kissed her with a smile, then his expression turned a bit more serious. "We leave for Azure Kingdom tomorrow."
Morgan frowned slightly, "To congratulate Adrian Yarrow on his coronation?" A kingdom could not be without a ruler for a single day. With Julian dead, Adrian Yarrow, the sole heir, naturally had to ascend the throne quickly.
Damien's eyes gleamed, his smile carrying deeper meaning. "That's not all. Azure Kingdom has requested another marriage alliance to strengthen ties between our nations."
Morgan narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't tell me you're the candidate again? Otherwise, Sophie Qiu wouldn't have come to you—the Ghost King who never does anything for the court!"
Damien shook his head and sighed, "What can I do? Adrian Yarrow insisted I go. To make up for marrying a princess who isn't really a princess, this time the marriage alliance candidate is a true princess!" He sounded almost pleased, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
Never mind Adrian Yarrow's true motives—even just weighing Morgan Shangguan and that so-called princess side by side was enough to irritate him. Plus, Adrian had specifically mentioned Morgan, saying she’d been away from home for so long and could use this chance to visit and reunite with her family.
He knew exactly what Adrian was thinking. If he weren’t so reluctant to be apart from Morgan for so long, he’d never have let Adrian get his way!
Seeing Morgan deep in thought, Damien complained, "Mo'er, can't you be a little jealous for once?"
Morgan shot him a look. "I'm not as petty as you!"
Damien let out a long sigh, sounding aggrieved. "If you act like this, anyone would think you don’t love me at all!"
Morgan raised an eyebrow, asking casually, "Would you really marry her?" It was all just for show anyway—what was there to be jealous about?
Damien replied mysteriously, "You never know. Maybe if that princess turns out to be beautiful, I’ll marry her."
Morgan smiled gently and uttered three words: "A corpse, then?" Whoever tried to steal her man, princess or not, wouldn’t live long!
"Heh..." Damien chuckled softly, clearly delighted by Morgan’s response.
Morgan ignored him, slipped naked out of bed, grabbed her clothes and began to dress. She glanced at Damien, who lounged on the bed looking appreciative, and tossed his robe at him. "If we’re leaving, shouldn’t you give some instructions to the Ghost Guild?"
Damien replied nonchalantly, "We can stay in touch anytime. There’s nothing to explain."
Morgan didn’t say anything more. After dressing, she said, "I’m going to check on Susie Yun." Susie’s pregnancy was much harder than hers—worse even than most women’s. She’d been vomiting terribly these days, and even Ryan Ouyang, her loyal ghost, looked haggard from worry.
Damien said nothing, just watched her leave, his eyes narrowing, coldness flickering within. He had plenty of rivals for Morgan’s affection, but whose idea was this marriage alliance? He suspected Adrian Yarrow wasn’t ready to give up, but Jin Locke would be happy to see Morgan return too.
He snorted inwardly. He’d make sure they all learned that no one could touch what was his!
And as it happened, there was another surprise waiting for Adrian Yarrow! Word was, Mona Shangguan really was pregnant—but whose child was she carrying?
No matter what, Adrian Yarrow was definitely getting cuckolded. Tsk... Damien could hardly wait to see his reaction!
When Morgan returned, she saw Damien still lying on the bed, propped up and smiling with cold, sly charm. She knew someone was about to suffer and silently mourned for them. Still, going to Azure Kingdom suited her fine—she had a few scores to settle herself!