I Still Remember You

"Utter nonsense!" Bella Bell's eyes flashed with anger. "Neither the Prince nor Master Lily ever posed a threat to your throne. But what did you do? You used their trust, stabbed them in the back. Leonard Li, I've never seen anyone as despicable and shameless as you!"

"They may not care about the throne now, but what about in the future? They have children, too. When their sons grow up, if Alexander Hayes wants his own son to sit on that throne, what happens to our son then?" Emperor Leonard the Enlightened argued. "Striking first—is that really wrong?"

"It seems power has truly clouded your mind. Even now, you stubbornly refuse to see reason!" Bella Bell snorted coldly, spun on her heel, and walked off in another direction.

But just as she rounded the archway behind her, Bella Bell was startled to see a young man standing right in front of her, staring intently.

Bella Bell froze for a moment, eyeing the young man up and down, almost unable to believe it. "You... you're Charlie Thompson?"

Henry Thompson's eyes softened with a gentle smile as he looked at Bella Bell. "My name is Henry Thompson now, Your Majesty. Please don't call me by the old name."

"You—what are you doing in the palace?" Bella Bell was truly surprised to find Charlie Thompson here.

Henry Thompson smiled, his eyes full of warmth. "I still remember you, too. You were the one who gave me my first meal after I arrived at Clearwater Village."

Bella Bell was stunned, memories flooding back as she murmured, "So many years have passed... I never thought you'd remember something like that."

"There are some things you never forget," Henry Thompson replied softly.

"I passed the imperial examination and became the Top Scholar. Now I serve at the Hanlin Academy," Henry Thompson said, his gaze full of gentle warmth as he looked at Bella Bell.

He had waited so many years, hoped for so many years, and dreamed of seeing her again—just to speak with her a few more times.

Emperor Leonard the Enlightened lowered his head, looking at the young man kneeling before him, a playful smile curling his lips. "Zhang Zhaocai."

Henry Thompson looked up in surprise. "Your Majesty, you... you remember me?"

"Of course I remember," Emperor Leonard the Enlightened smiled slyly, eyes narrowing. "During the palace examination, I recognized you right away, though I didn't say it aloud. I remember not only that you're Zhang Heng—Zhang Zhaocai—but also that you harbor feelings for my Empress!"

"Wonderful...?" Bella Bell gave a brief, bitter smile that quickly faded, but Henry Thompson caught it.

Seeing her bitter smile, Henry Thompson felt a sharp pain in his heart.

It seemed that Leonard Li had married Bella Bell, but had not truly cherished her...

"Well then, Henry Thompson, I must go. You're an official now—be careful, take care of yourself, and I wish you continued success." Bella Bell seemed to be in a hurry, quickly bidding Henry farewell before leaving.

Henry Thompson turned, staring at Bella Bell's departing figure. He stood there, unable to look away, until she vanished around the corner.

It wasn't until a voice sounded beside him: "You like her, don't you?"

Henry Thompson spun around and saw Emperor Leonard the Enlightened standing behind him. He quickly bowed in respect. "Your Majesty."

Emperor Leonard the Enlightened lowered his head, gazing at the young man kneeling before him, a playful smile on his lips. "Charlie Thompson."

Henry Thompson looked up in surprise. "Your Majesty, you... you remember me?"

"Of course I remember." Emperor Leonard the Enlightened smiled, narrowing his eyes. "Back at the palace examination, I recognized you right away, though I didn't say it. I remember not just that you're Henry Thompson—Charlie Thompson—but also that you've always had your eyes on my Empress!"