Opportunity to Lose Both Bride and Soldiers

Prince Nolan and Linden Ling locked eyes—no sparks flew, no smoke rose, only a calm, fathomless gaze that transmitted messages only the two of them could understand.

Inside the room, aside from Beanie’s voice, there was only the faint sound of breathing. The atmosphere grew heavier and heavier, the air almost seemed to solidify. Even Beanie sensed something was off.

Beanie glanced at Prince Nolan, then at Linden Ling, utterly clueless about what was going on. Wasn’t everything fine just a moment ago? He’d just been forcing Linden to apologize to Serena—how did the mood shift so suddenly?

Was he the one out of the loop, or were these two out of the loop?

Sticking to his principle of ‘ask Serena if you don’t get it,’ Beanie walked over behind Serena and whispered—at least he thought it was a whisper—"Serena, did something happen just now while I was talking that I missed? Otherwise, why am I suddenly so lost?"

"No," Serena replied. "It’s not that something happened while you were talking. It’s that the moment Linden walked in, he and Prince Nolan were already squaring off. Now, it’s just getting more intense."

"Then what’s up with those two?" Beanie pointed at the inscrutable Prince Nolan and Linden Ling, growing more and more annoyed with Linden.

If you want to get close to Serena, or meet Prince Nolan, just use your connection with Sean and come straight to Feng Manor. For Sean’s sake, Serena would help Linden out. But instead, he wants something and still insists on putting on airs—no wonder Serena’s offended.

If you’ve got something to say, just say it. Why all the mysterious posturing and pretentious attitude? No one can figure you out—how annoying.

"They’re competing. It’s a men’s contest," Serena said, playing along with the theatrics. Beanie immediately bristled, "Serena, I’m a man too!" So if there’s a contest, he should be included.

“Nobody doubts that for a second.” Serena casually uttered the words “top courtesan,” making Beanie’s face flush bright red. “Back then, I was just a clueless kid, talking nonsense. I still haven’t even met a single top courtesan.” He was so insistent on his innocence, it was almost...

“And what does that have to do with me?” Serena waved her hand in mock exasperation. “Relax. If you ever do catch a case of the clap, I’ll have Simon treat you myself.” While the two of them bantered, Prince Nolan and Linden Ling’s silent standoff reached its conclusion.

Serena had no idea what exactly passed between Prince Nolan and Linden Ling. All she saw was Prince Nolan giving a curt order to have Ruby Redsleeve brought out of prison and handed back to Linden. Then, without so much as offering tea, he sent them on their way.

Linden Ling’s face betrayed nothing—neither joy nor anger. Before leaving, he invited Serena and Beanie to visit the guest courtyard tomorrow. Serena glanced at Prince Nolan, who silently nodded his approval, so she agreed.

Beanie was completely lost, but he just followed Serena wherever she went. If Serena said go, he went—he was determined to protect her, lest certain people, hiding behind their status, bully Serena and then pretend innocence.

As expected, Linden Ling’s expression shifted minutely at Beanie’s words, and his gaze grew more appraising: Was the Assassin Alliance’s young master truly clueless, or just pretending?

If it weren’t for Dorian “Beanie” Owen’s constant meddling, Linden’s talk with Prince Nolan would have gone much smoother. So many things could have been said more directly, but with this troublemaker around, he couldn’t say a word he wanted.

This Dorian “Beanie” Owen really was Linden Ling’s nemesis.

This whole meeting seemed utterly pointless. After Linden Ling left, Serena turned to Prince Nolan, confused: “Can you tell me what just happened?”

Facepalm!