Evan Chu had wanted nothing more than to catch up with Roxy, or maybe sneak in a little exercise of a certain kind. But Princess Ivy just didn’t get the hint—she actually stayed behind, totally oblivious, leaving Evan frustrated as hell. He couldn’t bring himself to ask her to leave, so he was busy scheming up ways to get her out of there.
"Don’t worry, Evan! Our wedding is going to be super grand. I’ll have my father invite all the big shots from the Five Netherworld Races so they can see just how amazing my consort is!" Princess Ivy declared, full of pride.
"Isn’t that a bit much? I’m just a regular human, you know. If all those powerful people show up, I’ll be totally out of my element. I’d rather keep things low-key," Evan said, glancing over at Roxy.
"This is a huge deal—how could we possibly keep it low-key? My dad’s the Shade Lord, and if his daughter’s wedding is quiet, he’ll totally lose face. Even if we don’t invite those people, they’ll probably show up anyway!" Princess Ivy insisted.
Evan didn’t really care who showed up, but there was one person who made him nervous: Nether Monarch Ming. If that guy came, Evan’s disguise might get blown, and things could get ugly fast—maybe even a full-on battle. With his current strength, he’d be way outmatched.
And if the Nether Monarch came, Faye Knox would probably tag along too. If she saw Evan marrying Princess Ivy, there’d be a huge scene—and after that, trying to absorb her Nether Yin Qi would get a whole lot trickier. Evan was seriously worried about that.
But right now, Evan could only force a bitter smile and say, "Ivy, your father hasn’t actually agreed to any of this yet. Don’t get too excited—if you expect too much, you’ll just be disappointed. If he says no, I’m worried you won’t be able to handle it, so maybe it’s better to just let things happen naturally."
"Oh, you don’t have to worry about that! I’m the princess of Nine-Shade City—if I set my mind to something, my dad never goes against me. Especially when you’re a Pure Yang powerhouse and so outstanding; if he turned you down, that’d be a miracle. What I really hope is that you never lie to me. If you ever betray me, I might just choose death!" Princess Ivy said, her eyes fierce.
Roxy stepped up to Ivy with a gentle smile. "Sister, there’s nothing to worry about. My brother is a one-woman kind of guy. As long as the Shade Lord agrees, everything will fall into place—and you’ve got me here too!"
"Haha, I knew Roxy was the best! It’s a rare happy day—why don’t we celebrate with a good drink right here?" Princess Ivy suggested, her mood bright and festive.
Evan honestly had no idea what to say. Judging by Ivy’s attitude, she clearly wasn’t planning to leave. "Ivy, maybe you should head back and get ready for tomorrow. Roxy and I haven’t seen each other in ages—there’s a lot we need to catch up on. You don’t mind, do you?"
Princess Ivy froze, glancing at the two of them. "We’re going to be one family soon—what could you possibly have to say that you can’t say in front of me? Evan, are you trying to avoid me on purpose?"
"No, no, you’re just overthinking it. If you want to stay, then stay. I’ll go ask the waiter to bring up some wine and food, how about that?" Evan forced a bitter smile, amazed at how clueless Princess Ivy could be.
"Then hurry up! It’s been ages since I had a good drink! Haha!" Princess Ivy laughed. Roxy, meanwhile, looked a little helpless—she totally understood what Evan meant, but Ivy was ruining their alone time. She honestly wanted to knock the princess out cold.
Once Evan left, only Roxy and Princess Ivy were left in the room. "Roxy, are you and Evan really siblings?" Ivy asked.
"Yep! We’re even closer than real siblings. Why do you ask? Need my help with something?" Roxy replied, thinking to herself that as Evan’s woman, she was definitely closer than any sibling.
"Evan’s so outstanding—does he have other women? I get the feeling he’s not just with one!" Princess Ivy blurted out. Just remembering how skilled Evan was at certain things made her blush fiercely; if he didn’t have experience, how could he be so good? Her face was burning.
"Haha, you really want to know? Sorry, I’m not telling you. If Evan found out I spilled the beans, he’d kill me for sure!" Roxy laughed.
Soon, Evan came back and saw the two chatting. "What are you two talking about? You look way too happy."
"Oh, nothing much—just asking how many women you’ve got. But Roxy wouldn’t tell me." Princess Ivy grinned.
Evan glanced at her and asked, "You really care if I have other women?"
"Of course I do! How could my man ever be shared with someone else? Wait—do you actually have other women?" Princess Ivy demanded, staring straight into Evan’s eyes like she could see right through him.
"Oh, tons. Maybe ten or so! You’re not jealous, are you?" Evan joked. He was actually telling the truth, but to Ivy it just sounded like he was messing with her.
"Haha, I knew you wouldn’t really have other women. If you ever want another, you’ll need my permission first—otherwise, you’re in for it!" Princess Ivy declared.
Dealing with a stubborn princess like Ivy, Evan really had no idea what to do. Just then, the waiter brought up the food and wine. Evan poured three cups and said, "Come on, let’s toast to our first time all together!"
"Cheers!" The three of them downed their drinks in one go. "Ivy, here’s to our first meeting!" "Cheers!"
"Ivy, here’s to us getting to know each other!" "Cheers!" "Here’s to us being together!" ...
Roxy glanced over at Evan. "Evan, she’s totally drunk. What do you want to do with her—send her back to the City Lord’s Mansion or leave her here at the inn?"
Evan looked at Princess Ivy, who was now completely passed out, and laughed. "Let’s just leave her at the inn. I’ll book another room. If she goes home like this, people will start asking questions."
After laying Princess Ivy on the bed, Evan and Roxy stepped out of the room. "Evan, let’s go stroll through the streets! Nine-Shade City’s amazing—there’s all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff here. I want to buy a few little gifts for our sisters, so I’ll have something to show when we get back!" Roxy said excitedly.
"That’s a great idea! Honestly, I never would’ve thought of it. Let’s go see what cool stuff Nine-Shade City has to offer," Evan grinned.
Heading downstairs, Evan asked the waiter for another upper room, then he and Roxy dove into the bustling marketplace of Nine-Shade City. Before stepping out, he slipped on a human-skin mask—just in case, to avoid any unnecessary trouble.